To enhance the functionality and automation of your blog, require a different plug-ins. Finding worthwhile plug-ins for your blog is very similar to finding the right theme for your blog. First of all, decide what to look for and search the WordPress Plug-ins Directory which hosts over 7,000 plug-ins.

But it is little harder to find free plug-ins that are not in the WordPress Plug-ins Directory. If you search on a Google for “free WordPress plug-ins” and the result would be top 50 matches point directly to the WordPress Plug-ins Directory, or to developers already in the Plug-ins Directory.  So where else to find the desirable plug-ins? Before hiring a web developer to create the specific, unique Plug-ins, Look for these Websites for your requirements:

1. The Weblog Tools Collection

The Weblog Tools Collection team review new WordPress Plug-ins twice a week submitted by designers who participate in the WLTC Community forum.

2. Plugins Podcast

Angelo Mandato is a CIO of RawVoice and he reviews one plug-in at a time. “The Plugins Podcast aims to cover one WordPress plugin each week with occasional interviews of plugin developers as well as with heavy plugin users. Normal episodes will aim to be between 10-15 minutes in mp3 format.”
Listen and subscribe at www.pluginspodcast.com.

3. The WordPress Plugin Database

The WordPress Plugin contain huge Plug-ins Database (close to 2,500 plugins) at www.wp-plugins.net is a promising idea, if somewhat neglected as a project.

Image Reference:  www.softsailor.com

http://wparena.com/freebies/30-essential-wordpress-plugins/

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There is very easy and secure way to update your WordPress installation by providing FTP info in wp-config file. All you have to worry about security. If someone were to gain access to your database then they would also have access to your entire server. So by using the following methods you can reduce the risk.

Editing wp-config.php

Access

At the bottom of your wp-config.php file add the constant values, so database will not store this information. As well this will make the database  smaller and ultimately it will improve the site performance.

define('FTP_HOST', 'ftp.example.org');
define('ftp_user', 'username');
define('FTP_PASS', 'password');

Secure Connection

To make a connection more secure and reliable add the following line (default: false):

define('FTP_SSL', true);

Directories

define (FTP_BASE’,'…’);

If you have moved the plugin directory or all other content folder. Than You specify the full path using these two constants:

define('FTP_CONTENT_DIR', '...');
define('FTP_PLUGIN_DIR', '...');

Method

To adjust the method used by WordPress for file system, you have to change following values, which hides errors in case something goes wrong with file permissions or if some errors have occur. Keep in mind most of the time the default values will work just fine.

define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');

The following methods are possible:

• direct (default) – PHP file system functions
• ssh – SSH PHP Extension
• ftpext – FTP PHP Extension
• ftpsockets – PHP socket extension

The constants FTP_PUBKEY, FTP_PRIKEY display the paths to the SSH public key and private key SSH specify.

Delete existing data

http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/options.php open this page after login to admin panel, This page will show the all setting options. Search for the entry ftp_credentials, its value should be hidden, If this is present, you have already stored the FTP data in your database. You can delete it by simply removing the value in the ftp_credentials field on the options page, then scrolling to the bottom, and pressing save. You should be very careful doing this though as there is potential for your website to be broken when doing this.
References and Resources:
Editing wp-config.php (WordPress Upgrade Constants)
storing WordPress FTP information in wp-config.php

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WordPress with combination of plugins, it is possible to share documents. Although, It is always very tricky for  a committee or a club, finding a good way to share news and documents. The Members Only plugin from ChurChcrunch is a WordPress plugin that allows you to make your blog only viewable to visitors that are logged in.

Again, Sidebar Login from blue-anvil is useful for letting people log in without dealing with the somewhat intimidating Dashboard.

The List Child Attachments plugin will list any files uploaded to a post or page, without the user having to insert each one into the content individually. In other words, it works like a gallery, but for files other than images.

The Event Calendar (his plugin is a more enhanced version of the basic calendar provided by WordPress.) or GigPress (a powerful WordPress plugin designed for musicians and other performers. Manage all of your upcoming and past performances) will be useful if your group needs to keep track of events.

