I’ve combed through so many plugins trying to find just the right fit for my needs even I get lost in them sometimes. Trying to pick out the useful plugins from the thousands available can be daunting. WordPress offers a list of the most popular plugins here. However, it is far from comprehensive. Below is a list of a few hidden gems that add unique options to make your site really stand out!

1. Quotes Collection

This is a great plugin that allows you to display random quotes in a widget. While other quote plugins pick from a pre-defined list this one stands out for me because it allows you to add your favorite quotes. It’s easy to use and has a clean interface. Since it’s a widget you can place it anywhere you’re template allows.

2. White Label CMS

 This is a powerful plugin that allows you to customize many options of WordPress to integrate your logos and site style. Easy to use, it allows you to set-up a custom login/register screen so users have a fully seamless experience with your brand!

3. WordSocial

Quickly and automatically publish your posts and pages to your Facebook, Twitter and/or your LinkedIn account. Set-up is easy and once you’re done there’s nothing more to do than publish your posts! You’re automatically updating all your site from one place.

4. Text Expander

This nifty plugin allows you to collapse text within a page or post.  Hidden text will expand with a J-Query animation which gives this plugin an advantage over just showing the text! It’s easy to use and helpful if you have a lot of text in one post.

5. Featured Content Gallery 

This is a popular plugin but worth including on this list (or any list)! This is a great way to show your recent blog posts on your homepage or anywhere on your blog. It is highly customizable and works great right out of the box! Easily one of the top-five plugins.

Step 1 – Understanding “Screen Options”

Every page inside the WP-Admin menu has a “Screen Options” pull down on the upper right side.

Clicking this will pull down a list of display options. You can choose what to ignore or show.

Dashboard

I prefer to remove most of the boxes on the dashboard so I can see only what’s relevant to my needs. The basics are “Right Now,” “Recent Comments,” and “Quick Press.”

Posts

For editing or adding new posts I recommend displaying “Categories,” “Discussion,” and “Featured Image.”

Step 2 – Posting

Now for the fun part: Start blogging! Navigate to the “Posts” link of the upper left side of your screen. This will display a list of all your posts. Hovering your mouse under any title will give you a couple options including Editing and Trash. If you haven’t posted anything yet you can start with the “Hello World” post!

(Click to enlarge)

Start at the top – Adding Content

Replace “Hello World” with what ever you’d like you’re post title to be.

Just below that you can edit the content of the post. You’ll see WP has a simple WYSIWYG for formatting. You can change font colors, insert header text, create lists, and more. You can add media to your posts using the “Upload/Insert” icons located just above the editor box.

Categories

To the right of the text box you’re see a Categories box. You can add new categories to group your posts by type.

Commenting

Below the text box you’ll find the “Discussion” box. This is where you will allow people to comment on your posts or link to your post. Set up as desired. The default setting for WP don’t allow comments to show up unless the author has had 2 posts previously approved so you don’t have to worry about spam! When a post is submitted you will be notified by email and have the option to Approve, Deny, or Mark as Spam.

Featured Image

Use a featured image if your template will use an image to display your posts in a carousel or other ways. The “Featured Image” box is where you will upload this image!

Step 3 – Preview and Publish!

Now you’re probably curious as to what the post will look like. Well, you can preview it in the “Publish” box located at the upper right side of the screen. Clicking Preview will open a new window showing your post. You can now go back to editing to make any changes!

You’re Finished

Now that you have the post set up the way you like simply click the blue “Publish” button. That’s it! The post will show up on your homepage and you’re off and blogging!

ThisJustIn!

Hemingway

Charlene

StructureTheme

Portfolio Press