Posts Tagged ‘plugins’

Internet Marketing: WordPress, SEO, Google Indexing & Splogs »

Written by Zain on May 29th, 2008
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If you read my post called “Internet Marketing & WordPress: Nancy Andrews Was Right - Forget Social Networking“, then you’ll know that geting indexed in Google is extremely fast if you’re using WordPress or some other blogging tool to get your pages (and site) re-indexed quickly.

And I mean *really* quickly. Those of you that remember, will know that it only takes a couple of minutes and Google go through your site, re-index and you can rank well for your keyword terms (if you’ve written your content properly, that is!)

Well… I now tend to check my site when I’ve done a post as it’s pretty amusing to see how quickly I can get my pages indexed. And I’m loving it when it does it well.

For example, the WordPress Plugin Review on the WordPress LinkSync (aka Blogroll Sync) plugin that I wrote on about an hour ago has already been indexed.

That’s amusing in itself.

But here’s something funnier…

WordPress SEO Results: WP LinkSync plugin keyword dominated »

WordPress Plugin Review: WP LinkSync (aka WP BlogrollSync) by DCoda »

Written by Zain on May 29th, 2008
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Are you a professional WordPress Web Developer looking to sync your blogroll from one source to multiple WodPress blogs? Or maybe you’ve got some great links on one blog that you just want to transfer to another? Perhaps you’re a WordPress SEO professional looking to create a continuously growing list of links on your various WordPress blogs just by updating 1 source blog?

If you are, then you may want to try out the WP LinkSync plugin by DCoda Ltd (previously named WP BlogrollSync).

I’m going to admit, that it’s not perfect (yet). However, in this post, as well as reviewing this WordPress plugin, I’ll be outlining how the WP LinkSync plugin can be hacked to get it to do what you need. (I’ve also left a comment on the DCoda WP LinkSync page, so hopefully, they might implement these changes without you having to hack the files like I’m about to show you!).

This post will also look at the relatively undocumented WordPress OPML feature that can be used for importing existing blogroll links into a new site. Did you even know that you could do this?
WP LinkSync Review & Extending WordPress OPML Data For Improved Blogroll Imports »

FAQ-Tastic Lite 1.0.7 is Now Ready! »

Written by Zain on May 3rd, 2008
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Possibly the shortest post I’m ever going to write. Mainly cause I’m pooped… I’ve been flat out so that FAQ-Tastic Lite version 1.0.7 can be released.

So, here’s what you get:

  • A new FAQ-Tastic website devoted to FAQs.
  • FAQ-Tastic Lite 1.0.7 - updated with some really funky features.
  • A new FAQ-Tastic user manual.
  • FAQ World Project
  • 5 great tips when you subscribe to the mailing list (more to be added!)
  • FAQ-Tastic now compatible with WordPress 2.5 - the new site runs on WP2.5!

Okay… I’m done. Got to get ready to join a kid’s parade now.

Oh, I nearly forgot the link - you probably want to check out the new FAQ-Tastic Lite website. Apologies for the rest of the site - the Pro version is next!

I’d just like to take a moment to thank Michel Fortin for the favourable review he wrote around a year about the original FAQ-Tastic plugin. That review really spurred me on. FAQ-Tastic is much more than that now! :)

FAQ-Tastic Lite 1.0.6 & User Manual: Coming soon »

Written by Zain on April 8th, 2008
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I’ve not been well the last 4 days. Despite the shivers; aches; hot and cold flushes; runny nose and sore eyes, I’ve still been doing whatever I can to get this latest version of our WordPress FAQ plugin out.

Not just that. I’ve also been working hard on completing a new user manual for it. It’s nearly done except I just have to create some supporting pages and add those links to it.

The FAQ-Tastic User Manual is also Fa(q)ntastic - even if I do say so myself. Why? Because this 30 page, PDF user guide been lovingly crafted and taken just over 6 days to complete to include:

  • screengrabs of every page in the WordPress administration needed to use plugin (and images of how it would appear on your site)
  • a step by step guide showing exactly what to do - from installation, activation to using the plugin.
  • a detailed explanation of the difference between Simple and Paged FAQs.
  • an explanation of Paged FAQs and their real purpose.
  • bookmark links to easily jump to the section you need.
  • and best of all… it’s FREE!

WordPress FAQ-Tastic Lite version 1.0.6 User Manual and plugin - read more ยป

WordPress 2.5 Brecker: No Page Slugs??? »

Written by Zain on March 31st, 2008
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Yeah, I know… I’ve been away for a really long time. Too long. Don’t expect me to make up excuses and apologise for my absence.

I’m back with a renewed focus. I’ve been working on getting FAQ-Tastic properly released. And some of you may already know there’s a Pro version in the pipeline. Well… It’s nearly here. So sorry for the delay (nuts… I just apologised didn’t I? Damn my Englishness).

Well there’s a snag with the new FAQ-Tastic plugin… Last Saturday saw the release of WordPress 2.5 (a.k.a Brecker - after “an exceptionally talented saxophonist” Michael Brecker. Who knew? Who cares?). Now I got to test with this new version…

Anyway, I’ve only just managed to download WordPress 2.5 and start having a play with it today. This “Brecker” version *is* pretty cool and has some *really* (and I mean *REALLY*) cool features…But one thing troubles me:

HOW THE *&$( DO YOU EDIT THE PAGE SLUGS IN WP2.5?!?!

OMG, do you realise how serious it is for your average Internet Marketer if they’ve taken the slugs away?LOL… okay, don’t worry. They’ve not taken the page slugs away - it’s just not intuitively found. Most bloggers wouldn’t think of changing their page slugs but for anyone serious about Search Engine Optimization, changing the page slugs is ESSENTIAL!