To let the group stay in touch by e-mail, Subscribe 2 and Subscribe to Comments (a robust plugin that enables commenters to sign up for e-mail notification of subsequent entries)will notify all users of new posts
and new comments.
If your group needs to review documents, the Comment Author Checklist plugin (a WordPress plugin for writers’ critique groups and any other group blog doing some kind of document review) prints a list of registered users and crosses people’s names off the list once they’ve commented on a post.

The Digress.it plugin from Digres.it and Visudo Labs lets you comment paragraph by paragraph in the margins of a text.

Reference: Beginning WordPress 3

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BuddyPress is a collection of WordPress MU plugins designed for social networking, it helps to extended profiles, private messaging, friends lists, groups, a messaging system and an activity stream similar to the status update facilities on sites such as Twitter and Facebook. BuddyPress can not be use in single-server version of WordPress.

Nowadays lots of developers experimenting and writing about BuddyPress. Today I am compiling a latest list of excellent Pluings (included in BuddyPress pack), hacks and Tutorials.

Hacks and Tutorials:

1. How to Customize YourBuddyPress URL

These are simple instructions on how to customize the slugs for BuddyPress, that will boost SEO and improve your site usability.

2. Adding Sign in With Twitter to a Buddypress Site

This is well explained tutorial on configuring BuddyPress to allow users to sign in using their Twitter usernames and passwords with the help of the Twit Connect plugin.

3. Enabling Twitter Avatars Within BuddyPress

By using the Twit Connect plugin help you to add a new function which enables Twitter avatars on regular WordPress blogs.

4. BuddyPresHack: Remove New Member Registration From Activity Stream

5. BuddyPress Hack: Disable Activity Stream Comments/Favorites For Certain Types

6. What Are Parent and Child Theme?

7. Simple BuddyPress Guide

BuddyPress plugins:

There are nine plugins in the base BuddyPress suite. Each one can be used to add a social feature to your Social Networking site. By default, all BuddyPress components are enabled. You can selectively disable any of the components by using the BuddyPress Component Setup page.

Extended Profiles:

This allows you to create extra profile fields, which can be filled in by the members.

Private Messaging:

This allows members to contact each other directly. There are private messaging plugins for WordPress and also for BuddyPress. Rather than confusing your users with multiple places to send/receive PMs, I recommend testing each plugin and using the one that you feel best suits your site.

Friends:

This allows members to maintain friend lists, as they would on sites such as Facebook or MySpace.

Groups:

This allows members to create groups where they can post images, links, and blog posts. For example, Wicca practitioners could create a group to share spells, and Slayers from Los Angeles could have a group where they would share tips and news.

The Wire:

This plugin works like walls on other social networking sites. You can add a wire to a page or component, and users will be able to post messages to that page.

Activity Streams:

This plugin tracks member activity across the site. A member’s activity stream will show new posts they have made, changes to their profile, and changes to their friends list. Members will also be able to keep up to date with their friends’ activities via their stream.

Blog Tracking:

This feature aggregates all of the blogs, blog posts, and comments created by a specific member, making it easier for people to keep up with the blogging activities of their friends.

Forums:

This component allows groups to create and manage their own forums, using the existing bbPress plugin.

Status Updates

Allow users to post status updates.

For Download visit The BuddyPress Community | Visit plugin site

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If you want to sell goods from your web site, you may want to look into shopping cart software so you can process your orders. These days you don’t have to design your cart, you can just choose a web hosting company that has a built in WordPress Installation or You can install WordPress yourself. Hope you know that how to do that and use a third party merchant like PayPal. Many developers offer subscriptions to all their stuff specially WordPress themes and plugins for a monthly fee.

Developing a shopping cart by using a WordPress, integrating with PayPal or Authorize.net and sell products using WordPress? Now its not a big job anymore with this excellent piece of Software. There are three main options for setting WordPress up as a store:

1. Install WordPress on your domain
2. Activate a Theme related to Shopping cart
3. Integrating a Plugin

1. How to install WordPress

There are lots of WordPress Developer and designers who explained step by step process of WordPress Installation.

1. Download WordPress

Most of the Hosting companies provide Auto-installer for WordPress. If its older version get the latest Version from WordPress.org, download the file and unzip it. Then using the FTP Manager, upload the files into your webhost directory of your choice or replace with old installed files in case you already installed old version by using Auto-installer.

If  its Auto-install, you have almost done here, all you have to Click on Upgrade Button which will appear on login page.

