First of all, what are plugins? A plugin is small piece of software that you upload and activate in WordPress, and that will give you extra features to WordPress. This is actually one of the main reasons why I suggest people to install the wordpress software on a hosted server. It allows you to install and activate all kinds of plugins, which you cannot do when you set up your account under WordPress.com.

The procedure for uploading and activating the plugins is quite simple, but I do recommend one thing: PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS OR README FILE BEFORE UPLOADING. I do speak out of own experience. I have uploaded one day a plugin without looking at the readme file, and was standing in front of a nightmare. So, read the readme file or installation first and carefully.

On top of this blog, you find the page ‘Used Plugins’. This is the place where you can see which plugins I use and recommend. If you want one or more of them, just click on the name, and you can download the plugin.

The sites that I recommend to look for plugins are the following:

• WordPress Plugin Database
• WordPress Plugins Offical Page
• WordPress Plugins Database
• WordPress Plugin Sort by Function at softplug.net

If you know of another interesting and good website that has a selection of plugins, please let me know by using the comment form with this post, and if the evaluation is good, I will add it to list and put your name in brackets to thank you.

I hope that this is helpful to you and happy blogging.

Coach Erwin

Using an FTP Software program is the best and easiest way to upload, not only the WordPress software, but also themes templates, plugins, audios, videoas, images, etc. I personally use SmartFTP which is really user-friendly and easy to use. Unfortunately it is only available for Windows.

To make your FTP program to work, you will need to make a FTP account in the Control Panel of your webserver. Once you have the FTP account, you can create a new Remote Browser, and the following information you will need to enter:

• Host: is the location that you selected when you created the FTP account;
• Username
• Password

And that is it. You are ready to use your FTP manager. Well done.

Your comments are more then welcome.

Have a great  and excellent day!

Coach Erwin