So I’m going to show you how. And cause I’m nice, I’m going to give you pictures too (actually, they’re screenshots for a new ebook I’m doing) WordPress 2.5: Changing the Page Slug (with images)

Google Analytics Code Update »

Written by Zain on December 15th, 2007
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Looks like Google has just updated their Analytics code from the legacy “urchin.js” file to a new file called “ga.js”.

Apparently, according to the Analytics website, this new tracking code will enable you to “to gain access to a wide range of exciting new features as they become available“.

Anyone have any ideas what the new features might be?

Whatever it is, just remember not to put *both* codes into your pages!

Looks like a few WordPress plugins might need a bit of a code revamp to ensure these changes are up to date… (naming no names - Mr Godley! :P ).

WordPress SEO: Top 7 Optimization Areas For Beginners (Part 1) »

Written by Zain on December 15th, 2007
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In this post, I’ll be taking you through the top 7 SEO areas you need to optimize in WordPress in order for your site to rank well in the search engines. Even if you don’t use WordPress, this post may be useful to you.

In Part 2 of this post I’ll be showing you the 1 plugin for SEO that I use on all WordPress sites I build for clients which makes it easy for them (as novices) to take control of their site (without really needing to know the technical aspects of what’s happening!).

If you’re relatively new to search engine optimization you might already know the Top 3 areas that you need to optimize (and if you don’t, then you need to start learning quickly!): 1) Page Title, 2) Meta Keywords and Descriptions and 3) Permalinks.

So… what are the other 4 you need to learn? Well, here’s a quick summary of what we’ll be covering:

  1. Page Title
  2. Meta Keywords & Description
  3. Permalinks
  4. First Paragraph
  5. More links
  6. H1 Site Name
  7. H2 Site Description
This post will show you *WHERE* to optimize but won’t go into specific details on *HOW*. While the sites I create rank well, I would not pretend to be an SEO expert. Useful SEO links are provided at the end of this post.
WordPress Search Engine Optimization: Beginners Tips & How To Guide »

Semi-Static WordPress Homepages: Yogi I’ve Found A Boo Boo »

Written by Zain on October 13th, 2007
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Okay. I’ll admit it… I completely messed up. Regular readers may know that I recently wrote this pretty excellent guide on how to set up the Semi-Static Wordpress homepage but no-one noticed the *huge* error that I had in the instruction.

No-one noticed *except* from a really amazing Texan Liberty Lady (Carol) who describes herself as *green, green, green* when it comes to WordPress and yet still attempted to take on the Semi-Static homepage. Now that’s really ballsy if you ask me - it’s quite an advanced technique.

Anyway, she emailed me and let me know that she’d followed the instructions and it wasn’t working.

That’s right people. I had a boo boo on my semi (I’ll let you imagination run with that one).

So she kindly let me have access to her site and I had a look around. And you know what? Completely my fault - my “how-to” guide was more of a “how-not-to” guide. DOH! A Homer moment - that’s what happens when you post just before bedtime… (never again!)

Well, guess what? Now that sent her new instructions, she’s successfully implemented it on her Ron Paul website (I was like “Ron Paul Who?“, as I don’t read newspapers and haven’t done for several years now and shy away from any type of political discussion as I find it really messes with my inner wellbeing, man…).

Also - credit where credit’s due - Carol also sent me a tip on updating the code I sent her. Yes, she even spent the time looking up the WordPress Codex to find out more about how to do this. Now, if someone this green spends this much time making sure her website is high quality when it comes to WordPress, then some of you other political bloggers should probably watch out - she’s determined and will probably be spending a lot more time promoting her candidate of choice!

Me… I’m staying out of the fray. I’m all for Democracy and freedom of speech, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah… but the last time Bush got in, so that’s that say about the so-called Democratic system. More of this to come - I’m currently re-writing a blog post that doesn’t make me sound an ideological fascist (cause I’m not! I’m politically apathetic with a tendancy to dislike the masses for their inability to differentiate between what sucks and what doesn’t).

I digress. As usual. Because it’s my blog and I’m tangential…

So… anyone up for a 3rd draft of the Semi for WordPress? Here’s proper instructions this time. An Updated How-To Guide for WordPress Semi-Static Homepages

Embedding Camtasia SWF Videos In WordPress »

Written by Zain on October 1st, 2007
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Okay, here’s another tip.

For those of you who’ve struggled with getting Camtasia SWF files into your WordPress pages, stop searching. You’ve found the right page.

Let me just say, I’ve struggled with it and spent several hours trying to figure this out a couple of days ago, so with any luck this will help you save *a lot* of time (as well as hassle with trying to use various plugins like Kimili Flash Embed to do the job!). Embed Camtasia SWF into WordPress » Read More »

A Weird Winding Journey To Excellence »

Written by Zain on September 17th, 2007
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It’s been an interesting week.

It’s been one of those periods where it’s been necessary to take a step back, re-assess the current situation and re-double my efforts. Admittedly, not much has really been done this last week. Not for the lack of trying. Or the lack of enthusiasm. Sometimes the universe just delivers a whole heap of junk mail and you just got to sort out the essentials from the spam.

It’s time to start re-focusing on what really matters. And what really matters right now is Excellence…

To kick off tonight’s show, I’d like to start with another little clip from Bill Hicks… (Get used to it people, he’s a major influence and you really got to listen to what this chain-smoking, dead guy is saying!).

Internet Marketing Excellence? Play from the heart >>