2. Create a MySQL Database

Log in to your hosting admin panel and go to MySQL Database Icon. Then click Add a New Database.

3. Run WordPress Install

Tell the installer exact URL location, The latest Version of WordPress will ask you to create config. file.
For example: www.yourdomain.com/

When you click on create config file it will proceed further, asking you “Let’s go” and after that will appear following page as seen bellow:

Don’t need to change database host and table prefix, Provide all other detail which you have created during database creation step.

When you click the submit button, it will take you to a follow up page like this:

Be sure to enter a valid email address because if you forget your password it will send the password to provided email. Once you click install, a confirmation screen like below would appear:

4. You are done!

Your installation is now complete and login to your WordPress admin panel by going to:
http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin

2. Activate a Theme

Select a WordPress theme with a built-in shopping cart that allows you to easily run an e-commerce site with WordPress. Following are the best Theme in this category:

2.1 ShopperPress

ShopperPress is a fully featured shopping cart theme for WordPress, suitable for selling any types of products, services, and digital downloads online.

2.2. Vanilla Cart

A Free WordPress theme – Clean, minimal, highly customizable, vanilla-style WordPress Shopping Cart Theme. Made specifically for the free WP e-Commerce plugin.

Download

2.3 Crafty Cart

This theme requires the WP e-Commerce plugin for shopping cart functionality, but works as a fully functional blog on its own. The design features custom made ‘Add to Cart’ buttons and a beautiful shopping cart widget design.

Download

2.4 eGoods

A parent theme with 3 localized child themes! It has more features and functions to help take your shopping Cart to the next level.

2.5 MarketTheme

Market Theme is a premium theme (so you need to pay) that includes a large featureset for creating an e-commerce store.

2.6 Storefront The Ultimate WP-E-Commerce Theme

This is the ultimate WordPress ecommerce theme built specifically for the WP-E-Commerce plugin!

If you’ve ever used the WP-E-Commerce plugin, you probably noticed the same thing I did…the plugin has a lot of potential and power, but not much built in support for displaying your products attractively. This theme solves that problem by using the existing WP-E-Commerce code combined with some new custom coding to display your products and product groups like never before! We’ve created new custom styles for the product page and shopping cart without touching the plugin files. Then, our custom homepage options gives you a myriad of options for displaying your products.

3. eCommerce and Shopping Carts Plugins

There are lots of Shopping cart plugins for wordpress, suitable for selling any types of products, services, and digital downloads online. Few of there are following you can use to build up your shopping cart on WordPress.

3.1 WordPress Simple PayPal Shopping Cart

WordPress Simple PayPal Shopping Cart lets you add an ‘Add to Cart’ button anywhere on your blog. This plugin also allows you to add the shopping cart anywhere in a post or page or sidebar easily.

Download

3.2 eShop

eShop is an accessible shopping cart plugin for WordPress, packed with various features, includes customizable product listings, multiple product options, advanced payment options, basic statistics and more.

Download

3.3 WP e-Commerce

The WP e-Commerce shopping cart plugin for WordPress is an elegant easy to use fully featured shopping cart application suitable for selling your products, services, and or fees online.
WP e-Commerce is a Web 2.0 application designed with usability, aesthetics, and presentation in mind.

Download

3.4 YAK for WordPress

YAK is an open source shopping cart plugin for WordPress. It associates products with weblog entries, so the post ID also becomes the product code. It supports both pages and posts as products, handles different types of product through categories, and provides customisable purchase options (cheque or deposit, basic credit card form, basic Google Checkout integration, standard PayPal integration, PayPal Payments Pro, and Authorize.net).

Download

3.5 Quick Shop

Quick Shop supports any WordPress that has the Sidebar Widgets installed, really. It adds a SideBar widget that shows the user what they currently have in the cart and allows them to remove the items, not to mention a TinyMCE button to easily allow you to add products to your posts/pages.

Download

3.6 Shopp

Shopp is an e-commerce plugin that adds a feature-rich online store to your WordPress-powered website or blog. Get your store up and running in minutes. Then, take it to the next level with the flexibility of Shopp’s customization tools that allow production studios and power users to tailor every aspect of the shopping experience. This is a paid premium plugin, starting at $55.

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