WordPress is often used as a blogging or publishing platform (like we do at DailyBlogging). But we must not forget that WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) as well.

As of today, the WordPress plugin directory has around 19,455 plugins which have been downloaded innumerable number of times. Many developers don’t even put up their plugins in the directory, so you can count a handful of those too.

Today we’ll be seeing the best 3 WordPress plugins which will help you to build a complete e-commerce (electronic commerce) site. I’ve left out WP e-Commerce from this list on account of the negative feedback received by it.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce - A Complete e-commerce plugin for WordPress

WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin built by the popular WordPress theme store, WooThemes. It comes with premium themes & extensions. However there are three free extensions, fortunately all of them are useful and have something to do with the payment gateway.

The feature list of WooCommerce is quite long. The highlights being:

• Wonderful back-end Admin panel
• Compatibility with majority of the WordPress themes
• Customizeable style & features
• Dashboard Widgets
• Sidebar Widgets (with short-codes)
• And basic e-commerce features (PayPal, Bank Transfer, Cash-On-Delivery as a payment gateway system, sales reports, email notification to the buyer, etc.)

2. eShop

eShop

eShop works very similar to the way WooCommerce does. Both use the page template type to create e-commerce pages (like My Accounts, List Orders, etc.) Although eShop doesn’t have an extensive feature list, it comes with most of the things that an e-commerce site needs.

It lets you upload downloadable products (like an mp3 or pdf file). You can also download the site sales reports from the admin panel. eShop is compatible with WordPress MultiUser (WPMU) & WP Affiliate.

3. TheCartPress

TheCartPress

Now for the third & the last e-commerce WordPress plugin, I had to choose between TheCartPress & WP Online Store. The latter, which uses the osCommerce code has a long feature list but I felt that TheCartPress is more organized in the way it functions.

TheCartPress has many extensions & premium themes to work along with the core plugin. Some of the important features of TheCartPress are listed below,

• Offers a multi-language e-commerce solution
• Sidebar Widgets
• Related products, reviews/ratings
• Payment gateway plugins - PayFlow Pro, PayFlow Link, BarclayCard, PayMate, PayWay, FreshBooks & Ceca
• Theme compatibility
• TheCartPress plugins
• TCP Hooks – Actions & Filters
• SEO Compatible (Yoast’s WordPress SEO & All In One SEO Plugin)
• Works with WPMU
• Different user roles (Merchant & vendor)

There are many other popular e-commerce plugins in the WordPress directory, but I had shortlisted the above three. Would love to hear better alternatives to any of these in the comments section. Before you run away from this page, check out the best WordPress SEO Plugins & 7 Spam Plugins for WordPress.

Have you tried these e-commerce plugins on your WordPress site ? If yes, which among these is your favorite ??

3 WordPress Plugins to Run an E-Commerce Site is a post from: DailyBlogging

Google Chrome has certainly made its place among the best browsers in the web, but just bare chrome, i.e., with no extensions is not that much useful for daily working. To make your browsing more enhanced and better, chrome webstore has thousands of chrome extensions for you to add to your browser.

Though the Chrome webstore has a really huge number of chrome extensions, it is a tedious job to find some of the best chrome extensions from the webstore, which will really help you in your daily browsing.

So to make this task easier for you, I have come up with a list of some great chrome extensions that will surely be useful to you.

1. Ginger

Ginger - A Grammar & Spell-Checker for Chrome

Ginger is a handy extension for your chrome browser if you write a lot of stuff on the Internet, for instance blogging, composing long emails, etc.

This chrome extension will automatically check for grammatical and spelling mistakes when you are typing something, no matter where it is, whether in Gmail or any other place and show up suggestions for those mistakes, so that you can correct them with a single click.

2. AutoPagerize

AutoPagerize - Preload & Append the next pages

AutoPagerize is another great extension which helps you browse faster by loading the next pages in a site or in search results automatically as you scroll down to the bottom of the page, thus saving your time in clicking for the next button to go to the next page.

3. Lyrics for Google Chrome™

Lyrics for Google Chrome

Lyrics for Google Chrome is one of the best tools for music and YouTube lovers, as it lets you sing karaoke, by showing up lyrics automatically when you play any song in YouTube, Last.fm or GrooveShark or even at Google Music.

This plugin is also great in sense of design, as the layout blends with the page.

4. SpeakIt!

Speak It - A Text Reader Extension for Google Chrome

SpeakIt! is a good utility for those who are not comfortable with reading long articles. The extension speaks out the whole article or any part of the article which you select. You can also choose to pause reading & change  the volume easily with this extension.

