Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to sample a more than a few of the thousands of WordPress plugins available that expand the functionality of a WordPress blogsite. In case you’re wondering, plugins are simple WordPress add-ons that are easily installed and add additional features – typically a utility (such as backups) or a bell/whistle of some sort.
Depending on the WP theme you are using, some plugins are absolutely necessary and add features that, frankly, should already be part of WP (or probably will be in the near future). Some fulfill a specific requirement (such as social media or analytics needs). This list isn’t intended to be comprehensive – it’s just my default go-to list that I use when building a new site in WP.
So, without further adieu, here’s my list of must-have WP plugins:
Backup Utilities: Who wants to mess with phpMyAdmin and do database backups manually? Let the plugin handle this for you. I use two: WordPress Backup backs up your upload, themes and plugins directories and can optionally send a zip file to you via email at regular intervals. This is especially valuable if you modify your theme files (you never know when you can break something in the theme editor screen). I use this along with WP-DBManager, which backs up the content database automatically, at intervals you set.
Social Media Plugins: There are lots here to choose from, but my favorites include AddToAny, which adds a single customizable button or link at the bottom of your posts and/or pages (like this one). You can alter the colors or even add individual service icons in addition to the standard button. What’s better is that it also gives you an “email this” option as well – all in one elegant button. Another must-have is TweetMeme Button (also on this site) which adds an easy retweet button to each post. You have options on size and placement too, along with analytics! Also great for Twitter fans is Twitter for WordPress, which allows you to add your latest tweets easily via a simple widget.
Contact Form 7 is a super-easy-to-configure contact form for your site, with great flexibilty and even CAPTCHA capability (when you also install the Really Simple Captcha plugin).
Reveal IDs for WP-Admin: Simply makes page, category and post ID numbers visible in the list views. Doesn’t sound exciting until you need to set specific page IDs for theme layout features. You may not ever need it, but it’s just good to have on hand.
Exclude Pages: If your chosen WP theme doesnt give you the ability to exclude a page from navigation – you need this plugin. Exclude Pages adds a checkbox, “include this page in menus” (selected by default). When unchecked, the page will not appear in the main navigation menu.
Google Analyticator: Makes it very easy to add Google Analytics to your WordPress site. Activate and insert your tracking “UA” number and you’re all set.
I could go on… but these are my favs. Feel free to share yours in the comments. 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow loved reading your article. I added your rss to my blogreader!
Simply Exclude looks very interesting. I don’t think that was the one I found, but sure looks like it will fit the bill. Thanks! I did find a code hack to exclude categories and have used that recently.
Thanks for putting your list together.
Andrea
I also have a fondness for Wordpress plugins. My list is quite large. I’ll have to get Reveal IDs. Looks like it will make finding those little rascals easier. There was a plugin for excluding categories that I found at one time, but can’t locate it again. Any ideas?
I’ll add to your list:
Any of the plugins to push posts through a ping.fm account. I’m a huge ping.fm user and absolutely love these plugins. I’ve used different ones on client sites and all seem to work just fine.
To keep my site clean for the search engines, I like to use the Broken Link Checker.
Widget Logic gives me control over what is displayed in my sidebars for any given page or post.
Excerpt Editor – to help control any duplicate content issues that are common in Wordpress sites.
SEO Friendly Images – because I’m just that lazy
Again, because I’m lazy – automated footer info for both the posts and for the rss feed: DDAddSig and RSSFooter.
WP-Cumulus – the ultra-cool tag cloud
Please Link 2 Me – to assist readers in linking to my posts.
and the uber-fav All-in-one-SEO
Andrea
LOL – you are not as lazy as I am!! I will have to check out your list. You can go nuts experimenting with everything out there!
Are you thinking of “Simply Exclude”??
Thanks for your suggestions, Andrea!