WordPress Plugins
Much of the power of WordPress comes from its ability to add WordPress plugins. These plugins are pieces of software code that add additional capabilities to a WordPress site. These capabilities also add features to a website or make using WordPress easier. In addition, plugins help site owners analyze traffic and appear better to search engines. Plugins can be simple or complex. Many are free. Premium plugins have a free or trial version and a premium pay or subscription version.
WordPress Plugins Are Easy to Download and Install
Plugins, like WordPress, are written in the PHP programming language. They are found in the WordPress dashboard search and downloaded from there. Further, once downloaded, the plugins are installed from the dashboard with a single click. Searching this plugin library shows available plugins for almost anything a user may need. After downloading and installing, these plugins become an integral part of WordPress.
Popular WordPress Plugins Make Using WordPress Easier
Some of the most popular plugins are used by creators and bloggers to make using WordPress easier. Popular plugins like Elementor add drag and drop capabilities to page and post design. This popular plugin also has several companion plugins. For example, one adds drag and drop function to the creation of headers and footers. Additional plugins add custom navigational menus to a page. Some simply add additional capabilities to installed themes. Ocean Extra, for example, adds new functions and capabilities to the OceanWP theme, a popular WordPress theme.
Many Plugins Help Manage Websites
WordPress plugins are important for website managers in monitoring the use of websites. WordPress plugins like Yoast and All in One SEO allow creators to optimize a site for search engines. Insert Headers and Footers allows code to be inserted into a header or footer of a page as required by analytics or advertising. MonsterInsights takes it a step further and manages analytics. Further, there are plugins that duplicate pages to maintain the look of pages throughout a site. In addition, others redirect older pages to newer versions. Updraft Plus is a plugin that backs up a website to a local computer or cloud location. Finally, there are even plugins that display proper cookie consent messages on a website.
Plugins Add Functions to Websites
WPForms is a plugin that gives a website the ability to display a form and collect information from users. This adds additional functionality to the website. Constant Contact and MailChimp give website operators the ability to create opt-in email lists from their users. In addition, there are plugins that allow users to “join” the website by creating membership sites. Finally, there are plugins for push notifications, give aways, automated response, ecommerce, and more. If you see something done on the Internet, there is probably a plugin that can do it!
Starting a WordPress Website to Make Use of These Plugins Is Easy and Straightforward
Before you use any of the WordPress plugins, you need a self-hosted website. However, this is an easy process, even if you have no experience creating a website. First, get a domain name that represents your website. Registrars sell domain names to end users like you and me. In addition, many of these registrars are also companies who provide web hosting as a sort of one-stop shopping for setting up a website. Secondly, get a host. A host provides space for storing the website content and the connection to the Internet. Finally, get a host that has WordPress installed and ready for installation on your website.
For example, I am paid a commission (at no cost to you) if you click a link on this page and sign up for a domain and hosting by one such company, Bluehost. Bluehost hosts this website. Further, it also acts as the domain registrar for websitesinten.com and other domain names that I own. In addition, at the time of this writing, if you sign up for hosting with Bluehost, you get a domain name free for the first year. There are hundreds of these registrar/hosts available on the Internet that provide comparable services. Lastly, obtain a domain and hosting, install WordPress with a single click and then choose a theme. The site is now ready to add plugins and create. To see how I built this website, check out the videos in the Building a Website Series.
Setting up a website requires a domain name and hosting. These are handled by the same domain registrar and hosting company in many cases, for a relatively low cost. Installing WordPress completes the process and the website is ready for themes, plugins, posts, and pages.
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