LinkBidScript Resources

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If you are using latest LinkBidScript version you probably realized that “Listing Details” page has significantly changed. Now it offers extended listing description, custom meta title, meta description and meta keywords that describe listed site, not your directory.

Why do you think it was done? Three letters: SEO…

Every details page is now optimized for specific search terms related to the listed site. To get maximum benefit you have to make sure that submitters provide long detailed description. Look at it this way - if the owner can’t find more than 3-4 words to describe his site why would anyone else want to visit it?

When SE spiders crawl your directory these details pages will be indexed for search terms related to the listed site and you may get top SERP position where you would not even think of.

I regularly analyze traffic statistics and check search terms that brought visitors to my directory. Probably only 20-25% visitors actually came looking for “directory” related terms… That means I actually succeeding in my goal - delivering targeted traffic to my submitters.

Rarely people will go to general directory looking for some specific info. Most of the time they will use search engines and that’s why you want your directory to rank high for as many terms as possible. The best way to do it - with highly optimized details pages.

When designing a layout for your website it is essential to check it in multiple browsers.

Few years back over 90% of web surfers were using Microsoft Internet Explorer but nowadays other browsers fast gaining share of the market. Most popular are Mozilla Fairfox and Opera.

Even Internet Explorer has released new version (IE7) which works much different from the preceding version (IE6).

Layout and styles configured to work fine in IE may appear all broken or not readable in other browsers. I can guarantee - no one will open another browser just to see your site, so you will loose potential customer.

Multiple browsers can be easily installed on your computer without any interference with exception of IE versions - you can have only one version running.

This is even more important if your site has anything to do with web design services. I know a pretty good graphic designer whose site is all messed up when viewed in Fairfox and he refuses to fix it. Than he is wondering why there is no new business and no one wants to advertise on his site…

So… Take your time to make website multi browser compatible or hire someone to do it for you - you will appreciate it later.

With LinkBidScript powered directory you have an option to provide RSS feed to subscribers and search engines. Feed files have been configured to lead to internal “Listings Details” pages on your directory so I would highly recommend updating them as soon as possible.

Unfortunately in the current script version to work properly RSS feed files have to be updated manually. The changes are minimal - just follow simple instructions below.

There are 5 XML.php files that need to be updated:

- categxml.php (provides feeds from categories pages)

- listxml.php (provides feed from alphabetic categories pages)

- linksxml.php (provides complete feed of listings sorted by high bid)

- newlinksxml.php ( provides complete feed of listings sorted by date submitted)

- linkstopxml.php (provides feed of top listings from the home page)

In all 5 files you are looking for the same section near very end:


<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title><?php echo("$sitetitle");?> - Alphabetic Listings Feed</title>
<description>Alphabetic listings in Your Directory</description>
<link>http://Your_Site.com/list.php</link>
<copyright>Your Company</copyright>
<?php do { ?>
<item>
<title><?php echo $row_lista['title']; ?></title>
<description><?php echo $row_lista['descr1']; ?>. <?php echo $row_lista['descr2']; ?></description>
<link><?php $wsn = $row_lista['title']; include(’template/Your_Template_Name/page_name.php’); ?>http://Your_Domain.com/<?php echo $row_lista['dtu'];?>/<?php echo(”$wsseoname”); ?>.html</link>
</item>
<?php } while ($row_lista = mysql_fetch_assoc($lista)); ?>
</channel>
</rss>

Remove parts of code marked in BLUE

Instead of parts marked in RED insert actual data for your site. Save all files and you are done.

To make sure RSS feed is working just click on XML icon on one of the pages.

One more thing that may cause feed not to work - make sure none of your listings using symbols like “$” or “&” that can be interpreted as a part of code and break the feed.

When you visiting some websites with lots of graphics you probably witnessed how it is loading piece-by-piece especially if your internet connection is not too fast…

The website may be gorgeous but if it takes forever to load there is a good chance than the visitor will be gone before it opens.

The problem is that graphic files are usually the largest ones and if not optimized properly will take long time to load. This is why I said many times that great graphics designer may not be your best choice for website design.

