Help me build a recommended plugins list

I don’t add a lot of custom widgets into my themes, or I try not to when possible, because there are so many amazing plugins that provide these features already. I’m attempting to create a list of recommended plugins to refer customers to when they ask about specific functionality. I’ve found that many users simply don’t realize there are plugins that can do what they want and it doesn’t need to be built into the theme. There is a difference between what should be included in theme options and what should be an add-on.

What I’m thinking is plugins that do things like, Flickr widgets, Twitter widgets, social network links, modify WordPress defaults (things you can’t usually access without changing code), galleries, mobile device support, SEO , etc. I guess it can be just about anything.

Thanks.

I find myself recommending a plugin for cacheing a lot:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/

ProgressionStudios said
I find myself recommending a plugin for cacheing a lot:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/

Yeah, WP Super Cache is definitely going on the list. I prefer W3 Total Cache myself but I think Super Cache is easier to understand for my customers.

Any suggestions for marketplace plugins or signup/registration plugins? I want to pre-create the styles to allow these to integrate seamlessly with my themes but I’ve never tested any plugins for this functionality.

http://premium.wpmudev.org/wordpress-plugins/

this has pretty much everything useful

landonw said
http://premium.wpmudev.org/wordpress-plugins/ this has pretty much everything useful

I’m thinking more of free plugins.

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/

Also, wouldn’t it be cool if a Support contact form was built into the theme admin?

landonw said
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/ Also, wouldn’t it be cool if a Support contact form was built into the theme admin?

Not for developers that want to use the theme for their own clients

Also, that bypasses the ThemeForest purchase verification included in the existing contact methods.

Widgets are another topic for me. I like to include them fully working in my themes since I have full control over the html markup of the widget and therefore i can offer more possibilities when it comes to custom widget styles.

But for more complex tasks i rely on some carefully selected plugins:

When it comes to Forms I love to implement Contact Form 7. For my taste it comes with everything a modern form plugin should have, like creating custom fields, checkboxes, radios,... and it offers also modifications on how to send the mails, what text should appear if sending was successful and so on. Its also possible to localize it and the best is: you can create as many forms you want. Therefore it is for me the #1 solution and better than any build-in contact form.

For File Management and Downloads I like to support Download Monitor. It also comes with many options but the best is the feature to create some custom “Templates”. I use that for Buttons in any imaginable form.

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/w3-total-cache/

http://yoast.com/wordpress/seo/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/contact-form-7/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/gtranslate/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analytics-for-wordpress/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/facebook-comments-for-wordpress/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/add-to-any/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-minify/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/mappress-google-maps-for-wordpress/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/role-scoper/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/simple-facebook-connect/

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/theme-my-login/

yes I know some the functionality is built into themes