5 Questions to Ask before Installing a WordPress Plugin

Plugins make WordPress powerful – we can change and add almost any functionality to WordPress easily just by using a plugin. However, not all plugins are created equal. While some plugins can extend features on your site, others may downright stop your website from functioning. There are even cases of plugins that could plant a serious security hole in your website.

There are currently more than 37,000 plugins hosted in the WordPress official plugin repository. Choosing the best plugin is far from an easy task. Nonetheless, there are (or at least there should be) a few considerations you can take to heart before deciding on whether or not to install a particular WordPress plugin.

Here are some of mine:

1. What Comes With The Features?

This might seems obvious since we look for plugins based on the feature it provides. However, even though two plugins may serve the same purpose, in terms of usability, this may vary for each individual plugin.

I usually will compare two or more plugins that do the same thing then look at whether the features are sufficient for my needs.

For example, Meta Slider, a plugin that makes it easy to add image slideshows in WordPress, offers four different JavaScript libraries (Flex Slider, Nivo Slider, Responsive Slides & Coin Slider). Similar plugins such as WOW Slider only brings in one single exclusive JavaScript library. How many libraries do you need to accommodate to make one plugin work?

2. Is It Updated And (Still) Compatible With WordPress?

WordPress is updated once every 6 month with new features and often also by deprecating some of the old ones. In the WordPress official plugin repository, you will find the information of when a plugin was last updated, and its compatibility against the updated WordPress versions. You will also have to take into account the WordPress version you are using.

One good thing is that WordPress usually warns us if a plugin has not been updated for two years. It’s an indicator that the developer may have abandoned the plugin, so the plugin wouldn’t probably see another update in the future, and you best be moving along.

3. How Are The Ratings and User Reviews Like?

Do you trust ratings? I don’t, well, not completely. A Rating does not tell all when it comes to the quality of a WordPress plugin. And honestly The WordPress rating system is vague. Plugins with lower ratings do not necessarily indicate that the plugin is bad.

Perhaps it was, but remember that plugins get updates, and the earlier rating may not reflect correctly on the quality of a revised plugin.

This is where the section in each WordPress plugin page, Review, comes in handy. There, you can find other users telling you about their experience with the plugin. You can also see when the review is posted as well as the star ratings they have given. These are a more accurate measurement to adopt when deciding to install or leave the plugin.

Here’s a 5-star review and a 1-star review stacked next to each other. It happens.

Also, you might want to do some research on who is using the plugin. WordPress has a wide-range user-base from small independent sites to large corporate websites like the New York Times and TechCrunch.

If you found major websites using particular plugins, it may indicate that the plugin is good and trusted. You don’t supposed that their development team would the site at risk by installing bad or harmful plugins, right?

4. Who Is/Are the Developer(s)?

A WordPress plugin relies on its developer’s dedication to maintain and fix the bugs. Otherwise, their users will be on their own when something untoward happens in the plugin.

Usually, if the plugin is supported by multiple developers, a company, or if the developer has some sort of financial support by way of offering premium features, the plugin will likely be continuously updated. Any and all problems will probably get fixed in a relatively short time.

However, if the plugin is handled only by a single developer, speaking from experience, plugin abandonment is inevitable. That said, this also depends on who is behind the plugin.

I won’t have second thoughts of installing a plugin if it came from those who involve are directly with the WordPress core updates like Samuel Wood, or reputable developers such as Pippin Williamson, Greg Priday of SiteOrigin, and Lester Chan. Sometimes the plugin developer’s reputation precedes them.

5. Is The Design Appealing & Thoughtful?

This may boil down to personal preferences but the plugin design and aesthetic may play a role in one’s decision to try out a plugin. Generally a plugin will add a new Settings page in WordPress dashboard. Yet, some plugins create and style their own version of the Settings page. Sometimes the results look completely out of its element when it comes to WordPress.

I personally would like a Settings page to embrace the WordPress style guide, or at least look similar overall. Here’s a comparison between the Settings page of BPS Security and iThemes Security plugin. For me, the iThemes security Setting page is neater. The menu is well organized, sensible and logical.

And speaking about sensible choices, if a plugin adds an additional menu, the menu name should be short and sensible for common users. For example, if the plugin is about securing WordPress, hence naming the menu "Security" is sufficient instead of naming it as "Ultimate SEO" or "All in One SEO" etc.

