Essential Plugins

Essential Plugins for WordPress• Backup• Security• Spam Blocker• Analytics• SEO• Contact Form• Social Sharing• Social Following• Email Marketing

Backup:UpdraftPlusMaintain a weekly backup of your site files kept in another location than your hosting server.

Maintain a weekly backup of your MySQL database that kept in the same location as your site files.

I keep all my personal and client backups on Dropbox.

I prefer to automate this task.

Other options include:

• BackWPup

• WordPress Backup to Dropbox

• Backup Buddy

Security:Sucuri SecurityInstall a security plugin and set up at least the basic settings to block unwanted access to your site files.

Other options include:

• Wordfence Security

• All in One WP Security

Spam Blocker:WordPress Zero SpamYour WordPress installation will automatically include a copy of the Akismet plugin as a spam blocker. When you activate Akismet, you have the option of paying nothing or a monthly fee of your choosing.

I switched my sites to WordPress Zero Spam instead of Akismet a few months ago and have been pleased with how effective it is.

It requires nothing more than installation and activation.

Analytics:Google Analytics by MonsterInsightsGoogle Analytics by Yoast is now Google Analytics by MonsterInsights. It is the same plugin with a different owner.

It appears in your WordPress Dashboard as ‘Insights’ with the image of the little monster with the magnifying glass.

To use this or any analytics plugin, you need to create a Google Analytics account and add your domain to the account.

This allows you to link your site to Google and to have access to reports and statistics about your traffic.

SEO:Yoast SEOThe Yoast SEO plugin provides many tools to improve SEO (search engine optimization) to your site, posts, and images.

This is a robust plugin with many pieces and parts. I recommend that you focus on filling in as many details as possible during setup for General, Social, and Search Console.

Then use the Yoast SEO section at the bottom of each post to edit your headline, editorial snippet, and post keyword.

Clicking on the Social Icon to the left of the section brings you to fields to customize the content to be shared with Facebook and Twitter.

SEO:Yoast SEOThis is a robust plugin with many pieces and parts. I recommend that you focus on filling in as many details as possible during setup for General, Social, and Search Console.

Clicking on the Help Center bar provides access to a tutorial video for each part of the plugin.

Video Tutorials foreach part of Yoast SEO

SEO:Yoast SEOThen use the Yoast SEO section at the bottom of each post to edit your headline, editorial snippet, and post keyword.

Contact Form:Simple Basic Contact FormBe sure to include a way to contact you on your site. I include a contact form, my email address, and a link to my Facebook group on my Contact Page.

Simple Basic Contact Form is an easy-to-use form that does just what it says. If you want more customization options, consider a paid plugin such as Gravity Forms.

Social Sharing:

AccessPress Social Share Simple Social Share (by Perials)

Social Follow:Simple Social IconsAdding Social Icons to your site allows your readers to connect with you on various social media platforms in addition to your blog.

The Simple Social Icons offers customization of color, size, shape, and alignment of your icons. It allows you to place the icons in any widget area.

You can choose from several options in this category. I find this plugin to be the simplest to set up and customize to fit my theme.

Email Marketing:

MailChimp

Free Service for • up to 2,000 subscribers and • 12,000 emails per month

$20 per month for• 1,001 to 1,500 subscribers and• Unlimited emails per month

MailerLite

Free Service for • up to 1,000 subscribers and • Unlimited emails per month

$10 per month for• 1,001 to 5,000 subscribers and• Unlimited emails per month

SendInBlue

Free Service for • Unlimited subscribers and • 9,000 emails per month

$7.37 per month for• Unlimited subscribers and• 40,000 emails per month

Email Marketing:MailChimpFree Service for

• up to 2,000 subscribers and

• 12,000 emails per month

$20 per month for

• 1,001 to 1,500 subscribers and

• Unlimited emails per month

Popular with many tutorials available

Multiple plugins to integrate with WordPress

Email Marketing:MailChimp for WordPressPlugin recommended on MailChimp site

Email Marketing:MailerLiteFree Service for

• up to 1,000 subscribers and

• Unlimited emails per month

$10 per month for

• 1,001 to 5,000 subscribers and

• Unlimited emails per month

Email Marketing:Official MailerLite Sign Up FormsPlugin recommended on MailerLite site

Email Marketing:SendInBlueFree Service for

• Unlimited subscribers and

• 9,000 emails per month

$7.37 per month for

• Unlimited subscribers and

• 40,000 emails per month

Email Marketing:SendInBlue Subscribe FormPlugin recommended on SendInBlue site

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