One of the great things about WordPress is the vast selection of plugins available to add functionality to your site. You can find plugins in the WordPress plugin repository or from third-party websites. However, with over 50,000 plugins to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know which ones to use. It’s important to choose quality plugins that will enhance your site’s performance, rather than hurt it. In this post, we’ll go over some tips to help you choose the best plugins. We’ll then see how to install and configure them.
Selecting quality plugins
Don’t overload your site with plugins
“Do I really need this functionality?” That’s the first question to ask yourself before installing yet another cool plugin. While attractive features and extra functionalities may seem like a good idea at first, adding too many plugins can slow down your site, cause conflicts, and increase the risk of security vulnerabilities. Only install the plugins you absolutely need, and regularly assess whether each plugin is still necessary. Remove any plugins that are no longer necessary.
Opt for lightweight plugins
When searching for plugins, use the adjective lightweight to describe the plugin you are looking for. Search for “lightweight accordion plugin”, for example. Lightweight plugins are designed to be as efficient and fast-loading as possible, with clean HTML5 code and dynamic CSS. These types of plugins usually have no code dependencies, meaning they don’t rely on or interact with other code libraries. GeneratePress, for example, offers a truly lightweight theme (GeneratePress) as well as a lightweight plugins (GeneratePress Premium, GenerateBlocks).
Read the reviews
One of the best ways to gauge the quality of a plugin is to read reviews from other users. Many plugins have thousands of reviews, so it’s important to read a mix of positive and negative reviews. Look for patterns in the reviews such as complaints of bugs or slow loading times. Additionally, check the plugin’s ratings. Plugins with an average rating of 4.5 or above are generally considered to be quality plugins.
Check for updates
Ongoing updates are critical to a plugin’s quality. Regular updates mean the developers are actively working on improving the plugin, fixing bugs, and keeping it compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Before choosing a plugin, check the changelog for previous updates. If the developers haven’t updated the plugin in several months, it may be a sign it’s time to replace it.
Check compatibility
Compatibility is crucial when it comes to plugins. Before choosing a plugin, make sure it’s compatible with your version of WordPress. You can find this information next to “Tested up to:” on the plugin’s page. Additionally, check for compatibility with any other plugins you have installed as conflicts can occur, leading to performance issues and potential crashes.
Look for active support
When choosing a plugin, make sure the developer provides active support. Support can come in the form of documentation, FAQs, forums, and even email or chat support. This will come in handy if you run into problems or need help setting it up.
Installing a plugin
There are two ways you can install a plugin in WordPress. The first is through the WordPress plugin repository, and the second is through a zip file. To install a plugin through the WordPress plugin repository, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New. Search for the plugin you want to install, click install, and then click activate.
To install a plugin through a zip file, download the zip file from the third-party website, go to the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, and select the downloaded zip file.
Configuring a plugin
The configuration process varies from plugin to plugin, so you need to follow the instructions provided by the developer. You can configure most plugins by going to the Plugin settings page in the WordPress dashboard. To access the plugin settings page, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, find the plugin you want to configure, and click Settings.
Conclusion
Choosing quality WordPress plugins is an essential part of managing your site. By reading reviews, checking for updates and compatibility, looking for active support, and being mindful not to overload your site, you can ensure that your site remains fast and secure. Remember, always be cautious when installing new plugins and take the time to research each one. Happy plugin hunting!
