What are WordPress plugins and themes?

Navigating the world of WordPress can be daunting if you’re new to it, especially when you encounter terms like “plugins” and “themes.” Don’t sweat it, though—getting a handle on these tools can completely change your approach to your website.

Plugins and themes are the magic beans of WordPress, making it incredibly adaptable. Whether you’re running a small business, leading a nonprofit, or spearheading development projects, these tools empower you to tailor your site’s design and functionality without needing to be a tech guru. Here’s a straightforward breakdown to help you get started.

What are WordPress themes? 

Think of a theme as your website’s wardrobe—it defines the style. It dictates the colors, fonts, layouts, and even some foundational functionalities.

While we use Beaver Builder and its premium theme for its robust customization capabilities, it may not be the best fit for everyone, especially non-marketing professionals setting up their own sites. Instead, we recommend choosing a premium, paid theme that aligns with your specific needs. These themes often offer greater security and support than free alternatives, making them a smarter choice for ensuring your site is effective and safe.

Pro tip: Investing in a premium theme is a smart move. It ensures your site is both reliable and adaptable, well worth the upfront cost for the long-term benefits.

What are WordPress plugins?

If themes set the stage for how your site looks, plugins are the behind-the-scenes crew that adds functionality. Think of plugins as apps for your website—they introduce features without the need for custom coding.

Here are some plugins we trust and often use:

• Gravity Forms: Ideal for crafting custom forms for contacts, registrations, or surveys
• Open Graph and Twitter Card Tags: A great option if you care about how links to your website shared on social media look
• The SEO Framework: A streamlined SEO plugin to boost your search engine visibility
• WooCommerce: A must-have for any online store
• The Events Calendar: Perfect for businesses and nonprofits needing to schedule and manage events

Not every site has all those plugins, but we use all of them regularly. Plugins offer a way to enhance your website’s capabilities, but it’s crucial to choose wisely.

Why too many plugins can be problematic 

While plugins are fantastic, overloading your site with them can lead to problems. An excessive number of plugins—especially inefficient ones—can slow down your site.

At our managed hosting, when we bring an existing site under our wing, we offer two options:

1. Recreate the website from scratch—but with the same design—so everything is optimized under the hood.
2. Clean up the existing backend setup.

Regardless, we often prune unnecessary plugins or replace sluggish ones with more efficient alternatives we’ve vetted. This ensures that the site runs efficiently and doesn’t tend to run into unexpected technical issues in the future.

How to choose the right themes and plugins

Picking the right themes and plugins is more art than science, but here are some tips we follow to ensure top-notch reliability and performance:

• Look for good ratings: High ratings in the WordPress repository are a good sign.
• Seek out plenty of reviews: A high number of reviews suggests reliability and user satisfaction.
• Check for recent updates: Up-to-date tools are more likely to be secure and compatible with the latest WordPress versions.
• Ensure active support: A robust support system means help is at hand when you need it.

Maintaining your WordPress site

Choosing great themes and plugins is just the beginning. Regular maintenance of your WordPress website is crucial:

• Regular backups: Always back up your site before making updates.
• Frequent updates: Keep your plugins and themes updated to ensure they work smoothly and securely.
• Reevaluate often: If you encounter issues, reassess your tools—outdated or poorly optimized plugins and themes can often be the culprits.

Real-life examples of good plugin choices

Here’s how smart plugin choices have transformed two of our client’s operations.

Nonprofit example 

Victims Impact Panel of Oklahoma uses The Events Calendar to manage their events. By streamlining event details and online registration, they significantly reduce monthly phone call hours. Prior to working with us, they had to field dozens of phone calls every week asking for details on upcoming events.

Once we implemented The Events Calendar, the number of calls decreased significantly since all the information was now available on the website in an easy-to-understand format.

Small business example

For Sandler in Tampa Bay, implementing Gravity Forms simplified feedback collection, saving the owner several hours weekly. Before working with us, he spent time putting together spreadsheets of all the feedback each week.

Once we implemented Gravity Forms, he could simply export a CSV file of the entries each week, making the entire process much, much quicker and easier.

The importance of the right themes and plugins

By selecting the right themes and plugins and maintaining them conscientiously, you can ensure your WordPress site meets your specific needs, whether drawing in donors, streamlining operations, or making a stellar first impression. Start with your goals and let the right tools elevate your online presence.

Need help setting up your WordPress website? Or do you want to see if our managed hosting is right for you? Let’s talk! Reach out today, and we’ll be happy to have a conversation.