Types of WordPress plugins
A piece of software that is installed into a WordPress website is known as a plugin. Many websites, such as e-commerce stores, portfolios, and directory sites, can all be developed with plugins to extend or add additional capabilities.
Without altering the core WordPress files, plugins allow developers to increase or expand the functionality of a WordPress website. WordPress Plugin API offers access points, formerly known as the filter and action hooks, that allow plugins to “hook into” the source code. The plugin’s functions will be called by these access points and methods at certain moments, changing WordPress’s default behaviour.
Essential Plugins
1. SMTP Mail plugin
The email function is a feature that comes with WordPress websites. WordPress websites, by default, use PHP mail codes to send emails. The issue is that the PHP mail code can also be used to send spam emails worldwide. ‘Default’ settings will lead to the spam folder storing all the emails.
With the help of SMTP plugins, websites can send emails using the same protocol as email clients. An SMTP mail plugin will significantly reduce the likelihood of emails being marked as spam.
2. Sitemap
Site maps aid search engines in understanding a website’s structure. Having a site map will make it simpler for visitors to navigate the website, which in return helps with search engine optimisation. Many free plugins work with WordPress to integrate the XML sitemap into its core functionality which can be accessible in the WordPress Dashboard.
3. Security plugin
Millions of websites use WordPress. Unfortunately, the ubiquity makes it incredibly appealing to hackers. Hackers often use malicious software to attack and alter WordPress websites. There are different WordPress security plugins available to help with this issue. For example, Loginizer restricts the number of login attempts to guard against brute force assaults, while WordFence provides more complete security solutions. Different websites require different security levels, and developers must strike a balance between convenience and security.
Since site security is important, a security plugin safeguards a website from malware and malicious visitors. It notifies of any unusual activity and allows developers to step in before the issue gets out of hand or even starts.
4. WordPress backup plugin
Backup plugins provide reassurance, and it is recommended for every WordPress website to have a backup plugin. A WordPress backup plugin functions differently from cPanel backups and the Backup Manager. Each tool addresses a certain issue.
Recovering one site from a full account backup takes time and effort. The larger a website is, the longer it takes during a backup. WordPress backups are far smaller than full disk backups, making them simple and quick to restore. Additionally, backup plugins allow the storage backups “off-site.” External backups are also recommended to be stored so that files won’t be missing even if the event is required.
Helpful Plugins
1. Redirect plugin
Web browsers of today anticipate complete security on your website. Utilising an SSL certificate is a part of site security. Your site URL utilises “https” rather than “http” since you have installed an SSL. If a site is not employing “https,” major browsers like Chrome will alert users to stay away from it. All of the media and links are included.
Manually switching a site from “http” to “https” can be time-consuming and prone to mistakes.
Thankfully, many plugins are available to help you with this problem! These plugins modify all URLs and media files. Additionally, these plugins direct all users to the site’s secured “https” version.
Any website owner may establish and manage both permanent and temporary redirection with redirection. Additionally, you may track reroute activity and receive alerts when your website encounters 404 issues.
2. Form plugin
Visitors to a website can enter personal information via forms, and forms are required for online purchasing or responding to a survey. Information is collected using forms, which then deliver to the right location. Additionally, forms must be safe and relevant to certain users and deter spam.
Most form plugins are simple to set up and modify. WordPress administrators who want a free, simple solution to expand their contact lists can use a form plugin. The plugin makes it easy to create forms with all the necessary functionalities.
3. SEO plugin
The art of increasing a website’s visibility is called search engine optimisation (SEO). Once optimised, a website can be found in search engines like Google. The easier it is to find a website, the better the SEO. 32.5% of all clicks go to the top result, which means 32 users are clicking on the top website for every 1,000 searches.
Fortunately, developers can now raise a site’s position using SEO plugins. Excellent SEO plugins also offer advice on boosting the SEO of a website’s content. Yoast SEO is one of the more poplular SEO plugins available.
4. Site design plugin
WordPress’s flexibility allows developers to design and build practically anything with HTML, CSS, and other codes. Site design plugins, such as theme and page builder, speed up the process. They enable developers to work more quickly and with less coding. These plugins make it easy for designers to create stunning websites quickly and maintain workflow effectively.
Conclusion
Running a WordPress website without adding functionality limits the user experience. There is many plugins available, whether to engage users through email opt-in forms, add social sharing buttons, compress photos to increase website speed, or optimise your content to rank in search engines.
Plugins significantly enhance the user experience, resulting in greater engagement and increased opportunities to reach a wider audience. A good WordPress site exercises moderation and makes the most of its resources. Less generally is more, and using just the right number of plugins is always recommended.
