Get To Know WordPress And Its Top Five Plugins
Tags: beginners, tutorial, codenewbie, wordpress
Published: 2022-09-23 12:04:26

![photo by pexel.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663842590352_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+11-29-16.png)

## Introduction

Creating a new website is a difficult task. You want to create something that your customers will enjoy, but you don't want the setup to take months or to be so technical that every single copy update necessitates the assistance of a developer.

A software that allows you to create websites without coding is becoming more popular.
WordPress does not require a degree in computer engineering. It is intended for non-technical users. The user interface is  straightforward.

WordPress has grown into a thriving community of developers, designers, and bloggers. WordPress redesigned its user experience in 2017 with the introduction of a new editor called Gutenberg.

WordPress 5.0 (Bebo), the most recent release, includes a new and improved showcase theme. 

"Why should I use WordPress?" is one of the most frequently asked questions. Isn't my website sufficient? Why should I switch to WordPress from another platform?

If you're asking these questions, you've come to the right place.

In this article, we will go over the top reasons for using WordPress. We'll also go over the different types of websites you can create with WordPress and highlight five of the best plugins available.

## What is WordPress?
![photo by kinsta.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663842699508_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+11-31-06.png)


WordPress is an extremely capable content management system. A content management system (CMS) provides a simple interface for users to add and edit website content. The content management system (CMS) is used to create and optimize all content on a WordPress site, from the text to the visual elements.

This single piece of software serves as the website's heart, giving users the tools they need to update the look of their digital content without any technical knowledge.

WordPress is a free and open-source website creation platform based on PHP that uses a MySQL database and supports HTTPS. A plugin architecture and a template system known as Themes in WordPress are among the features. Consider it your website's operating system.

## What kind of sites can WordPress make?

WordPress was previously used primarily to create blogs rather than more traditional websites. That hasn't happened in a long time. Because of changes to the core code and WordPress' massive ecosystem of plugins and themes, you can now create any type of website with WordPress.
WordPress, for example, not only powers a large number of business sites and blogs, but it is also the most commonly used platform for creating an eCommerce store! WordPress allows you to make the following:

- eCommerce stores - 
- Blogs - 
- Portfolios - 
- Resumes - 
- Forums - 
- Social networks - 
- Membership sites -...

     Almost anything else you can think of.

## **Why are there two different versions of WordPress?**

If you typed "WordPress" into Google, you'd probably get two different results:

- www.wordpress.com


- www.wordpress.org

So, why are there two distinct versions of WordPress?
The short answer is that there are no two versions of WordPress; WordPress.com and WordPress.org are distinct entities, and there is only one "WordPress." But, given the nature of the subject, you are not alone in your confusion.
Let's go over it quickly:


## What is WordPress “.org”?

WordPress.org is the home of the open-source, free WordPress software.
Most people refer to the open-source WordPress software and project, also known as WordPress.org, when they say "WordPress."

Furthermore, everything we've said in this post applies to WordPress.org. While there are some similarities, WordPress.com is not the same thing.

## What is WordPress “.com”?

WordPress.com is a for-profit website creation service based on the open-source software available at WordPress.org. WordPress.com is one way to create a site using the WordPress.org software, but access is limited unless you pay for the most expensive plans.

WordPress.com is not "WordPress," it simply makes use of WordPress.
To put it another way, all WordPress.com sites use the WordPress.org software, but not all WordPress.org sites are on WordPress.com. In fact, most WordPress sites are not hosted on WordPress.com.
 
 For a more detailed look, check out [our full WordPress.org vs WordPress.com comparison](https://www.codeinwp.com/blog/wordpress-org-vs-wordpress-com/).



## Why Should You Use WordPress.

WordPress is a popular blogging and business platform. In fact, WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet. Here are a few of the reasons WordPress is so popular:


-  **WordPress is open-source.**
- **WordPress is easy to use for a beginner.**
- **WordPress is SEO-friendly.**
- **WordPress supports all media types.**
- **WordPress is secure.**
- **WordPress is free to use.**


## What are plugins?

**You Can Extend WordPress Using Themes and Plugins**



![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663845865846_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+12-23-54.png)


The core WordPress platform contains a plethora of useful features that make creating and maintaining a website simple — even for complete beginners. It can only do so much, however. You might find that you need more options or functionality than the WordPress core can provide on its own, in which case plugins come in handy.


WordPress plugins are small pieces of software that you can download and install on your website. They provide extra features, which could be minor tweaks or an entire suite of options:

Do you want to include a form or a free Google font on your WordPress website? You appear to require a good plugin.
Plugins are a necessary component of any WordPress site. Plugins extend and improve

## W**hy Plugins Are Useful Additions to Your WordPress Site**

WordPress.org has nearly 60,000 available plugins. Indeed, plugins are one of the primary reasons for using WordPress!

Plugins exist that can do almost anything you want with your website. Some plugins, such as those used to backup your WordPress site, are primarily used for administrative purposes. Others can change how your website appears to visitors.

However, you should be cautious when adding plugins to your site because many of them are not performance-optimized and can cause your site to slow down. Visitors who use a cellular network or a slow connection may have a poor experience.

Plugins are created by independent developers. When options are submitted to WordPress.org, they are reviewed to ensure that they adhere to the WordPress repository's best coding practices and guidelines. Select them wisely.

