Our Top Recommended WordPress Plugins for Every Website

If you’re building or running a WordPress website, one of the best things about the platform is its flexibility. With thousands of plugins available, you can add almost any feature you can imagine. But with so much choice, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Which plugins are actually essential?

At Snowtech Services, we’ve tested and supported hundreds of WordPress sites. Over time, three plugins have consistently stood out as must-installs for almost every website:

• Wordfence Security – to keep your site safe.
• Yoast SEO – to boost your visibility in search engines.
• Really Simple SSL – to ensure visitors always see the secure padlock.

These plugins cover the three areas every site owner should care about: security, visibility, and trust. Below, we’ll explain what each plugin does and how to get started.

✅ Wordfence Security – Protect Your Website

What it does: Wordfence combines a web application firewall (WAF), malware scanner, and login protection (including 2FA) to block attacks and alert you to suspicious changes.

How to install

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins ▸ Add New.
2. Search for Wordfence Security.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
4. Open Wordfence ▸ Dashboard and follow the setup prompts. Run a Full Scan and complete the Firewall Optimization wizard.

✅ Yoast SEO – Improve Your Search Rankings

What it does: Yoast helps you optimise titles, meta descriptions, and content readability, auto-generates XML sitemaps, and provides social previews to improve click-through rates.

How to install

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• Go to Plugins ▸ Add New.
• Search for Yoast SEO.
• Click Install Now, then Activate.
• Run the first-time configuration under SEO ▸ Settings (site type, organisation/person, social profiles). Ensure XML Sitemaps are enabled.

✅ Really Simple SSL – Force HTTPS with One Click

What it does: Detects your SSL certificate and redirects all traffic to HTTPS. It also fixes mixed content so the browser’s secure padlock appears reliably.

How to install

1. Go to Plugins ▸ Add New.
2. Search for Really Simple SSL.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
4. Open Settings ▸ SSL and click Activate SSL. Confirm the 301 redirect and Mixed Content Fixer are enabled.

Why These Three?

• Security: Every site is a target. Wordfence adds a strong, proactive layer of protection.
• SEO: Without optimisation, it’s harder to attract visitors. Yoast makes on-page SEO beginner-friendly.
• Trust: Visitors expect a secure connection. Really Simple SSL enforces HTTPS and removes browser warnings.

With these plugins in place, you’ve covered the essentials. From here, you can expand into caching for performance, backup plugins for peace of mind, or e-commerce (e.g., WooCommerce) if you plan to sell online.

Final Tips

• Back up first: Take a full backup before adding or updating plugins.
• Stay updated: Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins current.
• Less is more: Only install what you need to reduce bloat and potential conflicts.

Need help? Open a support ticket with your WordPress admin URL and the plugins you want installed—our team can assist.