Plugin Customization Might Be Key To Your Website’s Success; Here’s Why
- February 25, 2015
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You have an amazing plugin, it works well, doesn’t slow down your site and maintenance is low. All you need is that minor addition that will render it so optimal for your site that anyone would think you’d made it yourself.
But how?
Many will tell you to contact the developer of the plugin directly with your suggestions and requests; the line of thought here is that it’s the easiest, least time-consuming way to get what you need. Unfortunately the cold, hard truth is that plugin developers are often unresponsive, having moved on to the next project by the time you reach out, less likely to prioritize what they consider old news. It’ll have you a little like this guy.
It’s also true that you’re very unlikely to receive any form of credit for your idea, which could be a lucrative one. After all, those who utilize services themselves are often those who have the most sophisticated comprehension regarding what they’re missing. That’s a big part of the reason sites like Facebook, Instagram and Snap chat leave an open invitation to users to submit ideas “for improvement,” even encouraging it.
A slightly better option is to write a plugin to run next to the plugin you need customized. This solution, though, is best described as putting a band aid on a cat scratch; it’ll do the trick, but that scratch will keep itching until you address it thoroughly and correctly.
So here’s the clincher.
Anything specifically molded to your needs is going to be better than one-size-fits-all.
And it really doesn’t take too much more work; once you’ve customized your own plugin, the time-consuming upkeep is cut in half, that frustrating generic function is eradicated entirely and its value goes up tenfold.
Images: Giphy
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