Photo: j / f / photos on Flickr

Photo: jrbrubaker on Flickr

My Assumptions

•  You have great taste in session choice

•  You know what a WordPress plugin is

•  You know how to install & activate one

•  You’re not here to hear about wordpress.com or multisite installs

(And yes, I know the risk)

“Plugins are really the heart and soul of WordPress for many people.” - Matt Mullenweg

which ones should you use?

But…

Best WordPress Plugins 31,400,000 results

Essential WordPress Plugins 1,770,000 results

Must Have WordPress Plugins 6,280,000 results

Vital WordPress Plugins 1,660,000 results

Desert Island WordPress Plugins 2,170,000 results

Source: Google search results 9/22/12

It’s ridiculously subjective

Photos: dev null & waltarrrrron Flickr

“The WordPress plugins you can’t live without are the WordPress plugins you can’t live without.” - Lorelle VanFossen, Lorelle on WordPress

WP Plugin Search Results default to relevance

My Criteria

I’ve included plugins that:

•  I have used (or someone I trust has)

•  solve a specific problem or meet a need

•  are updated & supported

•  are easy to use & configure

•  are free (for the most part)

Plugin Directory Plugins in the “official” directory are only by

developers who have agreed to play by the rules

Updates to Directory Listings

Spring 2012

Updates to Directory Listings

Spring 2012

Do Your Homework

•  Check compatibility

•  Last updated

•  Rating

•  Support

How Many is Too Many?

Depends on if your plugins:

•  Are extremely large

•  Utilize 3rd party resources

•  Are out dated or poorly coded

Beware of Obsolescence

Know when to say goodbye

Keep WordPress Updated

Keep WordPress Updated

Even minor versions. They contain bug fixes and security patches.

Keep Your Plugins Updated

Or else…

Photo: kevin.is.a.sadpanda.eu

Changelog Tab Makes it easy to view what has

changed in new version

1. Akismet Duh, right? But it is vital.

2. WordPress SEO by Yoast

SEO smart so you don’t always have to be

3. ShareThis Clean, simple sharing + analytics

4. After the Deadline Spelling, style & grammar police

5. Yet Another Related Posts Plugin

Encourage deeper dives into your content

6. WP-PageNavi Page navigation as it should have been

7. Social Media Widget

All your social links, all in one place

8. BackUpWordPress Um… backs up your stuff

8b. Vaultpress Alternate premium option ($15+)

9. WP-DBManager Database care & maintenance

10. Contact Form 7 Easy, feature-rich, submission options,

3rd party integration/add-ons, customizable

10b. Gravity Forms Alternate premium option ($39)

11. Find Replace Because sometimes you need to

12. Redirection Quick, easy, can be a life-saver

13. Google Analyticator

Stats on your dashboard

14. Maintenance Mode In case of emergency, activate plugin

15. Easing Slider Simple, easy, clean slider solution

Photo: jrbrubaker on Flickr

+1: liveblog Make any post a liveblog, viewers get new entries

instantly & automatically with no refresh

+2: editorial

Drag & drop post scheduling

calendar

+3: widget

Show or hide widgets based on page/post type

context

+4: wp google

Crazy easy to add & use Google fonts

fonts

+5: fluid video

YouTube auto-embed fix, full-width

embeds

Now It’s Your Turn

Photo: a2gemma on Flickr

What are your favorites? Which do you hate? Need other recommendations? Have questions?

Mykl Roventine designer of things

myklroventine.com @myklroventine

Thank you!

Headshot: Glimpses of Soul Photography