WordPress Twenty Twelve Plugins Add Features and Functions to Design Your Site
Plugins, Add New, on Dashboard Shows Tabs for Featured, Popular, Newest
WordPress Twenty Twelve plugins to meet an almost infinite number of needs are available. Plugins are defined as bits of code that add specific features to the website or blog. The features might be useful functions or design elements.
Site Search Function: A frequent question at this website is how to add a site search box. I did this by using a widget. In the widgets screen simple drag a Search widget over to the sidebar area. It will show up on all the pages that have sidebars. If you are using the default template that has a sidebar then it will show on all pages and posts in the sidebar.
The installed version of WordPress for a self-hosted website or blog comes automatically with a default theme. It is a basic package for a site. You use a two step process to click an Install button and an Activate button to add a plugin to the site.
Once the plugin is activated it might also have a Settings or a Configure step. This does not involve writing code. You might be checking boxes or making choices. For instance, a social media plugin might have a place for you to choose the style of buttons and the size that you want to use. Beginners need not be intimidated at the thought of installing and using plugins.
WordPress Plugins give you the power to customize your site. Think of it as getting a basic package and then reshaping it into the form that you need for your project.
WordPress Twenty Twelve plugins that are useful for your specific needs can be located by going to the Dashboard. On the left side of the screen there is a list of labels. Let your mouse hover over Plugins. Add New is one of the choices that will pop out in the menu. Click to view the Add New screen.
You will see the labels across the top of the screen where you can click to browse plugins. They are organized under the titles Featured, Popular, and Newest. For example if you click Popular you will see a list.
Plugins Listed As Most Popular Included the Following.
- Akismet (comments spam blocker).
- Contact Form 7 (for visitors to send you an email).
- Jetpack from WordPress.com (huge number of features all in one plugin, now available for wordpress.org users) was listed next.
- All In One SEO Pack.
- WordPress SEO by Yoast,
- NextGENGallery (an image gallery plugin).
- W3 Total Cache (speeds up the site)
Check Featured, and Newest Under Plugins Also
You can go to look at the list to get ideas of which plugins the WordPress community is using the most. You can also check the Featured, and Newest. Sometimes it is difficult to imagine what type of plugin your site might need. Browsing the available plugins gives you a chance to visualize and get ideas.
How to Search for Plugins
WordPress Plugins can be searched by typing in keywords for what you need and clicking browse. For example if you need a slider plugin type slider. The list that pops up will have the plugins rated by stars. There will be a link to go to the plugin’s page and a link to read details.
Plugin tags are arranged in a tags cloud so you can also click on a tag to see the relevant plugins.
Popular Plugins Used on My Site
You can see the list of some of the plugins I am using below. This might be a way to get ideas for finding plugins that add specific features that your own site needs.
- Collapsing Categories. Shows the categories for the posts in a list with arrows. When the arrows are clicked all the posts under a particular category show in a list.
- Akismet – spam blocker for comments
- Captcha – prevents comment spam by asking visitors to type some numbers or letters to avoid bots
- Contact Form 7 – easy to install email contact form
- Efficient Related Posts – lists related posts under an article so visitors can click to read more related material. Automatically selects articles with similar tags. Can be limited to a number of titles in the list.
- GetSocial – Social Media Share buttons in a vertical floating box on the left side of the site. The buttons remain stationary while a visitor scrolls down the screen so they are always nearby for easy sharing.
- Jetpack from WordPress.com – Huge number of useful features in one plugin. I’m using the social media buttons that show up under each article. They are listed under it’s Publicize label. I’m also using the Stats in addition to using Google Analytics.
- WordPress SEO by Yoast – Guides you in steps for good SEO so your site will rank higher.
- WP Date Remover – Removes the dates so you can go back and update old posts without having the old date still show after the update.
- Pulse Maps – Shows world map with orange highlights for locations where visits originated. Also shows 30 day visitor count. Real time visitors on the site now are showed by small white dots.
- Social Media Widget – Adds a widget for the “Follow” social media buttons that you drag over to the sidebar area in the widgets screen. Has dozens of buttons you can add. Just type or paste in the address of your own social media or custom links.
- WP Complete Back Up – Complete back for your WordPress Site. Note: your web host will probably also have a complete back up for your site’s files.