WordPress is one of the most popular websites content management systems and a lot of our total digital marketing clients have their website built in this system. Depending on the way each website is built we may add some plugins that will assist with digital marketing efforts.
From plugins that assist with Search Engine Optimisation, speed up and the website or simple offer a little security.. here are 7 of our favourite WordPress plugins:
Yoast SEO (Free)
Yoast offers everything you need to start managing the Search Engine Optimisation on your website all for free. Paid plans are available but you we recommend you use the free version of the plugin as it contains everything you need to get going. Included within the free version are automated technical SEO improvements, title and meta description templating and much more.
Wordfence Security – Firewall & Malware Scan (Free)
Some plugins are required to just give peace of mind and check for potential issues rather than assist with attracting new customers, Wordfence is designed to defend your website from potential damage by viruses or malware and constantly scans your website looking for issues. There are plenty of configurable options and notifications for when you want to get in depth but getting set up with Wordfence is really simple. This is an essential plugin for looking after your website.
ReSmush.it (Free)
You will likely find many image optimisation plugins with similar names or to this plugin or ones that claim to provide a similar service but this is the original Smush plugin that created the API that all the other systems use. The free option available should be enough for most websites and is simple to set up and offers a few customisation options. This plugin is absolutely crucial to dealing with large images on your website and keeping them optimised for web use.
Image optimization & Lazy Load by Optimole (Free)
Optimole is the all-in-one solution to all of your image optimization needs. With full automation and a range of evolutionary features, Optimole makes it easy to clean up your heavy images and bloaty pages. Optimole optimises your images in real-time with a cloud-based system to speed up websites and deliver high-quality images perfectly sized for every device. With a one-click setup and minimal footprint, you can start improving your site in minutes. The free plan should be enough for most small to medium size businesses.
Download Image Optimization & Lazy Load by Optimole
Really Simple SSL (Free)
Having a HTTPS / SSL Secure website is really crucial these days as search engines are actively penalising websites that do not have this most up to date version of security. To get going you’ll need to arrange the SSL security with your hosting provider and then using a plugin such as Really Simple SSL makes activating the certificate on your website a breeze.
Autoptimize (Free)
Optimising and setting caching on your website doesn’t need to be difficult. There are many plugins that offer claims of boosting performance but Autoptimize offers a nice blend of ease of use and good performance. Take website speed tests before and after configuring the plugin to see the benefits.
MonsterInsights (Free)
This plugin automatically tracks events within Google Analytics. You can see when users have clicked to call you directly from your website, This makes it easier to see where conversions come from and you can make changes accordingly.
If you would like to discuss all how we can help your business please just get in touch today.