Board Optimization - Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System - Boost your Alexa rank

Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System - Boost your Alexa rank

Brought to you by Milad and Syrian Medical Society

Description:
This helps you rewarding alexa toolbar users, by adding them to a secondary usergroup with extra privileges.

Version:
1.2.0

Requirements:
vBulletin: 3.6.0 and above. or 3.5.0 and above.

Functions:
- Automatically detects Alexa Toolbar Users and add them to a secondary usergroup (We will call it as Alexa Toolbar Users Group, ATUG).
- If a user uninstall the Alexa Toolbar, he will be removed from the ATUG automatically and won't be able to get advantages of rewarding anymore.
- Remarks the users in 'Currently Active Users' and 'Who's online' with special image. (see shot 1 & 2).
- You can Change the previous mark by editing the function mark_as_alexa_toolbar_user.
- You can determine which usergroups will be added to ATUG from usergroups permission.
and more to come later.

Installation:
- upload a small gif image, dimensioned about 15 X 15 or 20 X 20, and named alexa.gif, to FORUM_ROOT/images/
- upload bitfield_alexa_users_rewarding.xml to FORUM_ROOT/includes/xml/
- Import the product file: product-alexa_users_rewarding.xml
- Add new usegroup, call it 'Alexa Toolbar Users' and set its permissions as privileges.
- Note the previous usergroupid and add it in the setting: Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System Options -> Secondary Usergroup.
- Take care about the permission: "Allow Users to have Member Groups". if it's set to 'No' for a usergroup, then users of that group won't be affected by this hack. I set it to 'No' for usergroups: Unregistered / Not Logged In, Users Awaiting Email Confirmation, (COPPA) Users Awaiting Moderation and Banned Users.
- Set the new permission "Can be added to Alexa Toolbar Usergroup" for your usergroups.
- enjoy

Upgrading from 1.0.0 to 1.2.0:
- Upload the previous mentioned files.
- Import the product file: product-alexa_users_rewarding.xml and choose "yes" for "Allow Overwrite" option.
- Set the new permission "Can be added to Alexa Toolbar Usergroup" for your usergroups.
- enjoy

How can you get advantages of this product?
- Announce to your users that you give extra privileges for Alexa Toolbar users.
For example:
* larger PM inbox.
* Special Forum like in premium memberships.
* integrate this hack with other hacks, like shoutbox.
* etc.
- But be careful, don't deprive normal users of permissions they used to have before, just give an extra.
- Also you must be familiar with usergroup permissions, for more read this to know how you will get the maximum of this product.

Note for coders:
You can integrate this hack with yours by using the variable $reward_user (Set in init_startup hook.)
$reward_user = true if the user has Alexa Toolbar.
$reward_user = false if the user hasn't Alexa Toolbar.
Or use the function has_alexa_toolbar($useragent) (declared in init_startup hook.)
It returns true if the user has Alexa Toolbar.
It returns false if the user hasn't Alexa Toolbar.

History:
- 1.0.0 first release, 14. march 2007
- 1.2.0 , 19. march 2007

What's new in 1.2.0?
- The code had been improved for best performance.
- New usergroup permission add to determine which usergroup will be affected by this product.
- The product alters the database.

As usual, support is given for who clicks install

[syrus.xl]

Alexa Information from F-Secure.com

http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/alexa.shtml

[redstaing.net]

hi thx
sokran brother nice work

[Mr Chad]

Originally Posted by Ntfu2

Nice hack, but obviously this isn't going to help your alexa rank one bit.

Users install alexa, they still visit other sites not just your site therefore other sites will record hits as well, and you'll gain nothing.

... it will bring your rank up compared to your competition.

[Reeve of shinra]

Interesting idea with a clever implementation. I think this deserves extra kudos.

[SaN-DeeP]

This is an interesting idea for sure but increasing alexa ranking wont bring any additional traffic/ranking to a forum.

[DJ XtAzY]

Originally Posted by SaN-DeeP

This is an interesting idea for sure but increasing alexa ranking wont bring any additional traffic/ranking to a forum.

BUT it will bring advertisers to buy ad space so you will generate more money when you're a publisher

[Ntfu2]

Originally Posted by Mr Chad

... it will bring your rank up compared to your competition.

Cause alot of value is put on alexa rank, and you dont think most your users visit/check out your competition too?

And you also fail to see the point, if you increase the users that visit your site and use alexa by 1000, then thats also 1000 more users that are going to be visiting other sites, which will nullify what your trying to do.

[alqloob alsahya]

Thanks (:

مشكور حبيب قلبي

تشرفنا بك

[NeWNoKiA]

Thanks Milad You are Good Developer (^_^)

[AzzidReign]

I don't think some of you guys know why you would want to have a better Alexa rank. For one, if you went to sell your site you would probably make more money if you had a good Google PR/SERPs PLUS Alexa Ranking. It's easy to get a decent PR site...all you need is other high PR sites linking to you...still doesn't mean you are getting good traffic. Another good this is if you are looking to sell ad space on your site, people look at your alexa rank to see how much traffic you are actually getting [edit: I didn't see that someone already mentioned this].

This is a good idea...to a point. I've heard that if you install the widgets on your site that it helps your rank. I've noticed a huge jump in my rankings since I have...it's all just in theory. But anything to make your site stats look better is a plus IMHO.

And to everyone saying that its no benefit to you to have your users have alexa toolbar you are crazy. Yeah, they may be surfing other sites but usually not the sites you are competing with. For me, I have thousands of loyal users and most of them surf my site nearly ALL day. As long as you have a decent site and people are surfing your site quite a bit, this will help.