In the desire to expand our WordPress site, we all seek the help of plugins. Even if we are developers and can make plugins, we will often reach for a ready-made solution.
Within the WordPress repository, there are almost 100,000 plugins for all purposes. But, how does one chose the right plugin? Is a plugin safe? Will it do the job it is intended for?
Below, we will list things you need to pay attention to before installing any WordPress plugin.
1. Reviews
Once you’ve found the right plugin that you think could do the job, be sure to check out the reviews. The users’ experience will be the best information about the quality of the plugin. If most users say the plugin is OK and stable, then you can install it. However, if many users complain about the plugin’s performance, then find an alternative.
2. Ratings
After you open a plugin page in the WordPress repository, there will be information on ratings in the sidebar. Pay attention to this. If the plugin has received close to a 5-star rating, then it is safe to install. The plugin does not always have to have the highest rating to be safe to install. But, the more stars it has, the better and safer it is.
3. Support and last update
A plugin can be great, but once the WordPress installation is updated or the plugin itself, something just doesn’t work. Then you need developer support to fix the problem and get your WordPress pages back to a functional state.
In addition to the plugin description, there is support information in the sidebar. Here you can find information on how many support tickets have been opened and how many have been resolved. If you notice that the developers give good support, then you have the right plugin at your disposal.
Also, check if the plugin is always up-to-date, so it’s compatible with the latest versions of WordPress.
4. FAQ
Many of us installed a plugin and then thought that it was not working. The problem was that we didn’t pay attention to the FAQ. The FAQ section usually contains information on how to install the plugin and how to use it. You should definitely read the FAQ section; many great tips related to the plugin can be found there.
5. Plugin testing
Plugin testing is another thing that should become a common practice before using a plugin. When we say testing, we usually mean checking the loading speed of our WordPress site as well as other performance metrics before and after installing the plugin. To check the speed of your WordPress site, you can use some online services, GTmetrix, for example. Simply enter your URL, and you will get plenty of data related to your site’s performance.
It is important to note that you should test your pages before installing the plugin. Write down the results, then install the plugin and test again. If the deviations are too large, then this plugin impairs your site’s performance and is not desirable for installation.
What if a plugin messes up my site?
Even if we were very careful when choosing a plugin, there is still a chance that a problem will occur after installing the plugin, and your WordPress site may become non-functional. There are many reasons for this, and the most common is the incompatibility of the plugin with some parts of your WordPress site.
So, what to do if a problem occurs and we can no longer log in or if parts of your database get deleted? There is a solution to this, and it is called Emergency Recovery Script.
Emergency Recovery Script is a PHP script that works independently of a WordPress installation and is always functional. Its main role is to provide access to your WordPress site in case of any problems, and then you can return the site to a functional state.
Some of the tools of this script are:
– WordPress Information – within this tool is displayed information related to the WordPress installation, including wp-config.php file location, the WP version, database access details, and so on.
– Server Information – this tool provides server information such as PHP and MySQL versions.
– Core Files – this tool checks all core files and compares them with the original copy found on WordPress.org. If your core files have been changed, you will be notified and can replace them with the correct original ones with one click.
– Reset WordPress – a tool that will allow you to reset the installation. All elements of the pages will remain and will not be deleted, but the database will be reset and reverted to its default values.
Snapshots – with database snapshots, you can restore a site to a functional state in seconds. However, if you want to create snapshots, then you need the WP Reset Pro plugin.
– Plugins – if an installed plugin has caused a problem, simply locate it using this tool and remove it.
– Administrator Account – if, for some reason, you cannot log in as an administrator to your WordPress site, use this option to create a new admin account and then log in.
Using this script is completely safe; plus, ERS does not slow down your WordPress pages.
Conclusion
To find the right plugins for our WordPress sites, we need to take some time for research.
In this article, we have listed what steps you should follow and what you need to pay attention to in order to always have a fast and stable WordPress website.
One of the most important things for any site is its loading speed, and this largely depends on the plugins you install.
So, don’t forget about the security and health of your WordPress sites, and be sure to get Emergency Recovery Script.
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