Plugin Development In WordPress- Overview

WordPress CMS is the most user-friendly, open-source platform thriving in the website development market. Its strong dependency on plugins is a foremost factor in its popularity. Even impactful standalone software might not deliver all the functions for every user. Therefore, plugins build a bridge between form and function to perform specific tasks without affecting the source code. So, how is plugin development helpful? Let’s discuss more about the roles of plugins in the success of WordPress, how to sell them in the marketplace, and how you build plugins.

What Is A Plugin In WordPress?

Plugins are programs in WordPress that help users add new capabilities and features to their websites without impacting the base codes. WP plugin ranges may vary based on features and functionalities, from simple plugins for adding a contact form to intricate plugins for transforming your site into an eCommerce store. Plugin development in WordPress is equivalently essential as other elements for expanding the features of your website. Whether integrating social networking features, SEO optimizations, booking systems, online payment, or solutions to any other complex issues, a WordPress plugin is helpful for non-coders.

Why Is Plugin Development In WordPress Important?

The significance of WordPress plugins is unquestionable, considering their flexibility, adaptability, and performance level. A plugin simplifies the operational tasks for developers and non-technical users. Here are a few reasons why plugin development in WordPress matters.

• Better Functionalities – With a plugin, you may add new features to your default WP setup. It diminishes the hassles of complex coding for users. A plugin improves a site’s loading speed, compresses images, minimizes codes, manages cache, reduces CSS/JavaScript files, extends functionalities, and boosts overall performance.
• Multi-Usage – The best feature of building a plugin is multiple usage accessibilities. For example, you create a plugin to handle payment gateway operations on your clothing website. You can use the same plugin on your other websites as well. It saves your time, effort, and development expenses.
• Revenue Generation – You can commercialize your plugin into the web market to earn revenue. Expanding the functionalities of a stock plugin according to the user’s needs by customizing a plugin can also increase earning probabilities. For instance, we have modified a WooCommerce-based plugin that tracks commissions. This extension includes the ability to generate a CSV file for all unpaid commissions over a specific date range that you can upload to PayPal’s mass payment system or use to process the commission payouts.
• No Dependency – Some tailor-made plugins charge on a subscription or recurring basis. These market-ready plugins have limitations. The more you add features and functionalities, the more you need to invest. However, there is no surety of getting the exact functions. That’s why building a custom plugin with a one-time investment gives you better results without any dependencies.
• Site Maintenance – Managing a website and data backup is a time-consuming process. Hence, crafting your own plugin streamlines the maintenance process without relying on an external provider.

Things You Need To Know To Make Your Own Plugin

With WordPress, building and customizing plugins has become easier with foundational coding knowledge such as PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It helps you get your desired functionality without further alterations in codes or website structure. The only difference between plugin development and custom code is a plugin can be installed on any WordPress website without coding knowledge. Here are a few things you need to consider to create your own plugin:

• Reusability – A plugin is modular in nature, and you can save it in your HDD. So, if we imagine a situation where the files on the server are compromised, you can easily hit the restart button without having to write the codes again. All you need to do is install the WordPress CMS, then install the plugin, and your site will be ready with all the features you want. It is important to note that the database needs a backup to fetch site history like user info, order summary, inventory management, etc.
• Transform Custom Code Into A Plugin – Any custom code can be converted into a plugin. Hence, a plugin can do a task as small as commission calculation to as big as providing an entire eCommerce functionality (WooCommerce) or a multi-vendor eCommerce Platform (Dokan / WCFM).
• Plugin Commercialization – The most important motivation for building their own plugin is when they can commercialize their concept and make money. You can earn revenue by publishing plugins on marketplaces.
• Economical – Plugins are easy to code, and development costs are not high. Therefore, people prefer building plugins more than a custom coding solution. You can create your own plugin based on your niche requirements.
• No-Coding Limitations – If you are writing your own custom codes for a particular business purpose, why would you need to limit that custom code to that module only? For example, Gravity Forms lets users create forms as per user needs. So, users can select the number of fields, type of fields and some basic calculations based on needs. They can use Gravity Forms to create multiple forms with multiple purposes. Had this been custom-coding, you would have had to hire a PHP developer whenever you needed a new form type.
• Community Support – WordPress is the most popular CMS platform. So, if you can contribute to this community with your new plugin concept, your chances of commercial success are immense.
• Custom Coding – Sometimes, many big plugins like WooCommerce might not provide a little tweaking that you would need to improvise to automate your business 100 per cent. So, you need a little custom coding. Here is an important tip- whenever you hire a custom PHP Developer to write a custom functionality, make sure you ask them to create a plugin instead of deploying custom coding on WordPress/server.
• Seamless Integrations – Be it a CRM system, DMS, marketing platform, payment gateway, or any other external tools, creating your own custom plugin ensures smooth data synchronization. For example, if you run an e-commerce shop and need to keep huge product data, it is hard to record everything manually. Integrating a custom plugin improves work efficiency and productivity.
• Data Analytics – A custom plugin helps you get reporting analytics and track real-time site visitors through the admin panel. For instance, an owner of an eCommerce store needs a specific sales report, such as SKUs, import & export data, and other records. By creating your own plugin, you can easily collect the internal reporting.
• Custom Pricing Calculators – People running mortgage and insurance-based businesses often need online quotes or price estimators for their site visitors. You can build these web calculators using the WP plugin without relying on JavaScript widgets or frequent coding changes.

