My laptops were stolen from my home and all my files along with them. Thank goodness my laptops were recovered, unfortunately, the files stayed gone. It seems the thieves actually wiped both of my hard drives.

If you’re interested in reading more about it, and the lessons I’ve gleaned, visit How Will a Catastrophic Data Loss Affect You and Your Business.

Although I did have a back up hard drive, I hadn’t backed up my most recent updates, which meant I lost the bonus guides and updated videos that I’d been working on. Many, many hours went into them and now they must be started from scratch.

And, as if that wasn’t already bad enough, it seems that the WP Affiliate Guide website chose that time to pitch a hissy-fit and refused to allow logins or downloads.

Please accept my deepest apologies if you were affected. I’ve been able to fix the site and you should now be able to log in and download your products without trouble.

If you do experience a problem, please let me know (don’t forget to tell me the specific problem along with your browser and anything you might be doing to trigger it) so I can look into it.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

On a brighter note, this month, I’ll be giving away a free copy of Rosalind Gardner’s Super Affiliate Handbook (it’s a physical copy). Although it’s the November 2006 edition, much of the content is still quite relevant today. To learn more and enter, visit Super Affiliate Handbook Giveaway.

Wishing you much success!

This email has been a little while in the making and you have my
apologies for the delay. Some of you may already know, but I’ve
been working on a couple different projects–the main one I
cannot speak about due to an NDA (non-disclosure agreement)–and
they’ve kept me incredibly busy.

The time I would normally spend updating and tweaking the WP
Affiliate Guide and my other web properties has been siphoned
off. So this past week, I came to a very difficult decision, one
I feel will benefit all of us in the long run.

But first…

=======================================
2. Adding Affiliate Content
=======================================

In the WP Affiliate Guide course, I discuss adding affiliate
content to the website and even offer up an example with
datafeeds and mention the Datafeed to RSS (DF2RSS) script.

While I was making a few updates to the DF2RSS script, it
occurred to me that I didn’t offer one for the DF2RSS
script. I figure now is as good a time as any to rectify that.

Currently the DF2RSS script retails for $49.95:
http://www.datafeedtorss.com/ — don’t purchase from that link if
you want the discount.

But I’m going to offer a time-limited discount for WPAG
customers. As of now, you can grab the script for only $29.95;
it’s the lowest price available and it will only be valid through
March 2.

For the discounted price, visit:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/visit/df2rss/

As I mentioned earlier, I made some changes to the script. Now,
you no longer need to upload your datafeed file via FTP (unless
you want to) and I’ve added an option to convert the datafeed
specifically for use with WordPress, no core file modifications
necessary. (There is a WP bug that causes errors when importing
certain valid RSS 2.0 feeds).

=======================================
3. WPAG Updates
=======================================

The WordPress Affiliate Guide has undergone an update. Since the
release of WordPress 2.7, many changes have been made to the
overall structure, layout, and functionality of the software. Old
and outdated information has been removed with new information
taking its place.

Also, the Simple Link Manager stand alone script and plugin have
been merged with the WP Affiliate Guide website and have been re-
branded. They are now the WPAG Link Manager script and plugin.
The plugin has already been updated to work with WP 2.7, so if
you haven’t already done so, log into your account and download
the most up-to-date version of the plugin.

Be aware, however, that this new version will work *only* with WP
2.7.x, so if you’re still running an older version of WP, keep a
back up copy of the plugin just in case.

The updated videos are currently in production and will be
brought online as of Monday March 2.

To get the updated materials, log into your account and download
it from under ‘Your Purchases’ in the admin area, and the updated
bonuses can be downloaded from the bonus area.

If you don’t remember your password, they are not kept on file,
so you will need to use the password recovery tool to have it
reset and emailed to you. Your username is your payment email
address and your email is the email address listed in your
profile (i.e. the one where you’re receiving this email).

=======================================
4. A Whopping Big Decision
=======================================

This decision is a bittersweet one, but I feel it’s in everyone’s
best interest. I’ve decided to put the WP Affiliate Guide website
and products up for sale.

