A simple fix to this error is adding the code ” wget -O /dev/null ” before the URL of your cron job when typing it into cPanel.

With just the URL cPanel does not know which program to use.  In this case ‘wget’ is the program. Since the URL actually returns no output (for the user or for wget), wget wants to write an empty file to your hosting home directory. The ‘ -O /dev/null ‘ option tells wget to write that file to ‘nowhere’ so you don’t get a bunch of empty files cluttering up your home directory and using up inodes.

Happy Automated Blogging!

The balls as the page loads

The balls at rest - reading "Google"

Anyone know the purpose? Haven’t seen anyone mention why/what on Twitter. All in all pretty neat use of code. Maybe they are just showing off?

Wanna feel a little old? I saw this and had to share!

Open File: /app/design/frontend/default/-YOURTEMPLATE-/template/catalog/product/view/description.phtml

Locate this code:

1

<?php echo $this->helper(’catalog/output’)->productAttribute($this->getProduct(), nl2br($this->getProduct()->getDescription()), ‘description’) ?>

Replace it with this code:

1

<?php echo $this->helper(’catalog/output’)->productAttribute($this->getProduct(), $this->getProduct()->getDescription(), ‘description’) ?>

The code which causes this extra spacing is nl2br(). So if you need to adjust it in future versions or other fields just find the nl2br() call.

I was out of town I majority of day one and half of day two. Managed to arrive just before Joanna Lord took the stage and quickly(she talks fast!) fed us full of information about Social Media Tools. It was an action packed presentation at the ‘right’ pace(fast talkers=no time wasted.) Next up Jason Keath showed us some cool unicorns and a neat looking bull. He also shared some really valuable information on having a real revenue plan for social media. Then a unique character named Neal Rodriquez dropped one of the best presentations I’ve seen in my entire conference career. He explained viral traffic, digg, crack heads, teabagging, and flying on private plane then flying Jet Blue. Yes.. All of those subjects plus a ton more of craziness. Really enjoyed listening everything he had to say. The last presentation I was able to hear this day was Chris Winfield who shared information on ROI in Social Media Marketing. The whole group headed to Wild Wings Cafe where we shared some great wings and fun stories. As the night dawned on us we moved to Whiskey River where the bar was open and people were really getting started. Sadly I had work in the AM so I cut the night short before things really got out of hand!

Day 3 I was unable to make it in the AM due to some client work. I slipped in just as Dan London was explaining in-house struggles and hilariousness. I could really connect to this as I have worked in a small business where no one else had any internet marketing(or marketing in general) skills. Kate Morris gave a grand overview on PPC which I really enjoyed. All the information was very simple and probably familiar to most, but it was a great reminder of the obvious. Really got me thinking and rethinking some of my accounts. I’ve already implemented changes based on her presentation. Benjamin Rudolph gave us an overview of how to use Analytics to Optimize Landing Pages. This is something I have tons of experience in, but just like in Kate’s PPC overview I was able to spark new ideas which I plan to implement soon. The last presentation I was able to catch was Rhea Drysdale on Online Reputiation Management. I took away boatloads of truly useful information from her. ORM is something I have very little experience in. I thought I understood it/had the basics down, but her presentation really opened my eyes to what it really is.

I wish I could have made it every day for all the presentations, but the ones I attended made it worth every dime spent. I give huge props to Robert Enriquez, Keith Schilling, and Roy Morejon for putting on something amazing.

Looking forward to the next Search Exchange already!

Update: Be sure to check the comments below this post. Many users have given specific numbers and updates that may help in resolving this issue. Please leave a comment with your experience/tips to help keep this updated.

Quickly after my ATT Uverse installed was completed I fired up Outlook to start checking my mail. What?? No mail servers will connect? I run multiple web servers with multiple hosts so I was sure there was no way all could be down at the same time. I unhooked Uverse and plugged up Road Runner. Well Well.. Email works. So what could be stopping me from checking email on Uverse? After a few minutes of quick Googleing I found that by default, Uverse blocks TCP Port 25. Why block port 25? I guess to stop spammers and machines that have been zombified from sending spam emails.

