Essential WordPress Plugins for Smooth Website Functionality

Reno shares seven essential plugins for smoother website performance and offers insights on optimizing WordPress effectively.

### Essential Plugins for a Smooth-Running Website
The speaker, a web designer and no-code developer, now installs only **seven plugins** on all websites, down from ten, due to some plugins merging and offering **more functionality**. The first plugin, Admin and Site Enhancements, provides features like **content duplication and media replacements**, streamlining website management. The Classic Editor plugin is also installed to avoid the stress of the Gutenberg editor, offering a **more straightforward interface** for adding new pages and posts.

### Essential WordPress Plugins for Website Management
The author prefers using the classic editor over the admin side enhancements due to **imperfect functionality**. Independent Analytics offers a GDPR-compliant alternative to Google Analytics, providing a **simple dashboard overview** of visitors and views. Manage WP Worker connects websites to a dashboard for **easy login**, offers **free monthly backups**, and allows for **automatic plugin updates**. Elementor and Elementor Pro remain the **top choice for page building**, while Solid Security (formerly iThemes) and Cyron's Security Optimizer provide **essential security features**.

### Choosing the Right WordPress Security and Speed Optimization Plugins
Both Wordfence and IES have the same rating and around 1 million installs, but the author prefers IES for its **lighter approach**. The author believes that most security issues are better handled by the **hosting company** rather than the plugin. For speed optimization, the author recommends Light Speed Cache and emphasizes the **importance of proper website development** and **investing in reliable hosting** for better performance.

### Optimizing Website Speed and Images
Using a speed optimizer is crucial for website performance, with different hosting providers offering their own solutions. Image optimization is best done **outside of WordPress**, and resizing and compressing images before uploading can **significantly reduce file size**. Websites like image.to.com offer easy image uploading, resizing, and compression, helping to **optimize images before they are added to WordPress**.

### SEO and Custom Fields Plugins for WordPress
Two recommended free websites for resources are bulkresidesphotos.com and another linked site. The author no longer promotes SEO plugins like **Rank Math and Yoast**, offering SEO optimization as a **separate service** instead. The Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin now offers **custom post types**, eliminating the need for the Custom Post Type UI, while ACF Pro's pricing has changed to **$250 per year for unlimited websites**.

### Affordable Alternatives to ACF Pro
Croco Block offers a **lifetime deal** for their products, including smart filters and jet search, at a **lower price than ACF Pro**. The normal version of ACF is **free**, making it a viable option for simple custom post types and fields. White Label CMS is recommended for **adding a logo and enhancing the client login experience**, but should be used **sparsely to keep the website clean**.

### Essential Plugins for Smooth Website Performance: A Web Designer's Toolkit
* 👨 Just a page builder isn't sufficient for optimal website functionality; a selection of **essential plugins** is necessary for a **smooth operation**.
* 🔧 Reno, a web designer and no-code developer, has narrowed down his list to **seven crucial plugins**, having previously recommended ten due to the **merging and enhancement of functionalities**.
* 🛠 The first plugin, **Admin and Site Enhancements**, consolidates various features, including **content duplication** and **media replacements**, simplifying website management.
* 📝 The Classic Editor plugin remains vital for those who prefer the **traditional editing interface** over the Gutenberg editor, especially for clients needing **basic text and image functionality**.
* 📊 Independent Analytics offers a GDPR-compliant alternative to Google Analytics, providing **essential visitor insights** directly on the dashboard without **extensive setup**.
* 🔗 Manage WP Worker connects websites to a centralized dashboard, facilitating **easy logins**, **monthly backups**, and **automated plugin updates** for streamlined management.
* ⚙ Elementor and Elementor Pro are still the **go-to page builders**, providing **extensive features necessary for most projects**, while Solid Security serves as a **lightweight security solution**.
* 🚀 Light Speed Cache is recommended for speed optimization, emphasizing that **proper website construction and quality hosting** are critical for achieving **fast load times**.

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7 Wordpress Plugins I install on all websites (2024)

7 Wordpress Plugins I install on all websites (2024)