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The hidden advantage of Wordpress Custom Fields

I’m not one to rewrite the book when someone has already done a fantastic job, so this is a short post to introduce you to a Wordpress feature that most people are unaware of. This is the Wordpress feature called custom fields.

Custom Fields enables you to expand your options for what you can include in posts and their content. Things that the WYSIWYG editor that is in your Write Post area doesn’t provide itself. By customizing Wordpress itself to enable you to this, it’s more convenient as you don’t need to leave that area to add your new content.

And as you are doing it using a Wordpress function, your changes should transfer easily over when you update the software, which when you make manual changes, they may not, as Wordpress will overwrite some pages.

If you use the fantastico update function, you may be unsure when it gives you a message to only do this if you have not made modifications. Generally speaking - and there are always exceptions when code writers mix code - but generally, if you have modified a theme or modified functions of Wordpress using the software itself, these changes will not be overwritten as they are protected in dedicated folders for this purpose.

Only if you edit the core code of Wordpress itself should your changes be at risk of loss. To be safe either way, always keep that backup link handy so if you do run into problems, you have the option to reverse the changes and recover.

Many people use Wordpress “out of the box” so to speak, some never bother to even change their theme. Of those that do - they choose a theme and use it as it is, without delving into the code to make it more suitable for them. There is nothing wrong with that. A blog was designed to be simple enough to use this way. KISS is a fine ambition.

Many people never install a plugin or even update their software once it’s installed. Again, there’s no problem, a blog is an easy website and if all you need to do is add text - then I’m all for it.

But just as there are mobile phone users who only use the dial out and answer functions of their phone, there are people who take learning the new functions of their phone in their stride and enjoy the benefit of photos, music, movies, mobile blogging and all the other joys of upgraded multi function mobile phones.

If you are the type of blogger who likes to explore and use different settings and functions, then custom fields for Wordpress will appeal to you. Visit this link to find out more about it and see if you would like to add these functions to your blogs using custom fields. To take it further head on over to the codex.

http://www.redswish.co.uk/the-power-of-wordpress-custom-fields/

These few examples of custom fields include adding a subtitle, meta tags, and accessing thumbnails and pictures. Maybe that doesn’t sound that great when written so simply, but when you read the post itself, you’ll begin to see that Wordpress custom fields are not limited to these few examples. Use your imagination and leave me a comment if you have tried something new and want to show it off. I’d love to see it.

As a side note, this blog also has a discussion going on the new chrome browser from Google. I think I’ll stick to firefox for now, but it bears watching. People are saying its fast and clean so far.

http://www.redswish.co.uk/google-set-to-launch-browser-called-chrome/

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Popularity: 21% [?]

First I should say that my experience with Joomla so far is on the older stable platform and not on the new platform which is now stable enough to install using fantastico. I believe that this newer version has improved on navigation and seo. The Rich Niche Blogging Library is a Joomla site. This blog is a Wordpress blog.

There are many threads asking whether you should use Joomla or Wordpress. The answer is not simple. Both platforms or content management systems have benefits, but for different things. The one true factor, although others may disagree, is that both these content management systems are the best of their type, that is the ability to add content in a modular way without need of a programmer.

Joomla v Wordpress is perhaps not the right question to be asking as they are different. Use both Joomla and Wordpress, if you have need of the functions that they each provide.

Wordpress is the primo blog - an easy to use from the box platform ideal for new web site makers and those who don’t want to do any code modifying. For those who want more functions, it is adaptable and customisable and versions are improving every day - but even with extensive plugins it is still primarily a blog. The main benefit of a blog is the fast indexing that occurs from new seo optimized instantly pinged content, and the more personal style of writing you can use to connect quickly with your readers to elicit their comments for interactivity.

Joomla is the primo content management system. It’s harder to learn to use - not from a code point of view, but from a conceptual point of view - as the architecture and navigation of it need to be thought through before posting content. Once you have understood the basic concepts for the layout of Theme, Categories and Subjects in Joomla, it quickly becomes easier. Joomla can then enable you to use a range of functions called components. These are awesome and well supported by the Joomla community in forums. Like Wordpress they are available free to use, although some components are only for purchase and offer extensive personal support from their writers.

Examples of Joomla components are Docman - enables you to share downloadable documents (pdf, zip, word, txt) in registered (password access) or private group areas; Community Builder - enables you to build a membership site where members can have a profile page and share their pictures and info etc; and Virtuemart - enables you to have an ecommerce store with a large inventory and shopping cart which is easy to connect to paypal and most popular gateways.

There is a list of  Joomla Components Links at the Library.

As with Wordpress plugins, many other functions are available via what Joomla calls components or modules. Modules, are similar to the widget system for Wordpress, placing functions and information that you want displayed in the side, footer and header areas of the website. There are also plenty of great free themes or templates available for Joomla just as there are for Wordpress, in fact some are exactly the same for both, making it possible to match a joomla site to a blog.

