Most WordPress sites will need a basic set of plugins installed, to add essential functionalities.
Here are the free WordPress plugins installed on this website:
This plugin displays a brief biography about the author at the end of their post. The box at the end of all posts on my website is thanks to this plugin.
A super customizable contact form that lets your visitors send you email. Blocks all automated spammers.
3). Livefyre or Disqus Commenting Systems
These are great systems to power-up your commenting section add more interactivity. For more information have a look at this review of WordPress commenting systems.
4). Login Logo
This plugin allows you to customise the logo on the WordPress login screen. So you can have your website logo displaying, instead of the WordPress logo.
5). Mail From
If you are hosting your website with Bluehost, this plugin is needed to setup WordPress email notifications. After you install the plugin, go to the settings page and see what email address is listed next to this text ‘Current address WordPress is sending mail from.’ Then create that email address in your Bluehost cpanel.
6). Relevanssi
Relevanssi replaces the standard WordPress search with a better search engine, with lots of features and configurable options. You’ll get better results and better presentation of results.
7). Sociable
This WordPress social media plugin, adds buttons to your website to encourage users to share your content on social networks.
Easy to use, customisable way to display icons that link visitors to your various social profiles.
9). Ultimate TinyMCE
Makes it easy to format your posts/pages just like you would in a Word document.
10). WP Smush.it
Reduces image file sizes and improves your site performance. Must have.
11). nrelate – Related and/or Popular Posts
Displays related and popular posts in a very attractive way. Great way to get people to stay on your site longer and read more content.
12). Revision Control
WordPress stores many revisions/older versions of your posts, which is unnecessary bloating. This plugin helps you disable post revisions.
13). W3 Total Cache
Makes your site super fassst. Here is a detailed W3 Total Cache setting guide.
14). WP-PageNavi
Improves the default ← Older posts | Newer posts → navigation in WordPress, by replacing it with page numbers. Makes navigation much easier for users.
