Best Wordpress Plugins for Your Business Blog
When it comes to choosing a content management system (CMS), the small business and Internet marketing crowd has stampeded to Wordpress.org. That’s due to the universe of (mostly) free Wordpress plugins offered around the Web, allowing you to customize your site with bells and whistles unlike any other CMS makes possible. But if running a Wordpress site for business, you need useful plugins that not only sharpen your site’s image, they should do some heavy lifting to actually enhance relationships and increase sales. So, consider these quick downloads for your Wordpress business blog or website.
These tried and true extensions are among the most popular plugins. They’ll help keep your target audience coming back for more.
WP e-Commerce Plugin
Need a shopping cart on your site? Well, there’s a WP app for that! The WP e-Commerce Plugin delivers an easy to use, featured shopping cart solution for selling your products, services, and memberships online. Downloaded by over 170,000 Wordpress for business fans, this plugin integrates with Google Checkout, Paypal, Authorize.net, Payment Express and other trusted payment processors. It also includes a range of tools allowing you to import your products to the Facebook Marketplace and Google Base. An array of elegant store front styles are provided, or you can customize and tweak e-Commerce for the look you like.
EasyPayPal
EasyPayPal is a plugin that allows you to monetize on your WordPress site by collecting subscription payments. This flexible extension allows you to instantly create PayPal buttons on any blog post, page or in your sidebar. You can also show “teaser” text for a post, encouraging non-members to pay to view the rest.
Business Directory
Here’s an easy way to offer marketing support to those who support you. Install the Business Directory plugin to host a free directory page spotlighting your readers, community, affiliates, club members and/or advertisers. You invite them to submit a description of their products or services, and approve the ads before they appear. Also edit or delete those listings at any time. Some blog operators use Business Directory to monetize, but as a free service, it can be a great tool for nurturing relationships, linkbuilding, and joint venture opportunities.
Subscribe-Remind
More than any other measure of blog success, the number of subscribers you have is an important metric. You’d be surprised how many more readers will do a quick subscription with you, if only you ask them after you’ve proven how well you know your stuff. At the end of each of your posts, the Subscribe-Remind plugin adds your message inviting readers to receive automatic blog updates via RSS.
WP125
If you’ve had it with low-paying advertising systems and want to direct sell space on your Wordpress blog, this 125×125 ad management plugin is the way to go. Choose a one-column or two-column setup; track the number of clicks on each sponsor’s ads; and easily manage expiration/renewal dates. It even shows a “Your Ad Here” message to help sell ad space available on your blog.