So I assumed this was the end of Uverse from me. Was I really going to have to go back to Time Warner just because of a simple port? I went to call the support line, but of course I was on hold for a few minutes. While on hold I noticed their live support was available. Explained bluntly that I needed Port 25 unblocked because I run my own email servers. Based on my experience with other companies live support I expected a transfer or maybe an auto generated response explain why they could not help me. The ATT representative took a minute or two to respond, but said he could take care of this issue. No fighting, yelling, or frustration? Wow. There has to be a catch here!

No catch happened. He quickly unblocked the port for my account. Now all is good in Uverse land. I have the U-verse U450 and Max Plus Internet connection. Amazing alternative vs Time Warner in Charlotte. Highly recommended if its available in your area.

I hear this issue also exists on AT&T DSL. This solution should work with either service.

Update 8/08/2011 – This post has received quite some attention! Currently it has received 50 comments and receives roughly 500 visits per week. I hope everyone is not only able to get Port 25 unblocked, but able to save some $$$ in the process. Bandwidth has started to actually cost me $$$ to host this post.

If you want to buy me a beer or a coffee or just throw me a few bucks for saving you some here is a donate button:

The company name is Baby Melons. You can see right up top on their customer service page they have a number ready for your text question. Here is the best part about it:  you could have this setup for free and implementation is just signing up for a Google Voice number. Post the number on your website. Then receive and reply to text messages in the same way you do emails.

This is something that as a customer I would do just to try. If the experience was good I would be even more likely to purchase from the company. On the business side a customer service rep can only handle one phone call at a time. In theory now the rep could now handle multiple clients at a time with more time to respond.

Benefits: Save labor expenses, give better responses, show off a new side of technology to customers.
Negatives: Some customers may not understand how to text.

I’m always looking for more  innovative ways to close sales or communicate with customers. Do you have any? Comment below.

Direct link to the original blog article: http://blog.shopify.com/2010/5/5/let-them-text-us-for-customer-service

Large Product Options Box:

Better Formated Box

The first image is what comes out of the box with Magento. So how can you get the Product Options Box smaller and better formated? It’s an easy edit:

Open File: /app/design/frontend/default/-YOURTEMPLATE-/template/catalog/product/view.phtml

Locate this code:

1
2
3
4
5
6

</div>
        <div class="clear"></div>
        <?php if ($_product->isSaleable() && $this->hasOptions()):?>
            <?php echo $this->getChildChildHtml('container2', '', true, true) ?>
        <?php endif;?>
    </form>

Replace it with this code:

1
2
3
4
5
6

<?php if ($_product->isSaleable() && $this->hasOptions()):?>
            <?php echo $this->getChildChildHtml('container2', '', true, true) ?>
        <?php endif;?>
        </div>
        <div class="clear"></div>
    </form>

Now you have a better optimized product options box! Users with smaller resolutions will be more likely to see Add to Cart which in turn should help out your conversation rate. Of course you should always A/B Test any changes!

Add this code to the bottom of your boxes.css: (/skin/frontend/default/-YOURTHEME)/css)

1
2
3
4
5
6

.product-specs ul li { list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px; }
.short-description ul li { list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px; }
.product-specs ol li { list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px; }
.short-description ol li { list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px; }<a href="http://www.robbiehodge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/bullets.jpg"><img src="http://www.robbiehodge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/bullets.jpg" alt="" title="bullets" width="127" height="71" class="alignright size-full wp-image-156" /></a>
.description ul li { list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px;}
.description ol li { list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px;}

Now open up view.phtml (app/design/frontend/default/-YOURTHEME-/template/catalog/product/view.phtml)

Find this code:

1

<div class="short-description"><?php echo nl2br($_product->getShortDescription()) ?></div>

Replace with:

1

<div class="short-description"><?php echo $_product->getShortDescription() ?></div>

Do the same for description field and now you have bullets and ordered lists..

Hopefully one day this will be fixed/patched in. I really enjoy the wysiwyg editor, but sometimes it just causes more problems then its worth.