Our essential module list for Drupal sites

When we first started to use Drupal for our websites, we realised at once it was going to be extremely powerful. With an enormous array of modules to enable (or download and enable), we were unsure which modules to choose. The more modules enabled, the more code that needs to be loaded, and the slower a site can run. After many months of trying various modules, we now have a base set of modules we always use.  If you are new to Drupal, you may find the following list useful:

CKEditor

This module is essential to turn the standard text entry boxes into wysiwyg text entry boxes, with all the usual formatting options.

http://drupal.org/project/ckeditor

IMCE

This Drupal module allows you to upload and insert images. It integrates with CKEditor, and must be selected as the CKEditor configuration settings.

http://drupal.org/project/imce

Captcha

Keep the spammers at bay, it comes complete with image generator, and many settings.

http://drupal.org/project/captcha

Webform

A much more elegant way of collecting information and user requests than the contact forms.

http://drupal.org/project/webform

Page Title (requires token)

This Drupal module allows you to set the html page title for each article / node (essential for SEO)

http://drupal.org/project/page_title

Pathauto 

This Drupal module, takes the article title and creates a url path based in the titles and other rules you set.

http://drupal.org/project/pathauto

Global Redirect

Another SEO must have this Drupal module, creates redirects from the various ways of accessing a node (node/30 , content/myarticle ...) to your friendly URL, avoiding the problems of duplicate content.

http://drupal.org/project/globalredirect

Path Redirect

Another SEO favorite, when migrating sites, this Drupal module allows you to set 301 and other redirects from old pages to their new locations, avoiding the issues of Google scoring you down, because of pages not found.

http://drupal.org/project/path_redirect

NodeWords

This Drupal module allows you to set metatags. Whilst many people may try and convince you that metatags are no longer important, they are used heavily by search engines for page descriptions etc. If you use them make sure you use then properly, abuse carries SEO penalties.

http://drupal.org/project/nodewords

Google Analyitcs

Another must have for tracking your stats, and very easy to implement.

http://drupal.org/project/google_analytics

XMLSitemap

This generates an XML sitemap of your site, this must be submitted to the search engines (in Google via webmaster tools, if you have not yet discovered webmaster tools, we strongly urge you to do so).

http://drupal.org/project/xmlsitemap

Administration Menu

This module, turns your admin menu into a javscript dropdown bar across the top of the browser window, which is much quicker to use.

http://drupal.org/project/admin_menu

Backup Migrate

Essential for anyone that does not want to lose months of work. Also very easy to roll back in the event of problems.

http://drupal.org/project/backup_migrate

Poormanscron

If you do not have access to cron, to set your own scheduled events, this Drupal module provides a nice work around. Just install it and set your backup schedule in the usual way. This module also triggers the cron scripts required for xmlsitemaps and search indexing etc

http://drupal.org/project/poormanscron