Installing Magento on Windows/Wamp Server

Hay Guys,

After struggling for many days to install  "Magento" on my local windows machine running wamp server, I found a really great post that helped me successfully install it.

http://www.techyuva.com/how-to-install-magento-on-wampserver-windows-xp-with-sample-data

The main thing that I noticed is that - you can't install magento on PHP 5.3.0. You need to download PHP 5.2.8 and add to your Wamp Server installation and make it active. Only after that you can install Magento on your local windows machine.

You have to read the whole article to make a successful installation.

Upload multiple Files from single “File upload input” control

Today I come across a situation in one of my projects where I had  to upload multiple files from a single input file control in HTML. And I found its not possible in HTML to upload multiple files from a single file upload control.

Luckily, I found 2 ways to achieve this functionality.  And both are using JavaScript code (JQuery).

1. Upload files one by one from a single file upload control.

Checkout this plug-in:

http://www.fyneworks.com/jquery/multiple-file-upload/#tab-Overview

2. Select multiple files from the browse popup, pressing “CTRL” button on your keyboard.

Checkout this JQuery plug-in this really works: http://www.uploadify.com

There must be more ways to do this same thing. If you know them please discuss in comments.

Extract Image out of YouTube Video

Recently, we wanted to extract image out of YouTube video and use it as a place holder on the webpage for video. I started looking for ways to do this. I found the following jQuery Code. Its works great. It lets you extract an image out of YouTube Video. 

http://jquery-howto.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-get-youtube-video-screenshot.html

It has been converted into the JQuery plug-in by the developer.

http://jquery-howto.blogspot.com/2009/05/jyoutube-jquery-youtube-thumbnail.html

Internet Marketing: Press Releases

The off-page search engine optimization is largely based on quality link building.  And  "making press releases" is one of
the link building method.

Anyone business can make a press release, whenever they start a new service, launch a new product or anything that could be interesting for people to know about your organization/business.
Basically, press release is for the media  guys to pick it up and report it to the public. There are various FREE and Paid platforms to make your press release.

Press release is always in the form of a write-up that includes the details about your service/product or whatever you are releasing press release for.

Is releasing a press release really works?
I posted this question on LinkedIn and found some really interesting answers:

Heather Baker Answers:

“ There is NO value whatsoever in free press release submission sites.
- yes they give you backlinks, but these are nofollow backlinks so worthless for seo.
- yes they give you visibility online, but have you ever met anyone who goes to a release submission site for news?
- while the home pages of these sites are well optimised, the page on which your release goes is not.
when it comes to getting media coverage there are no shortcuts - you need a good story that you can pitch to journalists.
Article-based marketing is a good alternative to free press release sites - for various reasons - dofollow backlinks, great optimisation, used as a resource by journalists etc. But the content needs to be unique and useful, so again not a shortcut. “

Ramesh Kumar Answers :

"Few journalists seem to be picking stories from these free sites. They want 'some spicy stuff' to build a story around.
I am not sure by submitting to PR websites, you get visibility. that happens only when some journalists pick it up and build a story around and publish
Ideally if a journalist understands your story and is convinced that readers will be interested in the story, your details may be published in the article.
Make some friends with Media people and/or hire a PR agency. "


Elizabeth Ball Answers:

“There are dozens of free press release submission sites out there but I think the most effective thing is to post to one (ore more) consistently so you build up a bank of info. Visitors can then check out your other releases which helps to position you(r client) as a guru. “

You can find a complete list of answers here:

http://www.linkedin.com/answers/marketing-sales/advertising-promotion/internet-marketing/MAR_ADP_INM/735046-42471046

How to publish press release:
There are several FREE press release submission sites. but I am not sure if that can serve your purpose of obtaining high quality back links. But yes, they can do give you back links.

And there are some high quality PAID services that can really help you get more visibility.
http://www.prweb.com/
http://www.i-newswire.com/

FREE Sites to submit press release:
http://nakedpr.com/2007/07/29/big-list-of-free-press-release-distribution-sites/
http://mashable.com/2007/10/20/press-releases/
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/