I hope you don’t mind if I get a little personal for a moment.
Deciding to sell the WP Affiliate Guide was *very* difficult for
me. In the year that it’s been online, I’ve come to think of it
as a virtual family and now, in a sense, I’m having to say good-
bye.

Frankly, I’m going to miss you. I love WordPress, affiliate
marketing, and helping others, but this is a necessary step. My
time has been spread far too thin and I cannot give the WP
Affiliate Guide as much love and attention as I would like. (It’s
times like this that I wish I could clone myself.)

My goal with this sale is to hand the reigns over to someone who
will care about the WP Affiliate Guide family as much as I do and
who will take it to the next level.

For now, things may be a little quiet, but you don’t need to
worry. Once the sale is complete, you’ll receive another
announcement email with the details.

==================================
5. Finishing Up
==================================

Don’t forget, you can grab the DF2RSS script at the discounted
rate through this weekend:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/visit/df2rss/ and you can log
into your account to download the updated WPAG materials.

Also, if you ever miss an issue of the WP Affiliate Guide
newsletter, you can read it online at the newsletter archives:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/newsletters/. The current
newsletter is usually added a couple of days after being sent
out.

Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all your endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

The release of WordPress 2.7 meant a significant change in the handling of the management pages for the link management plugin. A new version (0.4) of the plugin is available, however, it’s important to note that this new version is only compatible with WordPress 2.7.x and is not backwards compatible. Before upgrading to this new version, it’s important to make sure of two things:

1. You have a legacy version of 0.3 backed up somewhere for any WP 2.6.x and lower blogs, as legacy versions of the plugin will no longer be available for download from this site
2. You have a working installation of WordPress 2.7.x

Assuming that the above conditions are met, you can download the updated plugin from your account, or if you’re using the lite version of the plugin, it can be downloaded from the bonuses area.

If you no longer remember your username and password combination, you can use the password recovery tool to have it reset.

Please read on to find out what I mean…

=======================================
2. Beefing Up the Bonuses
=======================================
One thing I enjoy doing is providing my customers with bonuses.
Usually these bonus items are of my own unique creation and or
start out as creations for my own personal use. Based on feedback
I offer them up.

In case you haven’t visited the bonuses section lately, here’s
what you’ll find:

* WordPress Mini Site Report and Theme: This is a short report
explaining how to build a lazy affiliate style mini site using
WordPress and the included theme. I’ve already received great
feedback from some of the folks building small sites with it, so
if you haven’t already grabbed your copy, now is a good time to
do so.

* Simplified Silos with WordPress: Creating SEO silo sites with
WordPress is all the rage. This is a technique I’ve been using
long before the term silo was coined, except I used it mainly on
category structure. In this report, however, I focus on creating
a silo site using WordPress’ pages feature.

* Super Social Directory: Web 2.0 and social websites are hot,
especially for building traffic and backlinks. This is a
directory of social networking, bookmarking, and video sharing
websites including their PageRank and Alexa rankings.

* Affiliate Sandbox Theme: Since placing one of my personal
affiliate websites on display with a customized theme, the #1
question I received was “how do you get the categories to do
that?” and rather than just answer, I decided to create a basic
theme. This is a bare bones theme which mimics the style of a
catalog style website–all that’s required is your own personal
styling and graphics.

Those items can be downloaded from the bonus area:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/bonuses

But, that’s not all you’ll find at that link. I’ve decided to
beef up the bonuses with lite versions of two of my most popular
scripts.

* Simple Link Manager Plugin Lite: This lightweight script allows you to
create and manage your links from within your WordPress admin
panel. You can define your own custom slugs (i.e. go, goto,
recommends, etc.), track your clicks, and search through your
links. (Simple Link Manager Plugin)

Enjoy http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/bonuses

=======================================
3. Tell Me What You Want
=======================================
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be updating the videos
section. If there are any videos you’d specifically like to see
included, please say the word.

Also, I want to add a few additional reports to the bonuses
section. One report that I’ve already outlined is building a
membership site using WordPress. If you have any specific
questions about setting up a membership site with WordPress,
please ask so I can make the guide as thorough as possible. And,
if there’s a specific report/tutorial you’d like to see covered,
speak up.

