If the key codes don’t enhance or describe/compliment the map, then they aren’t necessary, are they?
Think of your plugins in that manner.
Plugins MUST enhance, describe or compliment your blog, or don’t use them.
They’ll just be a distraction and unnecessary clutter.
Some of you may be wondering why I would include plugins for blog design?
Let me explain some of my plugins and how they effect the design of my blog.
Keep in mind that my blogsite is ever evolving so I’m always tinkering with my plugins … adding new ones, customizing current ones, and removing old ones … but here’s my current list of favorites.
I use the “.html on Pages” plugin to add ‘.html’ onto my pages … which helps with SEO.
** I also use <code>/%post_id%/%postname%.html</code> as my custom permalinks setting for the same SEO reasons **
The “HTML Page Sitemap” plugin allowed me to create an HTML version of my Google sitemap, which I then used to create my “Resources>>All Pages” page.
I use a combination of the “Collision Testimonials” plugin (for testimonial submissions form) and the “Testimonials Manager” plugin for the actual testimonials when I post them to my blogsite (I like the way they look better than Collisions).
I use the “Dave’s WordPress Live Search” for enhanced search functions and since I was able to create a Search-page php template using the code. Go ahead, try out my Search Page … it’s pretty cool.
“Different Posts Per Page” plugin allows me to control the look of different pages by letting me control which pages show exactly the number of posts that I think work best.
You have to register (free) for this plugin, but I’ve found it to be well worth it.
“Disqus Comment System” plugin just enhances my blogsite’s commenting system and also tracks the comments I leave on other people’s websites.
I use the “Easy Contact” plugin for the form you see on my Contact Page … drop me a note.
“Faq-Tastic” plugin helped me to create and maintain my FAQs Page.
I also use the “My Category Order” and “My Page Order” plugins in order to rearrange my categories, sub-categories, pages and sub-pages the way I want them … regardless of the order/date I may have added them.
I created my awesome Portfolio galleries with the “NexGEN Gallery” plugin.
“Sociable” plugin creates the line just below my posts and above the comments so my tourists can easily share my posts with others.
Using the “Super Cat Lister” plugin, I was able to create my “Resources>>All Categories” and “Resources>>All Posts” pages.
“WordPress Database Backup” plugin automatically backs up my blogsite and emails it to me once a week, but you can set it to backup at whatever frequency you desire. You can use it to manually perform backups too. I LOVE the peace of mind this gives me.
“WordPress Download Monitor” plugin created my Downloads Page.
It helps you to track downloads and highlight the most popular.
If you like the little Category & Tags cloud in the sidebar, it’s created with the “WP-Cumulus” plugin and it has some great options for customization.
“WP-PageNavi” plugin makes the page numbers you see at the bottom of my posts.
And my newest favorite plugin “WPtouch iPhone Theme” turns my blogsite into one optimized for mobile devices. It’s super easy to use and does all the hard part for you so you just have to set some options and enjoy the results on a mobile device.
Since plugins are free (at least all the ones I use) then there’s no reason not to give them a go and see how you can enhance your blogsite.
As you can see, plugins really can effect the layout and design of your blog depending on which ones you use and how you use them.
Check out the Plugins Directory courtesy of WordPress.org and you can use their instructions to learn how to best Find, Install and Manage Plugins.
Here’s your map to all the posts in this series.
Be sure to check out my next series- Atahualpa Theme: Customization Series
