Choosing suitable WordPress plugins can be challenging, but the stakes are high. These extensions can enhance your site’s functionality while making your life easier. Still, if chosen poorly, they can cause various problems, such as slow page loading, malfunctions, and security vulnerabilities. This product news explains choosing the right plugins for your WordPress site.
What is a WordPress plugin, and why should you choose one for your site?
Plugins are add-ons installed on your WordPress site/blog to enhance functionality. WordPress is the most widely used CRM, thanks partly to its impressive library of extensions, including backup scheduling, contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, social media buttons, and more. There are many reasons to install plugins on your site, including:
- Beginners can create a high-quality site without touching the source code, as plugins are straightforward to install.
- It is more cost-effective than hiring developers. You can install a few extensions and create a primary site, all for free.
Free or paid? How to choose the right WordPress plugin?
Many plugins are free, which democratizes website creation. However, be careful not to fall into the trap, as many pitfalls can be avoided. To choose the right plugin, consider the following:
- Make sure the chosen extension meets your needs. Are the features sufficient? Paid plugins usually incorporate additional options that may be essential to your business.
- Prioritize paid solutions for critical needs. Many free plugins claim to handle a site’s cookie-related GDPR compliance. These tools must comply with the regulations and expose you to liability. WordPress’s library includes severe tools such as the Axeptio module.
- Many free plugins are no longer updated or have significant security vulnerabilities. Remember that most of a WordPress site’s IT vulnerabilities come from extensions.
- Paid plugins often benefit from higher customer support and technological and legal watchfulness to remain up-to-date with industry standards.
Criterion number 1: the notoriety of the WordPress plugin
Before installing the plugin of your dreams, make sure of its fame among the community.
- Only choose plugins selected in the WordPress directory. They benefit from quality recognition from the community.
- Carefully examine the plugin description page. Check the number of active setups and evaluations, and read comments. The higher the number of active setups, the better the rating and the higher the quality of the tool.
- Cross-reference these reviews with those from the online community. Look for comments from bloggers and YouTubers regarding the plugin.
Avoid exotic plugins or those from unknown developers. They could cause you a lot of problems.
Criterion number 2: the update frequency and functionality of the WordPress plugin
Make sure the plugin is maintained by its developer. Except in particular cases, plugins are expected to evolve.
- What’s the tool’s version number? Is it frequently updated? This criterion shows the developer is following the device. Some plugins can evolve sparingly.
- Is a discussion forum well available via the WordPress plugin description page? If so, check the number of topics opened and the number of issues resolved. This will give you an overview of the developer’s activity and determination to maintain the plugin sustainably.
Before launching the installation, ensure that the plugin is compatible with the version of your CMS.
Criterion number 3: resource consumption
Beginner publishers tend to rely on plugins for every need. The temptation is, therefore, strong to install a maximum of plugins.
However, the performance of your website is a significant criterion for the proper functioning of your site. The page loading time impacts the conversion rate of your landing pages or even the audience of your informative articles.
Some plugins load many scripts and style files, making them resource-hungry. And if you are not a developer, you may not have the skills to optimize your site from this point of view.
Therefore, you will carefully examine the resource consumption of the plugin that interests you.
Criterion number 4: Choose a GDPR-friendly WordPress plugin
As the website editor, you are responsible for personally processing data from it.
Taking care of your GDPR / ePrivacy compliance also means choosing your plugins wisely.
Indeed, some plugins have to write access to your databases. Furthermore, providers of other plugins may also be required to host your users’ data. They are, therefore, your subcontractors.
To choose them wisely, specific criteria must be taken into account:
- Choose transparent providers. Please become familiar with their privacy policies and check how they treat personal data.
- Regarding data hosting, we prefer providers guaranteeing to host in the European Union or France.
- Also, ensure the seriousness of these actors’ measures to secure their plugins.
Conclusion: Choose your plugins carefully
If WordPress dramatically simplifies the creation of websites, thanks in particular to its community and library of extensions, you will need to be vigilant.
And also, only choose serious providers/developers; whose work is approved by the community. This way, you will avoid computer vulnerabilities, lack of performance, or legal compliance risks.