To keep things organized, I’ve set up a special email address
just for these suggestions and requests. If you want to get in
on the fun, just send an email to [REMOVED].

==================================
4. Finishing Up
==================================
Told you it would be short.

Remember, if you ever miss an issue of the WP Affiliate Guide
newsletter, you can read it online at the newsletter archives:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/newsletters/. The current
newsletter is usually added within a couple days of being sent
out.

Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

I hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend and that your week will be
filled with fun and excitement.

=======================================
2. The Halfway Mark
=======================================
On Sunday, I took some time to revisit my New Year’s resolutions
to gauge how far I’d come. You may be wondering *why*, but in
case you missed it, June 1 was the official halfway mark. We are
now 6 months into 2008 and it’s the perfect time to have a look
at where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to be.

So, if you haven’t, take a few moments today to reflect and
readjust if necessary. And don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t
exactly where you’d planned to be right this hot minute. Just
think about small alterations you can make to bring you that much
closer to achieving your goals.

Think of it like running a marathon–don’t sprint out of the gate
because you’ll end up losing steam. Pace yourself. Set daily,
weekly, and monthly goals that you’d like to achieve. Each goal
should build on the next. The daily goals should help you
achieve your weekly goals and your weekly goals should help you
achieve your monthly goals.

If goal setting is not your particular cup of tea, then I
recommend reading a book that helps you look at goal setting in
a new way.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/read/goal-setting/

=======================================
3. A Special Affiliate Theme
=======================================

Affiliate Sandbox is its name. It comes complete with sidebar
widget support, search engine optimized out of the box, and
ready for your personal touch.

You see, a Sandbox theme comes bare bones–no color scheme, no
graphics, no nothing except the basic PHP/HTML/CSS structure.

I mapped out some basic elements and left plenty of notes
thoughout so you should be able to navigate your way through the
customization. Just add your own colors (via CSS) and graphics,
then upload, activate, and you’ll have an optimized affiliate
website in no time.

I’ve been working on the theme for a good portion of the weekend
and it should be completely finished/tested by week’s end. Once
it is, I’ll be uploading it to the loyalty bonus section.

So, feel free to get excited.

=======================================
4. SLM Plugin Updated
=======================================

While working on the Affiliate Sandbox theme, it occurred to me
that the SLM Plugin was due for another update.

It’s not a major update, but it does include one small bug fix
and one spiffy new feature.

The bug that’s fixed is the deleting of referrer data when a link
is deleted. In the previous versions, when the link was deleted,
the referrer data for the link remained.

The new feature that’s been added is: KEYWORDS! Let me explain.

Sometimes I like to market links in various ways (i.e. forums,
newsletters, blogs, etc.) and I like to see how the different
approaches perform. In a past life, I would create a brand new
link for each. But, not any more.

Keywords allow you to append a keyword to any link. For instance,
if you created a link called /widgets/ and wanted to place that
link in a forum. Rather than create a new link called
/widgets-forum/, you can just use the original /widgets/ link
and add forum/ to the end (i.e. /widgets/forum/).

Visitors will still be redirected as normal to the widgets
website, but the keyword ‘forum’ will be tracked for your
internal use. And it will also show you click stats for those
keywords.

You can grab the download by logging into your account and
checking under ‘Your Purchases’, or you can read the changelog
online at: http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/slm-plugin/changelog

If you don’t already own the SLM plugin, then you can purchase it
from: http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/slm-plugin/

(Make sure you’re logged in to access the pages above.)

=======================================
5. Forum Topics of Interest
=======================================
Have you been to the forum lately? If not, add it to your
schedule because there is plenty to see. And don’t forget to
join the discussion. Remember, the forum is here for you.

If you haven’t done so already, feel free to drop by the
Introductions & Goal Setting forum to say hello and tell us a
little more about yourself and what you hope to achieve:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=4

——————-
Announcements & Updates
——————-
A little while ago, I wrote a blog entry about the hacks I make
to the core WordPress files before I use them for installs or
upgrades. That entry received a good amount of positive feedback
and I decided to go ahead and share those files with you in a
neat and tidy package.