5. Linkclump

Linkclump allows you open multiple links at the same time on different tabs

Linkclump is a nice extension which allows you to open multiple links in different tabs or different windows by just selecting a part of a page containing the links. With this extension you can not only open links, but can also save and bookmark them, all at once easily.

So which among these is your pick ?

5 Google Chrome Extensions for a better Browsing Experience is a post from: DailyBlogging

Rovio Entertainment, the creator of the popular mobile, desktop based physics game Angry Birds has released the financial results for the year 2011. The report says that Angry Birds has been downloaded more than 648 million times across all platforms (Android, iOS & Desktop).

Also, there are about 200 million active users of Angry Birds as of now. The addition of Angry Birds Space has definitely helped Rovio to increase the user activity. The latest version which took the game-play to a whole new level attracted a lot of installs on the three main platforms.

However the 648 Million download figure includes only the earlier 3 versions – viz Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons & Angry Birds Rio.

The revenue figures are pretty good as well. The financial results show that the company earned around €74.3 Million in the year 2011.

Mikael Hed, the CEO of Rovio says,

The strong growth in revenue clearly demonstrates the popularity of the Angry Birds brand. To ensure continuous success we need to be creative and stay focused on entertaining our millions of fans by continuously developing new and innovative products and services.

Rovio - Angry Birds

A good proportion (about 30%) of the revenue has come from the Angry Birds merchandises & licensing. The employee count has significantly increased from 28 to 224 by the end of 2011.

The advertisement free, high-definition (HD) versions of the game are getting a few installs lately. The Rovio chief is extremely optimistic about the progress & expects an even better year.

Rovio’s Angry Birds crosses 648 Million Downloads, Earns €74.3 Million is a post from: DailyBlogging

For students entering colleges and universities for the first time, earning a degree requires tools that didn’t exist a decade ago—and cloud computing is one of the new tools students and their instructors are using.

But cloud computing can do more than let users exchange data—they can also use it to collaborate and exchange ideas.

Cloud computing isn’t exactly new, although companies like Apple and Amazon are marketing their cloud services to the general public. Many colleges and universities have used the cloud as a component of their learning management systems, web-based platforms used by schools to post course content and store data.

Learning management systems allow instructors to post syllabi, assignments and course announcements—they also sometimes feature message boards and chat rooms where instructors can lead online class discussions and communicate with students one-on-one.

Cloud Computing

[Image Credit]

For students working toward an online degree, learning management systems can serve as a home base where they receive information about their courses, instructors and classmates.

But cloud computing in higher education isn’t always confined to university-run platforms. Many instructors are using cloud services like Dropbox and Google Docs to work on group projects, share research and keep copies of papers or another assignments.

The ability to access data from anywhere can be especially important when students graduate and begin building online portfolios and resumes.

On-the-cloud job training

Students who learn to use cloud computing in high school and college are also preparing themselves to use that technology in their careers. As the workplace relies more heavily on the Internet to complete tasks and communicate, cloud computing can be a secure way for businesses to become more efficient: offices can store client files and other information on a private cloud, which can save money and physical space.

Learning the benefits and the drawbacks of cloud computing can be an asset for workers; helping their companies transition from a paper-based system to an online platform is becoming a valuable skill.

But knowing how to use cloud computing is just part of the value: knowing how to collaborate in a cloud-based environment can be useful as well. By giving workers the ability to share information instantly, to communicate with each other at any time about data or files, and to meet online regardless of physical location, teams can work more efficiently and creatively.

One of the goals of a college education is to prepare students for careers, and with the speed at which technology advances, students who use it in their everyday lives will have an advantage over their job market competition.

Cloud computing is poised to change the way we store and exchange data, but it’s also changing the way we teach, learn and work. With the Internet as an essential part of our lives, people who learn to use cloud computing are leading the way into a digital future.

Lindsey Harper Mac is a writer and editor in the Midwest working on her Master’s Degree.

Cloud Computing – It’s Importance & Advantages is a post from: DailyBlogging

Social networking sites have become a very popular media marketing tool. Sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are used by organizations to create and maintain a legitimate business identity on the World Wide Web.

As the internet caters to a large and diverse audience, it is the perfect forum for businesses to market themselves. But, like all forums of public interaction, certain rules of etiquette must be followed when using these social media services.

Also read effective ways to succeed in social media marketing before continuing further. This post focuses more on the etiquette & rules part unlike that one.

The following is a discussion of a few of them.

Provide complete and correct information

When you start using social networks, the basic etiquette rule is to provide complete and accurate information when you announce your presence.

