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One of the many great features of WordPress is the ability to install useful plugins to your blog. There is an enormous amount of WordPress plugins. At the time of this writing there were over 10,000 total plugins available for download! Many of the plugins are just plain awesome and serve as extremely useful additions to your blog. If you are serious about getting the most from your blog, it would be worth your time to take a look at the official plugin directory and pick out whichever plugins suit your own personal needs. I have taken the time to compile a list of the six most essential WordPress plugins. Each of them serve a unique and useful purpose, and will take your blog a step above. All of the plugins listed are compatible with WordPress 3.0.

1. All in One SEO Pack – The All in One SEO Pack is definitely the #1 must-have WordPress plugin for any blog owner. This plugin gives you full control over search engine optimization by allowing you to edit your post’s title tags, meta keywords, and meta description. This information determines what your blog’s homepage will look like in search results.
2. WP Super Cache – WP Super Cache makes your blog load lightning-fast. All it takes is a simple installation. This is a must-have for those blog owners who receive a large amount of traffic.
3. Akismet – Akismet serves as spam protection for your website. It monitor’s your website without the use of annoying captchas. This actually comes packaged with WordPress, you just need to be sure to activate it!
4. Google XML Sitemaps – Google XML Sitemaps is a tool that automatically updates your website’s sitemap anytime you post new content. The sitemap is submitted to all major search engines automatically! After installation, you will never need to bother with it again. If you don’t trust the automatic sitemap submission, there is a manual submission button as well. It’s usually a good idea to use the button to be sure that the sitemap is updated!
5. Google Analyticator- The Google Analyticator plugin gives you full access to your website’s traffic stats right on your dashboard. This is extremely convenient because you are not forced to have to edit your template code before you can see stats!
6. Contact Form 7 – A form where traffic can contact you is absolutely a must-have. Contact Form 7 is a simple yet customizable contact form that allows inquisitive readers to get in touch with you.

**Bonus** 7. Comment Luv – Comment Luv is an awesome plugin that allows those who comment on your blog to post a link to the last post from their own blog. The plugin encourages readers to post comments, which leads to more discussion, which leads to traffic!

And there you have it, 6 of the most essential WordPress Plugins. Take the time to check each of them out, and be sure to hunt for other plugins as well. With such a great multitude available, you are sure to find one to fit your needs.