- PPF Points
- 193
When I built my first WordPress website, I was overwhelmed by the number of plugins available. It felt like walking into a giant toolbox without knowing what each tool did. But over time, after testing and failing with a few, I discovered some must-have WordPress plugins that I now install on every site I work on—whether it’s for a blog, online store, or portfolio.
One of the first plugins I always use is Yoast SEO. I didn’t know anything about search engine optimization at the beginning, but Yoast made it easy. It showed me how to write posts that were more SEO-friendly by giving me real-time suggestions—like improving titles, adding keywords, and optimizing meta descriptions.
Then there’s WPForms. I remember the first time someone tried to contact me through my site, and I realized I hadn’t set up a proper contact form. With WPForms, I created a simple contact form in minutes—drag and drop, no coding needed. It helped me look more professional and made it easier for visitors to reach out.
For website security, I use Wordfence Security. One of my sites was once hacked due to a weak password and outdated plugin, and that experience made me take security seriously. Wordfence helped me monitor login attempts, scan for malware, and block suspicious activity.
I also rely on UpdraftPlus for backups. I learned the hard way when I accidentally deleted a page and had no backup to restore it. With UpdraftPlus, I schedule automatic backups and connect them to my Google Drive so I can roll back my site if something goes wrong.
Lastly, I always install Smush to optimize images. It compresses image files without losing quality, which keeps my site fast. When I first launched, my homepage loaded slowly because of large image files. After installing Smush, loading speed improved noticeably, and that helped with both SEO and user experience.
These plugins have become my go-to set because they solve key problems: visibility, communication, security, performance, and peace of mind. If you’re starting a WordPress site, I highly recommend installing them from day one—it’ll save you a lot of time and trouble.
One of the first plugins I always use is Yoast SEO. I didn’t know anything about search engine optimization at the beginning, but Yoast made it easy. It showed me how to write posts that were more SEO-friendly by giving me real-time suggestions—like improving titles, adding keywords, and optimizing meta descriptions.
Then there’s WPForms. I remember the first time someone tried to contact me through my site, and I realized I hadn’t set up a proper contact form. With WPForms, I created a simple contact form in minutes—drag and drop, no coding needed. It helped me look more professional and made it easier for visitors to reach out.
For website security, I use Wordfence Security. One of my sites was once hacked due to a weak password and outdated plugin, and that experience made me take security seriously. Wordfence helped me monitor login attempts, scan for malware, and block suspicious activity.
I also rely on UpdraftPlus for backups. I learned the hard way when I accidentally deleted a page and had no backup to restore it. With UpdraftPlus, I schedule automatic backups and connect them to my Google Drive so I can roll back my site if something goes wrong.
Lastly, I always install Smush to optimize images. It compresses image files without losing quality, which keeps my site fast. When I first launched, my homepage loaded slowly because of large image files. After installing Smush, loading speed improved noticeably, and that helped with both SEO and user experience.
These plugins have become my go-to set because they solve key problems: visibility, communication, security, performance, and peace of mind. If you’re starting a WordPress site, I highly recommend installing them from day one—it’ll save you a lot of time and trouble.