There are countless plugins available on WordPress. Whether you’re looking to organize your sidebar, insert a slideshow, or increase your page speed, WordPress plugin developers have got you covered. The variety is amazing, but sometimes it’s difficult to weed through the masses to find the well-crafted, efficient plugins that will make your website shine. So today we’re going to look at the best WordPress plugins for 2013. Suitable for all websites, easy to use, and beneficial to anyone looking to improve their website, these plugins are not only useful, they’re indispensable to a great WordPress website.
1. Gravity Forms
Developed by the Rocketgenius team, Gravity Forms is a contact form plugin. Simple and intuitive, Gravity Forms lets you build contact forms, multi-page forms, order forms, and more without any programming knowledge whatsoever. Undeniably one of the best WordPress plugins available, Gravity Forms is filled with easy-to-use options. Want users to know how far along they are in the form process? Check the “progress bar.” Need to add extra entry fields? Use the “advanced fields” option to capture more than just a name and a message. Running a contest but only want to accept the first 100 entries submitted? Check the “limit number of entries” box, set your limit, and even add a message for those who didn’t make the cut. Straightforward but versatile, Gravity Forms lets you interact with your audience without complication.
2. Simple 301 Redirects
Simple 301 Redirects is vital when you need to redirect page requests. Whether you need to send visitors to another page on your website or to another website entirely, developer Scott Nelle can help. Simply enter in the request (ex: /about.htm) and your chosen destination address (ex: https:// www.scottnelle.com), and you’re finished! A truly lightweight plugin, Simple 301 Redirects does exactly what it says it will do: it redirects. That’s why it’s one of the best WordPress plugins around; it knows when to shut up.
3. WordPress SEO
If you’re looking to increase your traffic through Search Engine Optimization, Yoast’s WordPress SEO Plugin is the perfect plugin for you. Developed by Joost de Valk, the WordPress SEO plugin uses page analysis to help you optimize everything from your page content and image titles to meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, and more. It’s got everything you need in one multi-faceted, convenient program (and truly one of the best WordPress plugins available). Whether your needs are basic or more complex, this plugin will fulfill your every SEO dream. Set templates for titles and meta descriptions, use the snippet preview function to see how your website will appear in a Google search, and test your site for usage of the focus keyword. The options will amaze you, and you’re bound to learn something new about SEO in the process.
Don’t let the vast array of plugin possibilities overwhelm you. Just check out our choices for the top 3 best WordPress plugins to quickly and easily improve your website. Whether you want to enhance the viewer’s experience or increase your web traffic, these plugins are sure to impress.