Now Read:
10 WordPress Plugins To Improve User Management

5 Questions to Ask before Installing a WordPress Plugin

5 Questions to Ask before Installing a WordPress Plugin

Plugins make WordPress powerful – we can change and add almost any functionality to WordPress easily just by using a plugin. However, not all plugins are created equal. While some plugins can extend features on your site, others may downright stop your website from functioning. There are even cases of plugins that could plant a serious security hole in your website.

There are currently more than 37,000 plugins hosted in the WordPress official plugin repository. Choosing the best plugin is far from an easy task. Nonetheless, there are (or at least there should be) a few considerations you can take to heart before deciding on whether or not to install a particular WordPress plugin.

Here are some of mine:

1. What Comes With The Features?

This might seems obvious since we look for plugins based on the feature it provides. However, even though two plugins may serve the same purpose, in terms of usability, this may vary for each individual plugin.

I usually will compare two or more plugins that do the same thing then look at whether the features are sufficient for my needs.

For example, Meta Slider, a plugin that makes it easy to add image slideshows in WordPress, offers four different JavaScript libraries (Flex Slider, Nivo Slider, Responsive Slides & Coin Slider). Similar plugins such as WOW Slider only brings in one single exclusive JavaScript library. How many libraries do you need to accommodate to make one plugin work?

2. Is It Updated And (Still) Compatible With WordPress?

WordPress is updated once every 6 month with new features and often also by deprecating some of the old ones. In the WordPress official plugin repository, you will find the information of when a plugin was last updated, and its compatibility against the updated WordPress versions. You will also have to take into account the WordPress version you are using.

One good thing is that WordPress usually warns us if a plugin has not been updated for two years. It’s an indicator that the developer may have abandoned the plugin, so the plugin wouldn’t probably see another update in the future, and you best be moving along.

3. How Are The Ratings and User Reviews Like?

Do you trust ratings? I don’t, well, not completely. A Rating does not tell all when it comes to the quality of a WordPress plugin. And honestly The WordPress rating system is vague. Plugins with lower ratings do not necessarily indicate that the plugin is bad.

Perhaps it was, but remember that plugins get updates, and the earlier rating may not reflect correctly on the quality of a revised plugin.

This is where the section in each WordPress plugin page, Review, comes in handy. There, you can find other users telling you about their experience with the plugin. You can also see when the review is posted as well as the star ratings they have given. These are a more accurate measurement to adopt when deciding to install or leave the plugin.

Here’s a 5-star review and a 1-star review stacked next to each other. It happens.

Also, you might want to do some research on who is using the plugin. WordPress has a wide-range user-base from small independent sites to large corporate websites like the New York Times and TechCrunch.

If you found major websites using particular plugins, it may indicate that the plugin is good and trusted. You don’t supposed that their development team would the site at risk by installing bad or harmful plugins, right?

4. Who Is/Are the Developer(s)?

A WordPress plugin relies on its developer’s dedication to maintain and fix the bugs. Otherwise, their users will be on their own when something untoward happens in the plugin.

Usually, if the plugin is supported by multiple developers, a company, or if the developer has some sort of financial support by way of offering premium features, the plugin will likely be continuously updated. Any and all problems will probably get fixed in a relatively short time.

However, if the plugin is handled only by a single developer, speaking from experience, plugin abandonment is inevitable. That said, this also depends on who is behind the plugin.

I won’t have second thoughts of installing a plugin if it came from those who involve are directly with the WordPress core updates like Samuel Wood, or reputable developers such as Pippin Williamson, Greg Priday of SiteOrigin, and Lester Chan. Sometimes the plugin developer’s reputation precedes them.

5. Is The Design Appealing & Thoughtful?

This may boil down to personal preferences but the plugin design and aesthetic may play a role in one’s decision to try out a plugin. Generally a plugin will add a new Settings page in WordPress dashboard. Yet, some plugins create and style their own version of the Settings page. Sometimes the results look completely out of its element when it comes to WordPress.

I personally would like a Settings page to embrace the WordPress style guide, or at least look similar overall. Here’s a comparison between the Settings page of BPS Security and iThemes Security plugin. For me, the iThemes security Setting page is neater. The menu is well organized, sensible and logical.

And speaking about sensible choices, if a plugin adds an additional menu, the menu name should be short and sensible for common users. For example, if the plugin is about securing WordPress, hence naming the menu "Security" is sufficient instead of naming it as "Ultimate SEO" or "All in One SEO" etc.