If you experienced similar problem with your own site here is a little trick how you may be able to speed-up page loading.

Open your slow loading image in Adobe Photoshop. Click on the “file” tab in the top menu bar and select “Save for web” option.

On the next page in the right column you will have drop-down box:

on the bottom of the page in the left corner you will see size of the file and aproximate time it will take to load on the slow internet connection:

Try to change file types in the drop-down box and see how size of the file and loading speed will change with it.
If you select JPEG you will also have an option to choose image quality. Try move % slider to the lower number until you can see image destruction.
When you find the option with minimal file size without loosing too much image quality - save it and replace existing image on the remote server.

Keep in mind that highly optimized JPEG images and PNG images may not display properly on colored background especially in IE.

Same way you can decrease size of digital photo when trying to send it to friends or relatives as an email attachment.

One of the first steps during the installation of LinkBidScript is creating a database and populating it with initial data.

Database creation is pretty much self explanatory and can be done with few simple clicks from practically any hosting admin panel. The step many users seems to have problem with is importing SQL file.

Here are step-by-step instructions how to get it done.

From your hosting admin panel (in many cases it will be cPanel) go to MySQL management (sometimes it may say Database management).

Click on phpMyAdmin link for the desired database. Some hosts using individual phpMyAdmin interface for every database and some have only one for all databases.

In the left column you will have list of the databases available for management from this interfase. Right below the database name (still in the left column) will be list of existing tables (none for new database) in the selected database.

Click on the name of the database you want to work with.
In the right column on top of the page you will see number of tabs: Structure, SQL, Search, Query, Export, Import, Operations.
In some versions of phpMyAdmin tab “Import” may be missing…

If you version of phpMyAdmin has “Import” tab - click on it, if you don’t have it try to click on “SQL” button.
What we are looking for is text “Location of the text file:” with the text field box and “Browse” button next to it.

Click “Browse” button, select lbs.sql file from your local disk where you extracted LinkBidScript archive and click “open”. Now location of lbs.sql file will be shown in the text box. Click “go” button somewhere below.

If everything worked as expected you’ll get the message: “Your SQL query has been executed successfully” and detailed list of performed operations. Also you will see list of new created tables below the database name in the left column.

That’s it. Your new LinkBidScript database is ready to use.

In the latest version 1.2 of LinkBidScript software there are new features were introduced that may get you confused during installation.
Script will start checking for banned domains and IP’s as soon as it is uploaded to your server. You may get an error messages about the table that doesn’t exist…

To avoid any problems please follow this EXACT order when installing new LinkBidScript version on your remote server.

1. Download ZIP archive and extract it locally on your computer.

2. Create new database and login to phpMyAdmin. If you are using existing database you can login to phpMyAdmin for that database and drop existing tables.

3. From phpMyAdmin for this new or cleaned database execute SQL query to import lbs.sql file that came with the script - this will create all necessary tables and populate initial data into it.

4. In the “To_Upload/Connections” folder open file apound.php and insert actual info for accessing your new database, save file.

5. Find and open .htaccess file from the “To_Upload” folder. Right after the line:

RewriteEngine on

insert this line:

RewriteBase /

If you are installing LinkBidScript in the subfolder insted of “/” write the name of your subfolder after the forward slash. For example: /linkbid

This step may not be necessary for some servers if you are installing LinkBidScript in the Root directory.

6. Upload ALL files and folders from the “To_Upload” folder to your remote server.
(files and folders from the “To_Upload” folder, not the folder itself…)

7. Login to your new LBS admin panel: yourdomain.com/lbs_installation_folder/linkadmin/index.php . You must type index.php in the end or .htaccess file will redirect you to an error page.

Default userName and password included with the download package.
In the admin panel click on the “Site Configuration” link - this will take you to General Directory Setup page. Enter your info in all required fields.

IMPORTANT!

- In the field “Path” leave “/” if directory is installed in the root folder or change it to “/subfolder_name/” if installed in the subfolder.

- Leave field “Path mail” empty.

8. That’s it! You are ready to make some money!

Now your directory is installed and should work properly.
I will describe how to use admin panel in details in another post