Digg Digg – WordPress Plugin
( The Best Web Hosting Service )-Social bookmarking is also a way to go marketing your WordPress blog. One cool plugin that gives you the ability to do such is Digg Digg. Created by Yong Mook Kim, it has already developed much differently from when it started.
The latest version, which is available at WordPress.org plugin site, now boasts of having connections to different small and big social networking sites. Digg Digg, while simply a plugin that gears users to put buttons to posts and pages for sharing and bookmarking, is actually one of the most sought after plugins by many bloggers.
Upon installing the plugin, you can choose which buttons it will display after every post or page. You can choose from a long list of sites, some of which are Delicious, Digg, Facebook, Google Buzz/Plus, Twitter, TweetMeme, StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Yahoo Buzz.
Its function is fairly simple, but Digg Digg makes it cool by letting you customize how the buttons appear after posts. The buttons can be customized to act like a fixed background image as well as they can also be programmed to have a scrolling effect on either sides of the page.
This plugin is also available in numerous languages and thus can be used by different website owners. Buttons can also be displayed flexibly depending on how it is coded, and you don’t have to worry about it making your website slow, as it will not eat too much of your bandwidth.
Real-time statistics of bookmarks or number of shares are also displayed upon each button, giving you an accurate data on how users found your post useful. Some users don’t just leave comments, but share the posts immediately after finding it helpful either for them or for someone they know. Of course without that statistics, you cannot be able to track down where your post is shared to.
The one annoying thing I see in Digg Digg plugin, though it is also a good thing, is the fact that it updates so frequently. When we say frequently, it can either be monthly or even twice monthly. While it is understandable, given the fact that social networks change API for security reasons, it can quite make you think whether you will upgrade today or just wait for the next update. Of course, for as long as you are not updating, the plugin will prompt you on the dashboard that it has an update.
Interested in learning more about the Digg Digg WordPress Plugin.
BuddyPress-WordPress Plugin
( The Best Web Hosting Service )-If you are into social networking and is an owner of a WordPress blog, then having BuddyPress in your blog is a great help. It incorporates user interactivity into the default installation of WordPress, letting you control Profiles, Updates, Groups, and Forums to create your very own “mini-Facebook”.
BuddyPress plugin enables you to create a network within WordPress that can connect and interact socially within other users and members. It goes around displaying a timeline and activity stream, which is fairly suitable in terms of functionality while keeping a fast and simple connection.
This plugin also creates a built-in community where groups can be created to support members. User profiles and avatars can also be created on the dashboard and private messages can be sent throughout members of the group. This feature, while functional, is particularly simple and lacks the dynamics one could see in a social platform.
It also lacks an event system, which is a useful feature in a social plugin that one can use to catch up with events on their calendar and invite other users. Themes aren’t much of a feature, though it was quite customizable. However, it was pretty complicated and it is not easy to do the customization at all. You can only tweak this and that. There goes the problem if you really want to have a personalized and unique site to reflect your group’s theme and vision. It is pretty the main reason why all groups and sites based on BuddyPress script look almost exactly just the same.
Forums didn’t make up for the rest of the shortcomings, and is actually more of a downer on the whole plugin. In case you would want a forum more than a social network, BuddyPress is not the way to go.
Too much for my Facebook dream.
Indeed, one must never forget this is only a plugin for WordPress and it only builds the mini social network within the WP platform only, and in all fairness, for what BuddyPress promises to do, it somehow delivers. It might have gave us a little more expectations to start with, but it is just perfect for a small group of network who would want a little privacy outside a very common networking site already. Nonetheless, if you really want to have your own social networking site and make it big on the industry, then you should really start learning about the custom scripts in making one right now, or find someone like Mark Zuckerberg.
To view the WordPress Buddypress plugin click here.
CommentLuv – WordPress Plugin
( The Best Web Hosting Service )- Commenting on different websites has been one of common ways to build backlinks and draw traffic to one’s site. Getting someone’s attention is the key, however, usually, leaving a simple comment on a post only draws the attention of the post or blog owner to visit your blog, and not everyone gets enticed to visit you. You cannot always post links to your blogs every time within your comments, or else you would look like a desperate spammer on the comment list. So how can we get the traffic that we want?
CommentLuv is definitely the simplest solution to this problem. Okay, so what does CommentLuv do and why is it loved by users?
This plugin first and foremost creates a dofollow environment for comment authors by retrieving their latest blog posts while they are typing their comment on a certain blog. Once someone filled the website button of the comment box, this plugin automatically connects through its database to find it. Once it retrieves that information, the comment author can choose whether to display the latest post title and link below his/her comment for all the other comment authors to see. Of course, in case a fellow comment author gets interested with your topic, he/she will click on his/her way to your post link, won’t he/she?
Clearly, this will happen if the blog owner where the blog post is has this plugin installed. Apparently, the above shows the benefit it brings to the comment authors, not to the post author himself. So does it do the post author any good by installing this plugin?
The answer is yes, definitely. Given the fact that leaving a comment does do visitors good, then will it not create a better environment for those avid comment authors who want to increase traffic to comment upon? Yes, this absolutely means more visitors who will keep coming back from time to time to comment on your posts, knowing that their every comment will also do them good as far as traffic is concerned.