Drawbacks :

To Joomla: It can be a ‘heavy’ site - slow to first load and sometimes slow to load the next page into the browser. The older version of Joomla is difficult to convert to search engine friendly urls - by default displaying an url with a component number and an id for the content. It is hard to get Joomla content indexed. These two problems and the harder to learn navigation make Joomla seem daunting at first.

To Wordpress: Although there are store plugins for Wordpress they are generally only for use with paypal and Wordpress wasn’t designed to display an inventory. These plugins are really just adding a shopping cart functionality to your posts for paypal. You can have multiple users or blog writers with Wordpress but community site builder is so much more - much more like MySpace, offering profile pages with lots of choices. Categorisation is still limited in Wordpress. Good navigation requires an understanding of what plugins to employ and the knowledge to use them.

In conclusion re Joomla versus Wordpress;

Wordpress is easier for beginners and for those who want to use it for updating fast content posts, for the benefit of instant pinging, trackbacks and easier seo. (Wordpress still needs a plugin to make its seo ideal).

Joomla is better to create a non coded website (as opposed to a blog), meaning you don’t have to know html (but it helps) which you can easily use to create a large inventory store, community site or private download area. Joomla has better categorisation options which can be used to make an article directory.

Where there is a need for both, having and using both is the best option.

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Popularity: 27% [?]

Surfing along a few months back I encountered a post from the Easy Wordpress blog with a list of free directories that people can use for reciprocal link building from directories. I copied it and placed it as a page here, (see link at top), now I am wondering if its worth bothering with. It’s one of those things - seemed like a good idea at the time - which maybe wasn’t. But I will keep trying and see how I go.

I thought I’d list some real data about my first day doing this so you can get a picture of how it works. At this stage,  I can only wholeheartedly recommend that you approach the following directories for a free link .

http://www.bestdirectory4you.com/
http://www.arcaderocks.com/
http://www.blogarama.com/
WebAlfa Directory  for niche sites with good content (not marketing)

I contacted:

bestdirectory4you
arcaderocks.com
blogarama.com
WebAlfa Directory
spillbean
Free East Web Directory
bloghub
bloggernicity
biggerblogger
blogapedia
blogexplosion
Superblog Directory

I placed links up prior to submission for these directories who asked for a reciprocal link.
I have waited a week for replies and I have achieved this result for my effort.

Success!
Congratulations! Rich Niche Blogging Library has been accepted into the Directory Best Directory 4You. Your submission is appreciated, and we hope you will tell others about the directory, as well as submit more sites in the future. Thank You! Directory Staff. BestDirectory4You

Your site is reviewed and added to our directory.
We will do our best to promote your site and
attract visitors. Best Regards, ArcadeRocks

thank you for adding your listing to our directory.
blogarama - the blog directory

Failure!
Your site was not found suitable to be included in our index at the moment.
Please read the submission guidelines for the possible reason.
spillbean

Sorry your blog www.richnicheblogging.com/monetize/ has been declined at BlogExplosion as we are no longer accepting blogs that primarily contain advertising, or promote business opportunities.

Thank you for your submission to Superblog Directory. After review we are unable to add Rich Niche Blogging to our directory.

Free East Web Directory - sent me an email offering more links at a price
CheapDirectory.net - sent me a long list of other directories but no approval as yet

WebAlfa Directory - approved a niche site with adsense but refused this site
YourLinkHere! Links Directory - has not replied as yet

These sites required registration to add a link .
bloghub
bloggernicity
biggerblogger
blogapedia
blogexplosion

Conclusion
Now what this whole directory link promotion business has taught me is why you do not monetize until the last step, until you have the links that will help bring traffic first. This blog has been rejected by these directories because I have commercial content and Adsense on my blog. If those are the rules - you have to play by the rules - there is no point in whinging about them.

However, in future on new sites, I will think about getting the content up first and accept that I may have to wait at least six months to be considered for some directories. Then when they have history and content they may be accepted into directories. That’s six months with no monetization, then ask for directory links and finally add the monetization after you have enough links to see some traffic is appearing.

I guess it’s like a job interview. If you have worked for a company for a while, you can turn up in jeans and maybe get away with it, but turn up in jeans for a job interview and you won’t get the job. It is probable that directories won’t continue to check a site often once accepted into a directory but when they are assessing it for inclusion - it had better look good and above board acording to their terms. So if you have adsense or affiliate products on your blog already, it may be hard to get some good directory links. So why waste your time?

Honestly, I am already tired of this mode of SEO and am almost ready to stop bothering trying for directory links altogether. Like traffic exchanges they consume your time, want everything their own way and give you next to nothing - or nothing at all - in return. From other articles and posts  I am currently reading - this method may be on its last legs anyway. However there are reasons why directory links can benefit you, so if you want to know more, I will be posting more about this topic.

Sorry if I sound negative, I’m not usually a ranter, but then I never did take rejection well!

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Popularity: 30% [?]