This is a presentation that was designed for our Advanced Web Design class at Sheridan College for the CCIT program. These students are not typically leaving their program to be web designers or developers, but they tend to be the managers. Knowing what tools are available to them is important. This presentation is meant to be about the "front end" of the website as opposed to the "back end". Items like security, backups and optimization were handled in a separate presentation.

1. Popular
WordPress
Plugins

2. Hello!
I am Shanta Nathwani
I am here because I love to give presentations.
You can find me at @ShantaDotCa

3. 49,261
Total Number of WordPress Plugins in the Repository as of March 11, 2017

4. Types of Plugins
Major categories include:
● ECommerce
● Email
● Membership
● Forms
● Automation
● Gallery
● Optimization
● Security
● SEO
● Analytics
We’re only going to cover a few of these in detail. Security and Optimization are in a separate presentation.

5. “There are plenty of plugins
that will do multiple things.
Pick plugins that work well
together and that only have
what you need. Perhaps
choose ones from the same
developer if possible.
When possible, I’ve linked to the WordPress Repository, if there are multiple sites for the plugin.

6. ECommerce
Sell stuff!

7. ECommerce
WooCommerce was acquired by Automattic in May, 2015.
WooCommerce by Automattic
This is by far the largest of the WordPress plugins for
ECommerce. It is free to install the basic setup, but has tonnes of
add-ons, depending on things like type of product, payment
gateways and much more. This is typically for physical products
but can be used for digital as well.
Premium plugins include memberships and subscriptions as well.
It works well as an “all-in-one” solution.

8. ECommerce
Pippin has another plugin that has been recommended in this deck under “Memberships”.
Easy Digital Downloads
by Pippin’s Plugins
This is one of the most popular plugins not developed by
Automattic itself that specifically handles digital downloads, but
I’ve seen this used as a way to manage memberships also.
Premium add-ons include payment gateways. Very easy to use
and reputable company in the WordPress world.

9. Membership
Join stuff!

10. Memberships
Pippin has another plugin that has been recommended in this deck under “ECommerce”.
Restrict Content
by Pippin’s Plugins
This plugin helps manage access to content on your website. You
can use this to run things like courses and capture emails.
You can run this like a membership site or run in conjunction with
the other plugin, Easy Digital Downloads.

11. Memberships
BuddyCamp is one of the components of WordCamp Miami, one of the largest in the world.
BuddyPress
by John James Jacoby et. al.
John James Jacoby (aka JJJ) used to work for Automattic, but
now works on his own. This is an open source project, just like
WordPress.
One of the possible uses is a forum. Much like the one we use for
our classes at Sheridan College.
Photo by Kiera Howe

12. Memberships
Sometimes you have to go with recommendations from people you know.
MemberPress
The plugin on the WordPress repository is an add-on for
MemberPress. I haven’t used this one, but my friends Chris Lema
and Nile Flores both recommend it.

13. Forms
Collect stuff!

14. Forms
So many fields!
Contact Form 7 by Takayuki Miyoshi
One of the most widely used Plugins for Forms. It has a very high
rating and over 3 million installs.

15. Forms
Josh has a thing for tacos. Tell him I said #HiJosh
Caldera Forms by Josh Pollack
I know Josh personally and this has been recommended by a few
people I know, including Jonathan Perlman. He is also a fellow
contributor on The WP Crowd.
He’s even given our students a discount code!

16. Forms
They have some pretty awesome stickers too.
Gravity Forms by Rocket Genius
One of the top three form plugins in the WordPress environment.
They are big supporters in the WordPress world, especially my
buddy, Jeff Matson.

17. Galleries
Show stuff!

18. Galleries
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Foo Gallery and Foo Image LightBox
by Foo Plugins
This is another one I’ve never used, but was recommended by at
least three people: Chris Lema, Nile Flores and Adam Warner.
The main gallery is a free plugin, and the lightbox is a premium
add on.
I’ve struggled to find one, but this appears to be a good choice for
many.

19. SEO/Analytics
Analyze stuff!

20. SEO/Analytics
Yoast SEO Google Analytics
● Recommended as the top
plugin for SEO.
● Helps reach your audience and
make suggestions.
● Recommended as the top
analytics tool.
● Does a deeper look than the
WordPress statistics.
There’s one SEO Plugin, but multiple Google Analytic ones.

21. All In One
Solutions?
Short cuts

22. Jetpack?
What is Jetpack?

23. Jetpack Suite
Jetpack is a suite of plugins developed by Automattic. There is great debate whether or not to use it,
especially among developers who claim it will slow down your site. As Chris Lema says, “It depends”.
Here are some of the highlights of the plugin suite (in my humble opinion):
● Publicize
● Tiled Gallery
● Image CDN
● Downtime Monitoring
● Single Point Management
You must have a WordPress.com account for this to work, which is different from WordPress.org. Some concerns
circulating this suite is the use of 3rd party servers, especially for things like CDN.

24. CDN
Content Delivery
Network
A content delivery network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers (network) that deliver
webpages and other Web content to a user based on the geographic locations of the user, the
origin of the webpage and a content delivery server.
- Webopedia.com

25. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at @ShantaDotCa and shanta@shanta.ca

26. Resources
The following resources were used in the research of this presentation
● 24 Must Have WordPress Plugins for Business Websites in 2017
● 37 Essential WordPress Plugins You Should Know (and Install If You Haven’t
Already)
● The Best WordPress Plugins Ever Created Since the Dawn of Time
● Should I use the WordPress Jetpack plugin on my site?
● WPToronto East - Forms, Memberships, Emails, Automation