Read about the changes I make
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=10&topic=255

(For reference, it’s WP 2.5.1 and if it’s well received, I may
continue to zip and upload my future versions.)

——————-
WP Installation & Configuration
——————-
If you’re having trouble deciding whether to start off with
version 2.3.x or 2.5.x when installing WordPress for the first
time, this thread may help you decide.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=254

——————-
Traffic, Marketing & SEO
——————-
Become a Twitterholic because it could mean good things for your
affiliate marketing business if used wisely.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=12&topic=259

——————-
Datafeed Discussion
——————-
The collections you have laying around could be translated into
cash–all it takes is a bit of time to catalog, convert, and
import.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=7&topic=256

Contemplating using datafeeds converted into RSS format in
WordPress? This is the thread you should probably look into and
feel free to drop your two cents in.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=7&topic=271

——————-
On Display
——————-
Don’t forget that if you’re looking for helpful feedback on your
website, this forum is the place to be.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=14

And since it’s a friendly environment, there’s no need to worry.

==================================
6. Finishing Up
==================================
Remember, if you ever miss an issue of the WP Affiliate Guide
newsletter, you can read it online at the newsletter archives:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/newsletters/. The current
newsletter is usually added within a couple days of being sent
out.

Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

Hello and happy Wednesday! I hope that you are enjoying your hump day. Today’s mailing will be slightly nontraditional; I just want to ask you a simple question, but first, I’d like to explain why that question is crucial to your success…

I just completed a book recommended to me by my friend Belle (who also happens to be one of our wonderful forum moderators). One of the chapters was titled ‘The Value of Bum Glue’. Although the topic of the book, ‘Write Away’ by Elizabeth George, is writing a fiction novel, that particular chapter also has practical applications outside of novel writing — it can apply to just about any area in which we seek success.

Elizabeth recounts the process of getting her first novel published, which ended up being her third. She explained that instead of allowing herself to feel downtrodden after her first novel was mercilessly rejected time and again, she sat herself back down and began writing *another* novel. After that second novel was also rejected, she sat herself down and began writing yet another novel. She didn’t give up and the third time was the charm.

Through the process, she learned lessons, tightened up her craft, and perfected her system — and that’s what I wanted to discuss with you…

The WordPress Affiliate Guide is what I call a loose system; it’s a flexible system that you can use to build your online affiliate marketing business. One thing about systems, however, is that a cookie cutter approach *doesn’t* work for everyone. It’s important that you learn to *mold* a system to work with your own needs and habits and insights. That’s where the ultimate success is hiding.

The book explains *what* to do (i.e. the technicalities), but you need to provide some *industrial strength* bum glue. If that
first site turns out to be a dud or you make a mistake, don’t throw your hands up, declare affiliate marketing is a farce, and
then crawl back under the duvet for a decade. No, none of that.

“…he who possesses the best bum glue wins.” (p. 190)

Take note of what you learned while creating that site and start another one; do it again if necessary. Finesse your system into
one that works for you and repeat it. It won’t appear over night, but in time, you’ll come to see that success was waiting for you all along, you just needed to stick around.

So, the question before you is: How strong is *your* bum glue?

(In case you’re an aspiring novelist and want the book:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/read/write-away/)

==================================
2. Newsletter Archive
==================================

If you’ve missed any back issues of the WP Affiliate Guide mailings, you can read them at the newsletter archive:

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/section/updates/

The archived mailings will usually be published within 48 hours of going out.

==================================
Finishing Up
==================================
Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

I hope you’ve had a wonderful week and that your weekend is
filled with fun and relaxation.

Before we dive right into this issue, I just wanted to give you
a quick head’s up that WordPress 2.5.1 has been released. As many
have speculated, it’s a bugfix release and security update.

http://wordpress.org/download/

With that out of the way, let’s move right along…

=======================================
2. Silo Website Design
=======================================
This topic came up recently in a forum discussion and I decided
to put out a short report that addresses some of the
questions that came up about silo navigation and WordPress.

One thing I want to make clear, however, is that a majority of
affiliate product sites don’t need to worry about this as long
as you have optimized categories and tags.

