If you’re just getting started with WordPress blogging, you should definitely use plugins. There are over 60,000 WordPress plugins. They can improve your blog’s loading time, optimize posts for search engines, and protect against cyber threats.
To set you up with the best pack of plugins possible, I’ll be sharing my favorite freemium options in today’s post. You’ll get the low down on how WordPress plugins work, and all the information you need about premium subscriptions. Let’s dive in…
What Are WordPress Plugins?
Essentially, plugins are extra lines of software code that you can add to your blog. They’ll extend the functionality of existing tools or add completely new capabilities.
Usually, plugins are developed by a third-party company or creator. But with WordPress’s dedicated plugins tab, they can be easily installed, activated, and customized to suit your blog’s needs.
As I hinted at the start of this post, there’s a WordPress plugin to suit every need. Some of the most popular plugins can:
- Enhance site performance by improving speed and security measures
- Personalize the theme of your blog and the design of your posts
- Improve your posts’ SEO
- Automate your CMS processes
- Track your blog’s analytics
- Provide eCommerce functions like shopping carts and payment gateways
- Enable social media sharing and track cross-site engagement
If you want a strong start in the highly competitive world of blogging, plugins give your site an edge without the need for coding. You’ll get a blog you can be proud of, while your readers will receive a user-friendly, enjoyable experience.
So, what is a freemium plugin?
Many WordPress plugins are completely free. However, some will have a paid option, also known as a premium plan, that you can add on. This combination of free and premium plans is what makes a plugin ‘freemium’.
Freemium plugins are a great option if you want to test a plugin before committing to the full functionality. Or, if you’re just getting started and haven’t yet monetized your blog, you can wait until you see those Adsense dollars before purchasing a premium plan.
How to Install Plugins on WordPress
To install plugins on your WordPress site, you’ll need to subscribe to the Creator, Entrepreneur, Cloud, or Enterprise hosting plans. Then, follow these simple steps:
- Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on the ‘Plugins’ tab in the left-side menu.
- Search for plugins or browse by plugin categories.
- Click on a plugin to explore what it does and find out if there’s a premium option available.
- Click ‘install and activate’ to add the plugin to your site.
You can also upload a plugin with a .zip file if you’ve purchased one from a third-party seller. However, I’d recommend going through WordPress’s dedicated plugin page if you’re just starting out. Find out more with WordPress’s handy guide here.
Though free plugins can be very tempting, bear in mind that you probably don’t want to install more than 40 on your site. Too many plugins can be counterproductive, increase load times, and generally detract from your readers’ experience.
Instead, take some time to compare and contrast different plugins. Make sure to read the reviews and find out what other bloggers think. And don’t forget, you can uninstall plugins that you dislike or no longer use by navigating to their page on the plugins tab.
The Best WordPress Plugins for Bloggers
Now that you know what plugins are and how to install them on your blog, let’s take a closer look at some of the best WordPress plugins for bloggers.
1. Yoast SEO
Best for Optimization – Yoast SEO
For many bloggers, both new and old, Yoast SEO is absolutely essential. After a quick setup to tailor Yoast’s output to your blog’s aims, you can start optimizing your posts for search engines.
What sets Yoast SEO apart?
Easy Editing – Yoast SEO allows you to optimize your posts’ SEO titles and meta descriptions right from the editing page.
Suggested Improvements – You’ll be able to see exactly what you need to do to optimize your posts, from improving keyword density to adding alt text.
Comprehensive SEO – It’s not just keywords that Yoast SEO takes into account. It’ll also coach you to improve your post’s readability and technical SEO.
Yoast SEO Premium
If you find Yoast SEO’s free version helpful, the premium plugin adds even more useful features. It’ll let you know whether your keyword distribution is up to scratch and even provide AI-generated titles and descriptions for maximum optimization.
You can get the Yoast SEO premium plugin for $10 a month or $99 annually.
2. Elementor
Best for Blog Post Design – Elementor
WordPress’s editing page is relatively easy to navigate, but it’s often a chore to get everything looking perfect. Elementor solves this problem by making stunning blog posts incredibly simple to design.
What sets Elementor apart?
Dedicated Editor – Once you’ve downloaded the Elementor plugin, all you need to do is click the ‘edit with Elementor’ button at the top of the WordPress page editor.
Drag and Drop – Forget adding and editing blocks. With Elementor, you can drag and drop the exact widgets you need onto your post and maintain a cohesive look throughout.
Theme Builder – If you’ve decided on a set structure for your blog posts, use the Elementor theme builder to apply that look across your entire blog.
Elementor Pro
The free Elementor plugin gives you everything you need for easy editing. However, if you want maximum customization options right down to the color of the borders on your blog’s buttons, the pro version is for you.
After a 30-day free trial, you can get the Elementor Pro WordPress plugin for $59 annually. There are more expensive plans ranging from $99-$399 a year, so take a look at what they can offer your blog.
