Tips and tools for WordPress, Google and more
Recommended WordPress plugins
Why you can't do without WordPress plugins: although the "naked" WordPress already has a lot of functionality, in practice it lacks many of the things you need to run a good website or blog. In our own work, we therefore always use the same plugins if they have proven to be reliable and good.
Note in advance: this page is updated regularly. Current status: 2022-11
We are grateful for information on incorrect links.
Table of Contents
- SEO (search engine optimization)
- Forms
- Picture galleries
- Security
- Backup/Migration
- Google connection
- Block editor ("Gutenberg")
- GDPR plugins
- Backend tools
- Performance
- Further functions
- Standalone page builder
SEO (search engine optimization)
Don't install several SEO plugins at the same time, but choose just one that works best for you.
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/seo-by-rank-math/
- https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/wp-seopress/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/autodescription/
Forms
The Flamingo plugin should be used together with Contact Form 7, as it also stores the form entries in a database.
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/ninja-forms/
- Gravity Forms (Premium Plugin)
If it does not work with the mail dispatch, install the following plugin, as this gives you full control over the mail dispatch. You can use it to specify your SMTP server together with the necessary authorization data.
Picture galleries
Most gallery plugins are available as free and pro versions. The free version of the following plugins is already impressive.
- Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block
- Gallery Plugin for WordPress - Envira Photo Gallery
- FooGallery Image Gallery - Responsive Photo Gallery
- FooBox Image Lightbox WordPress Plugin
- Responsive Lightbox & Gallery
Slider
Security
Basically: Don't just rely on plugins, but make sure that WordPress is installed properly from the outset.
Do not install several security plug-ins at the same time, but opt for just one that works best for you. But we only recommend the following one anyway:
By the way, read the WordPress article Hardening WordPress through. Perhaps this is an impetus to check your WordPress installation for security.
Yes, there is also the Wordfence plugin, but we are deliberately not including it in our list of recommendations. Reason:
Wordfence Free receives firewall rules and malware signatures created by the industry-leading Wordfence Threat Intelligence team after a 30 day delay.
https://www.wordfence.com/products/wordfence-free/
I don't think that's acceptable.
Backup/Migration
- UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin
- Backup & Migration & Unused Images Cleaner - WPvivid Backup Plugin
- All-in-One WP Migration
- Migration guru
- Duplicator - WordPress Migration Plugin
Google connection
Block editor ("Gutenberg")
The WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) will sooner or later replace many current page builders. And many developers can contribute with their own plugins. Blocks can now also be used to design the header and footer of websites in full-site editing themes.
In any case, the Block Editor is a powerful tool for preparing content in an interesting way and keeping the website performant at the same time.
The following plugins offer additional layouts, blocks and almost extensive page builder functionality:
Block editor extensions
https://cwicly.com/- https://wordpress.org/plugins/greenshift-animation-and-page-builder-blocks/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/stackable-ultimate-gutenberg-blocks/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/generateblocks/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/ultimate-addons-for-gutenberg/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/coblocks/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-gutenberg/
Additional block widgets
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/timeline-blocks/ - For time beams
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/360-image/ - 360 degree pictures
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/algori-image-video-slider/ - Slideshow
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/360-video/ - 360 degree videos
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/easy-pricing-tables/ - Price tables
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/block-options/ - EditorsKit - For more block options
For all those who cannot or do not (yet) want to work with Gutenberg, there is the Classic Editor plugin, which can be used to deactivate Gutenberg: https://wordpress.org/plugins/classic-editor/ (But seriously, do you really want to go back to the WordPress Stone Age?)
GDPR plugins
These plugins help to make your website GDPR-compliant.
Embed content
There is a widespread opinion that content delivered from servers in the USA should not be displayed directly on a website in Germany or Austria. The following plugins help to display such content after one click to show.
- Embed Plus Plugin for YouTube - Only show YouTube videos after approval
- exovia GDPR Google Maps - Show Google Maps only after approval
- OMGF | GDPR Compliant, Faster Google Fonts. - Use Google Fonts locally
- Embed Google Fonts - Use Google Fonts locally
Cookie OptIn / Consent Management
As the law currently stands in the EU, visitors to websites must give their consent for websites to store cookies (small text files) in the visitor's browser. These cookies are usually used for recognition purposes and are used to better measure the advertising success of digital advertising and therefore optimize advertising costs. If, for example, a website uses Google Analytics or the Facebook Pixel, the current prevailing opinion is that the website visitor's consent must be obtained.
Numerous providers and developers have created plugins that can be used to create and manage these opt-in notices. In most cases, you will need the respective premium version. The following list shows some currently frequently used plugins. Most of them can be used as freemium software or are only available as premium plugins.
- Complianz Privacy Suite for WordPress (can be used free of charge)
- Cookiehub (partly free of charge, easy to use)
- Borlabs Cookie
- CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent & Compliance Notice (CCPA Ready)
- Cookiebot
- WP DSGVO Pixelmate
- Cookie Notice for GDPR & CCPA
- Analytics Germanized for Google Analytics (GDPR / DSGVO)
- can be used free of charge and is sufficient if only Google Analytics is used.
- Legalweb.io
Backend tools
"Advanced Custom Fields" for creating page-specific custom fields with convenient input. The output takes place via PHP code or also via WordPress shortcode in the content of a page/post.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/
Customs post typesmanually creating your own content types ("videos", "books", "movies", ...) is a very tedious process. This plugin offers an easy-to-use interface for creating both custom post types and custom taxonomies (i.e. your own categories for your own content types).
https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-post-type-ui/
For the representation of Portfolios (skills, references, service, etc.)
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/tlp-portfolio/
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/visual-portfolio/
Shows the IDs of images, posts, pages etc.:
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/reveal-ids-for-wp-admin-25/
To set up Detour (301, 301):
https://wordpress.org/plugins/redirection/
Performance
Nobody likes slow websites. Visitors don't, search engines don't. The following plugins can drastically improve the performance of your website. But only with careful configuration.
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/wp-optimize/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/autoptimize/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-super-cache/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fastest-cache/
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/w3-total-cache/
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/autoptimize/
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/amp/
WP Rocket (Premium-Plugin)
Further functions
Do you want people to be able to order or buy something on your WordPress website? Woocommerce helps with this:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce/
Woocommerce must be used for the Use in Europe must first be set up. This plugin supports this:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-germanized/
Login to your WordPress website with Passkey procedure:
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/wp-webauthn/
Design of the Text excerpts in contribution pages and categories:
https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-excerpt/
To recognize Comment Spam GDPR-compliant:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/antispam-bee/
For a better WordPress search:
Ingenious plugin for Calendar of events:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/the-events-calendar/
Multilingualism:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/polylang/ (Our instructions for use)
With the following plugin you can create a Members area set up. WP-Members™ (We have described the plugin here) is very easy to configure and is used to simply restrict access to certain pages or articles, or even all the content of a WordPress installation. Shortcodes are available for the registration and login form and profile editing, as well as a widget for login in the sidebar. Translation files (German, Dutch, Spanish, etc.) can be found with the developer.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-members/
Standalone page builder
If you are not happy with Gutenberg, you can use these alternatives to prepare content in an interesting way.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/
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