Look, if you’re in the WordPress game, you know it’s not just about flexing your PHP muscles or crafting killer designs. Nah, it’s also about having the right set of tools that can make you go from a weekend warrior to a WordPress wizard. π§
Over the years, I’ve tinkered with more plugins than you can shake a stick at – some were diamonds, and some were just plain dirt. But today, I’m pulling back the curtain to share the crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me, the plugins that have earned their place in my digital toolbox and should probably be in yours, too.
Note: No affiliate links were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
My Essential WordPress Plugins
Advanced Custom Fields Pro
https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/pro/
Let’s face it, WordPress’ custom fields suck. You give it a name with a single text field to enter your value. No type, no proper UI. Sucks.
Unlike the free version, ACF Pro has some features I use in 90% of website builds. These are the Repeater Field, Options Pages and Flexible Content.
The pro version also comes with ACF Blocks, allowing PHP developers to quickly create custom blocks without faffing around in all that node and JS nonsense!
Gravity Forms
If you’ve ever been neck-deep in custom form HTML and thought, “There’s got to be a better way,” let me introduce you to Gravity Forms.
This plugin not only makes form creation a breeze but it’s also got integrations galore. It plays well with everything from Mailchimp to Stripe, so you can effortlessly marry forms with functionality.
Gravity Forms Zero Spam
Spam entries are the bane of any developer’s life – like getting sand in your keyboard.
Gravity Forms Zero Spam pairs with Gravity Forms to act like your personal spam bouncer. It’s like having a guardian angel that silently keeps all the spammers at bay. No CAPTCHAs, no quizzes, just clean, useful data.
OneSignal Push Notifications
Ah, the coveted web push notification – a direct line to your audience, if you will.
OneSignal is your plug-and-play solution for adding push notifications to your WordPress site.
Whether you’re blasting out content updates or time-sensitive offers, it’s versatile and works like a charm.
Scripts-To-Footer
Are page load speeds dragging you down? Enter Scripts-To-Footer.
This plugin relocates your JS scripts to the footer, so your content loads before any laggy scripts can bring the party to a halt. It’s like hiring a roadie to make sure your performance is top-notch.
SEOPress Pro
I’ve seen many SEO plugins that make big promises but only deliver a pile of garish, eye-bleeding UI settings that seem redundant and “meh”.
SEOPress Pro is different. It’s a no-nonsense, powerful SEO tool that cuts through the chaff. Easy setup, effective results, and it even comes with built-in schema support.
Yoast Duplicate Post
Ever find yourself building something complex and thinking, “Wait. Haven’t I done this before”?
With Yoast Duplicate Post, you can clone posts or pages with a simple click. This isn’t just a copy-paste job; this thing clones metadata, taxonomies, and custom fields like a champ.
Wordfence
Security should never be an afterthought, and Wordfence is your virtual security guard, ensuring the bad guys stay out.
It’s got firewall capabilities, malware scans, and real-time threat detection. If WordPress was Fort Knox, consider Wordfence your special-ops security detail.
Plugins Ive Developed
Never one to miss a chance to pat me on the back, here are the WordPress plugins I’ve developed over the years.
Always Edit in HTML
You know that moment when the Classic Editor’s Visual tab decides to “help” and mangles your perfect HTML?
Yeah, it drives me nuts too. Always Edit in HTML keeps you in HTML mode so you can code without interruptions. It’s like having a “Do Not Disturb” sign for your markup.
Change Product Author for WooCommerce
Managing a multi-author WooCommerce store and finding it a chaotic mess?
Change Product Author for WooCommerce is your peace-bringer. This nifty plugin lets you easily change the product author, providing much-needed order to your e-commerce universe. Think of it as your online shop’s organisational fairy godmother.
Deactivate XML-RPC Service
Let’s be honest: XML-RPC is like that rusty old tool in your shed – you probably don’t use it, but it’s a glaring security hole.
Deactivating the XML-RPC Service is like putting a lock on that shed. You might not miss the functionality, but you’ll definitely appreciate the extra layer of security.
Stop Media Comment Spamming
Ah, media comment spam – the graffiti of the WordPress world.
When you’ve got something beautiful up, you last want it to be defaced. Stop Media Comment Spamming effectively shuts down unwanted media comments. It’s like having a spam exterminator that works 24/7.
Email Blacklist For Elementor Forms
Elementor Forms are slick, but let’s face it – sometimes they attract the wrong crowd.
Email Blacklist for Elementor Forms is your bouncer, checking the guest list and ensuring only the right folks get through. It’s a must-have for anyone using Elementor to manage forms.
Enter spammy email addresses or domain names to block the sender from submitting an Elementor Pro Form.
Your Turn
Alright, you’ve seen the secret sauce behind my WordPress sorcery. Now it’s your turn to spill the beans.
Imagine you’re marooned on a tropical island ποΈ – yeah, you’ve got Wi-Fi a laptop, and somehow, your clients can still bombard you with emails.
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What’s the plugin survival kit that you’d want by your side?
Shoot me an email, tweet, or carrier pigeon with your top picks. I’m all ears and who knows, your go-to might just become my new favourite!
Until next time, keep thriving.
Wil.