This report, and silo structuring, is mainly beneficial if
you’re planning to produce a great deal of themed content (i.e.
articles).

That said, the 10 page report is ready for download. It jumps
straight to the point and explains how to modify your theme
manually or with plugins to achieve the desired silo navigation
structure

Although it’s listed in the loyalty bonus area, it’s available
for *immediate* download since this will eventually become part
of the WP Affiliate Guide 2.0 update.

Enjoy!

(Download can be found in the Bonuses section.)

=======================================
3. Your Questions Welcomed
=======================================
It’s time for an update! I’m currently working on the next
version of the WordPress Affiliate Guide.

When WordPress 2.5 was released, it caused waves of surprise and
awe in the community because of how much it changed from its
predecessors.

And while I plan to update the report to feature some WP 2.5
screenshots and terminology, the old version won’t be outmoded
since plenty of people will remain on it for a little while.

However, while working on the updated guide, I thought it would
be great to have your input.

I figure, who best to say what they want to see the guide entail
if not the current readers? So, what do you want me add,
clarify, or expound on in the next version of ‘How to Build an
Affiliate Website Using WordPress’?

Just hit the reply button and let me know.

=======================================
4. Mini Site Theme Update
=======================================
I’ve just put out an update to the mini site WordPress theme.
This update fixes an IE6 display bug. You can log into your
account to download the updated version.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/0/wp-login.php

*******************
Don’t remember your password? You can have it reset by using the
lost password form:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/0/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword
Just remember that your username is your PayPal e-mail address
and your e-mail address is the one listed in your profile.
*******************

This is a minor update (only the header.php file has been
modified)and only applies if you’re using *the most recent
version* of the All In One SEO Pack plugin.

=======================================
5. Forum Topics of Interest
=======================================
Have you been to the forum lately? If not, add it to your
schedule because there is plenty to see. And don’t forget to
join the discussion. Remember, the forum is here for you.

——————-
WP Installation & Configuration
——————-
If you aren’t already using a caching plugin, you’ll want to
install one, even if you don’t expect to get Dugg:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=245&page=1

In case you were nervous about upgrading to WordPress 2.5.x, you
aren’t the only one with concerns:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=243&page=1

Silos are all the rage and this particular forum thread is what
prompted to me to write the short report explaining how to use
your page navigation to your advantage:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=236&page=1

——————-
WordPress Plugins
——————-
If you’ve noticed some strange happenings with your plugins
lately, you may want to check your blog for an unwelcome guest:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=3&topic=241&page=1

Sometimes plugins don’t play nice the first time around; if you
have had problems getting the Google XML sitemap plugin to work
properly, this thread may be helpful:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=3&topic=224&page=1

——————-
Traffic, Marketing & SEO
——————-
Whenever you set up a new website or surf online, you’re leaving
behind footprints, even when you don’t want to. I’ve compiled
some tips to help minimize those footprints and keep the snoops
at bay while protecting your online portfolio:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=12&topic=225&page=1

Make sure to check the Google Webmaster Tools to ensure that your
site isn’t throwing up any errors which could cause poor indexing
and listing of your site’s pages:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=12&topic=238&page=1

——————-
Affiliate Marketing
——————-
How you choose to protect your affiliate links *could* be costing
you sales:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=6&topic=228&page=1

——————-
Datafeed Discussion
——————-
While digging through my files, I came across my personal
datafeed import and website tips. Since I thought others would
find them useful, I decided to clean them up and post them in
the forum:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=7&topic=232&page=1

——————-
On Display
——————-
Don’t forget that if you’re looking for helpful feedback on your
website, this forum is the place to be.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=14

And since it’s a friendly environment, there’s no need to worry.

==================================
6. Finishing Up
==================================
Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

This version of WP is a *significant* one. Although it’s only a
minor version change (i.e. 2.3 to 2.5 as opposed to 2.3 to 3.0),
there will likely be a period of adjustment if you’ve become
comfortable with the cool blue layout and abundance of
navigation items in WP 2.3.x and below.

