Wheres me jumpa

I decided to change the domain I host my blog under, but you already know that now, dont you. Ive moved from garydaly.com to wheresmejumpa.com. I will keep the former for a simple page or two with a few bits n bobs about me and the latter for my waffling.

I have purchased a number of domains which all point here, they are:

• www.wheresmejumpa.info
• www.wheresmejumpa.net
• www.internetwanderer.info
• www.internetwanderer.net

I also purchased garydaly.info, 99 cents for a .info with GoDaddy at the moment so expect further .info purchases!

Recently installed the VBSEO plugin and its default style for Waffle.ie. After an install of VBAdvanced, the site suffered in terms of SEO. The resolution was to invest $149 in this plugin.

Installation was a breeze. I also took the time to upgrade to vBulletin 3.6.9. And today I discover 3.6.10 has been released. Anyway, once the plugin is installed you have access to your VBSEO control panel. Its not the prettiest of interfaces, but powerful nonetheless.

Significant changes made intially were to beautify my URLs, enable link backs and change the structure of variables added to meta tags. There are a lot more features to be explored. Also using the VBSEO style. Its a clean, standards compliant template that looks the part also.

So here’s to a search engine friendly future for Waffle!

I have been working on the layout of Waffle.ie over the past week or so. The aim being to make it more distinctive. To be honest, I am struggling! However, I think I am getting there. Ive given it a fixed width and changed the colour scheme.

Also part of this work was to come up with a new logo. Thanks to Fahmi, the logo is now in place, see attached. Im very happy with it, the chattering teeth has always been an image that summed the site up and its nice to have finally worked it in.

I need to work on blending it in better than I have, the colour scheme will have to change. I would be interested to hear opinions on the logo, layout and colour scheme.

Further to the design of the forum, I am planning on giving the Arcade and Casino greater visibility on the site. First step was to give them each a sub domain.

• arcade.waffle.ie
• casino.waffle.ie

Next step will be to design a new index page for the site, i.e. not a VBA page. If anyone has attempted this or knows of examples, pass them on.

UPDATE

I have since installed VBSEO and its default style. There were a number of issues with the customised theme.

Indigo Inflatables are a Carlow based company that offers Bouncy Castles, Obstacle Courses, Sumo Suits. Fancy Dress hire and more for hire and sale. This website displays its full range of products.

Products are stored in a MySQL database and the wonders of PHP gathers the required information. Styled with CSS, including the horizontal navigation bar (thank you listomatic!).

The owner of this website has also secured the following domains which now point to Indigo Inflatables :

• bouncycastles.ie
• bouncyslides.ie
• sumosuits.ie
• indigoinflatables.ie

So for all your infltable product needs, Indigo Inflatables!

I have recently installed DCSEO Linkbacks plugin for vBulletin on Waffle.ie. When viewing a thread, this plugin will display a list of URL’s that link to that thread. In ACP, admin’s are presented with a list of linksbacks which they can approve or reject.

Installation was very simple, with a handful of files to upload, an xml product to import and a linkback variable to be added to the showthread template. For a linkback to register in ACP, it has to be clicked, therefore it wont retrospectively add links to threads.

I can see this plugin promoting linking to threads on Waffle.ie which in turn will aid SEO and increase number of visitors to the site. To test out the plugin, Ive linked to a thread here.

This project was first discussed in March 2007, so at long last Leighlinbridge.ie has opened its doors. Leighlinbridge is my home town and I had previously developed a website for the village but it faded away. This time round myself and John Curran are involved in the promotion of the site.

We hope to get as many local businesses and groups registered on the site. This will along with tourist information will attract a significant number of users and then possibly visitors to the village.

The site was designed in CSS and uses PHP and MySQL to generate its dynamic content. The impressive logo was volunteered by Fahmi, a designer I would highly recommend.

Comments, suggestions welcome.

View site.

This website was one of the first I developed, probably about 4 years ago now. Its had a few new looks in its time, this is definitely the most simple approach.

Designed entirely in CSS. PHP pages used for include files and thats it. Some work on the compatibility between IE and FF to be completed and would like to add a Google map for directions.

See here.

Ive just installed the vBadvanced CMPS on Waffle. Im really impressed so far. There have been some issues with other features linking to the old homepage, but the install and configuration was a breeze.

It allows you to add “modules” to your homepage. A module is typically a block that will display some information. Standard modules include, latest posts, calendar, users online, new members etc.

These modules can then be arranged in the Left Column, Centre Column or Right Column. Left and right columns are less wide than the centre column.

vBadvanced is so widely used that most other plugins will provide a module to integrate with vBadvanced. Of particular interest to me was a module for the Waffle Casino and Arcade which displays biggest winners for the Casino and various stats about the Arcade.

My favourite non standard module is the Zoints Tag Cloud. I had already installed Zoints Tags. Now with vBadvanced, I can add a module to display a tag cloud on my homepage. This can of course be done without vBadvanced but with it, its only a matter of a few clicks.

I am asking members of Waffle to give their opinions here, Im sure the response will be positive.

Ive just finished this website for an artist in Carlow. Very simple design which is what the artist wanted. The artist hopes to add further themes, the current theme is wilted roses.

You can check it out here.

I recently decided to shut down carlowentertainment.ie. Renewal fees were due and I just felt there wasnt enough interest from local venues in the site. The forum was doing very well, this prompted the move to waffle.ie.

However the forum was not meant to be the focal point of the site. Regularly updated events were meant to be the focal point. I still believe there is a need for this type of site in the area.

People were searching for events in the area and local cinema listings, so the site was being visited. Unfortunately the information presented was not as complete as I would have liked.

Even so it was an interesting project for a year.