Here are my top 10 WordPress plugins which I use in almost every website I develop using the Genesis Framework from Studio Press. Over the next few weeks we will be posting more about each of these plugins, and how to get the best out of each one.
Yoast SEO.
The Yoast SEO Plugin allows you to improve your WordPress SEO, an easy editor allows you to add your SEO Meta tags, and also it give you immediate feedback on your selected keyword.
The Yoast SEO Plugin also adds Facebook Open graph tags so you can set up a Facebook Title, Description and image so when your page or post is shared on Facebook these are picked up. It does the same for twitter by setting up twitter cards for each page and post.
Google Analytics by MonsterInsights.
The plug in makes it easy to connect your WordPress site to google analytics, it includes basic reports so you do not have to log into Google analytics to see these results.
Gravity Forms*.
This is one of the best WordPress forms plugins. This is a paid for plugin, but allows you to build either simple or very complexed forms, addition add-ons allow you to connect to third party tools such as paypal, mailchimp and many others.
Image Widget.
A very simple plugin to make it really easy to add images and add links to your widget areas.
Genesis Simple Sidebars.
One limitation with WordPress is you are only able to have one sidebar across your whole site, this plugin allows you to create unlimited widget areas to be used as sidebars, can only be used with the Genesis Framework.
Genesis Simple Share.
This plugin allows you to add Social Sharing buttons to both your pages and post, very neat and tidy images.
It can only be used with the Genesis Framework.
Simple Social Icons.
Great plugin to add links to all your social media platforms, can be added to any widget area.
Genesis Simple Edits.
A simple and easy plugin which easily allows you to update your footer text and also your post metadata.
Genesis Responsive Slider.
A great slider that is fully responsive, allows you to add post to the slider, text from the post can be added to the slider.
OptinMonster API*.
This is a very powerful paid for plugin. It gives a number of powerful opt-in options to your site. This is a much more professional and effective way of growing your subscribers and mailing list.
*As a developer Business Equip owns developers licenses for Gravity forms and OptinMonster, speak to us about special pricing on either of these paid for plugins.