The biggest thing most web designers and developers are talking about this month is the sunset of Google Analytics in favor of GA4. This is a major shift in analytics and reporting for the web. If you haven’t made the change, now is the time (and there’s even more info in our first resource for this month).
Here are eight new resources to explore:
1. Universal Analytics vs GA4: What You Need to Know
Even though it is a daunting task, you must switch your analytics and reporting to GA4 before the end of the month. (If you don’t switch, you won’t have any data collection or analytics from Google at all.)
GA 4 is a totally new tool and has a different user experience for reporting as well. Here are five key things you need to understand about the tool.
- GA4 uses an event-driven data model that focuses on individual interactions. It’s individual user events — not pageviews, sessions, hits, or bounces — that Google wants you to focus on now.
- You’ll get more information about user demographics, including age, gender, location, and interests. Universal Analytics only tracks age, gender, and interest.
- GA4 introduces advanced machine learning algorithms to automatically analyze and interpret data. This provides you with insights and recommendations based on donor behavior patterns. This is not possible with Universal Analytics.
- GA4 has more controls to ensure you comply with data privacy policies.
- GA4 allows you to track and analyze behavior across multiple platforms and devices, including web, mobile, and offline channels using machine learning tools.
Learn more about these factors and more about making the transition from GiveWP.
2. Understanding Apostrophes and Question Marks in WordPress
How much do you think about apostrophes? (Like, really.)
If you look closely, there are two types of these punctuation marks on the web – smart (or curly) quotes and dumb quotes. The smart version is often more stylized, while dumb quotes use Unicode characters.
But what is the right answer?
It might be where you live. In the United States, the general rule is smart quotes that slant inward toward letters. This is vastly different in many European countries.
WordPress tries to fix it for you but isn’t always successful. This guide on understanding apostrophes and question marks shows all of the different styles and has Unicode and keyboard shortcuts that you can save for adding just the right marks to your copy online.
3. Adventures, Experiments, and Doing New Things [Podcast]
Do tools and platforms matter when building a website?
The Kadence Beat trio talks about platforms and using what works for you – who knew there were so many choices – and how the whole conversation was inspired by a ride to the airport.
Here’s the takeaway before you go listen – WordPress can be the most effective option, but if you have a dream to do something, just go do it. No matter what tool you use.
4. WordPress Vulnerability Report
You need to keep up with WordPress issues to help keep your site safe and running smoothly. The WordPress Vulnerability Report shows all of the core issues that might pop up if you aren’t on the latest version of WordPress as well as vulnerabilities with plugins.
There were some core updates this month that impacted major plugins. It is important to ensure that you are on the latest version of WordPress because many of these have been fixed.
Did you know one of the best things you can do to prevent these vulnerabilities on your website is to keep plugins up to date?
Some things to be on the lookout for in the latest report include vulnerabilities with these popular plugins: Social Media Share Buttons, WP Mail Logging, Visual Composer, WP Easy Cart, and more.
Read all the WordPress Vulnerability Reports for June:
Get the Weekly WordPress vulnerability report sent right to your inbox
5. WordPress Plugin Webinar
If you want to keep up with everything happening in the world of WordPress, join the monthly Plugin Roundup.
Each month Nathan Ingram combs the WordPress plugin directory for interesting plugins that have been added or updated in the last 30 days and assembles a list of helpful and unique plugins for your WordPress website. And it’s free!
The next online event is on July 5th. Register for free today!
6. Best of iThemes Plugin Roundup
In each month’s iThemes Plugin Roundup, Nathan Ingram scours the WordPress plugin directory for new and interesting plugins that have been added or significantly updated in the last 30 days. This webinar features the best of the best from January to June 2023.
The next Best Of event will be on December 6th and will focus on plugins from July to December. Register for free!
7. WordPress News Webinar
If you want to stay up-to-date on everything happening in the world of WordPress, join the monthly
WordPress News Roundup.
In this session, Ingram will discuss the latest developments in the WordPress ecosystem in this informational webinar. We’ll talk through this month’s WordPress news with plenty of interaction and Q&A.
The next event is on July 18th. Register today for free!
8. SolidWP Townhall
The journey to transform iThemes into SolidWP is well underway! We want to tell you about some of the exciting things that are happening, including how iThemes Training is becoming Solid Academy! In this webinar replay, Matt Cromwell and Nathan Ingram discuss what’s new and answer questions about the transition to SolidWP.
Follow the rebrand in public at:
Wrapping Up
New tools and resources for WordPress are being released all the time, and we hope this list helps you discover new ways to improve your workflows. Make sure to check back next month for more new tools and resources.
Carrie Cousins has more than 15 years of experience in media, design, and content marketing. She works in digital marketing and is also a freelance writer and designer, specializing in creating amazing experiences online for small businesses. Her work has been featured in publications such as Design Shack, Webdesigner Depot, The Next Web, and Fast Company. She’s an avid runner, which comes in handy with Australian shepherds at home.