If you want to see a lot of the changes 2.5 will bring when
compared to 2.3.x, then read over the entry I wrote a couple
weeks ago. Although a few things have been tightened up for the
final release, it’s still fairly accurate.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/visit/wp-comparison/

Now, before you rush off to upgrade all of your blogs right away,
*proceed with caution*. While it’s unlikely that your themes will
be heavily affected by the new version, a few plugins which
perform special installation functions and add admin menus will
likely be broken.

************************
Wild Tangent: The Simple Link Manager plugin has already been
updated to work with WP 2.5; just make sure you’re using version
0.2 and if you’re using the WPDFI script, make sure you’re using
version 2.5.1

You can download the most up to date version of the SLM plugin
by logging into your account and checking under ‘Your Purchases’
and you can find the most current WPDFI script at:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/visit/wpdfi-current/
************************

That said, make sure that you install WP 2.5.x in a test
environment first and play around with your current themes and
plugins before making the move to your production sites.

Without further ado, help yourself to the new version of WP if
you feel so inclined: http://wordpress.org/

If you’d rather do some reading first, then head over to the
official post:
http://wordpress.org/development/2008/03/wordpress-25-brecker/

That’s it for now. (Told you it would be a short one.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

To your success,

WP Affiliate Guide

=======================================
2. Lazy Affiliates Rejoice
=======================================
I just received the e-mail that the Lazy Affiliate book is
currently on sale for one day only (50% discount). In case
you’re wondering, this is actually the book which inspired the
mini site theme. So, if you don’t already own a copy, then I
highly recommend it.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/visit/laddc/

=======================================
3. Contact Form/E-mail
=======================================
I’m not ignoring you, I promise. Lately, it seems that more and
more contact form submissions are coming through with invalid
e-mail addresses. This is just a friendly reminder that if you
do send correspondence through the contact form on the site,
please double check your e-mail address to make sure it’s valid.
Also, take a moment to add me to your e-mail whitelist.

Conversely, you’re welcome to send an e-mail directly to
info[-at-]wpaffiliateguide.com and I’ll receive it. However, please
note that I do have operating hours: M-F 10AM-4PM EST excluding
all US holidays which fall on a weekday. So, if you don’t hear
from me right away, you’ll likely receive a response the next
business day.

And finally, always be sure to double check the FAQs to make
sure your question hasn’t already been answered:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/faq

=======================================
4. Mini Site Theme Update
=======================================
I’ve just put out an update to the mini site WordPress theme.
This update fixes an IE6 display bug. You can log into your
account to download the updated version.

http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/0/wp-login.php

*******************
Don’t remember your password? You can have it reset by using the
lost password form:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/0/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword
Just remember that your username is your PayPal e-mail address
and your e-mail address is the one listed in your profile.
*******************

This is a minor update and if you don’t wish to completely
upload a new set of files, you can either just upload the new
header.php file or follow the instructions below:

1. Make a back up your mini site theme.

2. Open the theme’s header.php file in a plain text editor
(Notepad or PSPad is fine)

3. Find the </head> in the file and on the line just above it,
add the following code:
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
#content {margin-left: 10px;}
#sidebar {margin-right: 10px}
</style>
<![endif]-->

4. Save the header.php file and upload it to your theme folder,
making sure to replace the old header.php file.

(You can also edit the file directly in the WP theme editor, but
I urge you to take precautions; there is no undo function, so
it is imperative you make a back up of the file first.)

Thanks go to Dean for spotting the bug.

=======================================
5. Forum Topics of Interest
=======================================
Have you been to the forum lately? If not, add it to your
schedule because there is plenty to see. And don’t forget to
join the discussion. Remember, the forum is here for you.

