Webmaster Tools

Below you will find a growing list of essential webmaster tools starting with those that I use myself. From time to time as I run across other great resources I'll add them here as well. You can also use the feedback box on the left to suggest other items, but beware, if you try to send a link it will be discarded as spam.

UltraEdit-32: Perhaps the Best Text Editor
I've been using this text editor, from ultraedit.com, myself for many years now. Perhaps the most important feature is the ability to define FTP connection and then open and save files directly on your remote web server. Don't just take my word for it, download the trial version and see for yourself. This editor also has many bells and whistles suitable for software programmers.

SSH Secure Shell 3.2.9: Secure Telnet/FTP Tool
This baby is still available on the Internet in both commercial and non-commercial versions. The SSH web site however no longer talks about this software and steers users into purchasing the latest and greatest commercially licensed software. You don't need the newest version, get this older public domain version. Get SShSecureShellClient-3.2.9.exe from Planet Mirror. Yes, you do owe me one for this!

Quality Statistics are Essential
My choice, because it is both free and high quality, is statcounter.com. Though the amount of data kept is limited it is a great way to see how people are arriving at your site and whether or not they stay to look around. If your needs grow but you still are hosting on a shared server with limited stats then you should certainly consider upgrading.

Google Analytics
This tool, Google Analytics, will integrate somewhat with Adwords and Adsense so that you can track various events as conversion goals. It will also provide you with a serious view of your traffic, but it isn't in real time. You can't see what is happening as it happens. Statcounter is great for the real time portion, but of course it won't provide you with conversion tracking.

Google Adsense Conversion Tracking Script
If you are using Google Analytics then you'll probably want to track clicks for various things. Here is a post on the SeoBook blog which provides instructions on how to get this working. Notice that Adsense clicks are difficult to track due to the way they are incorporated into the page. If you want to track other custom items, you can manually add a call to the urchin function with the name of a goal/page that you have set up in Google Analytics. You owe me for bringing you this webmaster tool as well!