The Missing Google Analytics Manual
For those of you haven’t poked around Google Analytics, it’s not as scary or complicated as it looks. The Missing Google Analytics Manual is a compilation of tutorials to maximize use of this website statistics tool. It’s a long list of articles and videos covering setup, goal tracking, filters, reports, and more.
This article by Smashing Magazine seems a little more organized so you might want to bookmark that too, but what I’d really like is an easy to read wiki slash eBook like the Complete Guide to Google Wave.
Either way, the key to running a successful website and growing as a blogger is taking a step back and figuring out how to improve. For those who aren’t fond of numbers and charts, these guides should make that process a little easier.
Most downloaded WordPress plugins ever
Best Design Options has compiled a list of the 10 most downloaded WordPress plugins of all time. The data is readily available at the WordPress plugin repository, but this post prioritizes download history instead of rating, which the WP site does.
- All in One SEO Pack
- Akismet
- Google XML Sitemaps
- NextGEN Gallery
- Contact Form 7
- WordPress.com Stats
- WP Super Cache
- Sociable
- Google Analyticator
- Google Analytics for Wordpress
Three Google-related plugins, two of which are for the same purpose—site analytics, but both were beaten by WordPress.com’s own stats service and plugin. Contact Form 7 and NextGEN Gallery are the most popular contact form and gallery plugins, respectively.
WordPress Plugins: TypePad AntiSpam for WordPress and WordPress.com Stats for Movable Type
WordPress and WordPress.com are Automattic products, while Movable Type and TypePad are SixApart products. These two companies are fierce competitors for the blogging platform crown, but here’s a surprise: you can actually use two of their plugins for the “opposing camp”.
TypePad AntiSpam
TypePad AntiSpam is SixApart’s answer to Automattic’s Akismet. It’s completely compatible with the latter, and like it you’ll need to register for an API key, also for free. Get started here.
WordPress.com Stats
WordPress.com Stats is an analytics program for self-hosted WordPress and WordPress.com users alike. Movable Type users can run this plugin as well, but they’ll also need a corresponding API key. Complete details found here.
It’s clear that these two companies are looking to expand their userbase not just with their blog software but with other projects in tow.
