Most Useful Plugins, Addons and Widgets

This is the eight post in the “How to Create a Powerful Blog” series of posts, regarding to the most useful plug-ins, widgets and addons for the most popular blogging systems like WordPress, MovableType and Blogspot.

Previously, I’ve show you why to use a WordPress, how to choose a domain name or blog hosting, how to optimize your blog and contents on it, how to convert your theme and how to publish your blog successfully.

Today, I’m going to show you the most useful third-party extensions for the most popular blogging systems like WordPress, Blogspot (Blogger) or MovableType. Also, I’d provide you a widgets that can be used on almost any website which supports HTML or JavaScript code. Enjoy blogging!

Useful WordPress Plug-ins

WordPress is one of the most popular blogging systems, below you can see my own plug-ins collection that can be very useful for your blog.

• All in One SEO Pack – A must-have plug-in for every blogger. Optimizes your WordPress blog for Search Engines (Search Engine Optimization).
• WP Super Cache – This plugin will help your server cope with a front page appearance on digg.com or other social networking site. Very useful plug-in for speeding your blog up.
• Google XML Sitemaps – Everytime you edit or create a post, your sitemap is updated and all major search engines that support the sitemap protocol, like ASK.com, Google, MSN Search and YAHOO, are notified about the update.
• Yet Another Relates Posts Plugin – Gives you a list of posts and/or pages related to the current entry, introducing the reader to other relevant content on your site.
• WordPress.com Stats – You can have simple, concise stats with no additional load on your server by plugging into WordPress.com’s stat system. Very nice plugin to analyze your blog stats.
• WP Polls – Extremely customizable via templates and css styles and there are tons of options for you to choose to ensure that WP-Polls runs the way you wanted. It now supports multiple selection of answers.
• WP DataBase Backup – Allows you easily to backup your core WordPress database tables. You may also backup other tables in the same database.
• Global Translator – Global Translator automatically translates your blog in the following 41 different languages. The number of available translations will depend on your blog language and the translation engine you choose.

Find the another list of the 22 Most useful Plug-ins for WordPress.

Useful Blogger/Blogspot Widgets

You can find below the widgets and addons which can be usef on the Blogger, Blogspot and mostly other free-hosted blogging solutions on the internet.

• Top 10 Blogspot Widgets and Addons
• The Best Widgets for your Site

Almost all third-party addons and widgets for the Blogspot free-hosted blogs are installed through the integrated HTML module (Gadgets) in the Blogspot dashboard.

Useful MovableType Plug-ins

MovableType is the popular and free blogging system. See the most useful plug-ins for this blogging system below.

• TypePad AntiSpam – It’s a new free tool in the fight against comment spam.
• Pagination – Plugin that enables you to paginate lists of entries.
• Cache Block – Dramatically speed up publishing by caching blocks of built template code.
• Comment Subscribe -  A plugin which provides function to allow users to subscribe on your comments.
• Simply Threaded – Brings down a new type of comment threading to Movable Type.
• Automatix Lightbox – Add the Lightbox tag to your blog pictures.
• Poll Position – Adds a fast and easy way to create polls in Movable Type.

Well, this was the last post in the “How to Create a Powerful Blog” series of posts. Through just eight steps you’ll be able to create a professional and powerful blog. Thank you for read through.