I was recently asked what WordPress plug-ins I use on my blog so I thought I would share.

These are plug ins that I immediately install on any blog I start, and all of these below are free.

Akismet

to help reduce spam

And the Winner Is…

will pick a winner for a comment only giveaway

Comment Luv

pulls the commenters most recent post if they input their url

Easy Recipe

for recipe formatting (there are several different ones out there, this is just the one I prefer)

Growmap Anti Spambot

for reducing spam

Jetpack

– I have found this one has mixed reviews. I personally like it to get an idea of my post stats.

NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster

is a plug in that was recommend by some “better than me” person on Twitter, on their list of “must have” plug ins. (And just for the record, when I say “better than me” person, I mean someone I have started looking up to when it comes to my own blogging! No mean-ness intended!) When set up properly, it will auto-post your posts to your social media.

NoFollow Link

to ensure I am properly no-following my links

nRelate Most Popular

to show my most popular posts on my sidebar

Pinterest Pin It Button for Images

(yes, that is the entire name of it) – it puts a “pin it” button right on my images when you hover over it.

Pretty Link Lite

as a url shortener. At the SoFab Conference last year, word got around quickly that it was recommended to not use an outside url shortener because if something happened to that outside source, all of your links would be broken.

Socialize

for social media sharing buttons

Tweet Old Posts

pulls up older posts and tweets them in current time

Updraft Plus

for backup

Wordfence Security

to inform me when people are trying to hack my site

WordPress SEO

What are your must have WordPress plug ins?