The Wordpress blog platform is among the most popular choices among bloggers who can customize and add features to a blog using plugins. Plugins are much like a mini software program. Like a computer, the Wordpress blog comes with a basic set of features; to add new features, bloggers must install plugins – it's like installing software programs on a computer to expand the computer's capabilities.
New bloggers are often unclear on how to find, install and activate plugins for a Wordpress blog. Furthermore, many new Wordpress users don't know what plugins to install. Plugins can be used to optimize a blog, making creating a better experience for both the blogger and the reader.
How to Install Wordpress Plugins – Installation and Activation
Installing a plugin on a Wordpress blog is fairly simple. Follow these steps to find, download and activate new Wordpress plugins.
- Once a blogger is logged in, open the "Plugins" menu on the dashboard's sidebar and click the "Add New" option.
- To find a specific Wordpress plugin, enter the name in the search box, or the general type of plugin (i.e. forum plugins). There is also an option to search the newest and the most popular Wordpress plugins – just click the "newest" or "popular" links at the top of the page.
- Once the desired plugin is located, click the "install" link on the right side of the page. A box will appear; click the orange "Install Now" button.
- A new screen will appear during the plugin installation process. Once installation is complete, a link will appear "Actions: Activate Plugin." Click this link to immediately activate the plugin.
- Once a Wordpress plugin is activated, the options and settings associated with that plugin can be managed by expanding the "Settings" menu on the dashboard sidebar; click on the name of the plugin to manage the various settings.
To turn on/turn off a specific Wordpress plugin, click the "Installed" link under the "Plugins" menu on the Wordpress sidebar. Several options are available for each plugin on the list. To activate a plugin, click the "activate" button; to disable a plugin, click "deactivate."
Bloggers can also download a Wordpress plugin from a third party site. Once it's downloaded onto the blogger's computer, the zip file can be uploaded onto Wordpress by clicking the "upload" link at the top of the "Add New" screen (accessible via the "Plugins" menu on the dashboard sidebar.)??
Blog Plugins for Wordpress – Compatibility and Technical Problems
Just like software programs, not every blog plugin is compatible with every version of Wordpress and some plugins do not work with certain Wordpress themes. In the "install" box (see step 3 above), the specs for the particular plugin are displayed, including compatibility information. On occasion, a message will appear in the box that says "This plugin has not been tested with your current version of Wordpress." This means that compatibility issues may arise.
After installing a Wordpress plugin, it's important to check the blog to ensure that no compatibility issues exist between the plugin and the theme. Click on a post to access the permalink, visit different pages in the blog, check the sidebar and interact with the blog to ensure that it's performing in a normal manner. If problems arise, it's likely due to the plugin, which will need to be uninstalled and replaced with another similar plugin.
To search for Wordpress plugins, click the "find new" option under "Plugins" menu on the blog dashboard. Bloggers can search Wordpress plugins by name, tag, plugin author, most popular, newest and recently updated.
Notably, using a plugin is not always a straightforward process. If a blogger experiences difficulties and can't get a plugin to work properly, it's best to visit the plugin site – virtually all plugin sites feature installation/activation instructions and/or a FAQ page. There is a link to each plugin site at the end of the description, which can be viewed by clicking "Installed" under the "Plugin" menu on the Wordpress dashboard.
Related Articles on Wordpress and Blogging
Wordpress bloggers may also want to learn about other popular Wordpress plugins in The Best Wordpress Plugins for a Blog, which discusses comment and shopping cart plugins, how to add a blog forum and blog snow plugins.
Read Wordpress.com vs. Wordpress.org to learn more about which site provides free blogs and to learn which is best for someone who wants to monetize by placing advertisements on a Wordpress blog.
To learn more about the different types of blog ads, read How to Make Money Blogging With Advertisements.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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