Step 3: Install Your Plugins
One of the most amazing parts of WordPress is how you have access to more than 45,000 plugins. These small apps of sorts are available to help build just about any kind of website you can think of. After installing a plugin, your WordPress website has more functionality.
Before you get started created content, though, there are a few plugins I would suggest installing first.
Jetpack is a plugin that comes with a variety of modules. These modules are like small plugins themselves, and many of them are very beneficial. For example, the primary reason I use Jetpack is because of Proofread and Publicize. The proofreading module itself is worth the install as it scans for misspellings as well as grammatical errors.
Yoast SEO is a great tool for boosting search engine optimization. Not only does it help your content in sites like Google, but it will also give you suggestions about how to create better content. Yoast SEO comes with its own editing tools, meta data control and more for enhancing how your site appears in search results.
Before you start building up your website, it’s a good idea to have some form of security in place. Wordfence Security is one such tool that helps keeps your site protected from malicious coding and hackers. It’s one of the most used plugins for WordPress and is free. From file scanning to blocking features, you can rest well knowing your site is shielded.
TinyMCE Advanced adds a new layer to the WordPress editor for those who want more control over text formatting. The editor built into WordPress is good, but this plugin extends what you can do. TinyMCE Advanced essentially turns the WordPress visual editor into a system similar to most word processors. It uses a drag-and-drop interface so you can easily add or remove editing tools.
Speed is an important part of performing well for both search engines and your visitors. W3 Total Cache helps by caching common elements of your website for quick and easy access. This means there is less time spent downloading the various elements of your site. Your visitors will have a better experience and engines will rank your site higher in search results.
Plenty of Plugins to Choose From
The above list is just a small taste of what’s available in WordPress. These are just the basics as you’ll want to spend time looking for plugins that will accentuate your own content. For instance, health bloggers can easily find nutritional information displays to add to a post which look just like the ones from a package of food.
The hardest part is deciding which plugins to use as many will have competition.