Overview Of Linking101 Link
Management Script
Introduction
LinksManager Overview
Reciprocal Manager Overview
ARELIS Overview
Zeus Overview
Feature Comparison Chart
I first came across Larry Sullivan's
Linking101 script as a free bonus download as part of Jack
Humphrey's
"Power
Linking 2: Evolution" package. It was in its most basic form -
no category organisation of links, no customization of pages, no link
autochecking, no ability to review link requests before they appeared in
the directory and limited editing features.
However, even as it was, the script
interested me enough to order the upgrade.
Linking101 runs from the server on
which your website's domain resides. As I write, the current
version of Linking101 is v.4.1 . As with earlier versions, the
download contains two versions of the script, a full version for
Linux/Unix servers, and a limited-features version for Windows servers.
Installation is relatively simple,
involving little more than the editing of a configuration file,
uploading and changing file permissions. Instructions are clear, but if
you can't handle them, Larry is on hand to do the installation for an
additional $14.00.
Features (for more detail, see
chart)
-
solicit link submissions
-
approve or decline submissions upon
receipt of notification
-
delete and edit links
-
automatic notifications to declined
link partners
-
track reciprocal links back to your
site (including via a scheduled reporting system if you are able to run
cron jobs)
-
use templates to mail link partners
as required
-
add links manually
The methodology employed by
Linking101 is textbook for a standard link management program -
submitter submits their link, you get instant notification, you review
the new link via your admin panel, undertake an link verification check,
and approve or decline the link. If at any time the system finds
no link back to you, it will flag this up, and you can opt to notify the
relevant link partner.
As the first automated linking script
that I looked at, it was very easy to fall in love with Linking101, even
given the flaws I began to see in its character a little later.
Although a bit spartan, its administrative page doesn't overwhelm - with
just seven options to choose from, it's pretty easy to decide where to
go next. If you're already receiving link requests, building a link
directory becomes a piece of cake with this baby.
On the surface, it all sounds pretty
good, and will probably suit you down to the ground if you're new to
webmastering and/or you don't have too many demands on your time, but
regretfully, there were too many gaps in Linking101's functionality for
my tastes.
The Problems
-
If you don't aspire to highly
customized pages, Linking101 will be ideal for you, because it doesn't
encourage you to play around with the established format. True,
you can add a header and footer to include your logo, and other
information about your site, as well as alter the colors of two tables
that distinguish Linking101 directories from all others, but beyond
that, editing is pretty difficult. In fact, with v.4.1, further
customization is nigh on
impossible, because all the files are encoded.
Earlier versions of the script were
written in Perl HTML syntax which is not difficult for anyone with an
reasonable knowledge of HTML to play around with safely safely, but
Larry has taken out that option. To be fair, when I queried it, he
was more than happy to send me an un-encoded version of the script,
so if you find yourself falling in love with Linking101, but need jazz
it up to your tastes (which I think is very important, not just for
establishing a unique identity but to ensure that you don't fall into
the trap that freebie Zeus users find themselves
stuck in - the search engines learn to recognize a typical Zeus page
layout and penalize 'em), you might consider requesting an un-encoded
version of the script.
-
Leaving aside the question of
customization, I became very concerned when I realised that I was going
to have to manually notify each approved applicant as to the status and
location of his or her link within my directory. Strangely,
notification for declined links are automatic. While the system
has editable e-mail templates, I should be able to configure the system
to automatically notify partners who haven't linked back, and I
certainly shouldn't have to open a separate window to confirm what I
want to say.
-
Linking 101 doesn't have any facility
for users to find suitable sites or request links from potential link
partners. If you already have more than enough requests flowing in
to you each day, this won't bother you unduly, but things may be
different if your site doesn't yet have much of a web presence - you
need to be able to go out and search for suitable partners.
Summary
It would be easy to run on and on,
listing the bells and whistles missing from Linking101 that are standard
to more expensive scripts. But that's just it; while for me, some
of those more sophisticated features feel like necessities which I'm
prepared to pay for, they'll be no more than frivolous luxuries for the
next person for whom the current version of Linking101 at the modest
price $55.00* will serve very well. A purchase of this script will
provide you with the ability to build an organized and attractive link
directory - it may just look a little "same-ish" and you'll probably
have to work that bit harder maintaining it than if you had opted for
one of the alternatives.
When I spoke to Larry, he indicated
that there were plans to make improvements to some of the elements of
the script that I've mentioned here. Since all updates are free,
if you do decide to purchase, you'll probably end up with a improved
version of the program before too long.
Find out more about
Linking101
Introduction
LinksManager Overview
Reciprocal Manager Overview
ARELIS Overview
Zeus Overview
Feature Comparison Chart
* Price at time of writing
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