Can you build a website? For most people, the answer is no. WordPress helps make that answer a yes. The content management system has become very popular because it’s free, open-source, and reduces the technical skill required to make a website. Evidence of this is that over 45% of the websites in the world (over 800 million) are WordPress sites.
Another advantage of WordPress for website building is the preponderance of plugins available to users. In some ways, there are WordPress plugins for almost everything. Some are free, and some are paid. This article looks to identify game-changing WordPress tools and plugins to supercharge your site in 2024.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Plugins
When it comes to website success, SEO is indispensable. Regardless of whether the site is intended to facilitate sales or is just a blog, visits are necessary. SEO helps rank content and this increases visibility to potential visitors.
A WordPress SEO tool would help analyze your site’s SEO performance. Furthermore, their features may include recommendations to help improve site performance. Some of the factors to note when picking out an SEO plugin are:
- Generation and submission of XML sitemaps for indexing;
- Temp laying of titles and meta descriptions;
- Support of schema markup;
- Optimization of on-site factors affecting performance.
On this note, some popular SEO plug-ins on WordPress are Yoast SEO, Rank Math, etc.
Page Optimization Plugins
Google is the most popular search engine in the world. As such, it’s the one every SEO expert wants to game. Yet, it doesn’t disclose the specifics of its ranking algorithm, and it shouldn’t. Keeping the algorithm’s secrets secret ensures competitiveness.
Some factors that seemingly play a role in how Google rankings work are the relevance of content, location, quality of content, and usability of pages. Page loading speeds are under the usability of pages. Optimize page speeds if you want your content and site to rank well.
Some popular WordPress plugins that optimize speed and performance are WP Rocket, AutoOptimize, Smush, etc. Many of these plugins include image compression functions as well.
One last thing to note: ad blockers are becoming more popular among web visitors as they improve page loading speeds and decrease distractions. This is a significant factor in the digital landscape. Viewers frequently simplify their viewing experience using ad blockers on platforms like YouTube, which also carries over into traditional websites.
Ad blocks may make websites more user-friendly but make it harder for developers and content creators to profit from ads. This includes those who use free WordPress tools or upload videos on YouTube. Finding a happy medium between user experience and the need for ad revenue is key to overcoming this obstacle.
Security Plugins
Cybersecurity should be an important consideration if you dabble in any online endeavor. This means great cyber hygiene practices, Antiviruses, VPNs, and other security tools for users.
WordPress developers and sites make use of such tools as well. For instance, a VPN would help developers protect their data, bypass restrictions to resources they need, and help safeguard client data. If you are keen on using a VPN for this purpose but don’t know which provider to select, check out the VPN comparison table on Reddit.
The consequence is increased trust in their security infrastructure and more sales/interactions.
In addition to the above tools, a great addition to security is a security plugin. A security plugin helps protect the site from brute force attacks, SQL injections, spam bots, etc.
Some factors to consider when choosing a security plugin are:
- Logging of activity;
- Firewall;
- Management of permissions;
- Identification of vulnerabilities.
With that in mind, some popular security plugins are All-In-One Security, Wordfence, etc.
Word-Translation Plugins
The world is one giant global village. The idea is that the internet and digital communication tools can connect us regardless of location. However, the connection would be worthless without the ability to comprehend one another.
A word translation WordPress plugin would help your content overcome the language barrier. The plugin would allow you to manage your site in multiple languages. Consequently, your content or service becomes multilingual and available to wider audiences.
Some factors to consider when selecting a translation plugin include
- Speed and performance of the plugin;
- Translation methods the plugin utilizes;
- Incorporation of SEO for the different versions of your content.
There are several WordPress translation plugins to consider. Some popular ones are Translate Press, WPML, etc.
Page Builder Plugins
On visiting a site, the first thing a user notices are the loading speed and visuals. The former was covered earlier. You need a good builder plugin to get the best of the latter.
Such a plugin allows users to customize and create pages without coding. As such, they use templates, widgets, animations, etc. Factors to consider when selecting a page builder include:
- Available customization options
- Integration with other plugins
- Frequency of updates
Some popular choices to consider are Spectra, Elementor Website Builder, etc.
Conclusion
There are many SEO plugins available to users of the platform. This is accurate both in terms of categorization and actual plugins. The consequence of this level of support is the sheer number of WordPress sites that exist today. Our point is this is merely a summarized guide to what a website needs in 2024. Use it, but be ready to do more if need be.