As the internet is used by people all over the globe, certain sites will have privacy protection on their sites and forums. If you know the proprietor, proper information will let them know that it is not a stranger but an acquaintance that requires access to their website or forum.

Providing accurate and relevant information will also help visitors to recognize your organization’s website.

Promote other interests

The main benefit of using these social media services is to create a favorable impression of your organization on the internet. Constantly providing information about your company and its products and services will irritate the other internet users.

Social Media Etiquette

[Image Credit 1,2]

Connect and interact with other people and websites and promote their interests as well. In doing so, your online presence will be seen in a positive light which will attract more visitors to your website or page.

Refrain from posting derogatory remarks

As the internet offers an anonymous attendance, people often write derogatory remarks as they are comfortable in the knowledge that they cannot be recognized.

This will not only prove that you are uncouth, but will also create an unfavorable image about you and your company. Repeated offenses could also get you banned from certain networking sites.

Avoid celebrity attachments

Although mentioning celebrity names can help you attract attention to your webpage, fixating on their lives is considered as a shameful marketing ploy. Regular updates concerning the lives of celebrities only let people know that there is nothing worthwhile happening in your organization.

Consider the audience

Always remember that business networking on social media websites is a dialogue. Take special steps to ensure that you are utilizing these social media services to build a positive connection with the public who could become potential customers.

Always be courteous in all your interactions as this will help in attracting people’s attention to you and subsequently, your website. At times, there might also be some users who will post inflammatory statements about you or the company.

Do not get provoked and try to maintain a gracious demeanor in all your interactions.

While posting content on networking sites, remember to include the link to your official website. Proof-read the content to make sure that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Most importantly, never present inaccurate information or make false claims. These actions could have serious legal repercussions.

By following these basic rules of etiquette, you can ensure that you receive the maximum benefits from social media services for marketing your products & services.

So do you agree with the social media marketing etiquette listed in this post ?

5 Etiquette/Rules of a Successful Social Media Marketing Campaign is a post from: DailyBlogging

Facebook has again reinvented themselves with the introduction of the Timeline feature. Brand pages now have a more visual friendly layout, the opportunity to tell a more authentic history, highlight and pin posts all while viewing real-time activity using the page analytics.

The Timeline feature has been around for a few months now for people to express & judge, and so far we have seen mixed reviews. But how are some of the world’s largest brands dealing with this? Are they panicking or embracing the change? In this case study we take a look at some of the industry leaders compared to their top competitors; Nike vs Adidas, Starbucks vs Dunkin Donuts, Toyota vs Honda and AT&T vs Sprint.

Adidas' Facebook Brand Page

Some of the biggest names in the business made the switch early to further separate themselves from the competition. Each of the four industry leaders in this study embraced the more visual friendly cover art as opposed to a welcome page or the traditional Facebook wall.

Is this an indicator of which organization is the bigger and better company? That’s hard to say, but we can definitely conclude that these prestigious brand names truly understand the purpose of social media and leverage these changes to offer a more engaging, appealing and story-telling experience for their consumers.

In our study, we found that Nike, Starbucks, Toyota and AT&T made the change to the new Facebook Timeline layout, while each of their top competitors stuck with the old layout, which in comparison now looks like a cheap website designed in the late 90′s compared to the new Timeline layout. Starbucks, Toyota and AT&T took advantage of the new milestone feature to better explain the back story of their companies.

Fans can now dive deeper into the history of the company, where they came from and learn about some major accomplishments, all easily accessible from the landing page instead of clicking tabs or reading a long drawn out history as with the old Facebook layout.

All the companies that switched have reaped the rest of the benefits the Timeline feature has to offer. Just by switching formats Facebook users get to view which of their friends like the brand stapled right under the cover art instead of hidden in the upper right corner and also feature any friends that are talking about the company.

Page administrators also have used the “pin it” feature, keeping important posts “pinned” to the top of the page like a “sticky” in a forum, along with highlighting posts, spanning them across the width of the page to catch users attention.

Starbucks' FB Page

In a side by side comparison between brand pages featuring Facebook’s Timeline and older landing pages, it becomes obvious which page would get more attention. The overall branding opportunity using Timeline adds visual appeal, legitimacy and more social interaction features all within the body of the page.

The world’s most prestigious brand names embraced Facebook’s new Timeline feature to further separate themselves from the competition and are reaping the early benefits of more followers that have a deeper understanding of their brand name.

So instead of abandoning Facebook altogether, get creative, take notes from these companies (along with pages from Walmart, Target and Sears), experiment and look forward to the next change rather than looking at March 30th as the day Facebook died. Some of the most prestigious brand names are managing to stay leaps ahead of their competitors in the social media realm, make sure you do too.

