WordPress plugins are small section of software, which can be uploaded to expand and develop your website’s functionality. In the beginning, you get a WordPress site installed with an average set of the features that are basics. Later, you add plugins, making the site unique, which allow you to trick and twist your site as per your preference.
Free versus paid WordPress plugins
Literally, tons of WordPress plugins are offered for free. You can download them directly from WordPress.org plugin directory. Paid or premium plugins with more advanced features are also available.
- Full time support – You may be wondering why pay for a plugin, when you get it for free from online directory, but there is no support to get you out, when you are stuck in-between something.
Alternatively, the paid ones offer 24/7 support from WP developers and staff to help develop the most advanced WordPress website.
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- Compatibility issue – Basically plugin codes are compatible with WordPress and other plugins, but unexpectedly a plugin code can hinder with another plugin code. However, the same is not with the paid versions, as you get the required help from support staff.
What does a WordPress plugin do?
For a developer and designer with less time to spare, WordPress plugins help you to get things done fast and move on to your next project. Plugins are a windfall to those, who desire to work smartly, more quickly and efficiently.
It gives your blog that extra edge. Below is a list of some best plugins that can help bloggers enhance their blogging competence.
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Must-use- plugin
An anti spam guard for WordPress blog included with every WordPress installation. It stops 30 million + spam comments daily.
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Database & file backup plugin
- WordPress database backup – Losing your blogs database after malware or hacker attack can be disastrous. Therefore using database backup plugin is an ideal antidote and run scheduled backups.
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Search engine optimization
It handles every SEO element you can think of. You can select keywords for your blog post writing and stay focused, add custom description and title.
On-page SEO optimization is a very complicated process that is done automatically. It allows bloggers to focus just on their writing and enjoy it. (You can install either WordPress SEO by Yoast or All in one SEO pack)
It helps major search engines to index your blog and crawlers can retrieve it efficiently, when needed. Every time you post new content on your blog all the major search engines get notified.
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Blog security plugins
Several vulnerabilities like eliminating error information from the login page, adding a virtual index.php file to root directory and locking bad queries can be taken care of. Moreover, it fortifies your site against potential attacks from malware and hackers.
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Custom Blog statistics related
Dimension feature in this plugin allows specific Metadata like the author of the post. It even keeps track of page views per post type, per author, per category and per publication date for comparing your posts published in 2015 to those posted in 2014.
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Caching plugin
Enhances the performance of your website via caching every aspect like page, browser, database, object, minify and CDN support.
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Contact form related
Forms are essential for a website because people can contact you easily. Contact form 7 is a flexible and full-featured structuring plugin, which can be dynamically inserted in any web page.
HubSpot allows you to easily create lead capture forms and popups without a single line of code. It syncs all of your contacts’ information in a free CRM so you can stay organized. It also includes additional marketing tools, such as live chat and bots so you can chat with your website visitors.
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Social networking related
Blogging is a public activity, which depends on active participation from an engaged audience. Sociable allows readers to share the content of your blog across a variety of social networking channels. Supports posting to your preferred social bookmarking channels and e-mail.
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Photo gallery plugin
Upload and manage your image gallery capably. It allows to batch upload, add/rearrange/delete/sort images, import metadata, edit thumbnails and more.
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Google Adsense related
It allows bloggers to set parameters for ads displaying format, color, size and position of the elements in ad blocks on your website.
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Membership plugin
It is a rich plugin that can convert your new or current WordPress website into a potent membership site.
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Affiliate related
- WordPress affiliate link manager
You can revolutionize your affiliate marketing approach by automatically converting precise keywords from pages and blog posts into affiliate links.
These 12 plugins outlined above will assist you to add additional key functions to refresh your WP site’s look and performance.
Do you want to share more plugins? which plugins you are using for business blogs? Let us know in comments.
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You have brought up a really fantastic point. It’s very useful and helpful. Thank you for sharing your article about these Top 12 WordPress Plugins for Your Business Blog. Great!
Kristin,
Which SEO plugin do you recommend WordPress SEO by Yoast or All in one SEO pack?
For the caching plugin you might want to check out wp super cache. I find it works better.
John
OMG really awesome plugins to use in wordpress blog. I really fee bad that I’m not aware of this plugins till now. But I’m gonna be using them soon.
Thanks