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How to Track Number of Downloads on a WordPress Blog

Recently I have designed a new WordPress theme FreshBrown. After publishing it for users, I was looking for a way to track the number of downloads of this theme. While searching for it on Google, I came across a WordPress plugin WordPress Download Monitor and fell in love with this plugin. It’s an awesome plugin which gives you the number of downloads of the files along with the IP address of the user who downloaded the file.

WordPress Download Monitor is a plugin for uploading and managing downloads, tracking download hits and displaying links.

Features of WordPress Download Monitor

  • NEW: Built in Download Page function with built-in sorting, pagination, and search.
  • Records file download hits but does **not** count downloads by WordPress admin users.
  • Stats on downloads and a download log for viewing who downloaded when.
  • Uses shortcodes (backward compatible with old [Download id not defined] style).
  • Editor button upload and add a download straight from a post.
  • Custom redirects to downloads.
  • Add downloads to text widgets, the content, excerpts, and custom fields.
  • Mirror support (selected at random) + mirror deadlink checker
  • Download Categories.
  • Member only downloads, can also have a minimum user level using custom fields.
  • Localization support.
  • Admin for managing downloads and also changing hit counts just in case you change servers or import old downloads that already have stats.
  • Custom URL’s/URL hider using mod_rewrite.

Installation Instructions

Follow the steps given below to install and configure this plugin on your WordPress blog.

  • First download and install WordPress Download Monitor plugin and activate it from your WordPress dashboard.
  • After activating the plugin, you will see a new Downloads tab on the left hand side of your dashboard.
  • Now upload a new file for which you want to track number of downloads from Downloads menu by clicking on Add New link. You can also use existing file by using Add Existing link.
  • From the configuration menu, you can set Download categories, Custom Output Formats, Custom Download URL and General Options.
  • Go to Configuration and then Custom Output Format and type in the custom output format for your downloads. I’m going to use the following output for my downloads
    <a href="{url}" title="Downloaded {hits} times">{title}</a> - {description}

    You can use custom output according to your requirements by using the tags given.

  • Now go to General Options and chose your default output format that you just created.
  • Now comes the main step. Go to post editor and click on Add Download link.
  • Now insert the file into your post.

That’s all. Now you can track the downloads for your files from your dashboard only.

Link: Download “WordPress Download Monitor plugin”

Another Method to Track Download Hits

If you don’t want to use any plugin to track the download hits, then simply upload your files to Mediafire and get a share link for your files from there. Mediafire provides download statistics for all the files. This is the simplest method that I use most of the times πŸ™‚

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19 Comments

  1. Dinesh
    January 13, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Good plugin to track downloads.
    .-= Dinesh´s last blog ..Giving Away Ninja Affiliate Plugin This New Year =-.

  2. wira
    January 13, 2010 at 9:52 am

    I think this plugin can help us

  3. George Serradinho
    January 13, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    I have been using this plugin for months now and my downloads are getting great response. I offer many downloads ranging from ebooks, plr articles, thesis tutorials, images and wordpress.

    This plugin can be used for any type of file and you can also make the downloads for members only.
    .-= George Serradinho´s last blog ..Simplified Post Interlinking using Insights WordPress Plugin =-.

  4. Hami
    January 14, 2010 at 2:26 am

    A very nice feature making WordPress more powerful CMS πŸ˜€ Love to be part of WP ! πŸ˜€

    p.s. btw thanks for the comment on my blog and hey did that service worked for you ?

  5. Tanuj Lakhina
    January 14, 2010 at 2:52 am

    I tried putting it to use but since yesterday any popups for either adding images and now for adding downloads using this. What wordpress version are you using by the way?
    .-= Tanuj Lakhina´s last blog ..Video : Spectacular Casillas saves =-.

    • Simrandeep
      January 14, 2010 at 9:28 am

      I’m using WordPress 2.9.1 Hey I didn’t understand what you want to say :-0 Can you explain in detail ?

      • Tanuj Lakhina
        January 14, 2010 at 10:03 am

        This is what happens to me when I click the arrow in the create new post area.

        How do I fix this? Am using WordPress 2.9.1 as well.
        .-= Tanuj Lakhina´s last blog ..VoTD : Ribery and Mcgeady turn skills =-.

      • Simrandeep
        January 14, 2010 at 10:19 am

        Dude you following all the steps given here or performing a step at your own ? Coz if you do it as given here you shouldn’t face this problem as its working fine for me..!!

        Do let me know what you actually did after installing this pugin ?

      • Tanuj Lakhina
        January 14, 2010 at 10:45 am

        I did the same steps you mentioned. And weirdly so, its coming fine when I use the editor area for the downloads but not the arrow pointing downwards. Bizarre.
        .-= Tanuj Lakhina´s last blog ..VoTD : Ribery and Mcgeady turn skills =-.

      • Simrandeep
        January 14, 2010 at 10:53 am

        OK do one thing uninstall this plugin and install it again. Before configuring this plugin check the posts area, if it opens then simply do the given settings πŸ™‚ Let me know if it works.

      • Tanuj Lakhina
        January 14, 2010 at 10:56 am

        Ok let me give it another go. Thanks πŸ™‚
        .-= Tanuj Lakhina´s last blog ..VoTD : Ribery and Mcgeady turn skills =-.

  6. Tanuj Lakhina
    January 14, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Nope, still not working. Guess I would have to do it the different way then. And I think it would work too.
    .-= Tanuj Lakhina´s last blog ..VoTD : Ribery and Mcgeady turn skills =-.

  7. Ricky
    January 15, 2010 at 9:40 am

    I am also using the same plugin to track my downloads. It is great plugin.
    .-= Ricky´s last blog ..Top 10 Android And Google Nexus One Mobile Applications =-.

  8. Bimal Roy
    January 26, 2010 at 7:16 am

    Thanks for the info friend.
    .-= Bimal Roy´s last blog ..How to Get Windows XP Updates Offline =-.

  9. Ruchita
    January 30, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Really this plugin very nice and you have described very clearly with screen shots.
    Thanks for sharing my friend
    .-= Ruchita´s last blog ..Microsoft Online Services / BPOS in India ! =-.

  10. SmashinGeeks
    February 1, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    Nice Plugin , thanks for sharing
    .-= SmashinGeeks´s last blog ..Download Twitter Bird Icon Set for Social Networking =-.

  11. Bcarter
    February 10, 2010 at 7:55 am

    I think this is just what I may have been looking for to use on a new project I have been working on. I’m going to go and give it a shot right now.

    B
    .-= Bcarter´s last blog ..Sometimes ItÒ€ℒs Best To Go Back To Basics =-.

  12. zeefu
    May 25, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    can i also get the data on how much of those downloads are completed downloads .. or can i track “complete” downloads via Google analytics

  13. Ryan
    July 12, 2012 at 1:12 am

    I DONT SEE AN ADD DOWNLOAD LINK BUTTON?????????

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