So, without further adieu, a list of my favorites -- not without a fair description of what-they-dos:
WP Greet Box - This plugin is excellent! Basically, how it works is you install it and it starts throwing to the top of the post a handsome little box addressing people by the network they came from if it matches a certain referrer ID, and specifically requests that they vote or share your post. The cool thing is, while it comes with a default list of networks to greet (facebook, digg, reddit, stumbleupon, and a ton more) it also allows you to edit the message, or add your own custom messages for specific http referrers. If it detects that it's a users first visit, and they don't have an identified referrer it simply requests they subscribe to the RSS feed.
With the beautiful icons this plugin has, it deserves an action shot:
WP To Twitter - This plugin is very effective, and very simple. It posts your blog posts to twitter. It will add a form to your compose page, allowing you to either automatically send a default message or customize the tweet at the time of launch. One of the cool aspects of this one is it allows for the use of google analytics, and automatic URL shortening via bit.ly. Personally, I don't touch the analytics aspect because it ends up causing the bit.ly URL for my tweetmeme button to be different than the initial tweet sent out by WP To Twitter. This can mess with your tweet count. Not cool.
WP Super Cache - This one might as well have been called super cash, because, baby, it's money. Basically it keeps your blog from crashing from excessive database calls during periods of high-traffic (the "digg effect"). This one has a few different features that I won't get into, but one of the most important ones I really like is that it will turn OFF caching for users who are logged in. Nice.
Thesis Openhook - If you use the extremely popular SEO theme "Thesis" this plugin is a must-have. It adds some nifty functionality that allows you to add html or even executable PHP to "hooks" from within wordpress. Meaning you don't have to edit any files. Even if you're not that kind of person that's not afraid of getting involved with a little commandline hack-and-slash, this plugin just saves time. It also gives you a short description of just where the hook will plug your the code you feed it.
TDO Miniforms - An amigo and fellow wordpress junkie, Reuben Rock, turned me on to this one. Basically, it allows you to place custom forms on your website that, when filled out, plugs the information either directly into a new post and publishes it, or a draft for you to tinker with before publishing. Crowdsourcing for the win, baby.
Follow Me - This plugin floats a few beautiful links to your various social media presences (twitter, facebook, whatever) on the screen. They're small enough to not be too disruptive, but prominent enough to get noticed, when collapsed, but when expanded large enough to cover just about everything.
Expanded:
Akismet - Ever gotten comment spam? It sucks, right? Akismet cuts it out. As simple as that. Nothing works like akismet, so give it a shot.
Contextual Related Posts - This plugin adds a bulleted list of posts you've already written to the bottom of each of your articles. Basically, it's useful because it builds a nifty SEO link web within your blog, and even on your RSS feed.
If you enjoyed this post hook up with me on: Facebook, Google Buzz, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Digg, or FriendFeed, or pretty much any of the sites or instant messengers available from the google buzz link.
