Essential Plugins for your WordPress Blog
This post was moved from it's original location in the SquidLog Support Forum.
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Writing a blog on SquidLog net is completely optional. If you do decide to create one, here are some basic but very useful plugins I suggest to begin with.
- Akismet: to curb comment SPAM. You need to input an API key to activate it. This key, which is essentially a passcode, can be obtained from WordPress.com. (If you don't have an account with WordPress.com you will need to sign up to receive your key). The plugin has a direct link to the appropriate page. If you do nothing else, please activate at least this one plugin as it will protect you from most comment spam.
- alternatively: WP-Spam Free. Doesn't require an API key and works also very well for most.
- All-in-one-SEO: enables you to put unique title and meta tags into every post/page. Upon activation, you will be reminded to visit the configuration page where you need to enable the plugin and fill in your basic settings.
- XML-Sitemaps: creates a sitemap for the search engine spiders. Could be helpful to get your pages indexed.
- Header-Footer: gives you easy access to the header and footer code areas where you can insert your tracking codes for stats, verification tags and the like. Some themes and plugins may already include this functionality but if not then this one does the job.
These are some of the essential basic plugins that are very popular. There may be others that do a similar job but these have always served me well. You will find them in your Plugins folder on the left hand side of your SquidLog blog dashboard. If you need help installing or configuring them just drop me a note and I can help you. Same goes for any other plugin you would like installed. If it's not on the list and you really need it just send me a note.
If you know of other cool, useful, basic plugins you can't live without feel free to share them here as well. Since this post was moved from it's initial publication on the SquidLog Support forum here are the previous comments:
drifter0658 demanded:
I need to have All In One SEO, XML-Sitemaps, and Simple Tags installed at the very least
but quickly goes on to appease us with:
Also, I have created some pretty easy to follow tutorials on these essential plug-ins if anyone is interested.
Thanks for the offer, drifter! Could you please post the tutorials here or give us a link at the very least? 
Melissa added:
I very much believe in making it [this WordPress blog] a community project. I think it would work better if its not just one person adding to it. We each can bring something different to the group and the blog.
Well said!
So, what are your bare essentials? (plugins only please)
How To Offer Email Subscriptions To Your Readers
Many folks prefer to subscribe to you blog feed via email instead of RSS readers. If you would like to offer this option here's how to do this.
Step 1: Get your feed URL
Generally, your feed will be something like this:
http://squidlog.net/yourblogname/feed/
Step 2: Burn A Feed At Feedburner.com
Sign up or in with your Google account. Enter your feed URL from Step 1 and burn a feed. Then look for the option "Email Subscriptions" under the "Publicize" tab. Copy the code snippet that you will receive here.
Step 3: Put The Signup Box On Your Blog
Head over to your blog's dashboard and go to the widget area. Put a text widget where you want your signup box to appear and paste in the code snippet you got earlier from feedburner.
If you want, you can style your signup box but it's not necessary for the functionality.
Feedburner offers some stats and other options for your feed. You can check it out at your leisure but for now you've got a functioning email opt-in form to your blog feed.
Add Email Subscription To Your Blog
Melissa