WordPress Plugins in 2012

WordPress is an amazing and user-friendly web content management system that comes with a wide range of plugins. Since many people are now hooked to the blogging craze, here are eight of the best WordPress plugins to check out in 2012.

Top 4 free WordPress plugins 2012:

1.WP Super Cache – This plug-in allows you to create static HTML files straight from your WordPress site. When an HTML file is directly generated to your blog, the entire server will process the file without relying on expensive PHP scripts. These files however, will be further served to specific users with their details that are usually displayed on the site’s comment box or form. Considered as one of the most advanced WordPress plugins today, WP Super Cache can serve cached files in three easy ways:

•Legacy caching is basically used to cache HTML pages for basic WordPress plugins. The latter comprises of visitors and regular users who can leave comments or simply those with customized user data already programmed in WordPress. Legacy caching is deemed the most flexible yet on the other hand, it is the slowest.

•PHP – This cache file, also referred to as “Supercached”, exists not just in WordPress but in other blogsites as well. PHP is the quickest to configure since the “.htaccess” file doesn’t need to be modified or changed. With PHP, users can keep several portions of their cache dynamic using a different mode.

•Mod_Rewrite is the longest method used in serving PHP static files. If for instance, your server was hit by over hundreds of web traffic, the cache pages will most probably cope with “lighter” HTML requests.

1.All-In-One SEO – Because search engine optimization or SEO is the ultimate key to creating a successful blog, you must be able to target a massive audience reach by gaining at least 1,000 visitors daily. All-In-One SEO is among the few WordPress plugins that lets you optimize your blogsite sans any hassle. Some of the key features of this plug-in are:

•Built-in API support which ensures free access and extension of non-Wordpress plugins or themes.

•Custom post support.

•Advanced installation settings for WordPress plugins. 

•Fine-tune navigation links for specific WordPress plugins.

 1.Google Sitemaps is one of the commonly used WordPress plugins that allows you to create an XML sitemap which will help Yahoo, Bing, Google and other search engine portals index your blog entries. A sitemap serves as an essential component to any site if you want your cache pages to be indexed ASAP. So rather than generating a sitemap manually, Google Sitemaps will let you create and customize one automatically. In addition, Sitemaps supports all WordPress plugins including its custom URLs and caches.

2.WPTouch – If you take a closer look at the analytics of your site, you’ll notice that a large number of visitors are checking it via mobile applications. WPTouch is one of the latest WordPress plugins that allow users to gain access to your site using advanced mobile technology.

Perhaps one of the reasons why WordPress is the most preferred blogging platform in the world is because of the countless number of plugins and themes that suit every avid blogger’s needs and can be installed quickly. We all know that there are probably thousands of free WordPress plugins to choose from. But there are also few premium WordPress plugins that might make a difference in the blogosphere.

Top 4 paid WordPress plugins:

1.Pretty Link PRO allows you to cloak, shrink, track, test, organize and share all your links to your own server or domain. Also known as “URL Shortener” or “Affiliate Link Cloaker”, Pretty Link PRO has revolutionized the use of WordPress plugins in allowing bloggers and site owners to monitor the results of their web campaigns by optimizing their “site testing” configuration. Since it is considered one of the most powerful WordPress plugins today, Pretty Link PRO comes with a “killer program” feature for affiliate marketers.

2.CommentLuv PRO – Unlike Pretty Link and other paid WordPress plugins, CommentLuv PRO has more fantastic features that generate more comments and traffic to your blog by: adding keywords and a “commentator widget”, integrating TWITTERLINK (for those who want to direct their blog URLs to Twitter) and giving you the option to block spam messages. With just a simple step-by-step installation process, you can immediately start searching for interesting posts to re-blog on your own site. You’ll also be able to build an online community, network or list in your site by giving regular visitors the option to register or unlock some of WordPress plugins’ advanced features.

3.Optin Skin is created by Glen Allsop and developed by Viper Chill. If the name Glen Allsop sounds strange to you, he is one of the most sought-after geniuses in improving the use of WordPress plugins. Optin Skin helps you gain no less than a hundred visitors to sign up or buy your product/service with over 20 customizable templates. What makes this plug-in quite different from the aforementioned WordPress plugins is that it is integrated with FeedBurner, Aweber, MailChimp and more. Not to mention, it doesn’t have a pop-up blocker. Optin Skin can be alternately used in sending e-mail to visitors. By entering their email address in a specific field that you provided, the message will be automatically sent to their email.

4.SEO Pressor is one of the few WordPress plugins that allows you to optimize your blog. This plug-in has been tried and tested although initial results have showed effective “first-page” results from Google. SEO Pressor comes with a key feature that lets you create your own “on-page SEO” configuration settings. Optimizing your blog using WordPress plugins is not that easy! You need to consider several factors first. If you haven’t come across the terms “no-follow”, “keyword density”, “h1, h2, h3 tags” and alt tags”, these are just among the important elements of an effective blog optimization. Other factors to consider are image analysis, direct page linking and keyword placement.