Plugins are what lets WordPress power so much of the web – all kinds of customizability in only a few clicks! Let’s talk about the WordPress Plugin ecosystem, learn how to identify good plugins from bad ones, and compare paid versus free plugins. I’ll also share my top list of awesome plugins to push WordPress way past a simple blog.

1. Finding Useful
Plugins: Extending
WordPress Past a
Simple Blog
Meagan Hanes - @mhanes

2. Plugins are the key!
Plugins are what powers WordPress Customizations.
Let’s talk about the WordPress Plugin ecosystem, how to find and evaluate
good plugins from bad ones, and compare paid versus premium plugins.
I’ll also share my top list of awesome plugins that I use on sites to help push
them past simple blogs!

3. A Bit About Myself
Web Designer/Developer 15+ years
Using WordPress since 2006
On the WordPress.org Training Team
Part of the On The Go Systems
Family (makers of WPML & Toolset)

4. What’s a Plugin?
Plugins are a set of files added to a WordPress site that
create or modify functions for the site admin or visitor.
Good plugins use WordPress’ APIs and best practices so
that plugins work well together.
Plugins are an easy way to integrate third-party services
(MailChimp, Google Analytics, Facebook, etc).

5. WordPress.org has over
49,000 free plugins.*
Which one do I pick?
This number ignores all paid plugins, of which there are thousands.

6. Choosing a Plugin
Ask your WP
friends
Ask whether they have
experience with the plugin,
or suggestions for similar
ones.
Evaluate its
statistics
More installations = better
More 5-star ratings = better
Lots of 1-stars = beware
Observe support
forum activity
How fast + with what quality
does the author reply?
A dead forum likely means
a dead plugin.

7. This is a GOOD
PLUGIN as it
was updated
recently. has lots of
active installations,
and a great rating.

8. This plugin?
Hmm…
- Last updated a long time
ago, very few installs,
and not compatible with
the most recent version
of WordPress.

9. “With so many free plugins,
why would I pay for one?”

10. Free vs Paid Plugins
Fair Value
Exchange
Your specific solution was
provided very quickly
Keeps the WordPress
ecosystem going!
Additional
Functionality
Less money than hiring a
developer to custom code
Existing solutions have
documentation to help
Faster Support
Private forums for asking
and answering questions
Support teams to help find
a solution for your site’s
specific problem

11. Meagan’s Top Plugin Guide
For Achieving Great Things Using The
Power of WordPress
Spring 2017 Edition

12. WARNING!
These plugins are my personal suggestions
based on my own experience and opinions,
and are not a paid endorsement of any kind.
Many plugins exist. Do good research and test
thoroughly before committing to a plugin!

13. Add Contact Forms
From a simple name/email/message
through to complex multi-stage forms
Contact Form 7, Caldera Forms,
Gravity Forms ($)

14. Get More Detailed
Statistics of Visitors
Track and analyze detailed
information using Google Analytics (or
others)
Google Analytics for WordPress by
MonsterInsights, Google Analytics
Dashboard for WP, Jetpack

15. Increase a site’s search
engine optimization
Semantically format content, optimize
your Google snippet, and ensure
keywords are being used correctly
Yoast SEO

16. Run an Online Store
Offer physical, digital, or virtual
products for sale and securely process
payments using a variety of gateways.
WooCommerce, Easy Digital
Downloads, WP eCommerce

17. Make a site
Multilingual
Easily provide content in two or more
languages inside one WordPress site.
Polylang, WPML

18. Create a Community
Website
User Profiles, Groups, and Private
Messaging, and more - easily
transform WordPress into a
Facebook-like platform
BuddyPress

19. Integrate Forums
Create a threaded-style discussion
forum in the style of the early web
days.
bbPress

20. Increase Security
Eliminate common attack vectors,
increase monitoring, and harden your
website easily.
iThemes Security, SiteLock

21. Speed Up Your Site
Enable caching to improve static site
performance.
W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache,
WP Rocket

22. Create Backups
Generate a snapshot of your website’s
files and database in case of an
emergency later on.
Duplicator, UpdraftPlus, VaultPress

23. These are a few of my
favourite plugins!
Thanks for listening!
Questions: @mhanes