My Top WordPress Plugins for 2012

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My top WordPress Plugins for 2012 - A while back I was asked by one of our readers, what plugins, and how many plugins do I use for the Magnet4Marketing blog? So I thought it would be great to share with you some of my favourite WordPress plugins for 2012 and a selection of the ones I’m currently using and would recommend others to try out.

I currently use a maximum of about 10 plugins on the Magnet4Marketing blog; however there are a few other plugins which I use throughout the year from time to time.

Primary WordPress Plugins for 2012

Akismet

This popular plugin service is used by millions of WordPress users and is designed to help you filter comment and trackback spam. Most WP blog’s already have Akismet placed in the plugins folder, but as your blog becomes more and more popular, and you start to receive more and more comments and spam, it is worth signing up for an Akismet API key and making full use of Akismet.

Akismet

CommentLuv

This plugin is designed to encourage readers to engage and leave comments on your blog, simply by rewarding them with a link back to their last blog post. I’ve been using the CommentLuv plugin since the birth of this blog and look forward in the coming months to upgrade to the premium version of the CommentLuv.

CommentLuv

CommentLuv in action

Do Follow

This is simple plug and play plugin that is used to remove the attribution in the comment section of your WordPress blog. Making your blog a dofollow can encourage more comments and is a great way to share the link love. Unfortunately more and more blogs are now choosing to remain a .

Google Analytics

This plugin is a must have and makes it easy to install the Google Analytics tracking script into your WordPress blog.

Online Backup for WordPress

There are a number of backup plugins for WordPress available; the WP Database Backup is one of them with over 1 million downloads. However I’m currently using the BlogVault Premium Backup plugin, with this plugin I can automate it to create partial of full backups of my WP blog including databases and send it to a storage vault, or I can manually backup and download to my desktop and onto an external backup storage device, which I’m currently doing.

Ranged Popular Posts

This cool plugin will allow you to display the most popular posts on your blog by number of comments in your sidebar. Get Ranged Popular Posts plugin for your blog…

Sharebar

I recently started to use this plugin as an alternative to the Socialize plugin which I’ve been using, and is also a great social plugin. Sharebar is absolutely awesome and I’d highly recommend getting it installed on your blog.

Sharebar makes it easy for you to integrate the most popular social sharing icons into your posts and pages on your blog. The recently updated version now allows you to embed Google’s +1 button very easily.

Social sharing icons include, Facebook, Twitter Retweet, Stumbleupon, Digg, Dzone, Share this, Buzz, Reddit, Yahoo, Design float and email.

Sharebar

WordPress SEO by Yoast

This is one of my all-time favourite plugins for WordPress; the WordPress SEO by Yoast is like no other SEO plugin. If you’re currently using the All-in-One, which is a great plugin in itself… but somewhat limited, replace it with the WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin as it is far more advanced. Below you’ll find some posts with tutorials on how to get the most out of WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin which we recently covered.

On-Page SEO: Essential Tips for Newbie Bloggers

15 Essential SEO / Webmaster Tools for Bloggers

Post / Page SEO Tips Using WordPress SEO by Yoast Plugin

WP Super Cache

This plugin helps to make my blog pages and posts load much faster, by serving saved or cached pages of my site instead of loading heavier PHP scripts each time a query is sent. With almost 3 million downloads it’s a must have on any serious WordPress blog. Download and install WP Super Cache…

WPtouch

With more and more people now browsing the web on mobile devises, this plugin is a must have if you want to increase visibility of your blog. Once activated you instantly create a mobile version of your blog which loads quicker and allows users to read your latest posts whilst on the go.

Those are essentially the plugins I’m currently using for both my blog’s at Magnet4Marketing and XtremeBlogger.

EasyAzon Amazon Affiliate Plugin

The EasyAzon Amazon Affiliate plugin is a powerful solution for adding your Amazon affiliate links to your WordPress blog posts and pages. I’ve been using this plugin for a little under a month and I absolutely love it, it has certainly helped to increase my CTR.

