Brian Van Nieuwenhoven - WordPress Site Developer

@brianvanhttp://485i.com

Using Commercial Plugins

Discussion - Have you ever...

● Purchased plugin modules?● Subscribed to a service attached to a

plugin?● Purchased support or installation

services?● Upgraded from a "lite" or normal

plugin to a "pro" plugin?

What is a "commercial plugin"?(for the purposes of this discussion)

Any code module which requires a purchase or a license from a software developer and... Any code module for which commercial services or additional products can be purchased.

What does that definition include?

● "Premium" or "Pro" plugins● Plugins (or parts of plugins) that work only

when you purchase a service, license, or access key

What about all the other plugins out there?

● There is a vast collection of "free" plugins(the code is licensed and available for download and distribution without cost)

● The WordPress Plugin Directory will host and list anything with a "compatible" free license

● Some plugin authors offer free code licenses, but are happy to sell service and support or premium products related to their free products or to WordPress in general.

The WordPress Plugin Directory is NOT a commercial plugin marketplace

● Premium plugins are neither available for purchase nor listed in the directory

● Premium plugins can't be found if you're using the "Add new" plugin search feature in the core WordPress dashboard

But what about themes?

Just FYI: ● WordPress.org does list some

commercial/premium themes● WordPress.org doesn't sell the themes - it

just links to some of them● Premium themes are not available from the

dashboard's theme search feature● If you want the most popular premium

framework/parent themes, you would need to find them on your own

The difference between premium themes and premium plugins

● WordPress.org has a list for some premium themes

● WordPress.org has no list at all for premium plugins

Will WordPress.org ever add a plugin marketplace?::shakes 8 ball:: "Outlook not so good" ● There are currently no plans for this in the

works.● WordPress is a free software, open source

product under the GPL license; the core team chooses to keep its directory services limited to plugins/themes that are similarly licensed.

That said...

● There is nothing stopping you from adding any code to your WordPress installations

● If you want to purchase a premium plugin, you'll be able to add it the manual way

● You might not find a premium plugin in the directory, but you CAN get the benefit of Automatic Upgrade alerts for premium plugins (if the author included that feature)

Where to find premium plugins(the type that is not part of the WP directory)

● Author's sites● Editorial reviews● User forums, discussions● Google

(abandon hope all ye who enter here)

And in the future...

There is at least one service claiming to offer a dashboard-integrated plugin marketplace...It's not finished, yet. Currently in private beta. Visit http://renku.me to join the mailing list and receive updates (I have no affiliation with or recommendation of their services. But I'm interested...)

Adding a plugin manually(this might be new to some)

● All plugins live on your web server in this directory (under your WP site root):

● Put your plugin folder in this directory to add

the plugin to the available (but not yet activated) plugins

● Activate the plugin from the dashboard(Plugins -> Installed Plugins)

Automatic Updates?

● If the plugin has included its own update server, or is in the WP plugin directory, automatic updates will let you know when a new release is available.

● Otherwise, manual updates are required. It's the same process as manual installation (overwrite/replace the old version)

● (For advanced users) If you've made direct code edits, you'll likely lose them. Avoid direct code edits when possible, or track your changes and merge them.

If you're not using automatic updates...

It's still really important for you to make sure all of your plugins are fully updated, for stability and security purposes! ● Check often● Set reminders● Keep your site safe and secure

Now, to review...

● What

● Where

What we've covered so far:

● Commercial plugins offer or require paid services or purchases

● Sometimes in the WP plugin directory (when the code is free but something else isn't), sometimes not (when the code is NOT free)

What we've covered so far:

● When ● How

● Anytime you choose

● If it's not in the

directory, you'll have to use the manual installation process to at least install the first timeYou may also have to manually monitor for updates

Which leads us to:

Why?

● Spend money on your site's code? ○ especially if there are free alternatives?○ especially if you're not completely sure you like it or

you haven't used it directly?

● Deal with the hassle of a separate installation/upgrade process?

● Choose to use a product that doesn't fit the

community code & support model that we're all used to by now?

Why would you...

If a plugin can be an investment in your site

and can save you costs in the long run, then...

Why not?

● Offer options to consider along with free alternatives

● Can offer excellent value (depending on how

you'll use it and how well they are built) ● Might save you time and money over using

the "free" alternative

Commercial plugins...

Are commercial plugins always better than free alternatives?

No. It is important to:● Define your goals and your budget● Evaluate on a case-by-case basis● Test, record, analyze, decide

Repeat:Test, record, analyze, decide

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."&"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail."

- a man whose wisdomwas so great that theyput his face on the$100 bill

You can prepare by:● Using product demos when available● Testing plugins (and themes!) ahead of time

in a "development" installation● Reading relevant support forums, reviews,

ratings By doing this you can avoid:● Technical headaches● Growing pains● Unrealized expectations● Buyer's remorse

Example: simple contact form

Free:Fast Secure Contact Form Plugin

Premium:Gravity Forms ($39 for personal license)

Analysis:Gravity Forms is really nice, but I only need a simple contact form. Fast Secure Contact Form works and is highly rated.Decision: Fast Secure Contact Form

Example: Highly customizable contact form for 10 sites

Free:Fast Secure Contact Form Plugin

Premium:Gravity Forms ($199 for unlimited developer license)

Analysis:Fast Secure Contact Form isn't as customizable, but I can get the exact look I want on each site with Gravity Forms. And also, I've been toying with the idea of selling t-shirts. GF has a PayPal add-in! I could make the money back in a month or two...Decision: GravityForms

Example: Site Backup

Free: WordPress Backup to Dropbox

Premium:VaultPress ($15 monthly)

Analysis:VaultPress backups are easier to restore if I end up in-trouble. My developer charges $200 to just LOOK at the site. I'm ok with spending a little more over the next two years for peace of mind.Decision: VaultPress

Example: Site Backup on a tight budget

Premium: WordPress Backup to Dropbox with add-ins for .ZIP backup and email notifications ($28 total)

Premium:VaultPress ($15 monthly)

Analysis:I can't spend $180 a year on this. I'm a tinkerer, I'll take my chances with a manual restore if I need it. I want the notifications & archive files, though. And I already have a paid Dropbox subscription, so space isn't an issue.Decision: WordPress Backup to Dropbox

The general idea:Premium plugins offer additional options for

extending your site.

These options are sometimes bad options, sometimes not-ideal options...

but sometimes, they're really great options.

And now you know:

● They exist● How to install them● Where to look for them● Why it's a good idea to

look for them

(to be followed by a wonky discussion of any advanced topics of interest)

Q&A time

Brian Van Nieuwenhoven - WordPress Site Developer

@brianvanhttp://485i.com