Best extensions for Joomla

[CWebguy]

What are the best extensions out there for Joomla? There are so many listed on the website it a little overwhelming. What are the best you recommend or that seem to be "crucial/must have"?

Thanks!

Also, there is an SEF plugin for URL's, but it seems like this is already included in the newest release of Joomla (I have found a copule of SEF things under one of the categories in the admin panel). Is there a difference to the add on one that you can download (is there a better one out there than what comes with it?) Thanks!

[bill]

Extentions add functionality to the program. What areas of Joomla are not working to your expectations or needs? Not everyone needs the same setup.

[BillyS]

There are a couple of good extensions for search engines. It really depends on what you're looking for.

[willybfriendly]

OpenSEF, while not perfect, does a reasonably good job of SE friendly urls for a reasonably sized site. Some components seem to choke it though, so test, test test.

A relatively new SEF add on (sh404SEF) is getting good reviews, but I have not played with it yet.

Joomla SEF Patch adds some important things left out in the original implementation, like proper title tags, robots meta-tag, removing the generator meta-tag, etc.

After that its all about what you want the site to do...

[reprint]

I like sh404SEF. you can customize the metas as well as get search friendly urls. I also use joomlaspan adsense clicksafe when i need adsense. You can block ips including your own. You can also use social bookmarker or comment extensions. I am picky so i make sure my pages validate after i plug in an extension. A lot cause pages to fail validation.
It really depends what functionality you want.

[CWebguy]

Awesome. Thanks for all the replies. Reprint, does the 404SEF work the same as the OpenSEF? Can one replace the other? Thanks!

[reprint]

Unfortunately i have never compared the two. There should be posts on that on the joomla forums though. Probably get some expert opinion there.

[CWebguy]

Yeah you're right. Thanks friend!

[CWebguy]

I just feel so much more at home here, I guess this is why I always post here first :)