WordPress Plugins Archives

Archives For WordPress Plugins

Keep the Plugin Count Low and Focus on What Matters

August 7, 2012 — 16 Comments

Can you keep it under 10?

One of the things that I’ve mentioned a number of times already is the point that it’s better to have less WordPress plugins than more. The point generally is that this is a speed issue – meaning, the less plugins you have the more fast your blog will load, generally speaking.

I have historically mentioned that 10-15 plugins is probably ok but I caution anything more than that outside of explicit strategic uses. Even I break this rule sometimes if a blog requires a few features that I don’t have time to build in myself.

What most online publishers fail to do is to ask whether or not they really need those plugins for their readers’ most optimal experience. What I’ve discovered is that most bloggers have a handful of plugins installed that they never use or that have an extremely low point of value for themselves or their audience.

What I’m digging a lot about Standard 3 is the fact that this particular WordPress Theme cuts out a lot of the so-called fat in terms of plugin bloat. The design forces you to think critically about what you’re presenting to your readers and you realize that everything that you’re showing your readers consistently isn’t all that necessary.

In Tips, WordPress Plugins

Jetpack Adds Support for Custom Contact & Email Forms

April 26, 2012 — 18 Comments

Amazing!

Wow, Jetpack, one of the top WordPress plugins that I install on every blog that I manage, keeps getting better and better!

Ta-da!

The last update that I posted was about how they added email subscription options for self-hosted bloggers and now they’ve released custom forms!

It’s as simple as clicking the little icon on the top of your editor and then clicking “add this form”! Could it get any more simple?

You can even customize some of the email notifications as well.

Many of you should be looking into this as a serious alternative to the many other options that are available to you as it’s closer integrated with your blog than many others and it’s already baked into an existing plugin that you (should) already have.

In fact, check it out here on my About Page near the bottom!

In WordPress Plugins

Simple Adsense Plugin for WordPress

January 10, 2012 — 34 Comments

So simple... even you can do it!

In my Google Adsense Series I shared some thoughts about adsense design and placement as well as sharing the Blogger’s Adsense Combo which historically has worked for many people really, really well.

Well, what I simply decided was that I should release a WordPress Plugin that can help you do just that so that you don’t have to mess with the code too much! With my buddy (and uber-coder) @TomMcFarlin we’re pleased to release a very simple plugin that’ll allow you to make money via your self-hosted WordPress blog with even more ease.

In Money, WordPress Plugins

AdSanity WordPress Plugin: Powerful Advertising Management

December 13, 2011 — 7 Comments

The Premium WordPress Plugin marketplace continues to expand and I’m loving some of the newer entries into this space, especially plugins which can bring a lot of value to bloggers. I think AdSanity is going to be one of those!

A simple and yet powerful advertising management solution it features easy to use widgets, uploading of collateral marketing art, and a even a simple graphical view of stats for clickthrough rates and key performance metrics.

Although it still lacks a few powerful options that other advertising solutions provide this could be an incredible plugin as it matures and grows. For example, there are only two publishing options as of today (infinity or date-based) but heck, the thing just was released!

In Tools, WordPress Plugins

WP Ad Center: WordPress Advertising Management Plugin

November 28, 2011 — 15 Comments

WP Ad Center has launched! What is it? It’s a robust advertising management system and plugin for WordPress-powered blogs.

Taking a look under the hood it looks to be pretty impressive with reporting features, campaign management, and even the ability to sell advertising directly to potential buyers. To a certain degree it’s everything that OIO Publisher does with the exception of the neat reporting and bar graphs.

In Tools, WordPress Plugins

The 10 Best SEO Plugins for WordPress

November 21, 2011 — 32 Comments

There are only a handful of posts left that I’ve wanted to do in the Search Engine Optimization series for bloggers and this is one of the capstone blog posts that should be closing things down!

As you know I love WordPress and everything that it does and I really do believe that it’s your best option for blogging if you’re thinking about creating the best value for your readers and the best bang for your buck (and making a few dollars).

Not only that but you have access to some incredible WordPress Plugins that’ll give you added features and functionality that’ll put you ahead of all of your competitors, especially those that aren’t using WordPress!

In terms of SEO here are some of the best WordPress Plugins that you’ll want to check out:

In Tips, WordPress Plugins

Jetpack Plugin Adds Email Subscription Option

November 18, 2011 — 36 Comments

Wow – this might be the email subscription alternative to Feedburner that many of you have been looking for!

Occasionally I like to call out some neat news related to WordPress that I feel is worth mentioning to my awesome community here and today’s news (or yesterday’s rather) is about Jetpack’s 1.2 update and release that features a sweet email subscription option for your readers!

I’ve already talked about how Jetpack is a must-have plugin but this new feature that allows you to have another option for email subscription (if you don’t like Feedburner) which is pretty slick.

What’s the big deal? Here you go:

Now easily add a subscription form right into your sidebar via widget.
No need to sign up for an additional service or manage.
Users can start subscribing in just a few seconds: Email confirmation and done.
Users can adjust their own delivery settings as well.

No joke! It’s a seriously-easy alternative to the many that are available to you already

In WordPress Plugins

How Many Plugins Should (Could) a WordPress Blog Have?

August 9, 2011 — 49 Comments

Lots of choices... don't get carried away!

[This post is part of the Ultimate Guide to Launching a WordPress-Powered Blog series.]

I’ve gotten this question a few times and I thought it was worth a more detailed treatment than a 140 character response via Twitter.

It does fascinate me that we, as a people, are always interested in finding out “how far we can go” before we utterly break something – it’s like we’re obsessed with knowing where the absolute boundary is so that we can toe the line and stop but not before we take a long gaze over the edge.

Or perhaps that’s just me – I’m always testing limits, overstepping boundaries, and generally getting in trouble when it comes to experimentation (which can be a really good thing for a curious blogger!).

For what it’s worth the answer that I instantly give 9 out of 10 people is that it simply depends on a number of different factors.

You see, the issue is not necessarily the total amount of plugins that you have installed and active on your WordPress blog – it’s finding the right balance between performance and user experience that counts, both being very important.

Here’s what I mean:

In Tips, WordPress Plugins

WordPress Plugin World Domination? Not Exactly…

July 25, 2011 — 63 Comments

@NewBlogHosting sent me this tweet the other day that seriously had me LOL! I’m happy and a bit humbled that a client of his is using many of my plugins.

In addition to a good laugh it did make me think about my strategy and chief motivation for providing a bunch of free WordPress Plugins (and free WordPress Themes!) for your use and enjoyment – so here it is:

I create WordPress Plugins for my own use so that I can have the most effective blog ever.

Surprised by the somewhat selfish core motivation? Well, it’s true, but as you already know I don’t hoard or keep those so-called secrets to myself as I give them away to you guys after the testing is done and the concept is proven!

In WordPress Plugins

Check and Repair 404 Errors WordPress Plugin

July 23, 2011 — 35 Comments

Quick, simple, and effective.

We’ve been discussing recently about how important it is to catch and fix 404 errors that exist on your blog as well as any broken links that you’re also sending out to other sites.

Well, I’m pleased to announce the release of a must-have WordPress Plugin that can help you, my fellow blogging friends, from having any more 404 errors!

In WordPress Plugins