When you install a new plugin, what do you base the decision to do that on? I’d love to know! So I’ve created a survey, I’ll of course share the results here on the blog.
Please fill out the survey below:
WordPress Plugin Installation Survey
Yoast.com runs on the Genesis Framework
The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.
Read our Genesis review or get Genesis now!
Hey Yoast, just filled in your survey. I noticed you didn’t ask in the survey about any WordPress experience. I can image there could be differences in wordpress usage between novice users and experts like yourself?
FYI, the survey does not load in Firefox 3.6.17. Going to Chrome to fill it out.
Sorry, it eventually did load, after I filled out the survey on Chrome. Strange.
This survey reminded me of some plugin options/opportunities I have neglected. It also reminded me to re-evaluate my current list of installed plugins – time to trim the fat. Feel free to comment on my overly large list here – http://archshrk.com/about
While the quality of the code is important to me, I’m not competent to judge it (so I don’t), same with security. That aspect didn’t come out in the survey.
I usually hate surveys but if someone puts so much time into plugins that are very useful and reliable the least i could do is complete a survey.
Filled it out! Thanks for making great plugins, Yoast!
BTW, what plugin did you use to make the survey? Or what would you recommend for forms like this?
Thanks again!
For me if the plugin generate any PHP Error/Warning notice on the Dev server its warring and it will be dissected to see why the plugin author has been lazy coding.
I also look at the plugin architecture and coding style.
I’m a newbie and really dont know much about wp plugins,but but like to mention each time i install an update my website is disrupted in some way.Since dont know how to fix them I go to forums.Plugins authors should provide more support.
Joost,
Anytime you want survey information, I’m happy to chime in.
I expected a few questions about ease of use, clarity of instructions and manual materials. I guess since you do such a good job of it, it did not come to mind. But, I find most of the open source and free plugins come with gaping holes in the documentation that expect a user to be an expert. Your SEO plugin manual is the best plugin documentation I’ve seen, other than a few paid plugins I use. That’s the most important single factor: competent, excellent documentation explaining all settings, their effect and when it’s appropriate to use them or not.
Thanks again…
MS
Very much agree with this.
Sometimes a actual function of a plugin seems simple for the creator, that they actually neglect the fact that others might need more explanation about the art they have been creating.
Hey Joost,
I just finished your survey and yes I am already subscribed to your awesome newsletter. Thanks for all of your hard work.
I am VERY eager for you to release the Installation Assistant you mentioned somewhere. I wish there was one for WP SEO as well as for W3 Total Cache because this is all new to me. I have many really basic questions and am now looking for a more active forum that the wordpress.org one. Thanks for all you do! ~doctorEQ
Took the survey :) Quick question about WP SEO. If I convert to WP SEO, what other plugins does it replace? Currently using All-in one, with your clean slugs – robots meta – rss footer -
Took it, very interested to see the results!
I wrote an article on choosing plugins a while ago, which might be relevant here: http://netweblogic.com/wordpress/choosing-wordpress-plugins/
that’s pretty much the way I choose plugins
upon reflection, it says Jun 25 on the post but it’s from 2010 :)
I think this is an important survey. it can be tricky to decide which plugin is going to work for you and if you have the technical knowhow to set it up properly. Then there is the aspect of plugins which conflict with others (Info on this would be useful but not found a resource for this) and those which slow down your site to such an extent that it makes the value it delivers redundant. Another thing that is important is consistency – you find a plugin you like, it works and then the developer moves on to other things. I’ll look forward to your results. The important question for me is- what are you going to do once you get the results?
I ask other friends with blogs about plugins they use. Also, I wish there was some way we could tell the quality of the code being written by plugin developers. Any ideas? So I try to use plugins from people who are active in the forums, visible and who seem open to helping.
As a relative newbie, I wonder how many plugins you experts have installed? Is there a danger of mutual interference if you install too many? I also agree with some of the other comments, about the need for better installation and operation instructions with many of the plugins.
Just wanted to add that as a non programmer I like plugins that give me the impression that the creator stays on top of it and updates them regularly. Also, if, once installed, the interface is bad, or there are no ‘info’ buttons for quick reference, I’ll delete it. What it looks like once installed is very important to me – it needs to be ultra organized and accessible :)