A Beginners Guide to WordPress Plug-Ins


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  • WordPress is a simple way to create your own website or blog. It is an open-source platform that allows anyone to use it and make the program their own. That means that WordPress has made building a website accessible to people who know nothing about coding or website building.
  • The plug-ins that WordPress uses are an extension of the site. They are there to help you personalize your experience and make your website exactly what you want.
  • Professional developers allow you to grow your website as you learn and improve your website as you grow.
  • WordPress is designed to be easy to use and their plug-ins are no different. Once you understand what they are for and how they work you will easily be able to make any plug-in you need work for you. Here is a simple beginner’s guide to WordPress plug-ins.

Guide to WordPress Plug-Ins

1. What is a plug-in?

  • WordPress plug-ins, to put it simply, are software that can be downloaded and installed onto your WordPress website. Very similar to little software apps that make your WordPress website run the way you want it to. Often they are used to extend what you can do on WordPress and add new features.
  • WordPress plug-ins are coded to fit seamlessly into your WordPress website so there will be no confusing things to fix or glitches in formatting. Plug-ins can be installed or uninstalled by the administrator of your website at any time so if you do not like one they are easy to remove. Plug-ins are made for WordPress so you will never find a plug-in that does not work with your website.
  • These little software downloads are made to allow WordPress users to add a brand new feature to their website without having to know any coding. This is one of the reasons WordPress is such a popular way to make websites, it is user-friendly even for people who have no idea how to make a website. The plug-ins are an extension of that.

2. How to choose a plug-in

  • All of the WordPress plug-ins you find are going to be made to work with WordPress. That does not mean that all plug-ins are made equally or that you need to install every single plug-in you come across. The key is to make sure you know what a plug-in does and if it is updated before you try to use it for your website.
  • Mainly, you need to know if the plug-in has been updated to work with the newest update of WordPress. WordPress is constantly improving and some plug-ins do not improve with it which is why it is important you make sure a plug-in was updated recently before you install it. That way you know it is running as smoothly as WordPress does.
  • You are going to find hundreds, if not thousands, of free plug-ins. Many free plug-ins are amazing and built to be helpful, but they are not going to have customer support. That is not a problem usually as most plug-ins run seamlessly but if you feel you need customer support then you might need to pay for your plug-ins.

3. What to install first

  • There are enough plug-ins available that it can be very difficult to decide where to start. All of them are designed to do something for your website so you might be tempted to start with the plug-ins that set up cool features. The first plug-ins you should install are ones to protect and enhance your website.
  • One of the first plug-ins that you will find recommended just about everywhere is called Jetpack. This plug-in is made by WordPress itself and is designed to protect your website as well as bring in more traffic. It gives you a clearer picture and helps you run ads for your website.
  • The second plug-in you should install is to help you with SEO. SEO stands for search engine optimization and it is how people are going to find your website through Google and similar search engines. There are many types of SEO plug-ins so go through several recommendations to make sure you choose one that works for you.

4. Where to find plug-ins

  • WordPress has tried to make it very easy to find and use plug-ins, but that does not mean that it is immediately obvious where to find them for a beginner. There is a WordPress plug-in directory where you will be able to find all of the plug-ins that are available on the WordPress website. You can also download plug-ins through the administrator screens and going to plug-ins.
  • Once you have found the plug-ins you can begin a simple search to find the installs you want. Going through a recommended plug-ins list or two before you begin will make finding and choosing plug-ins much easier and less overwhelming. There are too many plug-ins for one person to make an informed decision on exactly what they need without a bit of help.
  • Once you have found the plug-in you want and made sure it has been updated recently enough to be compatible with your website, you can download the plug-in. This is as easy as clicking the install button that you will see on each plug-in and then clicking activate once the install is over. WordPress has made this process as user-friendly as possible and you will have no trouble installing the plug-ins you need to make your website run smoothly.

To Conclude

  • WordPress is a user-friendly website builder that does not require any previous website building experience or coding knowledge to use. To make their websites more unique and customizable they have also created plug-ins that allow users to install new programs and software directly to their websites. These plug-ins are easy to use and have many functions.
  • Choosing a plug-in depends on what your website needs to run the way you want it to. A simpler website will probably require fewer plug-ins and software than a more involved website would. Every website needs the basic plug-ins that protect your website from pop-ups and make your website more visible.
  • They have made their plug-ins easy to find and easy to install. Once you know what plug-ins you want you can quickly achieve exactly the website you want that will grow with you. Those are just a few tips for beginners using WordPress plug-ins.

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Gabe Nelson

Halley Johnson is a freelance writer and editor. Who is currently employed with Endertech.com. She has a few published pieces under pseudonyms. They mostly consist of average poems. Halley is currently in the process of writing her first full-length novel (it will actually be under her real name). Her greatest accomplishments are being a good mom to her pig and an average daughter to her parents.