3. ShortPixel
Best for Image Compression – ShortPixel Image Optimizer
If your posts’ loading times are higher than average, it can push your blog down in the SERPs. One easy way to speed up your site is by compressing your images. Fortunately, there are many image compression plugins available, and Shortpixel is my favorite.
What sets ShortPixel apart?
On-site Compression – Forget navigating to third-party image compressors. ShortPixel will automatically compress any images you add to your pages.
PDF Compression – It’s not just images that ShortPixel handles. If you like to add PDF files to your blog, ShortPixel will compress those too.
Preserved Quality – Some image compressors can lessen the quality of your beautiful photography. However, ShortPixel’s algorithm ensures you don’t lose a single pixel.
ShortPixel Unlimited
On ShortPixel’s free plan, you’ll be able to resize 10 pictures every month. However, if you’re trying to get your blog off the ground, you’ll likely need to compress a lot more than that.
ShortPixel Unlimited is available for $9.99 monthly or $99 a year.
4. MonsterInsights
Best for Analytics – MonsterInsights
WordPress does offer bloggers some limited data about how readers found a post and how long they stayed on your site. However, if you’re serious about growing your blog, you’ll need a more extensive analytics panel. MonsterInsights satisfies that need.
What sets MonsterInsights apart?
Google Analytics Metrics – MonsterInsights allows you to view the Google Analytics for your WordPress blog without leaving your dashboard. See everything from the number of page views to the devices readers use to access your blog, and make changes instantly.
Cater to Readers – With data that shows your top posts, authors, and the number of readers who just can’t help coming back to your blog, you can optimize your posts and schedule to suit them.
Find Potential Partners – MonsterInsights also offers you information about the links users follow to get to your blog. If there’s another blogger who loves linking to your posts, why not reach out and form a partnership?
MonsterInsights Pro
The free version of MonsterInsights offers more than enough to get you started. However, as your blog begins to grow, you’ll want a little more information about how well your posts are doing. MonsterInsights Pro provides a huge amount of data to peruse, including scroll tracking and eCommerce conversion analytics.
5. Advanced Ads
Best for Monetization – Advanced Ads
If you want to take the next step and start running ads on your blog, the Advanced Ads plugin is a must-have. From a specialized tab on your WordPress dashboard, you’ll be able to track ad campaigns and make changes for maximum exposure.
What sets Advanced Ads apart?
Added Control – Advanced Ads allows you to create, customize, and control a variety of ad campaigns alongside Google AdSense, the Amazon Affiliate Program, and other popular monetization services.
Bespoke Partnerships – Instead of letting a PPC ads service populate your blog, Advanced Ads allows you to tailor ad campaigns alongside business partners or other bloggers. This means you can upload unique campaigns for businesses that your readers will love.
Increased Earnings – With the key features mentioned above and the ability to tweak how ad campaigns run on your blog, you’ll be able to increase ad visibility and engagement and maximize your earnings.
Advanced Ads Pro
The free Advanced Ads WordPress plugin is great if you’ve just started monetizing your blog. However, Advanced Ads Pro is worth trying if you want to run unlimited ad campaigns, view in-depth analytics, and reach readers who use an ad blocker.
6. UpdraftPlus
Best for Backups – UpdraftPlus
Whoops! You misclicked and deleted one of your highest-ranking posts. It happens to all of us, but there’s no need to panic. With the Updraft Plus plugin installed, you can restore your WordPress site from a backup and avoid losing your hard work.
What sets UpdraftPlus apart?
100GB Backups – You’re uploading your 10,000-page fantasy saga onto your blog? No problem. The UpdraftPlus plugin allows you to make backups of your site and databases up to 100GB in size.
Scheduled Backups – Though the plugin automatically backs up your blog every time you update, you can also set UpdraftPlus to make backups at a certain time. Also, the plugin regularly deletes out-of-date backups, so don’t worry about using up your allotted space on the server.
Encryption – All your backups are completely encrypted and anonymized. If malware causes you to lose your blog, your backups will always be safe from cyber threats.
UpdraftPlus Premium
UpdraftPlus is incredibly popular with bloggers because its free services are so comprehensive. But that’s not to say the premium version doesn’t offer some great benefits, like the ability to clone your blog if you’re moving away from WordPress and the option to save backups in multiple locations.
You can get UpdraftPlus Premium for two blogs for $84 a year.
Other Freemium WordPress Plugins to Try
While those are my favorite freemium WordPress plugins, there’s much more for you to test out. Take a look at:
- WP Super Cache – cache files and pages to improve load times
- Woorise– host giveaways and contests on your blog
- Smash Balloon – link your blog to your Instagram feed
- Pretty Links – add, market, and track affiliate links on your pages
- WP Forms – create contact forms or mailing list sign-ups and add them to your posts
- Akismet Spam Protection – get rid of spam comments and email addresses
- Wordfence – an all-in-one cyber security plugin to protect your blog and its readers
In Conclusion…
Whether you’re making your first post or have been at it for decades, plugins are a huge help for bloggers. With the help of the WordPress plugins on this list, you’ll be well on your way to running a beautiful, seamless, monetized blog that readers will love.
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