WordPress is the content management system that powers over 800 million websites. That’s 43% of all websites in the world! WordPress is the top choice of small business owners and even Fortune 500 companies like Sony and Forbes.
So, what’s so great about WordPress? For one, it’s less expensive than a lot of other content management systems. Plans range from $4 per month to $45 per month if paid upfront for a year. Plus, you can pick and choose additional features to pay for. For example, if you want to upgrade to a special WordPress theme, those usually cost $59 per year. However, the real power of WordPress is its plugins. Plugins are tools that give your website extra functionality, like the ability to sell items on your website or contact forms. There are over 60,000 free WordPress plugins. When it comes down to cost and adding functions as a business grows, WordPress is the best platform for a website.
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Our Favorite WordPress Plugins
A plugin is a type of software that adds functions to your website. The functions include almost anything you can think of – from contact forms to photo galleries to e-commerce tools. Plugins can make once complicated tasks, like managing your website’s SEO, easy.
Here are a few of our favorite plugins to add to a WordPress site.
SeedProd
One of the biggest complaints about WordPress is that there’s a learning curve when you’re getting started. To many people, the dashboard just looks complicated. That’s why so many people use drag-and-drop website builders like Wix and Squarespace. They seem easier to use at first glance. But Wix and Squarespace cost you more money in the long run.
WordPress actually isn’t that hard to use once you get used to it. But if you are confused initially, you can simply install a drag-and-drop plugin so that WordPress functions more like Wix or Squarespace. These plugins will give you access to hundreds of pre-designed templates to easily lay out your website. One plugin that offers pre-designed templates – that you can simply drag photos or videos into – is SeedProd.
SeedProd has over 200 templates. You don’t need to use any coding, and you can change or stylize text much like you already do if you use Microsoft Word or Google Docs. SeedProd also offers image and video libraries or gives you the option to upload your own content. The provided templates make it easy to optimize your webpages so that they rank higher in Google Search Results.
SeedProd isn’t free. But their basic packages start at $31.60 per year. That’s a lot less than Wix or Squarespace!
All In One SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a set of practices you can follow to make sure Google finds your website and ranks high in search engine results pages (SERPs). Google keeps its algorithm, or how it ranks websites, a secret (for the most part).
But researchers have figured out a few tricks, including:
- Using certain keywords throughout the page and in subheadings
- Making sure a webpage’s meta description and title have the right keywords
- Adding keywords to images
- Getting high-quality websites to link to your website
- Making sure each page on your website has outgoing high-quality hyperlinks
You want to make sure each webpage on your site performs these tricks well. All In One SEO is a plugin that tells you what you’re doing right, and what you’re doing wrong. It takes the mystery out of the puzzle. Basic plans start at $49 per year.
Sucuri
30,000 websites are hacked every day. When a website is hacked, that means someone steals information about the site’s customers and publishes it on the dark web. This information often includes credit card information, debit card numbers, and logins and passwords.
Unfortunately, WordPress websites are easy for hackers to break into – unless the operator takes the proper security measures. One of these measures is using a plugin like Sucuri. Sucuro can fix websites that have been hacked into and protect WordPress sites from future attacks and malware. Basic plans start at $199 per year.
WordPress Forms
You want customers to be able to reach you, right? WordPress Forms makes it easy to install contact forms into your WordPress site. They offer pre-designed templates for contact forms, feedback forms, subscription forms, and payment forms.
Not sure that you need forms on your website? We have found that contact forms are essential for any website. In fact, studies show that many people prefer filling out a contact form as opposed to copying and pasting an email, or clicking on an email (which often means they have to wait until their email opens).
The best part about WordPress Forms is that the plugin is free!
LiveChat
When a customer or potential customer has a question, they want an answer as quickly as possible. With LiveChat, you can provide superior digital customer service to everyone who visits your website.
The plugin usually appears in the lower right-hand corner of your website. When it does, customers can ask questions. Some of those can be handled by AI, but more advanced questions can be directed to a real person. If someone asks a question when your business isn’t open, the customer will be notified when they can expect a response, and given multiple options on how and when to best contact them. LiveChat also allows you to get feedback from customers about their customer service interaction.
LiveChat has a 14-day free trial. After that, plans start at $20 per month.
How Do I Add a Plugin to My WordPress Website?
If you like any of the plugins mentioned here, all you need to do is this:
- Go to the WordPress dashboard.
- Choose Plugins > Add new.
- Search for a plugin with the search bar in the top right corner.
- After finding the plugin in the results, click Install Now.
- In most cases, you’ll need to activate the plugin.
If you don’t feel like finding the best plugins for your needs, reach out to SEO Design Chicago. We can take care of identifying the plugins that will work best for your website and your customers.
Contact Us Today!