Whether you're only a blogger, a blogger wanting to upgrade to podcasting, or a podcaster trying to do things better, this list of WordPress plugins will help you. These are all compatible with WordPress 3.2.
Only one of these WordPress plugins is specific to podcasting, so that leaves the rest as beneficial for blogging, too. And all but one of them are free!
Podcasting (duh!)
Comments
Stats
- Google Analytics for WordPress or Google Analyticator
- Woopra Analytics Plugin
- Blubrry PowerPress Podcasting plugin
- FD Feedburner Plugin or TentBlogger RSS FeedBurner Redirect
Email and privacy
Search-engine optimization (SEO)
- All in One SEO Pack or a good theme like Genesis, Standard Theme, or Thesis
Social sharing
Making money
Links
Site speed
Mobile accessibility
Backup
- WP-DB-Backup or WordPress Backup to Dropbox (with DropBox)
Need personalized podcasting help?
I no longer offer one-on-one consulting outside of Podcasters' Society, but request a consultant here and I'll connect you with someone I trust to help you launch or improve your podcast.
Ask your questions or share your feedback
- Comment on the shownotes
- Leave a voicemail at (903) 231-2221
- Email feedback@TheAudacitytoPodcast.com (audio files welcome)
Connect with me
- Subscribe to The Audacity to Podcast on Apple Podcasts or on Android.
- Join the Facebook Page and watch live podcasting Q&A on Mondays at 2pm (ET)
- Subscribe on YouTube for video reviews, Q&A, and more
- Follow @theDanielJLewis
Disclosure
This post may contain links to products or services with which I have an affiliate relationship and may receive compensation from your actions through such links. However, I don't let that corrupt my perspective and I don't recommend only affiliates.
Another great ep! Is there a plugin for the subscription widget you have on your site? It's awesome! Thanks
Thank you, Joe!
No, that subscription widget, similar to the Subscribe & Follow widget, is something I custom-coded with CSS and CSS3 (make sure you see it in Chrome or Firefox!).
But this is something that I'm happy to custom-code and design for someone else, too. If you or anyone else is interested in hiring me to create a similar widget, please me at Daniel@Noodle.mx.
WOW Daniel! You threw a lot of stuff at us in a short period of time. I was listening to it while driving (long interstate in farmland), taking some notes until I realized I had to turn the darn piece of paper over. What did I write on the other side? TAP041 shownotes.
OK, gotta get off the internet and into my WordPress Dashboard. Got some tweekin' to do.
LOL! Sometimes I worry about the people listening to my episodes while driving. "Please listen responsibly."
Hey,
totally curious about the lack of PodPress! I always assumed that it was pretty much the 'default' option for podcasters using WordPress! Do you just not like it?
Hi, Caspar.
Did you listen to the episode? I explain it more there.
Yes, PodPress used to be the best plugin for podcasting. But then tech support ceased, the forums were overrun with spam, development stopped, and the site went down. Although PodPress has been picked back up again, it is still poorly developed, over-bloated (there's bloat, and then there's over-bloat), and not compatible with the latest technologies (often including the latest versions of WordPress itself).
I don't like PodPress because it is an undead plugin walking around like a podcasting zombie.
PodPress doesn't have good support anymore. I switched over to PowerPress and have not looked back. solid performance and better stats. Support just an email away same day response
Hi Daniel! I am trying to decide which comment plugin to use. I see Mr. Ravenscraft uses Disqus. have you tried both IntenseDebate Comments or Disqus Comment System? which do you like better? customizable to match my custom theme css?
Hi, Allan! Did you get to hear the episode already? In it, I briefly said why I like IntenseDebate more. Essentially, it's by the same people that made WordPress and it falls back to standard WordPress comments if Javascript doesn't load. Disqus has no fallback in the absence of Javascript.
I will be re-evaluating the two, and perhaps write or podcast a comparison.
Thanks Daniel! Yes I heard it in the pod cast somewhere. (I am not a good listener I guess :P) This was a GREAT podcast! I will be trying the rest of plugins later. Again, thank you for the good info.
I think I will give intense a try!
Thanks for the great show. I've been listening since Ep 1 and use it as a tool.
Keep up the wonderful information. (Sorry, I'm not great at writing overblown comments)
Thank you for the compliment! That you aren't great at "writing overblown comments" is not a bad thing. In fact, it probably saves us all a bunch of time. 😛
Great episode, I use a lot of the same plugins.
I also use TubePress to easily make a video page pulled from Youtube and / or Vimeo. And Empire Avenue Tools to put an Empire Avenue badge on the sidebar.
Thanks, Andrew! I'll check out TubePress, but did you know you can simply paste a YouTube link on its own line in a post and WordPress automatically embeds a player?
Yes… that is very cool. TubePress takes your Youtube videos (or Vimeo) and creates a page on your WordPress site with all your videos on the same page. I like it but it would be better of course if I had more videos… I'm working on that.
AARGH! Daniel I wanted you to know that one 2 occasions as I was looking for the options for cache I tried w3 cache and it totally crashed my site. I had to call yahoo and fix it. It may only be an issue with yahoo hosted wordpress but it is 2x. so Beware. I am on the line with them now and know that the Supercache is the right one…I hope. Otherwise this episode has been the best one EVER!
I'm sorry your site isn't working well with W3 Total Cache, James. It is a rather thorough caching system and, as such, may use options that your host doesn't support.
Here's a quick way that you can disable it to get back to your WordPress.
1. Delete /w3-total-cache/ folder from wp-content/plugins/.
2. Edit your .htaccess file and remove anything between "# BEGIN W3TC …" and "# END W3TC …" (there may be multiple blocks like this).
[…] you can update through the WordPress admin.4. Install and configure pluginsPick the right set of WordPress plugins for blogging and podcasting (episode 41).5. Publish contentNow it’s time for you to create your story by publishing […]
Daniel, I’m just curious. Does Amazon Reloaded still work for you? I had just tried to use it and it says that the credentials are not working. Supposedly Amazon changed something and Amazon Reloaded isn’t being updated anymore. Do you have any other suggestions?
I’m glad you brought that up, Zach. I’ve had that problem for a while, but Amazon reloaded would still work for me. However, I tried to other plugins for a client: Amazon Link (my choice) and WordPress-Amazon-Associate.
I like Amazon Link because it lets me handle styling more from a template, rather than each product insertion.
Thanks! I will check those out!
Hey. Just found this. Thanks from a Christian brother. Good info.
I’m glad it helped, Doug! Have you started your podcast yet?
[…] have gotten a whole bunch of plugins, mostly at the direction of Daniel J. Lewis, specifically the 41st episode of the Audacity to Podcast. (this also exemplifies one of the best parts about blogging and podcasting – there is a […]
Now, I use and recommend EasyAzon
Pro.