WordPress Plugin and Theme questions answered
Today’s question:
I had a question about Plug-Ins and Themes where
do you find these at.Does Word Press have them
available and are they free or do they cost.
The answer to the second part is YES to all. Sorry it is the impish side that started this post with that answer. Now to the details.
You can find themes (some are free and some are paid) by doing a quick search on Google. There are quite a few free ones available at the WordPress Theme directory.
Now a bit about themes. The free themes almost always require a link back to the designer or someone that paid for the theme development or both. Not all themes work well so sometimes you get an easy to use theme and other times you get quite frankly a piece of crap. So beware and test the theme before using it.
Now to plugins you can do the same. If I am looking to add a particular functionality to a blog I will go to Google and input “Function WP plugin” and usually find something to do that in the first few results.
WordPress does have it’s directory of free plugins that are submitted to their service and these will be what show for automatic update in your dashboard. You can access it at Plugin Directory and this am when I checked they had 2,874 plugins listed.
Like the themes most work well but some are crap. Some also interfere with other plugins so always add them one at a time.
There are also plugins that are paid. Usually these will do very specific tasks and may or may not be worth the cost. I have bought and use a few for specific tasks like creating light box pops and adding automated affiliate links for specific blogs.
Hope that helps and answers your question.
As always your questions and comments are welcomed.
Mike Paetzold
P.S. Will try and review the new WordPress 2.6.2 later today time permitting. Have not had a chance yet to play with it.
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5 comments
Patrick K. O'Brien on September 9, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Anyone interested in a premium theme should take a look at the Thesis Theme, designed by Chris Pearson, who has designed lots of WordPress themes. His latest creation is very easy to use and configure, looks great, and is optimized to get your blog good search engine rankings. What more could you ask for? (Sorry, it isn’t free, but I think it is worth every penny.)
Mike on September 9, 2008 at 2:38 pm
@Patrick K. O’Brien -
Have not used nor recommend that (because I have not tried it ) but do agree that the majority of paid themes have advantages over the free themes.
James Stewart on September 9, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hi Mike
Thanks for answering my questions it really sheds
some light on those two areas.I’m getting ready
to start my first blog just working out the fine
details.
James
Mike on September 9, 2008 at 6:32 pm
@James Stewart – You are welcome. Glad it helped you.
Beginner’s Guide to Wordpress SEO | SEO Domains on September 10, 2008 at 2:08 am
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