——————-
Getting Started
——————-
This came up a couple times in correspondence — people wanting
to know how I put the WPAG website together — which has already
been discussed in the forum. So, I figure now is a good time for
a quick reminder of the thread:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=1&topic=85&page=1

——————-
WP Installation & Configuration
——————-
If you ever need your front page to be completely static (i.e.
not have the content pulled from the DB), then this very simple
technique is for you:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=206&page=1

In case you wanted to add a slideshow or featured panel to your
website, then these tools can help:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=205&page=1
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=11&topic=186&page=1

——————-
WordPress Themes
——————-
Fairy lovers will love Loretta’s new themes (but, it’s important
to note they aren’t business related themes).
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=2&topic=214&page=1

Internet Explorer can be a picky browser sometimes, so if you
find that your background images (especially those used for the
header) aren’t displaying at all in IE when it does in another
browser, there’s one small detail you could be overlooking.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=2&topic=188&page=1

——————-
WordPress Plugins
——————-
Sometimes WordPress updates can be rather intimidating. However,
don’t let that intimidation stop you. In this thread, I give a
basic overview of the WordPress update process:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=3&topic=212&page=1

Writing long posts can be annoying to readers due to the amount
of scrolling required. Instead, you should be paginating
whenever possible.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=3&topic=199&page=1

——————-
Traffic, Marketing & SEO
——————-
Does duplicate content scare you to the point of inadvertently
doing something you shouldn’t be?
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=12&topic=215&page=1

A new web 2.0 website is on the scene and it looks promising.
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=12&topic=198&page=1

——————-
Water Cooler
——————-
When you just need to take a break and relax, this is the place
to visit. It’s where you can learn about the quirks, pet peeves,
and addictions of your fellow members
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=5&topic=211&page=1

Or what we do to try and stay in shape
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=5&topic=209&page=1

Or even get a free membership to a cooking membership site
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/forum?forum=5&topic=194&page=1

==================================
6. Finishing Up
==================================
Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide

Things will definitely be busy for me with the new
WordPress release scheduled for release today. More about
that below.

Today’s mailing will be rather short. In fact, it’s a
special edition because of the WordPress release; there are
a few updates that I wanted to let you know about.

=======================================
2. SLM Plugin Updated
=======================================
While testing the plugin with the newest version of WP this
weekend, I went ahead and updated it to work with the WP
2.5.x branch.

What does that mean for you? If you intend to use the plugin
with WP 2.5, you’ll need to log into your account and
download the updated plugin.

Upgrading is absolutely painless assuming you’re not using
it with the stand alone SLM script — just replace the
slm-plugin folder in your wp-content/plugins folder and
replace the goto.php file.

No worries, this is a minor update and you won’t lose any
links you’ve created or your settings.

(If you’re using the plugin with the SLM script, then you’ll
need to tweak your slm.php file like you did during the
installation process. See the included ‘Read Me’ file.)

Aside from being upgraded to work with WP 2.5.x, I’ve also
made a few other small changes to the plugin. If you’d like
to read the full change log, then visit:
http://www.wpaffiliateguide.com/slm-plugin/changelog

=======================================
3. WordPress 2.5 Release
=======================================
Update: It seems that WP 2.5 has been
delayed by about a week, so you still have time to prepare.

The day has finally come…

Just when we all finally got used to WordPress 2.3.x, they
go and release 2.5 on us. And what a doosie it is.
(Actually, it hasn’t been formally announced yet, but the
release is coming some time today.)

Much has changed in WordPress 2.5 beyond how it looks. Some
navigation items have changed, some elements have been
removed, others replaced, and some new features added.

If you haven’t already had a chance to read it, I highly
recommend checking out the blog entry I wrote a couple weeks
ago while testing it. The entry is a comparison of WP 2.3.x
and WP 2.5.x along with plenty of screenshots.

WordPress 2.5 Revealed and Compared to Version 2.3.x

Do you need to upgrade right away? Actually, I’d recommend
you hold off, at least for a few weeks. While your WP theme
may be unaffected greatly by the upgrade, there’s a good
chance that some of your plugins could be dead in the water.

Waiting will give the plugin authors and opportunity to
upgrade their plugins and it will also give you an chance to
see whether a “minor version update” is released to fix any
potential bugs which may still be lurking in the system.

(In case you were wondering, yes, the WPDFI script does work
with WP 2.5.x — just make sure it’s version 2.5.1+.)

==================================
4. Finishing Up
==================================
Again, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you with
your WordPress and affiliate marketing journey. I sincerely
hope you put it all to good use and build a prosperous
affiliate empire.

Wishing you much success in all you endeavors.

WP Affiliate Guide