PostNuke

Something is not right. When I was reading an article in postnuke forum, the term seo came up. That's the time I started working on pnSEO.

I implemented some strategies one Sat. morning at 9:00am and have a tour of Washington DC. When I came back at 11pm, the ranking jumped from page 13 to page 1. What a surprise!

The following are the strategy I developed for promoting CCUS. Hope it is helpful and useful.

Read this: http://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html

2. Attitude: technique and marketing 20/80
Marketing is crucial to the success of your web site. pnSEO is part of marketing.

I would guess most people in pnCommunity will be like me: technical. Work on technical and enjoy to be technical. We may have spent 80% of our time on technical side. Setup the site, upgrade, add new functions, customization. Make the site look nice. But that's not the most important.

Do you have this experience: you work hours or days to add one module or add one function, or improve the interfaces, but no users are actually cared about it at all. This happened to me many times.

Before you start working on your web sites, think about effective and efficient. You are smart and hardworking, you maybe efficient, but are you working on the right thing (effective)?

Now 80% of the time should be spent on marketing. Start with pnSEO first.

3. Strategies

The following strategies are listed in the order of importance in my understanding.

SEO 1: SITEMAPS and Google Sitemaps.

This is the #1 strategy you should adopt. If you cannot do anything else, do this one.
It will overcome the shortcomings of CMS or dynamic sites such as Postnuke for search engines. It will let search engines to understand how your site is accessed by visitors.

"If your site has dynamic content or pages that aren't easily discovered by following links, you can use a Sitemap file to provide information about the pages on your site. This helps the spiders know what URLs are available on your site and about how often they change." -- google.com

1.1 Create sitemap using google sitemap generator.
. http://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/about.html
. Setup a schedule to resubmit your sitemap to google.

1.2 Use snakeseo to generate sitemap for Postnuke site.

SEO 2. use ShortURL and Remove session ID
Even yahoo.com is using short URLs. See http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/middleclassexilesstruggleforafoothold
2.1 Use shortURLs.
2.2 Enable Xnathia theme and enable shortURLs.
2.3 Remove session IDs from your postnuke site.

SEO 3. Title and Metadata
The page title weighs heavily in the algorithms of all the major search engines, so be prepared to spend some time on it.
Page title should be accurate, keywords-rich.
Do not include stop words (and, the, a etc.) in the title. That just wastes space.

Meta tags may not be important as before. However, some search engines still looks at meta tags.

3.1 use pnTitle to make page title relevant to the page content
3.2 use pnMeta
3.3 use Xanthia theme

SEO 4: Directory submission
4.1 Submit to ODP
4.2 Submit to Yahoo
4.3 Submit to other directory services
4.4 Submit to all kinds of search engines

SEO 5. Exchange links with top PR (page rankingweb sites. (LINK100)
5.1 use Web Links module as a repository for all external web links
5.2 Find similiar sites using keywords. We use 'Chinese Community'. ALso try using "Suggest a Link + your keywords"

5.3 Request the webmasters to include anchor text, title that reflect the keywords you are promoting
e.g. Chinese Community
instead of http://www.ChineseCommunity.us

SEO 6. Publish Blogs.
Expand the existence of your web sites in the world wide web. Let it appear in as many places as possible.
6.1 Yahoo - http://360.yahoo.com
6.2 Google - blogger.com
6.3 MSN - spaces.msn.com
6.4 CCUS - blog.chinesecommunity.us

SEO 7: RSS (feeds) submission

SEO 8. Write and Submit articles to many sites, forums, discussions.
Write down the techniques, tips, strategies, experience you have into articles. In your artciles, you can have some links to your web sites. Also your website and keywords as part of your profile.

8.1 postnuke.com. Get involved with pnCommunity. Contribute your knowledge, experience, thoughts to the growth of the community.
8.2 ezinearticles.com

SEO 9. Develop modules/utilities for others to use.
9.1 Join pnCommunity to contribute
9.2 Put your module and URL on their web sites.

