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How to Find the Best WordPress Plugins for You
Adam Soucie
Today you’ll learn...
• What to look for in a plugin
• Where you can find reliable plugins
• Which plugins you should use regardless of your site content
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
A little about me
• Freelance Web Developer
• Primarily focused on WordPress
• Plugin author
• WordCamp Orlando organizer
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
What to look for in plugins
3 things to look for
1. Actively supported
2. Does what it says it does - and nothing else
3. Easy to use/set up
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Actively supported?
Updates matter.• Only use current plugins
• Because security.
• Check the change logs
• You may not understand them, but they should be somewhat helpful
• Too many updates is a red flag
• If it updates every week, STAY AWAY
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
“A good plugin does one thing, and does that one thing well.”
- Andrew Norcross
There is no single site solution.
• Your mechanic is not also your vet (I hope)
• Focused products keep your project focused
• Distractions take time, which costs you money
• Exceptions for complicated matters like SEO
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Is it easy to install?
One Click Installation is the goal
• Plugin files should install with a single .zip file
• FTP stands for “%&$# that plugin” because you should never have to FTP for install
• All plugins on the WordPress repo have a one-click install button
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Is it easy to set up?
Settings Pages are the Devil.
• The plugin should just work.
• If the plugin does just one thing, why does it take so long to set up?
• At most, you should only have to visit a settings page on the initial install
• Again, SEO is the exception
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
And the plugins are where?
Trusted Sources ONLY
• WordPress.org repository
• Recommendations
• Friends
• Colleagues
• Meetups
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
RUN AWAY! (unless recommended)
• Random finds on Google
• CodeCanyon
• Quality Control
• Updating can be very tricky
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Case Study:Social Sharing
Our Checklist
• Plugin Needed?: Yes
• Goal: Increase social media reach
• Problem: Sharing links manually is hard for users
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Our Checklist
• Check the WordPress repo
• Compare your options
• Actively supported?
• Does what it says it does - and nothing else?
• Easy to use/set up?
• Look at reviews
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
PluginRecommendations
Use these.
• WordPress SEO
• Gravity Forms
• gravityforms.com
• Ninja Forms
• Display Widgets
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Also use these.
• JetPack
• Akismet
• Comes pre-installed. Activate it if you support comments
• Post Series Manager
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
For more info…
• Check out the cheat sheet
• Slides are on AdamSoucie.com
• @adamsoucie on Twitter
• Happiness Bar
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Any questions?
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie
Thanks to…
• Tina Fiume (illustrations)
• Andrew Norcross (inspiration)
• Star Wars Rebels characters are property of the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm
adamsoucie.com @adamsoucie