Now Read:
10 WordPress Plugins To Improve User Management

5 Questions to Ask before Installing a WordPress Plugin

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Full-Time Freelance

If you’ve been considering chucking in your day job in favor of the freewheeling freelance lifestyle, you’re in good company. There are currently 53 million Americans participating in some form of freelance work. And of those who are currently freelancing part-time (moonlighting), 1 in 3 are seriously considering going full-time in the near future.

It seems that economic conditions are right for an increased freelance workforce. The question, though, is whether your conditions are right for you to make the transition. Here are five questions to ask yourself before jumping into the full-time freelance lifestyle.

How Much Savings Do I Have?

Before venturing out on your own, evaluate your cash situation. Your on-hand cash situation. Chances are there is going to be a ramp-up period between working part-time freelance and working full-time freelance. You won’t immediately be at maximum capacity, so you won’t be at your full earning potential either. You’re probably going to bleed a little cash at first.

Image Source: Project About Business Growth via Shutterstock.

Most financial advisors would recommend you have enough in your savings account to cover about six months of living expenses. But we’ve seen people venture off with as little as two months’ worth in the bank. If you have less than enough to cover two months of living expenses socked away in savings, you’re not ready to make the transition.

How Much Do I Need to Earn?

It’s time to get realistic. If you’ve been earning a salary up until now, it’s easy to go on autopilot and stop thinking about what exactly you’re bringing in and what exactly you’re spending. Venturing out on your own will not only mean that your income is more sporadic, but it also means you’ll need to earn more. Your income taxes will be higher. You’ll need to pay for your own healthcare, dental care, and vision expenses.

Plus, you will be running your own business — you’ll need money for business expenses: marketing, equipment, supplies, maybe even office space. Figure out at least a ballpark amount for the actual dollars you need to bring in.

Am I Getting Referrals?

One of the best indicators I’ve seen for whether or not someone is ready to go full-time with their freelance work is whether or not they’re getting work through referrals. Drumming up new clients takes an incredible amount of time, effort, energy and money. It’s work you’re not getting paid for. This is why most full-time freelancers get a significant amount of their work through referrals.

Image Source: Customer Service Target via Shutterstock.

Their clients find them more clients because these freelancers are good at their jobs, and they know how to make their clients happy. If you aren’t getting consistent referral work, you might not be ready to make the leap.

Am I Getting Long-Term/Repeat Clients?

Similar to that last question, you should ask yourself, Are my clients coming back for more? Are they offering me long-term projects that will keep me busy for a few weeks or a few months? In an ideal situation, you could jump to full-time freelance with at least one long-term project waiting for you — that’s income you won’t have to pull out of thin air.

Image Source: Customer Loyalty via Shutterstock.

But getting recurring clients is important for another reason: It means you’re doing a good job. You’re communicating well. Your prices are good (or at least low). If your clients aren’t coming back, you need to figure out why before you’ll be ready to venture out on your own.

Do I Have My Business Organized?

You don’t have to be a business expert to make it as a freelancer, but you do need to be organized. More than ever, your time is money. Nobody will pay you to send out invoices, track expenses, follow up on payments.

So for your own sake, get a system. Keep things organized. Be extremely efficient when doing unbillable tasks. There are a lot of great tools out there to help freelancers with this type of stuff. For example, web design software that makes invoicing super easy (shameless plug). Shake makes an app that creates contracts for you. Trello helps you keep your projects organized.

Whatever tools you decide to use, getting a system in place ahead of time will save you a lot of stress later on.

Concluding

So let’s regroup. How are you feeling? What’s your confidence level? If you answered yes to most of the questions above, chances are you’re in a good position to make the transition into full-time freelancing. Or at least you’re as ready as you’ll ever be. If you answered no to most of these question, don’t be discouraged. You might need a bit more time to hone your craft, build up your client list, or refine your business skills.

Even so, you could be just a few months away from the freedom, exhilaration and absolute terror that is the freelance lifestyle.

The post 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Full-Time Freelance appeared first on Speckyboy Web Design Magazine.

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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Full-Time Freelance

7 Things to Think About Before Setting Your Freelance Rates

For a freelancer, time is money, so what do you say we get right to it?

1. Know Your Numbers

If we assume 8-hour days and only 5 days in a workweek, then there are 2,080 potential work-hours in a year. But unless you plan to work on Christmas, never take a vacation, and never get sick, you’ll want to cut that number down to about 1,920. Still, of those 1,920 hours, most likely 30 percent of them will be spent doing nonbillable work: admin tasks, invoicing, client negotiations, etc.