SEO 10: Page design

Try to develop some common sense that will help search engines.
10.1 All web links inside have titles and appropriate anchor text
example: ChineseCommunity.us should be changed as
Chinese Community .us
Why? Title include some keywords I am promoting for Chinese Community.us. Anchor text has "Chinese Community" as keywords. Search engines are very sensitive to title text and anchor text.

10.2 All images should include descriptive, keyword-rich alt text.
Don't make it very long though.
e.g.

instead of


10.3 Internal links

1) Every page on your site should link to at least one other page.
2) Include anchor text and title text for your internal links. They should contain appropriate keywords you are promoting.
3) e.g.
go to &lta href="http://www.chinesecommunity.us" title="Chinese Community">Chinese Personals</a&gt
instead of
To go to Chinese Community, please click here

10.4 Use '-' instead of '_'
Google sees
chinese-community as chinese community
but it sees
chinese_community as chinesecommunity

10.5 No flash, splash, animation, rollovers etc. unless absolutely necessary.

10.6 No frames.

10.7 No JavaScript.

10.8 Include keywords inside your headings, such as H1, H3, H5

4. Do not overdo SEO.
You might get penalized and all your efforts will be wasted. Cloaking, hidden text will hurt your rankings in the long run. Build pages that the search engines will love (text-based, content-rich, tightly focused ) and you'll see the result.

Use your common sense to determine whether you are beyond the limit.

on text:

- --- 1. SQL-injection in module Download ---

Given SQL-injection not critical since exploit works only under rights of the manager (mysql)

The Problem in file "modules/Downloads/dl-viewdownload.php".

- --------
if ($show!="") {
$perpage = $show;
} else {
$show=$perpage;
}
...
$result =& $dbconn->SelectLimit($sql,$perpage,$min);
- --------
varible $perpage.

$perpage at request is not checked. If substitute in parameter $show (amount element on page), for instance, "0" or "-3" or "asdf" or anything bad, importance will not is checked

Decision:

Install the new version PostNuke 0.760 Если you do not be going to to move to version 0.760, that decision following:

in file dl-viewdownload.php, in function viewdownload(), viewsdownload() copy code:
if ($show!="") {
$perpage = $show;
} else {
$show=$perpage;

on following code

if ( (isset($show)) && is_numeric($show) && ($show >= 0) ) {
$perpage = $show;
} else {
$show = $perpage;
}

In the event of invalid parameter will is issued importance by default, taken from deskside (thanks TAndrew)

or following decision - in file dl-viewdownload.php, in function viewdownload(), viewsdownload() copy code
$result =& $dbconn->SelectLimit($sql,$perpage,$min);
change on
$result =& $dbconn->SelectLimit($sql,(int)$perpage,(int)$min);

Empty page will is issued In the event of invalid parameter

The pnLanguages Project
and on
The pnFrance Project
----

Suivant la vague des traductions disponibles...

Pack français pour PostNuke disponible sur
Le projet pnLanguage
et sur
Le projet pnFrance

F. Chestnut !
(PostNuke-France.org 2.0 Coming soon !)

* Download translation: here
* Download Postnuke 0.760 + spanish translation included: here

Install lang files also have been translated to spanish

el_cuervo

Summary of Main Changes

Further cleaning of HTML

• pn-normal custom class removed in favor of styling of block level element using CSS
• pn-pagetitle class replaced by use of h1 tag
• pn-title class replaced by use of h2 tag
• all fake lists created using middot's replaced with proper lists

Simplication of non API compliant links

op=modload & file=index are the defaults so these are removed from all links

New printer (Xanthia) theme - enables printable view of any page

A printable view of any page is available using the printer theme. Append the url theme=Printer to the url or build a 'print me' button into your theme.

Removal of NS- prefix on all modules

All modules that contained the NS- prefix in the directory name have had this removed. This prefix is a result of our origins in php-nuke.

Baseline security analyzer

This new feature adds a check for some of the more basic configuration settings that can enhance the security of a PostNuke installation.

