What is a WordPress Plugin?
A WordPress Plugin is a type of software that you can add to your WordPress website to give it additional features and functionality. It helps you to extend the features of your site by adding features like contact form, registration, photo gallery, social media sharing, etc. Basically, a plugin is like a mini-program that you can easily install in a few clicks and use without any coding.
What are some Common WordPress Plugins?
1. Jetpack: Jetpack is a plugin that offers security, performance, and site management tools to help you manage and optimize your WordPress website. It also includes features such as social media sharing, analytics, custom CSS, mobile optimization, and more.
2. Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a comprehensive SEO plugin that helps you optimize your website for search engine visibility. It includes features such as meta descriptions, SEO-friendly URLs, XML sitemaps, and more.
3. Akismet: Akismet is an anti-spam plugin that helps protect your website from malicious activity. It filters out spam comments and contact form submissions, helping you keep your site safe and secure.
4. Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms is a powerful form plugin that helps you create complex forms with ease. It includes features such as conditional logic, file uploads, user registration, and more.
5. Wordfence Security: Wordfence Security is a plugin that helps protect your website from malicious activity. It includes features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, and two-factor authentication.
What Is a WordPress Theme?
A WordPress theme is a collection of files that work together to create the design and functionality of a WordPress website. They define the look and feel of the website, from the layout and style of the content, to the way the site’s menus and navigation are arranged. Most WordPress themes offer widget-ready areas that let you add content to your site quickly and easily, without having to write any code.
Some common WordPress themes include Divi by Elegant Themes, which is my main theme of choice. It is a powerful, yet simple to use, page builder and drag-and-drop website designer that makes creating your website a breeze. Other popular themes include Avada, iMax, and Genesis.
What is the Connection, and difference, between a WordPress Theme and a Plugin?
The difference between a WordPress theme and plugin is that a theme dictates the overall design of the website and how the content is displayed. A plugin will typically add additional functionality to the website, such as the ability to add an online store, or a contact form. Plugins are installed separately from themes and are optional pieces of software that can be added to a WordPress website to enhance its functionality.
What are Premium WordPress Plugins?
Premium WordPress plugins are additional pieces of software that can be freely downloaded and installed to add extra function and features to your WordPress website. They are an alternative to the thousands of free plugins available on the WordPress Repository, and they often offer advanced features and support that make them worth the cost.
The primary benefit of using premium plugins is that they are typically created with a higher degree of quality than free plugins, which means that the code is generally better organized and more secure than free plugins. They also tend to be more well-documented than free plugins, making them easier to use and configure. Additionally, premium plugins often come with support from the developer, which can be invaluable when something goes wrong with your website.
Advantages to Using Premium WordPress Plugins
A. Better Security: Premium plugins are usually supported and updated regularly, which means that any security vulnerabilities that may be present are quickly patched. Additionally, the code is usually well-written and organized, which helps to reduce the chance of a malicious attack.
B. Increased Performance: Many Premium plugins are built with performance in mind from the start. This ensures that they run faster than free counterparts, minimizing any unnecessary server load and reducing the stress on your website.
C. Improved SEO: Many premium plugins are designed to help with SEO, offering features such as faster loading times, automatic XML sitemap generation, and support for Open Graph and Twitter Cards tags.
D;. Better technical support: Premium WordPress plugins often include access to technical support which is beneficial because any problems you might experience can be solved quickly.
Disadvantages to Using Premium Plugins
A. Cost: The primary disadvantage of premium plugins is the cost. While some may seem expensive at first glance, it’s important to remember that the cost includes the code, support, and the developer’s time.
B. Compatibility Issues: Premium plugins are not always as extensively tested as free plugins, which can lead to compatibility issues with other plugins or themes. Additionally, developers may not be able to offer support for older versions of WordPress, so you may have to upgrade if you want to keep using the plugin.
Plugin or Theme licences – how they work
An annual premium plugin or theme is one that you need to pay for the license each year in order to use it. A lifetime plugin or theme is one that you purchase once and are able to use forever.
Some web developers use their own licences, if their licence expires, you may face unexpected costs in the future in order to use these plugins or themes. Therefore it is important to know if your website uses an annual premium plugin or theme because this could result in ongoing costs that you may be unaware of. There may be annual fees associated with these plugins or themes, such as maintenance fees or licensing fees. This could be in addition to any other costs associated with running a website, such as hosting fees or domain name registration fees. Knowing all of this in advance can help you plan for any potential expenses associated with your website.
It is also important that your web developer explains any ongoing costs so that you are able to make an informed decision about the best way to manage your website. Having this information to hand means that you are able to budget and plan in advance, and can avoid any unexpected costs in the future.
How I handle licences for clients.
My theme of choice for most sites is Divi by Elegant Themes, As a Divi Developer I have a Unlimited Lifetime Licence, I have the right to offer a perpetual license to you and your website. This means that you will never need to renew the licence unless the terms and conditions of the license change in the future, which I do not anticipate. Therefore, you have no additional costs for the lifetime licence and can rest assured that you will not need to renew it in the future. This is a reward for being my valued client. And before I get spammed, no you cant use my licence without being my client!
I always try to use the most appropriate WordPress plugin for clients. I review the free options first and typically use 70 to 80% of free plugins. I only use premium plugins when the free options don’t meet the client’s needs and are necessary for the project.
In the invent that I identify a plugin that will significantly add value to your website or your business, I will explain to the client why I think this the better option the pros and cons of the alternatives and at that point the client will purchase the plugin, if they see fit. At this point the client owns the plugin licence and is responsible for its renewals.
Why it is important for a website owners to own licences associated with their website
Owning licenses associated with a website is important because it allows website owners to enjoy more freedom when it comes to website developers and website maintenance contracts.
a), Owning the license ensures that the website owner has total control over who has access to the website code, and this in turn makes it easier to move website developers and switch maintenance contracts, as the website owner can grant or revoke access to the code
b), Owning the license also prevents the website developers and maintenance contract providers from locking the website owner into a contract, thus allowing the website owner to switch between service providers when necessary.
c) Owning the license allows the website owner to have transparency when it comes to the costs associated with the website, as the website owner can cover any licensing costs directly, instead of relying on third party services.
In conclusion, this article has given an overview of WordPress plugins and themes, explaining the different types available, their benefits, and how to decide on the most suitable one for your website. If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
