I have written on plugins before, and the funny thing is, I really am uber sensitive to using plugins sparingly, as this is an easy way to "break" your site or provide a gateway to hackers. On the other hand, a solid plugin can really be a time saver and performance enhancer, so a site that is totally Plugin free may be unrealistic (or boring).

To help me with this post I reached out to my gang of professionals at Expand2Web (+1 extra friend) to get their suggestions. Here is the best of what I culled through. As we all know, the plugin waters run brisk and deep, so I am sure that I am missing some really cool stuff, please, take a moment and share your must haves in the comments!

From Thomas, developer of the SmallBiz theme:

Diana Ratliff - web designer and SEO specialist:

  • Testimonials (Rotates testimonials in a widget)
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  • Viper Bar (to increase blog or newsletter subscriptions)
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Julie Larson - Apps, Mobile Websites and QR Code Queen

Me, Eileen Lonergan:

Tim Tewalt - Sites that Click

Brenda Ellison - Florida Gulf Coast Guide & WordPress Specialist

  • Simply Instagram - (get your Instagram feed, followers and who is following you in a widget)
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Please, let me know your favorites! Also, please let me know if you have found any "issues" with any of the above.

About the Author: Eileen Lonergan

Eileen Lonergan has been working with clients for over twenty years to bring their businesses into the minds of consumers. Through digital media Eileen is able to use websites, e-mail, local business listings, pay per click and email to reach your target market.