plugins, add-ons + extras

It seems like many bloggers + business owners treat WordPress plugins like they are collectibles. However, this is one instance where “more is better” doesn’t work. That’s because plugins can add some really awesome functionality to your website. While at the same time add more work to your plate — by requiring on-going maintenance, testing + hogging resources from the rest of your website. Which is why some WordPress plugins are better off being removed when you’re done using them. Even if you need to re-add them later, it’s better…

Much like widgets, the term “plugin” is not specific to WordPress. Outside of my favorite blogging platform, plugins are defined as “a small piece of software that supplements a larger program” + I think that definition will help break down what exactly a WordPress plugin is. WordPress Plugins According to WordPress.org, “plugins are PHP scripts that extend the functionality of WordPress.” That got a little nerdy really quickly, so let’s break it down with the general definition of a plugin. “PHP scripts” is another way of saying “a small piece…

Having a fast WordPress website is really important. Not only do users have terribly short attention spans, but when dealing with weak WiFi signals or limited cell data, users want to get the content they are hoping for, quickly. There are a lot of things you can do to speed up your website but let’s go over 3 plugins that can do the work for you. Caching plugin If you’re not familiar with caching, check out this quick breakdown before adding caching to your site. Once you’re done with that…

There are 2 ways to add links on a WordPress site — by adding a link to text (a word or phrase) or by adding a link to an image. Which is exactly how you can add custom PayPal buttons to link directly to your PayPal payment pages. The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you’re linking to a one-time purchase or a subscription payment setup. That’s because you can always add custom PayPal buttons by changing the appearance of the link itself. Custom PayPal buttons using images…

In order to use Facebook remarketing/retargeting, you’ll need to add a blip of code to your site. Once you’ve created the code with your FB account, you have a few ways to add Facebook pixel code. Option 1: Add Facebook pixel code with a plugin For those that aren’t super nerdy or techy, using a plugin is your best bet. The only downside to this route is that you have a new plugin to run updates for + test. However, if it keeps you from needing to edit PHP files…

I already shared my favorite plugins for the average WordPress site, but now it’s time to cover the other end of the spectrum — plugins that folks have installed when they really don’t need them. Whether it’s because it’s slowing your site down without you knowing, adding way more code than necessary or doing more harm than good, you’ll want to scan your plugin list for these offenders. Favicon Adder I get that not everyone knows how to add a favicon to their site, but trust me when I say…

Every website has different needs + a different purpose, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few plugins that I recommend for almost every site built on WordPress. Open your current plugin list + see if you have any of these favorites already in place. if not, check them out! Full disclosure — I often challenge myself to build new WordPress sites with as few plugins as I possibly can. Because I’m a giant nerd. Though it is rare that I can get away with creating a project that has…

Adding plugins to WordPress There are two ways you can go about adding a plugin to your site — the easy way + the nerdy way. The easy way to add plugins If the plugin you want to add is a free plugin listed in the plugin area of WordPress, you can add it the easy way. Go to Plugins > Add New to search for the plugin you want. Once you find the one you were looking for, click Install to add the plugin to your site. WordPress will…

What the heck am I even talking about when I say “embed opt-in code”? This means taking the signup form for your newsletter/mailing list + placing it directly onto a page or post. That way, you get folks to sign up right from your website. It’s super smart for one big reason — it gets folks to sign up while they are interested in you, your content or your business. Let’s say someone just got done reading your latest blog post + was shouting “heck yes!” in the privacy of…