WordPress is brilliant, right? But let’s be honest, sometimes it needs a little help to become truly amazing. That’s where plugins come in. Think of them as your website’s toolkit, providing all the extra features and functionality you need to build something truly special.

Here are a few of our favourite plugins that we reckon no WordPress website should be without:

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

Ever wished you could add extra fields to your WordPress pages and posts? ACF lets you do just that! It gives you the power to create bespoke content layouts and manage your website’s data with ease.

Why it’s a must-have:

• Unique layouts: Say goodbye to cookie-cutter designs! ACF lets you create truly unique page layouts with different content blocks.
• Streamlined content: Make life easier for yourself (and your clients) with a more organised and efficient content management system.
• Elementor integration: ACF and Elementor are a match made in heaven. Use them together to build dynamic and engaging websites.

The best bits:

• It’s super user-friendly, even for beginners.
• Loads of features and options to explore.
• A massive community of users and developers for support.

Not so great:

• You’ll need a paid license to unlock all the advanced features.

Free version available, so you can try before you buy.

Elementor

Want to design stunning WordPress websites without writing a single line of code? Elementor is your new best friend. This drag-and-drop page builder makes website design a breeze.

Why it’s essential:

• No coding required: Even if you’re a complete beginner, you can create beautiful pages with Elementor’s intuitive interface.
• Templates galore: Choose from a huge library of pre-designed templates and widgets to get started quickly.
• Dynamic content: Combine Elementor with ACF to create truly dynamic and engaging website experiences.

What we love:

• Drag-and-drop simplicity.
• Endless design possibilities.
• A thriving community with tons of resources and support.

The downside:

• To access all the bells and whistles, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version.

Free version available for those who want to test the waters.

Yoast SEO

Want to get your website noticed by Google? Yoast SEO is your secret weapon. This all-in-one SEO plugin helps you optimise your content and improve your search engine rankings.

Why you need it:

• Climb the rankings: Get your website seen by more people with improved search engine visibility.
• SEO know-how: Yoast provides helpful tips and analysis to ensure your content is optimised for search engines.
• XML sitemaps: Easily generate XML sitemaps to help search engines understand your website’s structure.

The good stuff:

• Easy to use, even for SEO newbies.
• Packed with features to help you conquer the search results.
• Regularly updated with the latest SEO best practices.

Not ideal:

• Some of the more advanced features are locked behind a paywall.

Free version available to get you started on your SEO journey.

Site Kit by Google

Want to know how your website is performing? Site Kit brings all your essential Google tools (like Search Console and Analytics) right into your WordPress dashboard.

Why it’s handy:

• Track your progress: Monitor your website’s traffic, engagement, and SEO performance all in one place.
• Understand your audience: See how people find and interact with your website.
• Straight from the source: Get official data and insights directly from Google.

What’s great:

• Simple to set up and connect to your Google accounts.
• Provides valuable data and insights at a glance.
• Completely free to use!

The catch:

• It only works with Google services.
  
  

WPForms

Need a contact form, survey, or other type of form on your website? WPForms makes it easy with its drag-and-drop form builder.

Why it’s useful:

• Connect with your audience: Collect leads, gather feedback, and build relationships with your visitors.
• Versatile forms: Create any type of form you need, from simple contact forms to complex surveys.
• Marketing integration: Connect WPForms with your email marketing service to grow your list.

The highlights:

• Drag-and-drop interface for easy form creation.
• Ready-made templates to get you started quickly.
• Built-in spam protection to keep your inbox clean.

The downside:

• You’ll need the pro version to access all the features and integrations.

Free version available for basic form building needs.

Akismet Spam Protection

Spam comments can be a real headache. Akismet filters out the junk, so you can focus on genuine interactions with your visitors.

Why it’s a lifesaver:

• No more spam: Keep your website clean and tidy by blocking spam comments and form submissions.
• Time-saver: Spend less time moderating comments and more time on what matters.
• Added security: Spam can sometimes contain malicious links, so Akismet helps protect your website.

What we like:

• It’s incredibly effective at catching spam.
• Simple to set up and use.
• Free for personal use.

The downside:

• You’ll need a paid plan if you’re using it for a business website.
  
  

WPCode

Want to add custom code to your website without messing with your theme files? WPCode makes it safe and easy.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Code snippets: Easily add header and footer scripts, tracking codes, and CSS customizations.
• Organised code: Keep your code snippets organised and manageable.
• Performance boost: WPCode can help optimise your code for better website performance.

The perks:

• User-friendly interface for managing your code.
• Conditional logic to control where your code appears.
• Features to help improve your website’s speed.

The downside:

• Some of the more advanced features are only available in the paid version.

Free version available for basic code snippet management.

That’s a Wrap!

These plugins are just the tip of the iceberg, but they’re a great starting point for any WordPress website. As your website grows, you might need to add more plugins to meet your specific needs.