My Favorite Plug-Ins for WordPress

One of the best features of using WordPress is all of the really cool plug-in features. For those that are not familiar with or are just starting out with WordPress, plug-ins are applications that add extra features to your theme in WordPress.

I have been using WordPress for about three months and already I have learned so much.  Of course, I have a lot more to learn but I thought that sharing a few of my favorite plug-ins would be helpful to those just starting out.

Akismet – This is one of the best spam filters that you could use.  In the past three months, it has blocked 375 spam comments from hitting my blog.

CommentLuv – Adds your last blog post to your comments that you leave on other blogs. Great way to promote your blog.  That’s why it is important to come up with fun and catchy post titles to grab readers’ attention.

All in One SEO - This helps improve your search ranking but it can be a little confusing to install. Check out this great article by Blog Juicy, with easy instructions on how to properly set up this plugin.

WiseStamp – An awesome add on that allows you to create an email signature loaded with links to all of your profiles across the web. You can even add your logo to your signature.  Its easy to customize and I have to warn you, it can be very addicting!

TweetMeme Retweet Button – Provides an easy way for your readers to share your post on Twitter. There are lots of advantages to this; you can track how many people really “like” your post, great way to spread the word about your blog and the bigger the TweetMeme number the more likely readers will want to read and share your article.

SexyBookmarks – A great tool to allow your readers to share your content on multiple social networks. Not only that but its fun!

WordPress Database Back-up – Even WP can be prone to attacks and leave your blog looking like a complete mess! It is really important to regularly back up your site and this plugin is pretty easy to use.

What Would Seth Godin Do – Displays a custom message to new and returning visitors. Great way to remind them to subscribe to your blog or maybe you want to pass along a special message?

WordPress Thread Comment – They are comments where a reply to a particular comment tucks nicely under the comment it is in reply to.

Comment Email Responder - When an admin replies to a comment, it will not only become a comment on the blog but will also email the commenter directly.

After you install your plug-ins make sure you go to your settings and configure them for your personal use.

What are your favorite plug-ins?

Tagged as: Blogging, blogging tips, WordPress Plug-in