The list below represents a small group of WordPress Plugins that I install on every single blog I run!  They all have a specific purpose that either increase the usability of wordpress, remove risk of losing visitors or data, or make the administrative tasks easier! This is not ALL of the plugins I use, just those that are essential!

Askimet – You won’t need to download this one, it is installed as part of the WordPress build and helps to control spam on your blog. You need a free API keyin order to use it, but the process is simple and easy! On this blog, Askimet has blocked 21,710 spam comments in just over 1 year!

All in One SEO Plugin –  It really picks up where wordpress left off and gives you the ability to optimize your WordPress website, using basic SEO strategies.

Google XML Sitemaps- This plugin will generate a sitemaps.org compatible sitemap of your WordPress blog which is supported by Ask.com, Google, MSN Search and YAHOO

Redirection for WordPress- Having this redirect plugin gives you the ability to handle current and future changes to your site. It logs ALL 404 errors and provides a very user friendly area to manage 301’s for your site pages.

WordPress Automatic Upgrade- It couldn’t get easier than using this plugin! While I am guilty of not keeping my own blogs updated all the time, this plugin turns a feared practice into a point/click/done process!

RSS Footer- This plugin adds a small snipped to the bottom of your RSS feed. Every time you publish a post, this snippet is inserted with a permalink back to your site. It is NOT visible to website visitors and comes in most handy when people scrape your content. Heck, I don’t mind someone copying my work, as long as they link back! This plugin takes that out of the equation and automatically provides the link back for you!

WordPress Database Backup- You MUST have a daily backup of your work! If your server fails… pardon the french, but your f**ked! I have mine setup to automagically backup every morning at 3am and email the database to me in my gmail account! At worst, I lose one days worth of info on the site!! This plugin ONLY backs up your data and you always keep local copies of themes, images etc, on your site.

WP-Cache- Hopefully, you will have a post that gets hit up on Stumble, Digg etc, and gets 10,000 visitors in an hour! If you don’t have the cache plugin in place, only the first 1500 will see it… the rest will get the dreaded 500 error when your hosting account dies a painfully fast death due to the traffic overload! Install it and forget it… your pages are cached on the server and your visitors are delivered mock-static content, completely in the background! After you activate this plugin in WP, make sure you visit the settings page for the plugin and click on the “Enable” button to turn it on.

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Website Optimization is a Proven Way to Consistently and Substantially Increase FREE Targeted Traffic to your Website

Get Truly Plugged in for Outstanding Online Success
Whether your website reaches your potential customers locally or globally, the success of your online business depends on driving free targeted traffic to your website. What is the best way of achieving this goal? You may have guessed it . . .

The best way to bring large amounts of targeted traffic is by utilizing professional search engine optimization techniques, otherwise known as SEO.

Website optimization utilizes numerous techniques that make it easy for search engines (Google in particular) to read and understand all the content and programming on your website. When the optimization is completed it will get first page search engine positioning. This will immediately result in large amounts of targeted traffic. Website optimization will also result in higher sales and increased income.

The real advantage of optimization is FREE traffic.
Eventually you can stop paying for pay-per-click advertising because your website will be showing on the “organic” or “natural” side of search engine’s listings. Pay-per-click advertising can sometimes be a good start to receive traffic to your website, though it can often be costly depending on your business type and your level of competition.

Whether you live in Haldimand or Huston – Optimization works!
Though Grand River Webs is located in Haldimand, Canada, you need not live in Haldimand to receive the benefits of optimization. Search engines don’t care about physical location. But it is smart to mention Haldimand or Huston (or the location you want to focus on) to concentrate targeted traffic to exactly where you want it to go.

Optimization is the Most important Consideration for TRUE Success on the Internet
Positioning for Life!
More than any other way, website optimization is the real ground work to create a lasting amount of traffic coming to your website, year after year – without much effort. Why?

Because when your web pages are listed on search engine’s organic pages they tend to STAY there! This means that the initial optimization work will keep on lasting for years or decades. Best of all, organic listings improve with age – like wine . . . under the right conditions, and if you play by the rules, Google will keep your listing intact indefinitely.