The right WordPress plugin will make your website more functional and save you time which would otherwise have been used coding the desired functions. The problem, however, is that not every plugin you find is good for you. Some are known for having huge security loopholes while others will only succeed in bloating your website. If you really want a great plugin for your website, below are some of the important things you will have to do.
Consider Plugin Ratings
The first thing you need to do when searching for the best plugin is to take a look at its ratings. Ratings are usually left by people who have used the plugin. They help you know what other people think about it. The more the number of stars a plugin has, the more useful it will be to you. You should also note that most people use plugins without ever rating them. A plugin may have been downloaded thousands of times but still lack enough rating. In this case, you need to take a look at the reviews.
Plugin Reviews
Unlike ratings which only give stars, plugin reviews give in-depth information about the plugin. Once a user rates a plugin, they are asked to give a review. You can take a look at the reviews by clicking the ratings bars. If someone gave a one-star rating, you can click on the link to read the review. This will help you know why they rated the plugin as so.
When reading the reviews, it is good to read the negative reviews too. This is because the negative reviews tell more about the product. They are unbiased. Read as many reviews as you can. This is the only way you will be able to find that ideal plugin that will help you become top in Minneapolis.
Support Overview
Another thing you need to look at is the support overview. This will give you an overview of the number of support threads that have been opened for that plugin in the last 2 months. This will also give you information on how many threads have been resolved and which ones have not. You can find this section by clicking on the support tab on the plugin menu bar. All in all, you should note that unresolved support threads don’t automatically mean that the plugin has issues. However, if there are too many unresolved threads, there is a good chance this is not the best author you should consider for your WordPress plugin needs. Many unresolved threads show that the author has lost interest in the plugin.
Compatibility
You need to look at the compatibility of the plugin. This will help you check the version of the plugin. Focus on plugins which more people say work.
Screenshots
Last but not least, before you make up your mind on whether or not to download the plugin, take a look at the screenshots. They will help you see how the plugin really looks.
These points will help pick the plugin that is perfect for you. However, you must always make sure that the plugin you select helps you meet your goals. You must also never add too many plugins on your website as that will affect the load speed.