Let's start by defining the role plugins play in helping you design a fully functional website. Plugins for WordPress extend the function and features you need to completely customize your site.
Plugins are pieces of software that are designed to perform a specific set of functions or add a specific kind of feature, to any self-hosted WordPress site. WordPress plugins work only with self-hosted WordPress sites.
Hosted versions such as WordPress.com typically offer theme options for customizing sites, but it isn’t possible to install plugins freely to customize sites on these platforms.
How Plugins Can Help Your Site
WordPress plugins are written in PHP, the programming language for WordPress itself. When using WordPress plugins, you can easily install or “plugin” the one you want to an existing WordPress website with no knowledge of code required. Plugins can help your website in the following ways:
- Improving user experience. Plugins can add features to help users navigate the site, find content, leave comments, subscribe for updates, and contact site administrators.
- Adding essential security features. The core WordPress install comes with basic security features, but plugins can add sophisticated firewalls, alerts, user verifications, and spam blockers for greater site security.
- Speeding up site loading time. Plugins can speed up a WordPress site by enabling caching and optimizing images.
- Streamlining your workflow. They can help optimize your site for searchability, add editorial calendars, schedule posts, and manage social media sharing and email lists.
- Improving the site’s appearance. Plugins can add designer fonts, galleries, sliders, and media players to your site. Some themes require certain plugins to perform properly.
- Adding needed features for your site’s goals. Plugins can add features like product pages and shopping carts to eCommerce sites, landing pages, paywalls, and a long list of other features to support the site’s intended purpose.
Plugin Limitations
While plugins can do some great things, when used in the wrong combinations or in excess, one single plugin can bring down your entire website. So be careful and monitor the way your site functions after installing each plugin.
Also try to stick with plugins created a few developers versus using any plugin that comes along. Check the company to determine what they support and how you would go about getting help if you run into problems.
That's why we use an all in one sales and marketing tool like Thrive Suite, because the Themes and plugins provide all the functionality we need to run our business. And they are created by one company. These tools work together seamlessly to make our websites run like a charm.