## Five Top Plugins WordPress Can Offer.

Although plugins can be found by searching directories, storefronts, and developer websites, the thousands of options available can be overwhelming. To help you decide, we've compiled a list of our favorites.

The following plugins are highly recommended for both novice and advanced users. Each tool satisfies the criteria discussed in the preceding section and comes with its own set of features.

To summarize, if you're creating a new WordPress website or updating an existing one, these are the first five plugins you should investigate!


1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a strategy that, when implemented correctly, can help your site rank higher in search engines such as Google and Bing. Its complicated rules and guidelines, on the other hand, can be difficult to remember. 
![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663848263373_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+13-04-07.png)




## Key Features:
    - Use titles, URLs, and meta descriptions to improve your search engine results.
    
    - Examine your pages and posts to identify areas for improvement.
    
    - Choose which of your site's pages appear in Google search results.


- Yoast SEO is great because it employs a simple traffic light system. A green light indicates that your post or page is ready to go, whereas yellow and red indicate that more work is needed. This is the same procedure for improving the SEO or readability of your post.

**Price**: The core WordPress plugin is free, but [Yoast SEO Premium](https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/) costs $99 per year.




## 2. Jetpack

[Jetpack](https://wordpress.org/plugins/jetpack/) is an all-in-one plugin created by the developers of WordPress ([Automattic](https://automattic.com/)). It provides a set of features that can be activated module by module. Contact forms, site security, user engagement options, site backups, and much more are among the modules available.


![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663848440015_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+13-07-01.png)




## Key Features:
- One-click restores and automatic backups


- Protection against brute force attacks


- Cutting-edge site analytics and social sharing tools

Almost every website owner can benefit from Jetpack's essential security features. The free plugin provides' set and forget' brute force protection as well as downtime monitoring to ensure your site runs at peak performance.

While not as comprehensive as Yoast SEO, Jetpack's offerings are ideal for those who are just starting out with SEO. It lets you customize the look of your titles, taglines, posts, pages, and archives in search engines. You can also write your own meta description and see how it will appear on social media.

Jetpack Professional is normally $299 per year, but it is included free with DreamPress Plus and DreamPress Pro hosting.


## 3. Akismet

Eradicating spam is important for protecting your website, so it’s important to find tools that monitor comments and emails. Akismet  is another Automattic plugin that removes malicious links and irrelevant content from your site by comparing it to a global, constantly updated database:


![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663848604170_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+13-09-49.png)




## Key Features:
- Checks all comments on your site automatically and filters out potential spam.


- Enables you to review what has been flagged as spam and make any necessary changes to the plugin.


- Inspects contact form submissions to ensure genuine responses

    While you can manually moderate your comments for spam, this is a time-consuming process.       With Akismet, you can have a dependable solution that automatically blocks 99.9% of spam.           Visitors can thus interact with your content without having to navigate through irrelevant                 advertisements or repeat messages.
       
       **Price:** The plugin is free for personal bloggers, but a subscription is required if your site is a             commercial venture. The good news is that you can get access to this through one of our                 DreamPress plans.



## 4. WooCommerce

The ability to create an e-commerce store is not included by default in the core WordPress platform. This is where WooCommerce comes into play. This plugin allows you to set up an online store and begin selling physical and digital goods.


![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663848830544_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+13-13-36.png)





## Key Features:
-  Personalize your storefront by using themes and product blocks.


- Offer a variety of payment and shipping options.


- Make use of extensions to gain access to a wide range of features.

When you launch your WooCommerce-powered online store, you can track its performance using a central dashboard that you can customize. It even has a mobile app so you can manage your sales while you're on the go.
Price: The core plugin is free, but its developers (the folks at Automattic) also offer a slew of premium extensions that can enhance your store's functionality.

## 5. Elementor

If you’re just starting your website, you can benefit from using a page builder plugin such as [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/).  This tool includes a drag-and-drop editor for designing the front end of your website. To expedite the creation process, you can import pre-designed pages, blocks, and templates.



![photo by dreamhost.com](https://paper-attachments.dropbox.com/s_643ABF1C724A38416DCE92AD8F9F760453BBA4C590CBB7883AAB90EB373960F7_1663849087038_Screenshot+Capture+-+2022-09-22+-+13-17-52.png)




## Key Features 

 Over 40 free widgets - 
 
 Improved performance with fewer CSS and JavaScript files

Website kits and templates that are ready to use

Elementor makes it simple to design your ideal website. The drag-and-drop editor is simple for beginners. Professionals, on the other hand, can benefit from the features of Elementor. CSS customization, animations, and motion effects

Elementor has a free version, but Elementor Pro costs $49 per year. It comes with more than 300 templates, a theme builder, and premium support.


## Conclusion

It's been a pleasure demonstrating what WordPress is all about. Hopefully, you now understand what WordPress is and what it can do for you.

If you are new to WordPress, you should read the 10-Step Guide to Setting Up a Website with WordPress.

You may be a busy person who requires services to quickly build a website for your company or your business. If this describes you, please contact us right away for prompt professional assistance.

Have a fantastic time until the next time.


#About the Author

I am Jenifer Eze, an enthusiastic developer with a passion for JavaScript,  Bootstrap, PHP, HTML & CSS.

I work as a freelancer, building websites for clients, and love writing technical tutorials to teach others what I do. I am eager to hear from you. Reach me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-eze-969272239/), [Github](https://github.com/nnekajenny), or my [website](https://nnekajenny.github.io/).