These are the 10 plug-ins for WordPress that I use the most and the ones I would recommend to anyone (we’re nearly at the 50+ WP sites mark on our server):

1. Google Sitemap Generator – an absolutely must have for any site.
2. Sociable – in our opinion the most useful social plug-in has email to etc as well.
3. Audio Player – nice and simple mp3 only player
4. Contact Form 7 – I’ve tried a few, but found this to be the most reliable and simple
5. All in one SEO pack – what it say on the tin really, another WP must have
6. Google News Sitemap – essential IF you publish at least every day.
7. Ultimate Google Analytics – what use is anything if you can’t track it?
8. Twitter for WordPress -the simplest to install and leave, limited functionality
9. YARPP (Recommended content) – encourage people t explore your site
10. Shopp – I’ve tried lots of e-comm plugins and never recommended any to a client. (A bargain at $55 too)

Hope you like these too. Please feel free to add your favourites in the comments.

I used (past tense) digsby as a good way to manage multiple clients and platforms of messaging… but when searching for some information about a function I’d like it to have and I found this in the TOS (point 15):

“You agree to permit the Software to use the processing power of your computer when it is idle to run downloaded algorithms (mathematical equations) and code within a process. You understand that when the Software uses your computer, it likewise uses your CPU, bandwidth, and electrical power. The Software will use your computer to solve distributed computing problems, such as but not limited to, accelerating medical research projects, analyzing the stock market, searching the web, and finding the largest known prime number. This functionality is completely optional and you may disable it at any time.”

By agreeing to the standard TOS, you are allowing Digsby to use your machine as part of “the cloud” – to use your processing power and memory to run things for other people, when digsby is idle – that wouldn’t be so bad, if it wasn’t for two things:

1) Its very well hidden down in the TOS and certainly not mentioned very openly.

2) Switching it off is nearly impossible (I couldn’t find it but it claims to be there).

A further googling confirmed my suspicions (wikipedia and others).

My advice would be to remove it and always check the TOS for these hidden things, it could be the reason your machine is slowing down…

Here is the longer promo video of the Technology For Marketing Workshop I presented for the Engine Room in London at the start of the month, more details of their high value and low cost workshops are here.

Video sampler from my recent talk at the TFMW “the big banana” – great event, looking forward to talking at the next one!

Wow, I’ve been staggered by the amount of bad customer experience I’ve had this last week or so – I’m writing this entry partly as a personal exorcism and then I’ll summarise at the end what I would of done differently in their shoes.