top plugins for wordpress websites

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WordPress plugins are fantastic for optimising the usability of a website. There are a huge range of WordPress plugins available, each offering unique features that can help you make your website function the way you need it to. But which plugins should you start with? If you’re unfamiliar with the world of WordPress plugins, read on to learn how plugins work and which ones we rank as being top plugins for WordPress websites.

What are plugins?

If you have never heard of plugins, or are looking for a quick refresher, plugins are like programs you install in your website to add a function that your website theme doesn’t already have. You can think of them like smartphone apps, but for your website. Using plugins on your website can enhance the performance and functions of your website for you and more importantly, your users. If you need a customisable booking form, a way to display your Instagram feed on your homepage, or a tool to help track the health of your website – there are plugins with these features available!

There are a bunch of plugins that we use and love, but which ones you choose to use will depend on what your customers require from your website. We’ve listed a few of the top plugins for WordPress websites below.

Top plugins for WordPress Websites

WP Optimize

WP Optimize does exactly what the plugin name entails, it optimises your website! A major part of optimising your website includes keeping your database clean so that you can save space on your website hosting and keep your website speeds nice and quick. Once you set up a few rules, this plugin can automatically clean up your database for you so that you don’t need to worry about clutter on the backend of your website.

WP Maintenance Mode

This plugin helps you easily put your website into maintenance mode so that your visitors can’t see your website while you’re making updates. You can also design your maintenance mode page according to your brand guidelines. This helps preserve your brand image while your website is temporarily unavailable.

Limit Login Attempts

The Limit Login Attempts plugin helps keep your website safe from hackers. By limiting the number of website login attempts, the plugin strengthens the security of your website. You can also block particular IP addresses if you are experiencing repeat hack attempts. For that reason, it is one of the top plugins for WordPress websites!

Smash Balloon Instagram Feed

A great way to keep your website fresh with new images is to display your Instagram feed! This plugin allows you to display your IG feed on your website in real time. Every time you upload a new image to your Instagram account, it updates the image feed on your website.

Yoast SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is fundamental if you have a website. The goal of a website is to ensure your business is found by your customers on Google. Yoast SEO is one of the most popular WordPress SEO tools. This plugin provides you with a checklist for each page of your website which helps you optimise your content for search engines.

Formidable Forms

While many website builders come with built-in contact forms, Formidable Forms takes your forms to the next level. This plugin allows you to completely personalise the appearance of your forms. It also has highly advanced conditional properties which allows you to adjust the form depending on your customer’s previous answers.

Want to find out more about our top plugins for WordPress websites? Get in touch with us today! At Redsteps Web, we are always discovering amazing new plugins that enhance our customer’s websites.

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