Windows Live Writer is a recent offering from Microsoft to challenge Bloggers dominance. While Windows Live Writer is fairly decent by itself what really makes live writer stand out is its ability to use Plugins. Plug ins are basically additions to a program that increase its functionality, and it is the plug-ins that make windows live writer unique and powerful in the blogging world.

Of course once you have found out that windows live writer plugins exist you have to decide which ones to have, well these are in my opinion the most useful windows live writer plugins.

1) Portable Windows Live Writer – One of the major drawbacks of Windows Live Writer is that it requires an Install.  This plugin allows you to run Windows Live Writer anywhere off a USB stick.

2) Webcam Snapshot Plugin – The Webcam Snapshot Plug in for Windows Live Writer gives you a fantastic addition to your blog, allowing you to quickly take a shot of what you are doing and insert it directly into your blog.

3) Website Preview Tool – The Website Preview Plug in for Windows Live Writer is a great addition for any blog, allowing its readers to preview sites in a small thumbnail before deciding whether or not to click the link.

4) Multiple Tags Plugin – One of the drawbacks of Live Writer is its restriction on number of Tags that can be used, this plugin can remove this limit to help you structure your blog.

5) Windows Live Writer Backup – While this is not really a plugin, more a standalone tool, it does do a fantastic job of backing up your Windows Live Writer Blogs.  A Windows Live Writer Backup tool is essential to anyone who wants security incase of blog loss!

6) Windows Live Writer Video Embed – The Video Embed Plugin for Windows Live Writer is a great little tool from Scott is a Fool that allows you to embed videos in your blog, not only that but if you are uploading to a service that does not support embeded vidoes such as MSN Live Space then it will allow you to take a screenshot which will link directly to the video.

7) El Bruno Add Links – El Bruno Addlinks is one of those tools that you never realise how useful it can be till you use it.  This plugin for Window Live Writer simply has a pop-up list of links you have previously specified.  This is amazingly useful if you run several blogs and need to use certain links continuously!