You’ve installed WordPress, added a beautiful theme, and now you’re salivating over thousands of plugins WordPress has to offer. But before you install a single plugin, read on!

Folks love to install plugins, sometimes several that do essentially the same thing. What’s the harm, you think. Well, for one, plugins use up resources and can slow down your site. They can also potentially open up security holes. They can cause conflicts. In short, they can wreak havoc if you’re not careful.

Here’s a recommended list of essential and powerful plugins. Click on each learn more. It isn’t exhaustive, as every website has its own custom needs, but it’s a great starting point. Just remember that some information can eventually become outdated so be sure to always check the provided links for the latest documentation.

1. Akismet: helps prevent spam comments.
2. BlogVault: remote backup solution for your website.
3. Elementor Pro: powerful page builder.
4. Gravity Forms: a premiere form builder with advanced options.
5. Redirection: helps redirect old pages to new ones so you don’t lose SEO rankings.
6. Solid Security: adds layers of security to your website.
7. Yoast SEO: premiere plugin for search engine optimization.

If you need assistance in determining what plugins your website needs, please feel free to contact us.