For all my passionate professional friends that have fallen in love with WordPress, I thought I would share with you my top 17 WordPress plugins that I have found to be the most useful.
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1. Google analytics (download for free here)
Google analytics is so important for your business. You’ll need to install this on your website and this plugin makes it so, so easy!
2. Shortcodes plugin (download for free here)
If you are unfamiliar with what a short code is, it’s a code such as “[button]” and it places a button on your page. Pretty simple! This plugin gives you access to a variety of short codes that you have to check out for yourself.
3. Editorial calendar (download for free here)
If you are a blogger or content marketer, this plugin is very helpful. You are able to see all your drafts on the right hand side of your screen and drag + drop where you want them scheduled on your calendar. Makes scheduling a lot easier and I like seeing the monthly view as well as knowing where all my other blog posts land!
4. Mailchimp for WP (download for free here)
Use mailchimp? Download this plugin.
5. Yoast SEO (download for free here)
This is a fantastic plugin for those that are new to SEO and don’t want to put in a lot of work.
6. LeadPages
If you have a LeadPages account then you probably already have the LeadPages plugin installed. It makes everything so much more convenient! If you don’t, and you have a WordPress website (which you probably do since you are reading this post) then make sure you go download this right now and start using it!
You’ll need to scroll to the very bottom of the integrations page on LeadPages. You’ll see the “LeadPages WP plugin,” download and activate from there.
7. WP affiliates (learn more here)
WP Affiliates is a plugin that makes it a million times easier to have someone else help sell your products. Of course there are multiple software and platforms out there that do this as well but I have found WP affiliates to be the best, especially when working with woo commerce products. If affiliate marketing scares you, then take a deep breath and tell yourself “MY product/service is worth it and deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.” Keep saying it, because it is true. Now go make some connections and ask other leaders to be an affiliate for your product or service!
8. WP rocket (learn more/see pricing here)
Best caching plugin out there. Just go for it. Download it. Love it.
9. Contact Form 7 (download for free here)
Because it is free, I wouldn’t categorize this as the “best of the best” but it does it’s job and is easily customizable if you know HTML/CSS code. Most paid themes use Contact Form 7 and have the forms already customized + pretty for you!
10. Gravity Forms (learn more/see pricing here)
If you aren’t on a budget like those who use Contact Form 7, then check out Gravity forms because it is super cool and you will love it. Gravity forms is VERY easy to use.
11. Vaultpress (download for free here)
Vaultpress is a plugin that allows you to backup your website on WordPress. Most people do not take the time to do this. Although hosting companies offer backups it can get pricey. So check out Vaultpress!
12. All in One WP Migration (download for free here)
It is easy. At work, I create websites on dummy domains and then have to migrate their site to the domain the site will live on. So I need an efficient, stream lined process.
If you need a tutorial for this plugin, I wrote a blog post outlining the step by step process of migrating your WordPress site
13. Related Post (download for free here)
This is a very helpful plugin. It shows your related posts underneath your blog post, which improves your bounce rate keeping your visitors on your site longer.
14. Disqus (download for free here)
I love disqus. Makes commenting on your blog posts a million times easier for people!
15. Master slider (download for free here)
This is the perfect plugin because you can plug these sliders that you can create in seconds anywhere on your page. Wherever your site allows a short code to be placed, you can place a slider there. This plugin has cool features. Sometimes this plugin comes packaged in with professionally made themes which is how I found out about it!
16 | Revolution Slider (learn more/see pricing)
Revolution slider is similar to Master slider, but different in its own way. Sometimes this plugin comes packaged in with professionally made themes as well which is also how I found out about this one!
16. WooCommerce (download for free here)
I can’t believe this plugin is free. Turns your WP site into an e-commerce store within minutes. Crazy. If you are an online shop, check out this plugin if you haven’t heard of it! Probably will change your life, no lie.
17. Askimet (download for free here)
Anti-spam is always a good thing, so let Askimet protect you.
Again, I’m not an affiliate for any of these companies that have created these awesome plugins. Most of these are free, anyways! Enjoy downloading and getting superhero features added to your WordPress site.
Have a plugin that you absolute love and don’t see on this list? Mention it in the comments below! I would love to hear a plugin that you are using and I’ll go check it out.
