Navigating WordPress can be confusing and intimidating for any novice web designer. Trying to understand the WordPress Dashboard, with its numerous options and settings, to decipher the right plugins and themes for your website can be a very cumbersome task.
But it is very important to understand these and fortunately, in this article, I will help you to navigate the world of plugins from a beginner’s point of view.
So I will begin by explaining what plugins are. Well, plugins are like apps that add features to the base WordPress to increase or improve the functionality of WordPress, without writing complex code.
Even though there are thousands of Plugins you need not download them all! That means that you can add plugins to match the requirements of your website!
In this article, I will provide you with TEN such Plugins that a novice web designer might find useful.
Let’s get started!
1) Elementor and Divi
“How do I start building pages for my website?”, is often one of the most commonly asked questions I come across. Webpages are built using “page builder” plugins. There are a lot of page builder plugins on WordPress but, I recommend to start off with Elementor or Divi. These are the 2 most popular page builder plugins that offer high flexibility and use drag-and-drop interfaces that do not need code to be written! The main difference between these 2 is that Divi has a subscription model with its own theme and Elementor has a free and a premium version.
2)Ninja Forms (Contact Forms)
Contact forms are used on a lot of websites. It is usually used to collect information on leads and of course, contact form plugins are also available in WordPress. I recommend Ninja Forms. Ninja Forms has a very easy-to-use drag-and-drop feature that makes the creation of contact forms feel hassle-free and seamless. You can also change the way your form looks, set up automatic email notifications, and use conditional logic to enhance the functionality of your forms.
3) Tawk.to (Chatbot)
Chatbots have become a necessity in today’s website landscape. Chatbots are used for 24/7 support or problem-solving. Tawk.to is a free chatbot plugin that helps businesses connect with website visitors. This plugin is easy to install and integrate with your website, provides real-time chat and can the appearance can be customized to your website needs.
4)All in one WP migration
Losing data is one of the most commonly recurring and frustrating problems on WordPress. This can occur due to a myriad of reasons but, can be prevented by taking backups of your website! All-in-one WP migration is an excellent easy-to-use plugin to take backups of your entire website, including all the plugins and themes used!
5) Astra Starter Templates and Envato Elements
Astra starter templates and Envato elements- Making a website from scratch can be such an inconvenience. Choosing the colors and fonts to making the overall design of the website is very time-consuming if done from scratch. To mitigate this problem web designers use template plugins. Astra Starter Templates and Envato Elements offer a wide range of templates for your website ranging from Business templates to E-Commerce and Blog templates
6)Elementor Header And Footer Builder
The header and the Footer section of your website can be separately designed from the other elements on WordPress. Elementor Header And Footer Builder is a plugin that is used to build the header and footer sections of your website. It is easy to use, has a drag-and-drop interface, and has a ton of customization options.
7)Elementor Essential Add-Ons
Elementor Essential Add ons is a plugin that extends the functionality of the Elementor page builder. Essential add on offers elements to create dynamic and engaging website elements, including advanced headings, pricing tables, progress bars, and more. This is a must if you are planning to make use of Blogs in your website!
8) WooCommerce (E-Commerce plugin)
WooCommerce- WooCommerce is the only E-Commerce plugin on WordPress. It allows you to turn your website into an E-Commerce Website without requiring to technical knowledge about coding. It is secure, open-source, and scalable!! You can even track your inventory and manage stock!!
This brings us to the end of the list. I hope that you found this list helpful!!😊😊😊