Why Is Plugin Optimization Necessary?

As said before, optimizing your WP plugins accelerates the site’s performance and keeps the site smooth without any technical glitches. Here are a few benefits:

• Minimizes Loading Times – A ready-made plugin may add stylesheets, scripts, database queries, and other elements that cause slower loading speed. Hiring a WordPress plugin developer helps you scrutinize the loading time errors and optimize them accordingly.
• Prevent Website Crash – Integrating several plugins into your site without considering operational logic may crash a site. If you use unnecessary plugins and forcefully run them, it might create a conflict. Thus, optimizing a plugin prevents the chances of the site’s crash.
• Streamline The Back-End Of a Site – Merging redundant plugins minimizes the number of scripts running on an individual page load. With the help of a developer, you can optimize a WP plugin after installing it on your site to streamline the back-end operations.

Plugin Customization

The purpose of plugin customization is to extend the general functions of a host application or website to a higher level according to your specific needs. Plugin customization helps you to change fonts, modify layouts, add widgets, optimize themes, and other advancements. You can customize the plugin with a wide range of WooCommerce add-ons or extensions, like payment gateway integrations (WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal, and more), Social Media Networks (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), WooCommerce Bookings, WooCommerce Shipping, and more.

For instance, here’s an example of an e-commerce store that sells customized guitar pedal buttons. Users can sign up and load an image or the brand logo to get a personalized button. Here, we have implemented a new function apart from the regular WooCommerce plugin features. We coded a custom module that enables bulk ordering for whole-sellers. The bulk module works on the WooCommerce engine, and we have enabled a dynamic form that adds products to the WooCommerce shopping cart based on user selection.

Another benefit of plugin customization is multi-platform integration. You can integrate 3rd-party APIs with a customized WP plugin to add new functions. For example, as a plugin development team, we’ve created a customization for product synchronization between numerous data sources using a custom sync tool and API in a Laravel-based site. So, the outcome of the plugin customization resulted in customers placing orders on the Laravel site, but the products needed to sync using WooCommerce. Plugin customization is a fruitful option if you need to add extra features to your ordinary WP site.

How To Sell A Plugin In The Market Place?

The best two ways to sell or promote your plugin are using an online marketplace or your own website. You can publish or distribute your plugin in these web marketplaces like CodeCanyon, ThemeForest, Evanto, and more. Otherwise, you can select and install suitable eCommerce multi-vendor plugins like Dokan, WCFM Marketplace, Easy Digital Download, etc, that facilitate you to build, manage, and sell digital products through your own WordPress site. Then, it comes to plugin price fixing based on the market value.

WooCommerce is one of the preferred and leading software-selling e-commerce platforms that allows a Woo admin to sell and configure digital products such as subscriptions, memberships, bookings, and extensions. It has more than 5 million active users for scalability, reliability, and community support. WooCommerce works seamlessly with WordPress CMS and associated products. For example, here’s a WooCommerce plugin development in WordPress that deals with payment with 1000+ downloads (https://wordpress.org/plugins/advance-bank-payment-transfer-gateway/).

Another way to sell plugins is through online courses using MemberPress or LearnDash. You can set a recurring or subscription fee to earn revenue when a user buys a course from your site. Using affiliate marketing or sponsored posts helps you get earnings. You can charge an amount to post products, press releases, and other content on your blog or site.

Liabilities Of Plugins And How To Overcome Them

The root cause of security threats to your site is outdated WP plugins. A poorly coded or malicious plugin reduces the potentiality and integrity of a site. Here are a few consequences you might face for overlooking plugin updates.

• Features Update – Using an abandoned WP plugin may not provide you with recent updates. It restricts your site from better features, improvements, and performance that may cause a negative user experience. Therefore, check for plugin updates and upgrade them for uninterrupted performance.
• Database Security – Giving access to unverified plugins might be a reason for data loss. It is better not to provide personal information or login details without cross-checking the plugin download records and reviews.
• Fix Broken Integrations – Plugin updates are crucial for sites using APIs and external integrations. Avoiding updates creates problems with payment gateways, e-commerce functions, social media features, and other services.

Differences Between Custom Coding And Custom Plugin Development

Both custom coding and developing a WordPress plugin help you add better and enhanced functionalities to your site, but their ways are different.

• Customization Ability – Plugins are a one-stop solution for your website, but there are a few limitations. Several plugins may not allow customizations. Custom coding helps you build a website according to your needs and technical specifications.
• Website Management – It is hard for a non-technical person to manage or upgrade a highly-coded custom website. In that case, a plugin makes it simple for developers and non-coders to implement various functions without changing codes.
• Development Cost – Several free plugins are easily accessible from the WP plugin directory, and premium plugins are also economical. If you have a tight budget, it is good to go with plugins. Custom website development may cost you more based on the tech stacks, developer’s expertise, and timeline.
• Website Security – Installing a non-secured WP plugin might make your site vulnerable and non-functional. Creating a site using custom code is more reliable for a strong structure and security policies.

Conclusion

Plugins are the most resourceful tool to revamp and enhance a site into a feature-packed platform. Whether you aim for user engagement, SEO optimization, eCommerce solutions, or security purposes, thousands of tailor-made WP plugins are available that fit your site’s specifications. To learn more about WordPress plugin development services, connect with us.