While blogging doesn't require a whole lot of extra tools and things to do it - in addition to your browser and either a account at a site for a hosted blog or your own WordPress blog - there are some tools that can be very useful to a blogger.

Graphics or photo editing software
It can be very helpful to have software to either make or modify your own graphics or edit photos. If you can't afford to pay someone you can make your own logo for your blog if you have some graphics software. You may also want to make other graphics to go with certain posts or pages. If you take photos for your blog, you may want to edit parts out for privacy, etc. I have been using Photoshop for a very long time, but I know it is too expensive for many people (I use a really old version!). There are also many inexpensive or free alternatives available.

Pencil and Paper
Using pencil and paper as a tool for blogging may seem silly for something you do on a computer, but actually I find I turn to them quite often. Sometimes if I having a difficult time writing, it is easier to get my ideas out initially on paper and then finish up on my computer. You never know when a good idea might pop in your head when your computer is not nearby either.

I get my best ideas while lying in bed - so keeping a piece of paper and pencil by your bed can be very helpful. I also get good ideas while in the shower - but paper and pencil don't work too well there! I also make sure I bring paper and pencil whenever I leave the house too - when waiting in a doctor's office or walking around in a grocery store I sometimes get good ideas too! And I've learned from past mistakes that if I don't write something down right away I usually forget it!

Dictionary and Thesaurus
A dictionary and thesaurus are really almost necessary tools for blogging. Of course, you don't have to use a printed one - unless you prefer a paper one - but it can be a good idea to keep a dictionary and thesaurus site that you like bookmarked so they are handy when you need them.

HTML editing software
Sometimes you may want to edit a plugin, some other script or even the WordPress theme you are using. There is software available that isn't too expensive and also some free alternatives for editing HTML, PHP, CSS or other code. You can also use Notepad for editing code - but you shouldn't use MSWord - it can add in characters that will mess up your code.

Statistics
At some point you will want to have some way of knowing how many people are visiting your blog, how they found it, who is linking to you, etc. Google Analytics is a great - and free! - service which works pretty well. You may also want to consider a log analysis software to get even more and more accurate information about your blog and visitors.

Feed Reader
If you are reading this and have a blog you probably already use a feedreader - but if you don't you should know that they are a great way to keep track of and read other blogs. I can't imagine how I could keep up with as many blogs as I do if I didn't use one. They are really necessary if you want to keep up with what is happening in the blogosphere, your friends blogs, your competitors, etc.

So - there's a few tools that can be really useful - even necessary for bloggers. Darren Rowse lists more here
and here.

What other tools do you use? Or what would you add to this list?

I've written a few posts here already about WordPress plugins. They can certainly be useful both to you as a blogger and to your readers. There are many other widgets, doodads and other thingamagigs you can add to a blog. I'll discuss a few here briefly, then go over why you may or may not want to use them.

BlogCatalog and MyBlogLog widgets
In a previous post I discussed BlogCatalog and MyBlogLog widgets a little bit. They can be helpful especially if your blog is new and you want to get new readers. At one time I was getting few enough visitors that I could keep track of anyone new who showed up through these two sites. Then I could go and visit their blog.

Polls
Adding a poll to your blog can be a great way to ask your blog readers questions about themselves so you can get a better idea of who they are and what they would like to read about. I added PollDaddy to mine recently. It was pretty easy to set up and use. There are many other quiz, poll and survey scripts to choose from also.

Chats
I added a chat script to my blog recently too. It can work as a great way to let your readers talk to you in real time. I haven't had many people use it though - which is partly my fault because I forget to change my status to 'online' most of the time!

Even more doodads
Many people add an image and link to technorati, have an entrecard link, display their feedburner subscriber numbers and sometimes even their pagerank. It is also common for people to link out to causes or sites they personally care about and want to support, like net neutrality, political candidates, etc.

So where does this lead us?
Like everything in life you have to draw a line somewhere. Some of these plugins, widgets, doodads and other thingamagigs are useful to either you, your readers or both. Or really express a point of view that is important to you.

Too many though - and your blog gets cluttered up and gets hard to read and find things on. Everyone has different opinions on how much is too much or too little. My opinion is that mine is getting borderline too busy at this point - least in some ways.

You will have to decide for yourself what is best for you and your readers. Don't add too much stuff or your blog will be too busy and confusing, but adding some 'flair' (or is it 'flare'?) gives your blog some personality.

What do you think? How much do you think is too much?

Introduction

WordPress Plugins are small computer programs that "interact with a host application" and usually provide a very specific function (source). When using WordPress, plugins extend the functionality of WordPress "to do almost anything you can imagine".

The official WordPress plugin directory currently has over 2500 plugins! And if you do a search engine search you will find even more! There are plugins of all types to help you manage all sorts of things like comments, posts, images, formatting, admin, etc.

Installing Plugins

To add a plugin to your blog you first need to download it to your computer. You will probably then need to unzip the file. Once you've unzipped it you should look for a 'Read me' file to read the specific instructions for installing, customizing and using that plugin.

Most of the time you then upload the indicated folder to the server where your blog is hosted using FTP. They should be placed in the directory called 'plugins' which is in the directory 'wp-content'. Wp-content should be in the main directory your blog was installed into.

Occasionally some plugins will require that you manually edit one of the files that came with it before you upload it. You shouldn't open or edit these files in a word processing type of program like Microsoft Word. Instead use a plain text editor like Notepad. It is a good idea to keep a record of any changes you make in case you have any problems or if/when the plugin needs to be upgraded.

Activating Plugins

Once you have it uploaded it, log into your dashboard and click the 'plugins' link on the upper right. You should then see a list of 'Currently Active Plugins' and beneath that 'Inactive Plugins'. Find the plugin you just uploaded and click the 'activate' link way to the right.

Using Plugins

For some plugins that's all you need to do and it will be working the way you want it to at that point. For most you will want to click on the 'Settings' link on the top right, next to the 'Plugins' link. There you sill see a list of all the plugins you have installed and activated. Click whichever one you want to customize. There you will see some options that you can set. Some plugins only offer a few and some multiple tabs of pages of settings you can change.

Troubleshooting and Upgrading

If you have problems getting a particular plugin to work, first make sure you have followed all the instructions carefully. I know sometimes I get in a hurry and only skim through it all and most of the time I can get away with that, but not always. WordPress also provides some instructions if you have a problem: Troubleshooting Plugins

You may need to contact the creator of the plugin and ask if they have any suggestions or if anyone else has had similar problems. If you do this make sure you send them all the information you can about your blog, the error message (if any) that you got and other plugins you are using that may be conflicting with the new one you are trying to use. And remember they are providing the plugins for free so be patient with waiting to get help from them.

Keep in mind also that sometimes when you upgrade to a newer version of WordPress some of your older plugins may no longer work. They also may need to be upgraded.

How to Choose Which and How Many Plugins to Use?

Now – have fun adding some plugins – but try not to go too crazy with adding every single one that sounds kind of interesting. Think first of all – will it be useful to your visitors? Or will it help you to manage your blog better? Adding a few just for fun is ok – you just don't want to add so many that they become distracting.

When you are reading your favorite blogs one of things you can do is to check and see which plugins they are using and whether or not you think they are helpful to you as a reader.

At first I hardly used any at all, but over time I am adding more as I find some that add value to my blog. I will be writing about some of those here in the coming weeks.