So what do you think about the Timeline’d Facebook pages ?

How the World’s Largest Brands Stay Ahead of their Competitors on Facebook is a post from: DailyBlogging

Ever felt the need to know when you had filled up the sign-up form for GMail ? Perhaps, GMail was invite-only when you signed up for your first Google Mail id. It probably were the good old days of GMail BETA.

To start with, I would like to make it clear that there is no special page (reserved) for checking the account creation date. But we sure can check it How ?, just follow the steps listed below.

• Login to your GMail Account and Select the Settings option from the GMail Toolbox dropdown (located at the extreme right).
• Navigate to the ‘Forwarding and POP/IMAP‘ tab in that page.
• Now in the POP Download section you’ll see a similar message “1. Status: POP is enabled for all mail that has arrived since 1/26/06“.
• The date in that message indicates when you created your GMail account.

It's been 6 years

It’s a pretty short and easy tutorial, so check it out. Special thanks to Mani Karthik for the tip. Also go ahead and read some of the similar posts displayed below this post.

So from how many years you are using this awesome mail service ?

Check when you Created your GMail Account is a post from: DailyBlogging

This is a guest post by Tuan, who is a blogger & writes useful guides on how to blog for money.

To reach the higher ranking especially #1 in Google and other search engines like Yahoo, Bing and so on can be tough and easy at the same time. Taking your site or getting your blog higher in ranking takes a lot of time and if you are given any shortcut, then you need to know that the person is lying with you.

There is no shortcut for ranking higher in search engine results page (SERP). Many tips are there which are still hidden to webmaster about SEO but here are 6 top SEO tips for you to peruse for the sake of getting higher ranking in Google.

Search Engine Optimization

#1 Good Searchable Content

Even after matching or optimizing your tags, you need to keep the content of the site very relevant to SEO so that you may reach at the spot where you want.

For example, if you have made a site related to some material, you need to use the name of the material many times in your site so that Google thinks that your content is relevant to your site and you may achieve higher rankings. Moreover, it is also important for you to keep your keywords in the first paragraph (or header section) of your post.

#2 Quality Theme

We all know how a well-designed theme can affect our site’s ranking. It is not just about the look, the reading experience of our visitors but also the loading speed of websites. Google has mentioned several times in video blogs, blogs on how the site speed affects it’s ranking.

This is understandable because it will reduce their servers’ workload and improve readers’ experience at the same time. You need to find out a quality theme for your blog that is lightweight, well designed and the current trend is premium responsive themes for WordPress because they could fit to any screen size.

#3 Optimize Title & Description Meta Tags

A Title tag is the easiest and the most effective way to optimize your site or particular page. In other words, focusing on the keyword is the best option for you to rank higher in Google and other search engines.

For example, if you are going to make a site on the keyword “jungle gyms”, you need to focus on a title (with this keyword) so that you may reach the right position in search engines. Moreover, you need to select those blog post titles which are easily searchable by the readers and users. Google thinks that these title tags are very important and crucial.

The above go for description tags as well. Choose a couple of keyword (depending on the keyword density) from your entire blog post and put them in the description field.

#4 Inner or Inter Linking

Try as much as you can to link all the pages of your site so that the search engines understand that you are paying full attention to the entire site, not just the home page. So, you need to make sure that you use proper anchor texts in the inner links. This way, the readers will not only reach the page where they want to, but the search bots or spiders will also be able to navigate and index all your pages.

#5 Build Backlinks

In SEO, backlinks are the most important factor (of course after quality content) which you need to keep in mind. If your site does not have quality backlinks, you will have to suffer from problems. If you want to make it to the Top 5 in SERP (Search Engine Results Page) then building backlinks is probably the only option you’ve in your hand.

On the other hand, rather than adopting the services of some webmaster, you can build backlinks on your own. Blog Commenting on Dofollow, CommentLuv/KeywordLuv enabled blogs is one of the easiest methods to go with. You can build backlinks to your site using articles directories and forums at the same time.

More backlinks will take your site higher up in the rankings. SEO optimized content must be kept in mind while building backlinks to your site.

#6 Patience and again Patience

Taking a site higher in ranking takes steady work and most of the site owners don’t have much patience to give time to their work and then see the results. They want to do this in one day. So, be patent if you want to get your site higher in Google or any other search engine.

You need to understand SEO tools and SEO strategies, which obviously will not come in your night dreams after a day of hard work. So, by following these top 6 SEO tips, you can get your site to the top position in rankings with ease.

Top 6 SEO Tips to reach Higher Rankings in Google Search is a post from: DailyBlogging