SC WordPress Stack Standard
Purpose
This document defines the canonical WordPress plugin and theme stack for all Symphony Core client sites hosted on GHL WordPress infrastructure. It replaces all prior plugin recommendation lists and establishes the approval process for exceptions.
Key Principle: GHL WordPress hosting provides CDN, daily backups, SSL, and security at the infrastructure level. The plugin stack is intentionally minimal -- every component must justify its presence against what the hosting platform and GHL ecosystem already provide.
Standard Stack
| # | Component | Type | License | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astra | Theme (Free or Pro) | Free / $79/yr Pro | Lightweight (~50 KB), 280+ starter templates, full Elementor compatibility, WordPress Customizer integration |
| 2 | Elementor | Plugin (Free) | Free | Page builder framework base. Required foundation for Elementor Pro. |
| 3 | Elementor Pro | Plugin (Paid) | Agency license | Global design systems, theme builder, advanced widgets, unlimited client sites |
| 4 | SearchAtlas SEO | Plugin (Paid) | Subscription | OTTO AI-powered SEO automation, replaces Yoast/Rank Math. One-click meta tags, schema, GSC integration, redirect management |
| 5 | LeadConnector | Plugin (Free) | Free | Official GHL integration: forms, chat widget, funnel embedding, CRM sync, calendar widgets |
| 6 | GTM4WP | Plugin (Free) | Free | Sitewide Google Tag Manager container deployment without manual theme edits. Required for GA4 + GTM tagging per GTM WordPress Plugin SOP and GA4 Property Creation SOP |
| 7 | XML Sitemap Generator for Google (Auctollo) | Plugin (Free) | Free | Sitemap-only plugin. SearchAtlas (MetaSync) handles all other SEO surfaces, but its built-in sitemap module proved unreliable across multiple clients in May 2026 (vendor-side regression). Auctollo publishes the canonical sitemap at /sitemap.xml and serves its own XSL stylesheet from the plugin directory, bypassing MetaSync's URL hijacks. Setup per Auctollo Sitemap Setup SOP. Added 2026-05-24. SearchAtlas's XML Sitemap module must be explicitly disabled on every site running Auctollo (per the SOP Step 3.5) — otherwise SA's admin will continue to show "Generated" status, creating ownership confusion for future maintainers. |
Total: 6 plugins + 1 theme. This is the complete standard stack. No additional plugins should be installed without following the approval process below.
Prohibited Plugin Categories
Plugins in these categories are prohibited on SC-managed WordPress sites. Each category has an SC alternative that makes the plugin unnecessary.
| Category | Examples | SC Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Full SEO suite plugins | Yoast, Rank Math, All in One SEO, SEOPress | SearchAtlas OTTO handles all SEO automation. Note: Auctollo XML Sitemap Generator is the approved sitemap-only plugin (not a full SEO suite) — see Standard Stack table row 7. |
| Form plugins | Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms | LeadConnector embeds GHL forms with direct CRM routing |
| Chat/popup plugins | Chaty, Popup Maker, OptinMonster, LiveChat | LeadConnector provides GHL chat widget and popups |
| Caching/performance | WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, Autoptimize | GHL hosting includes global CDN and server-level optimization |
| Security | Sucuri, Wordfence, iThemes Security, All In One Security | GHL hosting provides infrastructure-level security |
| Backup | All-in-One WP Migration, UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy | GHL hosting provides automatic daily backups at 05:00 AM CST + manual backup capability |
| Alternative page builders | Divi, Beaver Builder, Brizy, Bold Builder | Elementor Pro is the standard; alternative builders create conflicts |
| Code snippet plugins | Code Snippets, WPCode | Use Elementor custom code or child theme functions.php |
Why This Stack
Minimal Maintenance
Five plugins plus one theme means fewer updates, fewer compatibility issues, and faster update cycles. Each plugin update is a potential breaking change -- fewer plugins means less risk.
Maximum Integration
LeadConnector connects WordPress directly to the GHL CRM ecosystem. Forms, chat, calendars, and funnels all route to a single CRM without webhooks or middleware. SearchAtlas automates SEO tasks that traditionally require manual plugin configuration.
Reduced Attack Surface
Every WordPress plugin is a potential security vulnerability. The standard stack limits the attack surface to four well-maintained, widely-used plugins from established vendors. GHL hosting handles the infrastructure security layer that plugins like Sucuri and Wordfence traditionally address.
Consistent Client Experience
A standardized stack means every SC client site works the same way. Troubleshooting is predictable, onboarding new team members is faster, and knowledge transfers between projects are seamless.
Optional Plugin Approval Process
Plugins beyond the standard stack require explicit approval. The requesting team member must answer all five questions:
- What problem does this plugin solve? -- Describe the specific functionality needed.
- Why can't Elementor Pro, SearchAtlas, LeadConnector, GTM4WP, or GHL hosting solve it? -- Demonstrate that the standard stack cannot address the need.
- What is the maintenance cost? -- How often does the plugin update? What happens during WordPress core upgrades?
- What happens if this plugin is abandoned? -- Is there a fallback plan if the vendor stops maintaining it?
- Is this a per-client exception or a stack-wide addition? -- Per-client exceptions are documented in the client folder. Stack-wide additions require updating this standard.
Approval authority: CEO approval required for all plugin additions.
Documentation: Approved exceptions are recorded in the client's folder (e.g., 09-clients/[client-slug]/) with the justification and approval date. Stack-wide additions are added to this document with a version bump.
Theme Configuration: Astra
Initial Setup
- Install Astra from Appearance > Themes > Add New
- Activate Astra as the site theme
- Open Appearance > Customize to configure:
- Site Identity: Upload client logo and favicon
- Colors: Set primary brand colors (link color, heading color, body text)
- Typography: Configure primary and secondary font families
- Layout: Select full-width or boxed layout, set container width
- Header: Configure header layout, logo position, menu style
- Footer: Set footer layout, copyright text, widget areas
Starter Templates
Astra provides 280+ starter templates organized by industry. Import via Appearance > Starter Templates, select Elementor as the page builder, then customize for the client brand.
Plugin Configuration Reference
For detailed step-by-step configuration of each stack component (Elementor global design system, SearchAtlas OTTO pixel, LeadConnector authorization), see:
- WordPress Setup SOP -- Procedure 5: Post-Setup Configuration
- WordPress + GHL Integration Guide -- Plugin Philosophy and Integration Patterns
Document Maintenance
Review Schedule: Quarterly or when a stack component releases a major version
Update Triggers:
- New plugin added to or removed from the standard stack
- GHL WordPress hosting capabilities change
- SearchAtlas or LeadConnector major feature updates
- New prohibited category identified
Document Status: Active Last Updated: 2026-05-18 Version: 1.1