The awesome thing about WordPress is you can add functionality to your website in minutes using plugins. A plugin is an app you install on your site to add extra features and functionality.
Because WordPress is such a popular website platform, there are thousands of plugins to choose from, both free and premium. The massive number of choices can be mind-boggling.
How to find the right plugin
The easiest way to find a plugin is to go to Google then build a search as follows: function you are trying to perform + WordPress + plugin. (e.g. backup wordpress plugin) That will usually bring up a good list of plugins to choose from.
If you are selecting a plugin from WordPress.org, make sure to choose plugins that have a good number of users and at least a 3-star rating. I usually look for plugins that have a 4 or 5-star rating and have a good track record of support issues being addressed by the plugin author. I also check the support forum to make sure highly-rated plugins don’t have recent issues that haven’t been addressed by the plugin author.
How to install a plugin
To install a new plugin from the WordPress.org repository, follow these steps:
- Click Plugins > Add New
- In the search box, search for the plugin name then click Install
- Once the plugin installation is complete, click Activate
To install a plugin from a zip file you downloaded, follow these steps:
- Click Plugins > Add New
- Click Upload Plugin
- Click Choose to browse to the file
- Select the file then click Open
- Once the plugin installation is complete, click Activate
Some plugins don’t require any setup at all while others may take quite a bit of work to set them up to work on your site. See the plugin author’s website or the WordPress.org page for plugin instructions and support.
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