New features in core

• Modules can now be referenced using an 'alias' via the module display name setting.
• Default start function type, function name & parameters to the function can be defined. Note: API compliant modules only.
• Standard database connection error moved to a 'template' in includes/templates.
• Ability to turn the site off for maintainence (access to provided via permissions setting).
• Smarty updated to v2.6.10.
• ADODB updated to v4.6.5.

Modules

Admin_Messages, Modules, Blocks, Permissions, Groups, legal, Censor, Messages, Ephemerids, Quotes, Autolinks, AvantGo, Credits, Members_List, Ratings & Admin have been updated for full API compliance and templated output.

New modules

• Sniffer; Detects browser and browser capabilities using phpSniff (by Roger Raymond).
• RSS; Replaces dated feed handling with an xml based parser (magpie rss).

Bug fixes

• Xanthia - many fixes since original release.
• Mailer (added support for additional headers, bcc's & cc's), fixed sending to multiple addresses.

New features in modules (in addition to API compliance and templated output)

Modules module

• filter by letter, state
• graphical indicatator of state
• detection of change of type, admin & user capability
• ability to recover from missing files state

Blocks

• graphical indicatator of state
• ability to define each block as collaspable (credit to Mark Heldstab)
• ability to define each blocks' default collapseable state (credit to Mark Heldstab)

Others

• Groups - ability to add multiple users to a group in one go
• legal - added template accessibility report (thanks to http://diveintoaccessibility.org)
• Censor - added transfrom hook for censor module (supercedes pnVarCensor API - maintained for backwards compatability)
• Admin - added ability to split modules into categories, the categories view are skinable via a single stylesheet
• Credits - support for multiple module contacts via comma seperated values in pnversion.php

The PostNuke Software Foundation (PNSF) was established last year in June 2004 with the details being finalized recently. The founding members of the organization are: Harry Zink of Fizbin LLC,  Mark West Lead Developer, German PostNuke Foundation, currently represented by Andreas Krapohl, Drak of HostNuke, and Vanessa Haakenson. (see short bios below)

The functions of the founding members serve a managerial and strategic function, ensuring the project goals and directions remain constant and true to the open source philosophy, quality coding, collaboration, and open standards. It's important to stress you are not required to be member of the foundation (there is currently no membership option) to contribute to the project.

As a result of our combined experiences over the last four years the founding members agree the best way to move the project forward is to have a PN Steering Committee* (see details below) consisting of members of the various teams chosen from well-known, long term active community members and developers.

The job of the steering committee will be to handle the day-to-day running of the project and will be chosen by the founding members. The announcement of the appointments will be made within the next 10 days.

In closing, in the coming days look for an announcement regarding the PN Steering Committee and over the coming weeks look for announcements about a new look/feel for main PN site, a formal site for the foundation (read current bylaws here: http://www.postnuke.com/foundation/) and an updated project road map.

We have set up a forum for further discussions regarding the foundation here.

Viva la PN!

Sincerely,

Board of Directors
PostNuke Software Foundation, Inc

Harry Zink through Fizbin, LLC
Mark West, Lead Developer
German Postnuke Foundation, currently represented by Andreas Krapohl
Drak through HostNuke
Vanessa Haakenson

_________________________________________________________
PNSF Facts & Information
PostNuke Software Foundation
Non-profit registered in the State of Delaware

PostNuke Steering Committee
Advisory body made up of members of the various teams and responsibilities include:

• Community management & resourcing
• Determine software project priorities
• PostNuke software development and direction
• Provide policy recommendations
• Approval of development plans

Goals/Objectives:
The Corporation is a non-profit organization organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. No part of the earnings of the Corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of or be distributed to any member or individual having a personal or private interest in the activities of the Corporation.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors serve a managerial and strategic function, ensuring PostNuke remains constant and true to the open source philosophy, quality coding, collaboration, and open standards. The following people/organizations serve as initial members of the corporation:

Fizbin, LLC (Harry Zink)
One of the original founders of the project, Harry has been a constant, continued project supporter. He works as a systems administrator for a large entertainment corporation and lives in Los Angeles, California. He has a Ph.D. in psychology and loves to travel to Thailand for the food.

