Web site owners: What one tool would make your lives easier?

[mattk]

I'm in a constructive mood. I feel the need to build. Inspire me!

What one tool, function, checker etc. would make building/maintaining/running your Web site a whole lot easier?

It can be anything.

Don't be shy!

[mumper]

A bottle opener for the beer and a fit female to pour it :D

[cqueen]

Translated:

'I would like a new business idea, what you got?'

:wink: :lol:

[Jayne]

Something that zaps spam and con men, then sends back something horrible in their email box :lol:

Jayne

[mattk]

Translated:

'I would like a new business idea, what you got?'

:wink: :lol:
I was going to build it and then give it away for free - but now I don't think I will ;)

[Rob Holmes]

Got an idea - would take quite a few days and benefit alot of people but would need php programming - unsure if you do that - just a need I cam e across a while back - would build a residual income too.

PM me if you want :)

Rob

[mattk]

I'll have a crack at it - ASP.NET though if you don't mind!

[Rob Holmes]

I'll have a crack at it - ASP.NET though if you don't mind!

.net ?

Ah I remenber - well I guess it could be used - when do you plan to upgrade to php/mysql ? ;)

I'll PM you the concept :)

Rob

[mattk]

Hahaha, upgrade!

Once you've used ASP.NET you'd rather jab your own eyes out with a rusty spoon than go back to php or similar!

[Coding Monkey]

Something that zaps spam and con men, then sends back something horrible in their email box :lol:

Jayne

IE7 actually tells you if you're on a website that has been reported for Phising. Very nice feature, but how up-to-date it will be kept is another matter.

I would like a feature that told me the age, gender, name, phone number and location within 5ft of the person viewing my website. Pleaaaase

[mattk]

I would like a feature that told me the age, gender, name, phone number and location within 5ft of the person viewing my website. Pleaaaase
That is not a bad idea!

[Rob Holmes]

Hahaha, upgrade!

Once you've used ASP.NET you'd rather jab your own eyes out with a rusty spoon than go back to php or similar!

Ah the same spoon you'll be eating your words with when Bill Gates licenses your keystrokes ? ;)

I WILL get round to PM'ing you a bit later!

R

[Rob Holmes]

I would like a feature that told me the age, gender, name, phone number and location within 5ft of the person viewing my website. Pleaaaase
That is not a bad idea!

And let me guess Tom - with a special alarm that will let you know if they are female, single, over 18 and fit?

Rob

[Coding Monkey]

Stop reading my mind, Rob!

[dagr]

It probably exists already, but an easy tool for implementing a complete back-up of my website (all the files, directories, settings and SQL database).


PS: If this already exists, then can someone please recommend one. Thanks.

[Richard Conyard]

Something that's really simple which I've found lots of other solutions don't have is a method of capturing incomplete transactions.

For anyone with < 200 transactions a day being able to capture incomplete transactions and process them over the phone is a real help. Also helps in user traffic analysis and find out where to improve processes by speaking directly with clients that have had difficulty.

[Rob Holmes]

It probably exists already, but an easy tool for implementing a complete back-up of my website (all the files, directories, settings and SQL database).


PS: If this already exists, then can someone please recommend one. Thanks.

Your web host should provide this.

Rob

[Rob Holmes]

Richards is a good one - although taking a number and email address in step 1 of the process is quite normal.

Rob

[dagr]

It probably exists already, but an easy tool for implementing a complete back-up of my website (all the files, directories, settings and SQL database).


PS: If this already exists, then can someone please recommend one. Thanks.

Your web host should provide this.

Rob

They do, but sometimes I like to have my own copy so I can put it somewhere else where I can try out new bits and bobs. (Sorry, I should have said "copy" instead of backup).

At the moment I do it all by hand via an ftp client and PHPMyAdmin.

[DuaneJackson]

An IE/Firefox toolbar is needed - I had lots of ideas of what should go on one but I can't remember them all now.

a 'check this page for XHTML compliance' button would be very easy to do.

Maybe a quick whois button? A link through to whois.sc revere-ip system that passes the domain name of the site you are currently viewing?

A button that blocks you from visiting UKBF for 2 hours so that you can actually get some work done? : )

[mattk]

a 'check this page for XHTML compliance' button would be very easy to do.


You need the Microsoft Developer toolbar (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e59c3964-672d-4511-bb3e-2d5e1db91038&displaylang=en)

[DuaneJackson]

Nice one Matt!

[Rob Holmes]

Matt - what about an online affiliate system they can just register for and start giving links out?

Rob

[DuaneJackson]

Matt - what about an online affiliate system they can just register for and start giving links out?

Rob

I think that's a goer.

Atthe moment choices seem to be

a) develop your own independent scheme
or
b) join a big network with a ready-made affiliate base

AFAIK there isn't a site that facilitates option a off the shelf.

It's only a few days work for a seasoned developer like yourself.

[DuaneJackson]

You need the Microsoft Developer toolbar (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e59c3964-672d-4511-bb3e-2d5e1db91038&displaylang=en)

This is great!

[mattk]

You guys will have to expand on the affiliates thing a little but, as I really don't know how it should work and what site owners would be looking for from it.

Duane - is it very good, isn't it! Good ol' Microsoft!

[DuaneJackson]

Have a look at affiliates.kashflow.co.uk. Sign up takes 2 minutes - once youa re logged in you'll see it's a very basic system. All you don't see is the affiliate managment stuff that a site owner would want to see.

This is an independent system I wrote for myself.

You coud offer this basic functionality so that companies could come to you and start an affiliate scheme and record click throughs, etc.

You'll need to work out how to securely record sales confirmations, etc, but this shouldn't be a big deal. HTTPS call backs with passwords/MD5 hases should do the trick.

[bitsnstuff]

I would really like something that would take my product feed and tweak it into all the different format variations everyone requires, so I don't have to do it manually for over 2000 products each time!!

BTW - I have just recommended your services to someone called Tammy in case she gets in touch!

Kate :lol:

[mattk]

I would really like something that would take my product feed and tweak it into all the different format variations everyone requires, so I don't have to do it manually for over 2000 products each time!!

This is actually pretty easy. How are your products stored, what database etc? Or is it proprietary?

BTW - I have just recommended your services to someone called Tammy in case she gets in touch!

Thanks!

[bitsnstuff]

It comes out as a .csv file. What is proprietary system? :oops:

I provide a product feed for several different site, e.g. Froogle, Edirectory, etc. and they all want them in different format, e.g. some with image urls, some without, some with all options e.g. colour/size/price split out onto separate lines, some all on one line etc. etc.

Bit of a nightmare really - would be great if there was a quick solution.

Kate :lol:

[webit]

Somthing that converts HTML to XHTML/CSS

[puravida]

Something that's really simple which I've found lots of other solutions don't have is a method of capturing incomplete transactions.

For anyone with < 200 transactions a day being able to capture incomplete transactions and process them over the phone is a real help. Also helps in user traffic analysis and find out where to improve processes by speaking directly with clients that have had difficulty.

I have that module on my site.
Allows me to go back and look at failed transactions etc. Shows customer name, the date, the basket total, the reason for it failing etc etc.

We've used a couple of times when PROTX has been down.