Other Recommended WordPress Plugins for 2012

The following plugins are those which I use when needed, but I also recommend that you check them out also.

Better Delete Revision – deletes unwanted revision posts hogging your database.

Clean Options – Removes orphaned files from your database

Limited Login Attempts – Helps you keep tab on the number of failed login attempts made on your blog.

Remember when installing plugins into your WordPress blog to ensure that they are sourced from a reputable developer, and that they have a great user rating and consequently also has large number of downloads. Try if possible to avoid installing shabby looking plugins with low ratings and ones that have been reported broken.

If you have some of your own recommendations I’d love to hear them, please share them in the comment section below as always.

  • http://mymediamagnet.com/feed/ Troy Jaggard

    Nice list. I just installed commentluv the other day. What a great tool for bloggers.

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      Thanks Troy, it is a great tool.

  • http://www.modestmoney.com/ Jeremy @ Modest Money

    Thanks for sharing this list of plugins. I do have most of these installed. WPtouch sounds quite intriguing. Once I build up my blog more I will have to consider installing that. Did you notice more mobile traffic coming through your blog after using that plugin?

    Some people end up installing way too many plugins. They should be aware that this can slow down their blog and often creates plugin conflicts. You want to limit it to just the plugins that you actually use and need.

    • Fabrizio

      Jeremy, that’s interesting to know. With the WP plugin I have certainly seen increasing traffic from wireless devices, in particular iPhones and Android smartphones too so yes the WP plugin is an essential plugin to have on your blog.

      Having too many plugins can slow down your blog but sometimes the culprit of a dramatically slow blog could be caused from a single plugin.

  • http://www.pnrstatuscheck.in pnr status

    Hai Fabrizio!
    Nice post.This is the post some what informative for most who blog using wordpress themes and plugins as well.Thanks for sharing this wonderful article.

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      You’re most welcome mate…

  • http://technicallyeasy.net Paul Salmon

    That is a good list of plugins. I have used, and currently use, many of the plugins listed. I have the CommentLuv Premium plugin, which also includes the anti-spam plugin G.A.S.P., so I like the fact that it is multiple plugins in one.

    I use a different backup plugin that allows me to backup my database and all my files to a server that isn’t associated with my blog. I run the backup jobs daily.

    The WPTouch plugin is great because it automates the process of making my blog work and display properly on mobile devices. I’m surprised I don’t see this plugin on more plugin lists.

    • Fabrizio

      Hi Paul thanks so much for stopping by, I’ve heard many great things about commentluv premium and I hope to have this on my blog shortly.

      What backup plugin do you use I hope you don’t mind me asking, I run a backup around once a week but really I should be running one daily.

      I also agree that the WPTouch plugin is now a must have on any blog especially as we become more reliant on wireless mobile devises.

  • http://samsung-galaxy-report.info John @ Samsung Galaxy

    WP Super Cache, Akismet and the SEO plugin from Yoast are essential to any WordPress install. I personally installed them on every WordPress blog I’ve worked for/with.

  • http://www.rcpre.com/search-for-homes/queen-creek-homes-for-sale/ John @ Apache Junction horse property

    Ha Ha I did not realize that by checking that commentluv box I was getting a link-back. Nice well thanks for that. I have been using SEO pressor, is the Yoast version better?

  • http://travelwisconsin.us/ Liane Markus

    The plugins that you have provided here will serve as a guide and a big help to us. thank you for the time and effort that you have spent in making this great information which we can use with our work everyday.

  • http://www.aspiredesigns.com.sg Web Design Company

    CommentLuv and Super cache are must have for me, all others used time to time depending on the type of blog. However, instead of using online backup for wp I prefer traditional cpanel backup method.
    I am new to your blog, and would now be following you from now on as it has been a nice read.

    Thanks.