Traffic for you and traffic for your visitors – great thing, right?
Backlinks are also automatically created as CommentLuv connects your post link to that certain post you commented on. This has actually created positive results on the blogger networks who strive to do SEO and internet marketing. Of course, keep in mind that this will not be the only reason why people will come back to your site. Unique and useful content is still a must, so that people will keep on commenting back to you.
Click here to view more on the WordPress CommentLuv plugin.
What Customers Don’t Like About Shopify: Not for the Big League
( The Best Web Hosting Service )- If you’re thinking of setting up an online store, you must realize that an Ecommerce platform is a necessary component to get it going. And you’ve most likely also heard of Ecommerce websites (like BigCommerce) that power online stores and provide everything that’s required to start and run an online business. These websites offer Ecommerce solutions to assist even those with little to zero knowledge of programming and lack the technical savvy to figure out the intricacies of operating online stores.
One such Ecommerce provider is Shopify; a fully hosted shopping cart that claims to be one of the highly-regarded names in the industry. Be that as it may, it may be of great interest to you to be aware of some issues that Shopify have to either change or adapt to. Let’s cut to the chase and get a glimpse of what customers don’t like about Shopify.
Over-Simplicity Plus Minimalism Gone Too Far Equals Inconvenience
It would seem that Shopify only have features meant for novice customers. If you are simply starting off or are relatively new in the business of selling your products online; Shopify may meet your expectations and needs. However, if you’re seeking something more beyond simple features, Shopify is definitely not the answer to your Ecommerce needs. There are far too many missing aspects – vital features such as currency converter, contact forms, section for recommended products, saving wish lists, email to recommend/forward product to friends, and many more. Let’s go over some of these weaknesses at close range.
Flawed Checkout
The biggest thing that customers don’t like is the puny Checkout system. One of the most crucial things to look for in Ecommerce is the ability to have control of the Checkout flow. Customers should be allowed to create an account and the system should be able to “remember” the details when these customers come back. In short, saving credit card (or other forms of payment) details should be made available as an option for customers that want to do so. This is not possible with Shopify as it does not allow customization of checkout codes. Instead, customers are sent to a cheap excuse of a checkout flow that’s virtually beyond your control; the only thing you can do is modify the CSS; that’s as close as you can get to identify the transaction with your store!
Deficiency in Dynamic Listings
Shopify lacks the program that allows people visiting the site to narrow down the product lists by specific types or manufacturers or whatever categories may be applicable. In order to allow your customers to use this convenient tool, you have to manually build it either in HTML or with the use of triple conditional loop. Of course as your store expands and more products are added, you have to keep updating the static HTML. How’s that for convenience – or NOT!
Lacks Provision for Abandoned Shopping Carts
It’s not uncommon for consumers to go through the process of purchasing right through the checkout stage only to suddenly change their minds and abandon shopping carts in the end. Your online store is not singled out. Customers may repeat this route on many other sites before finally deciding to make the purchase. However, it is equally expected for a good Ecommerce solution to include such tools in the system that allow the capture of customer emails or other contact details early on in the check out process for easy follow up should the person abandon the shopping cart. Since this feature is not Shopify’s strong point, you could be missing a lot of opportunities.
More Headaches for (YOU) the Online Store Owner
- Way Overpriced. Another major Shopify turnoff is the pricing policy they have. Prices are pegged between $24 and $699 (Premium Plan) per month with a set up fee of $25 – $75. Get this…on top of the high upfront fee; they impose a transaction fee of up to 2% of the Revenue, which applies to all plans except Premium.
- Annoying “Liquid”. You had better figure out Liquid, a programming language that many find quite complex to study. Shopify could have chosen a more common and simpler framework to control the options/appearance of your online store. Instead Shopify shoves Liquid down the shop owners’ throats even to just change Meta tags or little tags.
- Minimalist Customer Support, too. If there’s one thing that you cannot afford NOT to have is an all-out support from your Ecommerce provider. This is a very common complaint with Shopify, especially among users coming from another platform. If you’re even remotely contemplating any idea of shifting providers, better make sure that you iron out all the kinks before you consider purchasing Shopify services. Another worrisome issue is the long gaps before Shopify releases new features that are highly indispensable to the advancement of your online store. Don’t expect to get add-ons and plug-ins that may be helpful in your e-selling process. Forget about any significant modifications to happen – not by a long shot, anyway. You’d probably get stuck with what you have for quite some time.
- Other Drawbacks. There are other shortcomings and features that Shopify lacks to make it your ideal Ecommerce solution provider; among them: shopping cart is not always visible; no product bundling/kitting; does not support drop ship and multiple shipment to locations; no Quickbooks integration; and not even a semblance of product reviews and ratings capability to speak of.
Conclusion
Granting, Shopify may be a good platform for small businesses just starting up and are quite happy with available templates and customizable styles to design online stores. If you don’t require dynamic performance and functionality; or you only want to dabble and experiment with products and prices, Shopify may perhaps work for you. If you’re looking to expand your online store’s functionality, however; the smarter thing to do is to start looking for the BEST in the business…an Ecommerce solution provider that would certainly set you up for bigger things to happen. Ecommerce hosting solution with topnotch features such as BigCommerce offers.
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