WordPress XML Sitemap Generator plugin

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I love this Google XML Sitemap generator plugin and so does Google.

To clarify (in case you don’t know) a sitemap is a single page on your site that is purposely set up for search engines to read and scan (spider) very quickly and realise what posts and pages you have (content) on your site.  If you have Google webmaster tools (get a gmail or google account and follow the instructions there) there you can submit the sitemap once you create it on the blog.

Activate the plugin and then check the settings.  They look complicated but really they are not, just take your time and read through them.

You will notice at the bottom of the list there is a list of “ratings” called “sitemap content” “frequencies” and “priorities” and its important that you set these to suit your site. They will not force the changes that you make but rather are considered as suggestions.

Author: Arne Brachhold

Download the XML sitempa plugin for wordpress here.

WordPress Feedburner Feedsmith Plugin

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On your blog (and more and more websites) you will likely encounter an RSS (Really simple Syndication) feed.  Even today, there are in reality, very few people who understand or even use this feature effectively so I thought it best to fill you in right now on why its so cool for website visitors. The most popular RSS tool is `probably Feedburner (now owned by Google) so you will need to have setup your feed there in advance.

On a visitor level, the RSS feed means one thing. Access to information automatically.  When you visit a site you will no doubt encounter the RSS logo, which is typically an orange coloured square or round cornered box with a white dot and three concentric circular lines radiating out from it to the right.

When you click this icon you will be (typically but not necessarily) be presented with a screen like this with a range of options.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/justinparks

You can from here subscribe via RSS and if available subscribe via email if the option exists.  You can also “feed” the RSS into an aggregator  or RSS reader if you have one setup. Once subscribed you will from that point on receive the latest news and updates automatically to the destination as soon as they are posted or scheduled by the poster for delivery.

RSS feed with feeburner

Once you set it up (use your gmail account and hit this page: http://feedburner.google.com/ to burn the feed) you can now (finally) activate the FeedBurner Feedsmith Plugin in the WordPress admin and go to the settings page.  Drop the RSS feed address into first line as requested and your all good to go!

You will notice the comments on your blog also have an RSS feed and this is dependant on your theme and if you are using DisQus, so decide accordingly.

Author: Google

Download the FD Feedburner Plugin.

WordPress DisQus Comment System Plugin

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The DisQus system (pronounced “Dis Cus”is one of my favourite plugins, and adding it to WordPress is a breeze.

Just follow the usual steps to upload and activate it. Then, check the options to integrate it into your site. I love Disqus (I use it, but there are other systems that offer similar features like the Intense Debate WordPress Comments System) for a few reasons.

Why Disqus?

Firstly, DisQus has a few styles to choose from in regards how it appears and the functionality it presents under the Customize tab. The three themes are Narcissus, Classic A and Classic B. And although they are not amazingly different in appearance, they offer subtle changes in layout such as moving avatars from the left side to the right, more options control and similar other tweaks.

The Appearance tab allows you to select which options suit you best very quickly. It even allows you to upload a custom avatar for unregistered users, display relative time stamps on comments and other bits and bobs. The system even supports customised CSS in the final tab with some neat support to let you edit the appearance of the system, if you wish.

Of course, moderating options are also available on the system, allowing you to decide who can comment and in what manner. This depends on whether or not they’re registered. If they include a link in the comment, it may also be flagged until you ok it to be displayed, helping to cut out spam. Also included on the moderation section is a blacklist and white list of users, if the highest form of moderation is activated.

The general options on the system allow you to set up the site description, details, and most importantly, you can select the options you want regarding the use of social networks as well. This functionality allows you to integrate FaceBook and Twitter, to name but a few, so that comments are tweeted out by the commenter to their network, offering a nice promotional opportunity for your post and for them.

Neat, tidy and all in a simple and easy to read and understand layout.

But, there’s more.

Once you have the DisQus account setup, you’ll create a public profile page with all your details and information listed from your own blog as well as from any other blog you comment, which uses the DisQus system. This means that you effectively create a new “micro-comment site” on DisQus, all centred around you and your comments.

This lets you go to one single place to see all the comments you’ve made on other sites and return to them to review or monitor further responses (They have to use DisQus as well, of course). The profile itself also allows you to “advertise”, effectively, your main site or blog and your other social profiles as well, adding a nice backlink and of course allowing viewers to find out more about you easily.

Here is my DisQus Profile so you can get an idea of how it works:
Justin Parks on DisQus Comment System

The final part I want to cover is also great if you run more than one blog. Adding Disqus to each blog allows you to apply yourself as a top level moderator or admin to each site. This effectively means you can login to DisQus directly and mange multiple comment systems from one place, a real time saver and super efficient.

Author and Download: DisQus