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      Hey there, welcome to the blog I hope you’ll return for more top tips on blogging and online marketing :) When you say traditional cPanel backup, how do you mean exactly? Please do share…

  • http://customers.agriya.com/products/isocial-professional shaam @ facebook script

    I have preferred comment luv and all in one seo pack plugin which most needed one for bloggers.

  • http://www.addvalue.com.au custom items

    Hi. These tips WordPress plugins rock! It just make sense to input these ideas into action to impress one’s readers, and promote sales through your web site. I’m actually putting up one of my own and hope to make these things materialize. Once I already got my own domain and host, a theme of course from WordPress, I shall be tweaking it like how you’ve coached on them. My gratitude.

  • Angel Collins

    Nice post! This article is very informative to those who blog using plugins as well. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.blognetworking101.com Jeevanjacobjohn

    Great Collection, Fabrizio!

    Thank you for sharing the collection. I am using most of these plugins – and by the way, I think you should try G.A.S.P instead of Akismet (I think G.A.S.P is way better than Akismet!). And thanks for the mentioning the back up plugin (I haven’t installed that in my new blog – I would say that was a big mistake). Off to correct that :D

    Anyways, thanks for the post!

    Jeevan Jacob John

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      Hi Jeevan, thanks for stopping by the blog and I’m pleased you approved of the plugins here. I will check G.A.S.P out it sounds interesting. The backup plugin is essential however, I know there are others available in the directory but the Backup Technology is pretty comprehensive.

  • http://www.epsmiles.com Kids Dentistry

    I have few plug-in that I’m using, since I’m already satisfied with ComLuv. Some of your plug-in was new on my knowledge, I might try and use it up. Thanks for sharing your plug-ins!

  • http://www.mkvfilms.net/ Jame

    Great tools! Thank you very much, it’s very useful for my blog. I’m looking for the way backup my blog and found your instruction. Thanks again!

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      You’re welcome Jame, thanks for dropping by :)

  • http://www.jaysonspharmacy.com/beauty/ Beauty Products Online

    Nice list of WP Plugins I am only using few of these. I am trying” All in one SEO pack” and while it looks awesome. Thanks for the Sharebar reference. I am also using it as the alternate of Socialize plugin. But I want to ask can we use multiple plugins at the same blog for the same functionality?

  • http://businesswebsitebuilder.org/How-Would-One-Benefit-From-Free-Online-Website-Builder.aspx Jonathan

    Commentluv is definitely a very nice plug-inn. Nice plug-inn list, but don’t overdo it! Sometimes they will slow the page speed a lot.

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      You’re absolutely right Jonathan, I’m always looking for new ways to improve the speed of my blog and shedding some plugins sometimes is just what is needed.

  • http://bestnaturaldietpills.net/hcg-diet-reviews/ liz@hcg diet

    Fabrizio, I thought I had all the plugins I needed, but I just downloaded the the DB back-up, ranged popular posts, and wp super cache. Thanks for posting what you use!

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      You’re welcome Liz, enjoy :)

  • Train@Georgetown Divorce Attorneys

    I need all of these. We’ll I know that all of them are really important to have a traffic on your WordPress blogs. It will really help to optimize your site and to protect your site too. I like the Commentluv plugin it will really help to prevent spam comments. I want to try the Sharebar tool which I haven’t try before.

  • http://www.momgrocery.com mom grocery

    HI Fabrizio!
    I agree that you shared here.Wordpress is a store of useful plugins that most bloggers use.Its easy to use and guides each step to move further.Some plugins can even accelerate our blog also.Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.happysmileshornlake.com Adeline Vazques

    Yes, these are the plugin I like the most. I’ve been using most of these for a long time in my WordPress blog. It really helps a lot, and it gives traffic to my blog. You have a good presentation in your article, and it’s well explained. Thanks for the info.

    • http://www.magnet4marketing.net Fabrizio Van Marciano

      You’re welcome Adeline, thanks for stopping by :)