Vanessa Haakenson
Is co-founder of Distance-Educator.com and has been an active participant in PostNuke since July 2001 consulting on usability issues and acting as a PN evangelist to the educational community. In November of 2001 she started the site Designs4Nuke.com to consolidate and share all the information and resources regarding theme design for PostNuke. With a Master's Degree in Educational Technology she brings a unique perspective to the project having developed web based products focusing on usability, standards, documentation, and community. Over the years she has presented at conferences about PostNuke and has authored articles on effective information design. She recently moved with her son from San Diego, California to Woodland Park, a small mountain town in Colorado.

HostNuke Ltd. (Drak)
Drak has been with the project since July 2001 and was the first to create hosting accounts with PostNuke preinstalled as a way of making it easy for new users to get started. He has 19 years experience in the computer industry and devotes most of his time working for a humanitarian charity. He donates equipment and colocation to the project and is responsive for all server level security and administration.

Mark West, Lead Developer
Works as the computing officer for Systems and Operations for Kingston University and lives in South West London, UK. He specializes in directory enabled enterprise computing, he's taught programming; techniques, data structures and algorithms to first year undergrads at Kingston University and adheres to a strict style of programming - heavy on layout, consistency and style. Believing the benefits of this strict, consistent and academic approach to coding is a stronger, more stable and bug free end product. He has been using PostNuke from the.70x. series and is the lead developer.

German PostNuke Foundation (Represented by Andreas Krapohl)
Andreas Krapohl [aka larsneo] is President of the German PostNuke e.V. foundation and is the head of IT for a local newspaper in southern Germany. Has been with PostNuke since almost the beginning - at first with some translation stuff, then as module author (phpBB_14) and since early 2002 as a core developer. Main focus is security, usability and accessibility. He believes a solution should be simple and elegant.


Current Jobs in PostNuke Structure

• Development & Quality Assurance
• Communications & News Moderation
• Forum Moderation & Support
• Documentation
• Language Project
• Marketing

The following was posted on June 29th in PNSA 2005-3:

DESCRIPTION
PostNuke CMS is an open source, open development content management system (CMS). PostNuke CMS started as a fork from PHPNuke and provides many enhancements and improvements over the PHP-Nuke system.
PostNuke CMS is still undergoing development but a large number of core functions are now stabilising and a complete API for third-party developers (including ADODB database abstraction and SMARTY templating) is in place.
The PostNuke CMS Development Team was notified about a security issue within the current .750 stable package and the .760 development tree.

VULNERABILTIES
- remote code injection via xml rpc library

SOLUTION
It is recommended that all admins deactivate and remove the 'xmlrpc' module within administration-modules and additionaly remove /xmlrpc.php and and the /modules/xmlrpc folder completly from the filesystem.

Andreas Krapohl [larsneo]
PostNuke CMS Development Team

Live Cam Feed

: http://support.pn-cms.de/webcam.htm

Presentations and Papers

Download the presentations and papers here when the weekend in finished: http://support.pn-cms.de/Downloads-req-viewdownload-cid-8.htm

Missed the Live Feed: Checkout the History of Pictures

http://www.juist-news.net/cgi-bin/pnmeeting/view.pl

Conference Agenda

Saturday, August 13, 2005

9:00 Official Start
Welcome message

10:00
Whats going on behind the scenes right now for .8? (all)

10:45
What's left to be done for .8 and what comes next (Mark)

11:30
Debugging Tools (Sebastian)

12:30
Lunch break

13:30
Introduction to the new Module Developer Tutorial (Jörg)

14:00
OpenStar: Background & Targets (Robert Gasch)

14:45
OpenStar: Module development using the OpenStar-libraries (Robert Gasch)

15:30
API Level Bug considerations (Sebastian)

16:15
PostNuke Foundation (Mark, Drak, Andreas)

19:00+
Biergarten

Sunday, August 14, 2005
9:00 Begin

9:15
PostNuke in commercial environments I(itevo)

10:00
PostNuke in commercial environments II(itevo)

10:45
Introduction to the new Folder module (Jörn)

11:30+
Annual general meeting of the PostNuke e.V.