I’ve been messing lately a lot with DIY Powder‘s WordPress backend & theme. After apas.gr & DIY Powder, I’ve figured out some essential plugins that are a “must” for every fresh WordPress installation.
[links at plugin titles]
All in One SEO
Out-of-the-box SEO settings for your WordPress blog. There’s also a Pro version, but the free is rocking itself.
Contact Form 7
The most flexible, yet extremely simple (can’t be simpler than that) Contact Form there is out there.
Google Analytics for WordPress
This plugin makes it simple to add Google Analytics, as well as automatic clickout and download tracking to your WordPress blog.
Google XML Sitemaps
This plugin will generate a special XML sitemap which will help search engines to better index your blog. Works perfectly for Google Webmaster Tools.
Search Everything
Adds extended search functionality for to search all context, not only titles or tags without editing any PHP template file.
Sociable
Automatically add links on your posts, pages and RSS feed to your favorite social bookmarking sites. Very simple & CSS customizable.
Subscribe to Comments
Allows readers to receive notifications of new comments that are posted to an entry.
WordPress.com Stats
Tracks views, post/page views, referrers, and clicks. Requires a WordPress.com API key, which you can get at WordPress.com.
I’m going to write another one list which will feature some more complicated or more advanced plugins soon.
Am I missing something? Would you recommend something else? Comment below!
subscribe to comments? I didn’t know this one because is feature of wordpress to subscribe to comments. There is no need of plugin.
2nd sociable is too old nowadays. Better is sexy bookmarks and Digg plugin (is not only for digg)
All in one SEO has a better one that named platinum seo and it can take your configuration from all in one.
Contact form didn’t work for me but I didn’t look why.
And I’ll to add cute profiles and for Greek friends permalinks translator (by Andreas Andreou after my request) links checker and simple tags.
Actually, Subscribe to Comments was rolled-out from WordPress.com during or before Winter If I am not mistaken. For self-hosted blogs, you had to do it on your own via a plugin.
I’ll check out Sexy Bookmarks and the Digg plugin you are saying but I am not sure whether I’ll change Sociable because it’s very stable, minimal and does the job perfectly.
Honestly, the Platinum SEO — I hear it for the first time.
It’s a bummer that Contact Form didn’t work for you. I’ve made several WP installations throughout the year and Contact form was always rocking good!
Have to check out also Cute profiles, Permanlinks translator, links checker and simple tags.
Thanks, Karpidis!
Now I am thinking that subscribe to comments maybe is about via email . Because wordpress always gave rss for comments of a post.
And I didn’t mention that I enjoyed your post. I like this kind of posts! :)