What to Look For When Selecting and Installing a WordPress Plugin or Theme
WordPress is a widely-used website creation platform that is completely free to use. The plugin and theme markets for WordPress have grown rapidly in recent years, providing users with a wide range of tools for creating and managing their websites.
Although there are a wide variety of free WordPress plugins and themes available for download, it is important to understand what to look for in order to pick the right ones for your needs. In this article, we will discuss some important considerations when selecting and installing a WordPress plugin or theme.
Features
One of the first things to consider when picking a WordPress plugin or theme is the feature set. Just because a product is free does not mean it lacks features. In fact, many premium plugins and themes have far more features than the average product in their respective markets. The important thing to keep in mind is that those features should be useful and necessary for the kind of site you are creating.
To get started, it is important to look at the documentation and the plugin or theme demo sites. If you are unfamiliar, documentation for a plugin or theme is typically the user manual that comes with the package. However, in addition to telling you how to use the product, the documentation usually provides a comprehensive list of features and their descriptions. Looking at the documentation and the demo sites for a WordPress plugin or theme can give you an idea of what to expect once you start using the product.
Security
Another critical consideration when picking a WordPress plugin or theme is security. Just because a product is free does not mean that it is totally safe to use. There are countless WordPress plugins and themes out there that can be easily fooled or altered by a skilled programmer with enough time on their hands. If you are creating a site that is concerned about security or is private in any way, it is best to avoid free plugins and themes altogether and look for those that are premium offers or have a paid version that is secure by default.
Support
A reliable source of technical support is very important when picking a WordPress plugin or theme. Support can be difficult to find for free products since there is no one to call for help. Fortunately, many premium plugins and themes offer 24/7 live support via email so you can contact the developers at any time and get an answer. This kind of support is invaluable because it gives you immediate access to expert help whenever you need it.
Updates
Last but not least, we have updates. Just because a product is free does not mean it does not need regular maintenance and updates. Many plugins and themes released nowadays are developed with updated technology and innovative features in mind. If you discover that a product is lacking in any way, it is best to assume that it will not be updated anymore and look for a different solution.
Cost
Cost is always a critical factor when picking a product, especially those that come with a price tag. Many free WordPress plugins and themes can be quite useful but lack some crucial features. The good news is that there are plenty of premium plugins and themes that provide you with all the features you could need at a reasonable cost. The bad news is that the price is usually not worth it if you are looking for a free solution.
In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that although free WordPress plugins and themes exist that can perform basic functions, it is important to keep in mind the trade-offs and decide whether or not those features are worth the cost. The right plugins and themes will always have a price, and it is best to choose those that fit your needs and budgets.