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

[Subah]

Cool , I`ll try it , Thanks

[abramelin]

what is the advantage of using alexa toolbar for my site?

[projectego]

Nice idea... sounds interesting.

[syrus.xl]

Nice idea - if you want to increase your PR with Alexa - But the Alexa Toolbar is SPYWARE, therefore I can't see why anyone would want to install it.

I have about 5-10 unique visitors a month with Alexa installed, but I certainly don't recommend my members to install it.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by abramelin

what is the advantage of using alexa toolbar for my site?

Alexa has a ranking system for world wide websites, you can increase your rank by recommend the toolbar to your users

[Milad]

Originally Posted by syrus.xl

Nice idea - if you want to increase your PR with Alexa - But the Alexa Toolbar is SPYWARE, therefore I can't see why anyone would want to install it.

I have about 5-10 unique visitors a month with Alexa installed, but I certainly don't recommend my members to install it.

It's not spyware, some unti-spyware policies consider the toolbar as a spyware, but actually it's not, because it doesn't do anything out of Alexa Privacy Policy, they say that they gather information about sites you visit anonymously, and they do that.

If you don't accept that policy don't use the toolbar, but it's not spyware.

Spywares gather information but don't tell you that. Alexa Toolbar does.

For example Google gather information, why they don't consider it as a spyware?

This is the fact of crazy policies.

[Endurer]

Awesome. I'll install it tonight. Any chances for a Google toolbar version?

[Milad]

It doesn't need.

[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.