Using WordPress? Update Now!

If you’re a blogger using WordPress, be sure you’re at the latest version 2.7.1. Earlier versions of WordPress are vulnerable to a security loophole that allows the bad guys access to your server via a “back door”. Needless to say, you don’t want this to happen!

I was recently hacked through an old version of Joomla I’d left laying around on my web host. Fortunately, no real damage was done, but it brought home the folly of running old versions of popular software. The fact is: the more popular the software, the larger target it is for those who get their jollies finding ways to exploit it.

WordPress is the most popular blogging software on the Web, so it stands to reason that vulnerabilities will be found and exploited. For that reason alone it is important to keep it updated to the latest version.

If you need help updating your WordPress installation, get my free guide to upgrading WordPress quickly, easily and safely:

http://JohnTheGeek.com/wpupgrade

John The Geek

WordPress Automatic Update Plugin Updated

A few days ago I reported that the WordPress Automatic Update plugin (WPAU) was no longer working in WordPress 2.7. I’m happy to report that the author has updated the plugin so that it now works with WordPress 2.7.

As I reported at the time, WordPress added its own “automatic” upgrade function to version 2.7. So you may well ask “Why do I need the WPAU plugin any more?”

The big advantage of the WPAU plugin is that it provides for very easy backups of your files and database before actually upgrading WordPress. WordPress’ automatic upgrade warns you to back up the files and database, but gives you no way to do that as part of the process.

There is actually no way to backup the fiiles short of manually copying them to another location via ftp or a script of some kind. The database can be backed up via CPanel or other means, but again, it’s a manual process.

The WPAU plugin’s first two steps are to prepare your files and database for backup, giving you download links so you can copy them off to your machine for safekeeping before proceeding with the upgrade. Except for clicking the download links, it’s automatic!

For complete instructions for downloading, installing, and using the WPAU plugin, see my free ebook:

How to Upgrade Your WordPress Blog

John The Geek

Best Blog Site To Create A Community?

Davine asked:

Can you refer me to the best Blog site where I can set up a good & responsive community to share my telecommunications product offering online?

You can set up a free blog on WordPress.com or Blogger.com, however, you have a limited amount of control over what you can do to those blogs to customize them. Either one will have good search engine traffic after your blog has been established for a while and you’ve added lots of good quality content.

If you wish to set up your own WordPress blog and have complete control over themes, plugins, etc., you can do so on any web host that runs PHP. Most Linux-based hosts have CPanel for administering your hosting account and Fantastico, a utility that will let you install a WordPress blog in a few mouse clicks.

No matter which way you go, the key to blogging effectively is to provide your readers with content that is good enough that they want to keep coming back. If you can accomplish that, you’ll be able to use the site as a platform for your telecommunications offering.

John The Geek

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Writing Widgets

One of my newsletter readers asked about getting a widget created for a particular purpose he has in mind. He wants to know what resources he would need to get a widget written.

The short answer is that widgets are written in PHP or some other web-friendly programming language. I’ve seen Javascript widgets, too, although the typical WordPress widget is written in PHP. There are tutorials available on the web (see below), but if you want the widget to do much more than display “Hello, world”, you either need to learn to program or hire a programmer to write your widget for you. There are numerous resources for finding contract programmers online. Some of those are listed below, as well.

By the way, I located these tutorials using a fantastic search tool called “How-To Seeker”. I find this tool saves me a ton of time when I’m looking for how-to info on the web. I never realized how much stuff is out there on virtually any subject you can think of and How-To Seeker makes it a snap to find what you’re looking for quickly. Highly recommended.

Here are several tutorials on writing widgets:

How to Create WordPress Widgets – This tutorial covers creating a Widget, creating a plugin widget, adding sidebars to a theme, and upgrading a non-widget plugin. Plugins are pieces of addon code that extend the functionality of WordPress, either behind-the-scenes or …

Create A WordPress 2.5 Widget – Create a plugin widget in WordPress 2.5. Covers settings up and using sidebars in your template, activating your widget, and displaying your widget. This tutorial is best suited for people familiar with both PHP and WordPress themes and …

simple wordpress sidebar widget step-by-step development – Sidebar – is an area that take place on the left or on the right from main area. Usually on sidebar placed blog common or quick access elements. This elements called widgets. Common examples: authors, tags, categories, etc. In the world of WordPress widget is a plugin subtype. That is activation/deactivation of widgets realized thru the control panel of plug-ins…

Here is a comprehensive list of sites on which to find contract programmers:

Freelance Job Sites Directory – Contract and part-time projects listed daily. ScriptLance Outsource your projects to freelance programmers and designers at cheap prices. Freelancers will compete for your business. Get programming done for your site in php, mysql, xml, …

John The Geek

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Upgrade WordPress Quickly and Easily

Upgrading WordPress blogs just got a whole lot easier. The normal upgrade process is a manual effort prone to errors and omissions and needed to be automated. There is now a plugin called the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin that streamlines WordPress upgrades considerably.

As with most scripts, however, there are a couple of areas that can be confusing if you’ve not run it before, so I’ve put together an e-book that steps you through the process and points out the gotchas. Follow the steps in the e-book and you’ll have your WordPress upgraded in a few mouse clicks and be ready to rock and roll with the latest and greatest.

Get your copy of this free guide to upgrading WordPress here:

How To Upgrade Your WordPress Blog To The Latest Version

Enjoy!

John The Geek