Lesson 1.10 Installing WordPress Plugins
A plugin is an add-on that adds a specific functionality to the wordPress software on your website. WordPress comes with a number of plugins and a few are included as default. Not all plugins are to be installed and the few you will install will be added as need comes, not all at once. Today you will learn how to instal wordpress plugins and to start with you will install:
1. Akismet
2. Exclude Pages
3. Really Simple Captcha
4. All in one SEO
Akismet – This is a plugin to protect your blog or website from comment and trackback spam.
Exclude Pages – A plugin which allows you to select pages to be excluded from page listings
Captcha – This plugin protects your website or blog from spam by introducing a captcha web form
All-In-One SEO – This is a plugin to help you add, edit and manage details important in Search Engine Optimization
Install Default WordPress Plugins
There are various ways to install plugins. Most plugins to be installed are those listed as default and those that can be found from the wordPress Plugin directory by use of the search function. Default plugins can easily be installed by going to your dashboard and clicking on “Plugins” to the left of the dashboard. You will get a list of the plugins. Select the plugin you want to install and click “Activate”. Do this for Akismet, Exclude Pages, Captcha and All-In-One SEO Pack. That’s all!
How To Install the Akismet Plugin
If you go Plugins and click to “Activate” on Akismet you get the message “…. you must enter your akismet API Key.. ” or “Create a new Akismet Key”. So you got to get your API Key first.
Go to akismet.com and click on “Get Started” and you are taken to a page to find your Plan. Select “Personal $0-120yr and click on “Sign Up”. You will be taken to a page to sign up with wordpress.com, enter your email, username and password and band then click Sign Up. On the page to “Authorize contact information” slide the yearly contribution to $o if you don’t contribute then click “Continue”. If everything went well you, will be notified with a “DONE” message.
Now go to your inbox and grab your code and go back to paste it into the “… you must enter your akismet API Key.. ” form. Update Options and you get a message “your key has been verified happy blogging” in green. You have successfully installed your Akismet!
Setting Of The All-In-One SEO Pack Plugin
To set the All-In-One plugin click on “Options configuration Panel” and you’ll be taken to another page. On this page click on “Plugin Enable”. Complete filling the form as follows:
Home Title – This is the title that will appear in the search engines in blue. Put a short captivating title here. For my website ”topantiagingproducts” I would put ” Top Antiaging Products”
Home Description – This also appears in the search engines below the domain name in black. For my website I would write ” Get the best antiaging products from here ……”
Home Keywords- Put a few keywords here, for example, ” antiaging products, antiaging products reviews. Go below to make any settings the way you prefer and click “Update Options”.
Install WordPress Plugins From The WordPress Plugin Directory
If the plugin you wanted is not listed in the Default Plugins, try to get it from the wordPress Plugin Directory. To get a plugin from the wordPress Plugin Directory, click on Plugins >> Add New. Write the name or function of the plugin in the search box and search. You will see a list of plugins. Select the one you need and click the “Install Now” button and proceed to activate it as above .
Install WordPress Plugins By Uploading To The Dashboard
Not all plugins are obtainable from the WordPress Plugin directory for example when you want to install a paid plugin. First you have to download the zipped plugin file from its source and place it at a location in your computer. Go to your wordPress dashboard as before and click Plugins >> Add New. Locate the Upload option under “Install Plugins” and click it. Browse through to find the zipped file containing your plugin and upload it. Continue to Activate it. Having installed your plugin, go to “Settings” and configure it the way you want. Options here will vary with individual plugins.
We have our necessary plugins in place already so in our next lesson we will get guidelines to start the actual writing of content.
Cheers.