There are many things that separate WordPress blogging software from other similar software. WordPress Community has contributed all sorts of WordPress plugins to anyone using the WordPress software. These plugins are available free of cost and without any obligation. These plugins are a boon to many that are not very good at coding. These plugins allow, just anyone, to easily add functionality to their blog.
Many plugins are situational, which means not all WordPress plugins are useful for certain types of blogs or for specific functions. However, there are a few plugins that every WordPress blog should be using in one form or the other.
Here is a list of the few plugins that every WordPress blogger will need, mentioned in no particular order:
1.Related post is arguably the most important plugin that WordPress has to offer till date. Ideal for anyone, especially for those that get lot of search engine traffic, this plugin displays a designated number of related entries below your post.
2.WP-DB Manager plugin finds use for database administrators or managers. This plugin allows full control of database, including how to back-up and restore and removing database tables when necessary.
3.Akismet is a plugin that traps most spam and places it in an approval queue that can then be viewed before it is posted on a website. This plugin, although comes by default with all current WordPress installations, usually requires to be activated. A free key can be obtained to activate it. Configuring this plugin is very easy.
4.Google Sitemaps plugin generates an XML sitemap file that Google, Yahoo!, and MSN uses to index your blog. This index ensures that Google is aware of all the blogger’s new posts that had already been indexed, but that need to be updated. This plugin is available in many languages. It also includes a filter for other plugins that can add their pages to the sitemap.
5.WP-Contact Form plugin creates a contact form that allows people to contact a website owner, without displaying their personal e-mail addresses of the owner. This is very useful to block e-mail spammers, who are on the prowl searching the web, looking for e-mail addresses.
Displaying e-mail addresses makes one vulnerable to e-mail spammers. This plugin also includes spam protection and other optional features.
The above plugins are very useful for all WordPress users, regardless of the type of blog they are running.
