Firstly I must apologise that I have no real knowledge of Blogger and this post is more for those on WordPress. Secondly, I stress again that I probably don’t possess enough expertise to blog about these kind of topics, but I thought that it would be nice to share some of the things that I’ve learnt over the years, even though there are plenty of other more plausible sources for this type of information.
If you have missed my previous Blogiversary Month posts in this series then you can catch up here. To quickly explain, it’s almost 4 years since I started my blog and I wanted to write a series of blog 101 orientated posts, which have both been requested and as a way of picking up some new tips from other bloggers myself.
Now I’m often asked about what WordPress plugins that I have installed and would recommend. Plugins can be confusing because there are so many out there that have similar functions. Also, plugins are subjective to the blogger, depending on what they are looking to achieve. However, I thought that I would write about some of my favourite plugins for WordPress.
jQuery Pin It Button For Images
Pinterest is such an easy way to loose a couple of hours without even realising it. I’m so addicted to it and I’m constantly pinning sources of inspiration to my boards. This widget is great as it allows users to pin photographs that appear in you blog posts straight to Pinterest. They’re also automatically linked to the relevant blog post that they originate from.
Revive Old Post
This little gem is something that I discovered recently thanks to the fabulous Rosalilium (sorry I can’t find the specific blog post). You can link both your Facebook and Twitter accounts to the plugin and it will post your old posts onto your feeds at specified intervals throughout the day. Such a great way to keep your social media feeds active if you are short on time.
Recipe Card
If you love to post recipes on your blog and looking for a way that lets your readers print them out, then this one may be for you. How the recipe card appears in your blog posts can be customised to suit your own style.
Askimet
I think this is a very basic plugin that is invaluable to every blogger on WordPress. Unfortunately, blogs are prone to spam comments and I seem to be getting more everyday. Askimet is great for catching spam comments and trackbacks all day long.
LinkWithin
Another very basic but worthwhile plugin. It suggests other relevant posts that may be of interest to your readers on the current blog post they are reading. A great way to highlight older posts on your blog to new readers. Nrelate is also a great alternative to LinkWithin.
Comment Luv
Great for sharing the love of other bloggers who have taken the time to comment on your own blog. Comment Luv links the most recent blog post to their comment, allowing other readers to find new blogs to read.
Google Analytics
I’ve only recently installed this plugin and just getting to grips with it myself. Real-time stats are available via this plugin and it’s far more informative than Jetpack Stats. Highly useful if you’re looking to monetise your blog!
Well there you have it, some of my favourite plugins for WordPress that have made running my blog far more easier. Different plugins will do the job better than others, it’s just about trial and error until you find the one that works for you. I hope you found this post helpful, you can catch up on my previous blogging 101 style posts in this series here.
Are you self-hosted on WordPress? How have you found it so far? If you’re not on WordPress, what do you like about your blogging platform?
What are your favourite plugins?
Wow! I am definitely going to get the revive old posts one, what a great idea. Brilliant and useful post.x
#UKBloggers
This is so helpful. Looking to move to WordPress from Blogger, so these tips will really come in handy : )
Great tips – I love the revive plug in – downloading it now! It is such a shame you get so much spam comments I have tried different ways to minimize them but to no avail!
Very helpful thanks Jemma! And very interesting. Just off to nosy at your Pinterest boards…hehe.
Ha! Thanks Anna, glad you found it interesting.
I’m not a blogger but posts like this always interest me and allow me to appreciate how complicated blogging is.
All the techno stuff can get very complicated! 🙂
I love being on WordPress! There are so many great plugins. I recently started using Disqus for comments and am loving it. I have been meaning to install Google Analytics.
I’ve only just started using Google Analytics and it’s much more precise.
Congrats on 4 years blogging. I have blogger. But these are such great tips. Thanks
Thanks Crystal!
I had no idea about commentluv and wondered why there was a preview to my website post and others. I don’t have many plugins but the one that I adore is Easy Recipe, it offers a great framework to submit your recipe to.
Commentluv is a lovely plugin for sharing the blog love 🙂
Happy blogiversary! My blog is hosted through Weebly currently, but I’ve thought about switching to WordPress time and time again! I’m going to have to save this post incase I do, so I’ll know which plugins to add! Thanks for the advice!
Thanks Leah!
Thanks for the tips!! I need to get a recipe card for my recipe posts! Do you have any suggestions on good ones to use?
Recipe card is good as is Easy Recipe. 🙂
Thanks for sharing these tips – I am on blogger, but my son is oppositional and wants to start himself a blog on WordPress. I will have to save this page with great tips so he can get himself started with ease. Thanks so much!
I hope that you find them helpful. 🙂
I am on Blogger right now so no awesome plug-ins for me! The ‘revive old post’ plugin sounds like an amazing way to bring readers to your archive post though
It’s a lovely plug-in, so glad that I found it!
Happy Blogiversary! I wish blogger offered more plugins like WordPress. I feel like I’m super missing out!!! Definitely would use the Recipe Card.
There are so many options on WordPress which is why I love it so much.
This is a great post for others with WP! I have been contemplating making the switch, but am scared to commit to it! 🙂
You won’t regret it! 🙂
Wow, I’ve never heard of that Revive old posts one! I am going to have to check that out! Thank you!
It’s such a handy plugin to install. 🙂
I do use wordpress, and I like it, but I find it is hard to navigate (eg finding where to paste the links for the plugins and things)- I usually get Andy to help me. I have akismet and it does stop loads, but more seem to be getting through at the moment, but I don’t want to put a code thing on there as I find I don’t tend to comment on blogs so much when they ask for those. I do need to sort out recipes and things like that, thanks for the useful links.
I’m getting a lot of spam comments at the moment which is annoying! May be there is something going round.
Wow, great plugins. I’m new in the game so this post really spoke to me! Thanks 🙂 I’m totally diggin’ your blog – happy blogiversary 😉
Hugs, Marie
Thanks Marie – glad that you found it useful! 🙂
I’m a big fan of jQuery Pin It too – so customizable! I also like Jetpack, though I am not sure if that’s just a default thing, and while it isn’t a plugin – I like SnapWidget for instagram 😀
These are some great plugins! I definitely want to try the Revive Old Post and LinkWithin! Thanks for sharing!
WordPress seems to have great plugins and other benefits for a blogger. I’m a Blogger user myself but I have considered changing for some time already.
The revive old post plugin seems amazing! I can’t wait to move to wordpress
I am on blogger, and I sure wish there was a recipe card plug-in thing for us. Maybe there is though; I haven’t checked thoroughly. That would be a fun one to use!
Great list! I’m going to download a couple of them to try out now. 🙂
These are great plugins, just the beauty of WordPress! Happy Blogiversary 🙂
Thanks Lauren!
i love this! always love finding new plugins!!!
Thank you for the list! I am pinning it to look over later. There are a few on here I would like to add to mine!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
I’m switching to WordPress soon, so I’ll have to remember these plug-ins!
you’ve got a great list of plugins. i personally love comment luv
I’m on blogger, but all of the plug-ins that wordpress has is something that’s always made me consider using it! The ‘retrieve old posts’ one looks awesome!
Recipe card is one of my favorite plug-ins 😉 This is a very helpful post. Thanks!