How to install a WordPress Plugin

In the last post, we covered searching for, and determining if a plugin is right for your site. We decided that “Slick Social Share Buttons” plugin would suit our needs. You will notice a large Download button, click that and the plugin will be saved to your computer. Note that the file is a zip compressed file. What do you do with the file now? How does it get to your website?

You need to ftp (method of uploading files to your web host) the file to your web site and place it in the sub-directory specified in the Installation instructions. All WP plugins resided in the folder: /wp-content/plugins/.

Wow that sounds complicated, it really isn’t, but there is a much easier way.

Please read this post to the end before doing the following steps. There are some important cautions to be considered.

In your WordPress menu down the left side, click on the Plugins button.
1.At the top of the page next to Plugins, click on the Add New button.
2.Enter “Slick Social Share Buttons” into the search field and click Search Plugins
3.Click Install Now under the plugin you wish to install.
4.A popup window asks if you want to install the plugin, OK
5.The plugin will be installed
6.Click Activate

Your plugin is now installed.

You may not yet be finished. Some plugins, this one in particular, require you to enter additional information in order for the plugin to function. This plugin adds a menu item called Social Buttons to the menu on the left side of the screen. Click on that and you are presented with several options. Enter your Twitter username, Facebook data, etc. Be sure to click Save Changes before you leave the page.

That’s it. Our new plugin is installed and working.

If you decide that this plugin does not do the exact thing you had in mind, it is simple to remove the plugin. Go back to the Plugin page, Click Deactivate, after that click Delete to remove the files the plugin added to your site.

Caution

Some plugins will not play well with other plugins. In fact, they may cause your site to have some minor or even major problems. The safest thing to do is to backup your entire site before you add any new plugins. Yes, there are several backup plugins available to do that.

Why be so careful when adding a new plugin? Simply put, some plugins actually modify the way WordPress functions. There is no universal checking system to be certain one plugin will not hamper another. Some plugins make changes to the WP database and when deleted leave traces of themselves there. There is potential for problems, so plan accordingly.

Plugins are a powerful tool for your website, don’t be afraid of using them, just be cautious.

If you have problems finding, installing, or configuring a plugin, we can do it for you. Our fees are quite reasonable. We can even test the plugin on one of our installations to make sure it will be compatible with your website.

Call us for a quote. 800-598-4008