The administrative interface for WordPress is Dashboard, which is easy to reach and intuitive to use. Simply pull up your favorite Web browser and enter the URL for your WordPress Web site or blog followed by /wp-login.php. For example, if your WordPress blog uses the URL http://www.mywordpressblog.com, you type http://www.mywordpressblog.com/wp-login.php.
On your WordPress installation's login page, enter your administrator username and password.
Always make sure that you change the default administrator account username from Admin to something unique you can remember to ensure greater security of your WordPress installation.
To find plugins in the WordPress Dashboard:
The Dashboard page appears, as shown in Figure 2-1.
The Install Plugins page appears, as shown in Figure 2-2. On this page are a number of selections, including a search box. Typing a term in this box and clicking the Search Plugins button searches the WordPress Plugins Directory for plugins that match the term.
At the top of the Install Plugins page, you find links for the following options:
Each of these pages provides you with easy access to plugins that you may want to try without you having to search for them. Explore each of these pages at your leisure; you may find some great plugins this way.
At the bottom of the Install Plugins page is a selection of keywords, as shown in Figure 2-3. When you click a keyword, WordPress displays all the plugins tagged with the keyword. For example, clicking gallery shows all plugins tagged with that keyword, such as NextGen Gallery, a very popular plugin.
Use keywords to find popular plugins among WordPress users without having to search by term or plugin name.
After you find a plugin you like, you can easily find great plugins to install. Within the Dashboard, this is a very simple process:
The Plugin Information window, which provides a description of the plugin, appears with a number of tabs at the top, as shown in Figure 2-5.
Read the installation instructions before you proceed. Each plugin's installation and activation differs.
The Installing Plugin page appears, with a message stating whether your plugin installed successfully, as shown in Figure 2-6.
If you see anything other than a successful message, you need to follow the support instructions on the Plugin Information window. This may include an FAQ tab or a Support link. Always make note of any error messages you see.
Your plugin should appear on the Plugins page's All list, as shown in Figure 2-7.