Now you’re looking at 1,344 hours a year — or just 26 hours a week. So as you calculate your rate, keep in mind how many hours you’re actually going to be paid for.

2. Know Your Lowest Price

There are two rates you should always have in mind: your absolute lowest rate, and the rate you’re going to charge for a particular job. Knowing your Minimum Acceptable Rate (MAR) will give you the confidence that you aren’t pricing yourself out of business.

There are a couple of formulas you can use to calculate your MAR:

1. (Personal Expenses + Business Expenses)/Hours Worked + Taxes


2. Divide your on-staff yearly salary by the number of hours worked

Both of these results will land you juuuust above the break-even line and should only be used as a basic guideline. These are the rates you should never go below.

Image Source: business evolution via Shutterstock.

3. Work Backwards from a Goal

Before you can make a good decision about your hourly rate, you need to decide how much you want to earn this year. It sounds obvious, but most freelancers work the other way around. And then they’re surprised at the end of the year by how much they did (or did not) earn. Make the call right now: How much are you going to earn in 2015?

Using the above 26 billable hours per week average, here is the hourly rate you’d need to charge to make your desired amount of annual income:

• K/year: .20/hour


• K/year: .80/hour


• 0K/year: .40/hour

For a more nuanced calculation, try Your Rate.

4. Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset

Selling yourself short costs you money. As tempting as it might be to undersell a project when a client balks, it’s in your best interest to stick to your rates. Your time would be better spent improving your skills, taking a class, or learning a new coding language than stooping to charge a rate beneath your MAR.

5. Know Why You’re Worth What You’re Worth

Why do you deserve an hour when your competitor charges only ? As nice as it would be to pull a salary from thin air, even in the freelance world you have to earn what you’re worth. Have you won awards? Been published in respectable publications? Made measurable improvements for your clients?

When you quote a price to your client, know why you are quoting it. Your client doesn’t care how many hours it takes you to do your work. They care about results. Price for the results you know you can provide, and then as your skills improve, raise your rates accordingly.

Image Source: Tramp Sitting on the Floor with Laptop via Shutterstock.

6. Sometimes a Lowered Rate Is Worthwhile

There are instances when it’s worth it to you to reduce your rate:

• If your client has clout and will improve your portfolio


• If your client is doing a good deed and your work is philanthropic


• If your client can send a significant amount of traffic your way


• If the project is such an interesting challenge that you can’t help but accept

In these circumstances, though, it is important to work as if your client is paying premium. The only thing more devastating than underselling yourself is creating bad word of mouth.

7. Your Rate Is Not Set in Stone

Setting your rates is important — but it’s not permanent. Rates are constantly in flux based on your clients’ situations, your situation, and the market’s situation. So don’t panic. It might take you a few tries to dial it in.

Concluding

Setting rates is one of the hardest parts of being a freelancer. So don’t beat yourself up if you find it difficult at first. Often, freelancers have a hard time knowing what they’re actually worth. Or they don’t like the added pressure that a hefty invoice adds to their work.

But if you’re going to make a living as a freelancer, being honest about what your time costs is step one. It’s a form of humility to be honest with yourself about what you’re really worth. And when you find the right clients, they will be happy to pay it.

The post 7 Things to Think About Before Setting Your Freelance Rates appeared first on Speckyboy Web Design Magazine.

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7 Things to Think About Before Setting Your Freelance Rates

You"ve Never Seen City Maps Like These Before

Today’s dose of visual inspiration is a set of the craziest city maps you’ve ever seen. Chaotic Atmospheres (the screen name of a talented CG artist in Switzerland) tossed actual city maps into World Machine (a 3D terrain generator ) and created a mesmerizing erosion effect.

So what’s it all about? The artist had this to say: “I wanted to represent the influence of cities on their environment as a kind of invisible fluid that overflows from the city to its surrounding.”

Let’s Play a Game

Think you’ve got a good handle on the topography of famous cities around the world? Let’s put it to the test. Try to guess the city in each of the following series of images. Answers at the end.

City #1

City #2

City #3

City #4

City #5

City #6

City #7

Answers

Ready for the answers? The cities are shown in the following order: Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Cairo, Beijing, New York, and Venice. Leave a comment and tell us how you did.

You"ve Never Seen City Maps Like These Before