You might think your WordPress site is fine without plugins. Just like toast thought it was fine without avocado. Reality check time—the right WordPress plugins can drastically improve your site’s form and function for both you and your readers. However, with over (gulp) 50,000 options available, identifying the right ones to meet your needs can be a daunting task. To help you ring in the new year with better site efficiency, UI, and UX, we’re presenting six of the top WordPress plugins to consider in 2019.
1. Redirection
Name something worse than clicking on a permalink and being greeted by the dreaded 404 error message. Go ahead… I’ll wait. There’s a reason Redirection has been a user-favorite for over a decade. This OG plugin is your go-to manager of 301 redirections, and it tracks all 404 errors that pollute your site. It also provides an error-grouping function to help you zero-in on specific issues and allows you to perform redirections in bulk.
This all sounds so….expensive, right? You can put the plastic back in your wallet because Redirection and all its features are completely free. So, if technical SEO and a strong UX are among your site’s top priorities, consider adding Redirection to your plugin repertoire for 2019.
2. All-in-One WP Migration
Migrating a WordPress site can be as exhausting as moving to a new home. The packing, the organization, the seemingly endless back and forth trips – it’s a real slog. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a fast and free moving service available to do the heavy lifting? Cue All-in-One WP Migration. This time- and sanity- saving plugin seamlessly exports your WordPress site and all its components including the database, media files, and additional plugins.
You simply upload your site to a different location or host with a drag-and-drop function. And welcome to the 21st century where having a mobile-friendly site is an absolute must. If you’re still in the Stone Age, All-in-one WP Migration has your back. It is mobile-device compatible, reigning as the first plugin to offer a true mobile experience on WordPress versions 3.3 or higher. Think of this WP migration plugin as the technical equivalent of those all-in-one products that conveniently serve as shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, dish soap, and motor oil.
3. OptinMonster
If generating new customers and increasing web traffic are part of your business goals for 2019, OptinMonster is in your wheelhouse. This plugin reminds us of a sad reality – that nearly 70% of visitors who abandon your site fail to ever return. OptinMonster knows you don’t handle rejection well.
The self-proclaimed “most powerful conversion optimization and lead generation software in the world” is essentially a Swiss army knife of features and functions designed to generate site traffic and convert visitors to paying customers and subscribers. It offers customizable forms, analytics, and page-level targeting tools. With a growing cult-following, OptinMonster boasts a user base of over 700,000 websites and counting.
4. Broken Link Checker
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But what if it IS broken? Broken links are not only buzzkills for visitors, they can tank your SEO rankings, and lead you to the underworld of malware and phishing. Broken Link Checker, a different but equally effective ally of Redirection, is the neighborhood watchdog your site needs to keep UI and search engines running smoothly in 2019. This WP plugin is the most popular among blog gurus, web designers, and business professionals alike for its efficiency, ease of use, and multi-function capabilities.
Broken Link Checker continually scans and monitors your site to identify janky links in your pages, posts, comments, and even custom fields. This highly configurable plugin notifies you via email or dashboard when it detects a broken link, missing image, or redirect and allows you edit directly from the plugin’s page. No tedious manual updates needed. Do yourself (and your readers) a favor and add this broken link kryptonite to your 2019 WP plugin toolbox.
5. Wordfence Security
When it comes to website security (and Super Bowls), the best offense is a good defense. No matter how vigilant you are, cyber-attacks, hacks, and data breaches remain viable threats to your site in 2019. Still sporting that impervious (read: delusional) “it’s not going to happen to me” attitude? Here’s food for thought—of the 90,000 websites hacked per day, over 80% of them are WordPress platforms. As one of the most hacked CRMs, it’s critical that you install a reliable security plugin.
Wordfence Security – Firewall & Malware Scan to the rescue. This WordPress-exclusive security solution is actively installed on over 2 million sites for a reason. The user-friendly plugin combats malware, spam, and a host of other threats in real time. There are both free and premium versions available, with the former providing tried and true protection of your site at the endpoint, preventing data leakage and broken encryption. For a cool $99 per year, the premium package ups the ante with additional features including direct customer support assistance, two-factor authentication, and real-time IP blacklisting. Wordfence is one of many WP security plugins available, but its widespread use and proven reliability make it a go-to shield for everyone from brick and mortar businesses to retail giants.
6. Yoast SEO
I know what you’re thinking. It’s 2019, and we’re still talking about Yoast SEO? Yep. Until a more superior SEO plugin emerges and dethrones the king, we’re still plugging (pun intended) the pioneer. With user-friendly content and SEO analysis tools, title and meta descriptions templates, and bulk editing options at your fingertips, it’s no wonder over 5 million sites rely on Yoast SEO to optimize their site’s content.
This old dog has some new tricks. Yoast SEO Premium boasts additional bells and whistles including internal linking features, an option to have synonyms and related key phrases, a redirect manager, cornerstone content checks, and more. If you’re aiming to boost reader engagement and visitor traffic, this SEO plugin ranks (yes, another intended pun) at the top for 2019.