Ever wondered what WordPress plugins everyone else is using?

Photo credit

WHEN I started out in this bloggy game, I always wondered what plugins everyone else was using. Over time I’ve borrowed, discovered and tweaked the plugins I use. While I have previously blogged about all the WordPress plugins used here, I realised since then how much they’ve changed so thought it was time to share again.

Akismet:

This is one of the best ways to protect your blog from comment and trackback spam. Atlhough, beware, sometimes it sends non-spam comments to the spam folder. So keep an eye on it. 

All in One SEO pack:

This is one of the reasons my posts keep making it onto the front page of Google. With a little help from some SEO basics too.

And the winner is…:

This is one of the easiest ways to draw your giveaways. Forget ever having to count how many entries you have and then using Random.org. With it coming to light via Nikki from Stylish You about the whole game of chance Vs game of skill, this one is in revision here at Three Li’l Princesses.

CommentLuv:

A lovely way to give some promotion to fellow bloggers, this one displays their latest post (or an older one if they choose) when they leave a comment on one of your posts.

Comment Reply Nofication:

I’ve long been a ReplyMe supporter, but recently stumbled across this one. It looks much neater when the comment reply lands in the reader’s inbox. A reply plugin is important if you want to try and build a relationship with your readers.

Facebook Like Box:

Yes, I have a Facebook Like Box, but as you’ll noticed I did a bit of tweaking with the help of fellow blogger Louisa Claire so it wasn’t a great big box with hundreds of faces showing. If you want to know the code to make your Facebook box more minimalistic, I’m happy to pass it on.

Fast Secure Contact Form:

Every blogger should have a Contact page to allow readers, PR and others to contact you easily. Along with having a contact form, I also think it’s important to provide your direct email address on the page along with it. You can see mine to see what I mean.

nRelate Related Content:

This is the little boxes under each post which recommends what other posts you might be interested in. This one is pretty spot on in its matching of other posts to the one you’re reading. You can display this one in a few different ways, but I like the photo option.

SexyBookmarks:

These are all the little icons down the bottom of the page that allow you and readers to share your post easily via platforms like Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Delicious etc.  Hint hint!

WordPress Editorial Calendar:

If you want to get organised with your blogging, then this one is a must. It will allow you to see what your blogging schedule looks like and you can easily move things around.

WordPress Firewall 2:

It was thanks to this little plugin that the 10 attempts to try and hack my site over the weekend failed. Enough said.

WP Social Blogroll:

If you look in my main sidebar from the homepage, you’ll notice a list of blogs I read (currently in the process of being updated). This one is more about me and being able to keep on top of all the blogs I love to read, but has served as a great way for others who visit here to discover some fabulous blogs too.

WP Touch:

With more and more people now viewing blogs on their mobiles and smartphones, you really need to be able to give them the option to read you while on the go. This one provides a mobile-friendly version of your blog.

XML Sitemap Feed:

This is also another reason I’m doing well in Google. That’s about all I can tell you about this one. Just a little clueless here.

What are your favourite plugins? What work for you?