You are determined to improve your website or blog to retain your customers. You want to stand out from the competition. Unfortunately, you are lost among many features, extensions, and tutorials. You are, therefore, hesitant to jump into the deep end. To keep your head above water, the Web team is there. Here is a selection of 5 plugins to get your site off to a good start with WordPress: Element to build solid and original foundations, Short Pixel Image Optimizer to create a sober and practical decor, WP Forms to build a network, Woo Commerce to facilitate sales and finally Yeast Soto monitor and improve your natural referencing.
Build your web page with Element
You have already chosen your theme. It is now necessary to select the extensions adapted to your needs. As a reminder, an extension is a small program that offers new functionalities. Let’s start with the most famous page builder, Element, to be loaded from the WordPress dashboard and the Extensions menu. It will allow you to broaden the scope of the possibilities already offered.
Since it is a handy plugin for quick formatting, its presentation facilitates handling and displays your site’s evolution live. In the left column appear the different commands. In the one on the right, a preview of the rendering. Its free version allows the insertion of titles, images, media, maps, buttons, etc. A simple click/drag and the selection are positioned in the chosen section.
Thanks to the parameters, you select and modify the fonts, you make a first optimization of the illustrations by configuring the alt attribute and the legend, also elaborate the internal mesh and the insertion of anchors to facilitate reading. Element or supports HTML markup; it mirrors and duplicates a section to keep all the features. It also has a maintenance mode and a backup system.
An element is a tool that has made itself essential. Like a construction game, it allows you to build a site’s foundations quickly and have an overview of the final rendering in real-time.
Getting Started with WordPress and Short Pixel Image Optimizer for High-Performing Images
How many times have you ever lost patience with a page that was too slow to open? You gave up because the image display time was endless. Yet they are the ones that first capture the reader’s attention. They are, therefore, worth a little of your time. A simple and complete plugin accompanies you. With it, your files appear in the blink of an eye.
Short Pixel Image Optimizer first requires free registration on the dedicated site. Upon receipt of your API key, you can exchange it with the plugin and start your optimization. It offers a few settings, so it’s an ideal extension for beginners.
You first configure the compression type, from the most classic to the most professional ghostwriters. Then choose to apply this action to all the illustrations or a selection only. You decide whether or not to keep the EXIF data. These are details on the time and date of shooting or the settings, for example. If they can be helpful for professional photographers, they are often not justified for a blogger. Finally, you can resize the elements while maintaining their aspect ratio.
The advanced settings of Short Pixel Image Optimizer are mainly aimed at the most experienced. They allow:
- optimize images other than those in the WordPress library with Additional media folders;
- convert documents in PNG format to JPEG with Convert PNG images;
- To change the color mode with CMYK to RGB conversion.
Files can be enhanced individually, in batches, and automatically upon upload. You choose to work only on some, or the contrary, systematically on all Internet users who are authorized to post.
Since it is often the illustrations that first catch the visitor’s attention, by tightening them first, Short Pixel Image Optimizer allows a page to be opened quickly. The reader quickly accesses his article, can read several of them, and will want to return.
Build a network with WP Forms
You may still be wondering about the need for a form. Is all this work essential? Do not hesitate. The answer is yes! Why use WP Forms:
- to create or maintain contacts;
- to build a mailing list, disseminate information, and promote products;
- to answer the questions and expectations of Internet users;
- to promote exchanges with readers or between them;
- etc.
You want to get noticed on the Web, so you first have to get known, create and keep in touch with your audience. The simple contact form has become mandatory if sending a mailing list is essential for distributing a newsletter. WP Forms, another free WordPress extension, provides the CMS with this functionality. Its simple use makes it all the more convincing.
Since installing the WP Forms plugin, if you start with WordPress enriches your address book in a few clicks. From the dashboard, open the extension and ask for a new form to be created. You select a model, then the fields to insert. You decide how they are arranged. With options, you make them mandatory or optional. Also, With the settings, you configure the automatic answer and the reception mode.
Back in Element, or you integrate the WP Forms form into the site. Customer contact is established, and you are developing your network!
Open your shop with Woo Commerce.
With the Woo Commerce plugin, you create your online store. Before you start, keep in mind the three points that will keep your potential customer’s confidence. They require:
- An easy-to-use site;
- A welcoming online store with a neat design;
- A simple and secure payment.
Woo Commerce is designed to meet these needs.
This free extension will allow you to sell all physical and digital products, including subscriptions and services, in France or abroad. It is also compatible with many WordPress themes and page builders.
From the menus, the webmaster defines the various parameters. Here is a non-exhaustive list:
- Product Features ;
- VAT ;
- shipping and delivery methods;
- payment method ;
- privacy policy ;
- etc.
Adding a product to your e-commerce site is as easy as adding an article with WordPress. Also, some default settings help get your business started. The Shop, Cart, Checkout, My Account, and Privacy Policy pages are automatically integrated.
The day-to-day management of an online store can be laborious. Woo Commerce, practical and accessible to novices, accompanies you throughout this enterprise. And for even more peace of mind, the Web team is at your disposal. Also, find the article by Jade Martin-Krum and her advice to increase the conversion rate of an e-commerce site.
Optimizing a site with WordPress and Yeast SEO
From the beginning of your site, you need to be accompanied. The lynx eye of an SEO web editor is a safe bet, but Yeast SEO already allows you to throw yourself into the deep end without danger. Also, it offers you complete and real-time proofreading, and by asking you to complete the Target Query and Meta Description fields, it guides you to improve your natural referencing. Finally, it offers you some solutions for solving the problems. It will be all the more helpful if you start with WordPress.
The plugin provides the first analysis from your CMS by accessing the list of pages and articles. Also, a summary table gives you your SEO score, readability score, and the number of incoming and outgoing links.
Since the different menus of Yeast SEO identify any problems that could negatively affect your natural referencing, they set the identity of the site, its publications, its archives, its RSS feeds, etc. The tools duplicate the settings of one page to reuse them on another. They modify files individually or in batches. They provide some information and SEO tips. Finally, they count and verify the validity of the links.
Yeast SEO, a plugin with growing notoriety, is indispensable for detecting and resolving problems. His proposal of solutions, although purely indicative, is a pleasant added value.
The development, creation, management, regular updating, and verifications are essential steps for good natural referencing. However, your lack of mastery of specific tools complicates setting up your site, and monitoring it is time-consuming. To acquire and keep all your uniqueness on the net and thus enjoy a beautiful place in the sun, you need to delegate. Also, SEO professionals are there to meet all your expectations.
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