The Marriage of a Coder and a Webmaster
by Susanna Strandberg
In another life I must have been a perl coder. I cannot help but be intrigued by all sorts of scripts.
All sorts of scripts have become available to webmasters to make their lives much easier. Timesaving devices that truly work always fascinate me.
Therein lies the catch 22. I have not seen too many scripts that did not have a catch 22. A script can build 1000 sites a day, but you have to hand submit them because there is no safe and effective method for the script to handle that. A script can make 1000 thumbnail gallery pages and auto submit them, but you have to contend with the thumbnail gallery sites that dislike auto submitters and constantly move their forms.
Most scripts will do 95% of the job for you, and you have to do the other 5% manually. Coders create most scripts, but have limited knowledge of the application of the scripts. They are not webmasters and cannot envision the final application. The coder who connects with a webmaster to make the scripts will be able to create superior scripts without these little flaws. There are some very successful scripts designed by both an adult webmaster and a coder.
I was impressed with a demo of the ConMan, which is a paysite content management system. You can get in-depth information on this product at www.a-conman.com. ConMan has flexibility and strength, in a script designed to save time for the paysite owner. Its claim to fame is that when you put content into it, it will manage the content across numerous sites. You do not have to update the other sites- only the ConMan.
This script was commissioned by a webmaster. The webmaster detailed exactly what was needed, so when it was made it was very effective. Not only does the webmaster provide the initial idea, but they provide feedback on how useable the script is in its finished form. Sometimes a simple addition will shorten up the administration of a script. More and more often, we are seeing webmaster-commissioned scripts. A marriage of a coder and webmaster is one dynamic partnership!
Coders are amazing. They work miracles with a server, but they need specific instructions and then feedback on their scripts. Be sure that you hire a coder that is willing to work with you until you are satisfied with the outcome. Often there are tiny additions that make the scripts work so much better, and the necessity for these changes comes to light after the first draft. If you are buying scripts, find out if there are constant updates and how receptive they are to your feedback. Only deal with companies that back their products and constantly improve upon them.
I suggest you think about those parts of adult webmastering that you just dread. Trust me, all the good ideas are not gone. Part of being an entrepreneur is thinking outside the proverbial box. You must always review and revise and make changes. Some of these changes might very well include commissioning a coder to reduce time-consuming tasks.
My wish list includes a way to safely submit my sites to the search engines, I want them auto-submitted but I do not wish to break any rules. Someone probably has a nice script like this already made, but they aren't sharing! Another would be a script that can make palm pilot sites from sites it finds on my servers. So a script that can manipulate my existing sites, clone them in a format that can be seen on the palm pilots, and resizes any banners or pictures appropriately. There are many variations of site building scripts, but I have never seen one that can work on my server, first scanning for my banner affiliate code combinations, and then looking at the templates used and reproducing sites based on this information. I can also imagine a script that could crawl servers, setting up any of the existing banner or table advertisements as server-side include calls instead. How about a script that can crawl your server and draw you a schematic map of your sites and how they interlink? Now that would be one valuable script!
I love to think up new and fabulous ideas. A lot of them won't work, but some of them are great ideas. Often I give them away, because frankly, I cannot do everything. Sometimes I get a chance to put an idea of mine into action. Think about your coder wish list, and contact them to find out what the cost would be. Make sure you have a coder who will follow through- making adjustments based on your feedback- and make certain they quote you on a complete script, completed to your satisfaction.
When we work smarter instead of longer, we will be redefining our workload, creating a manageable timeframe. Profits increase because your payroll decreases. Your job as business owner is to maximize profits. Even if you are a webmaster with only feeder sites, you are still a business owner. Do not think like the employees of the companies you are promoting. You should be thinking as the business owner, who must constantly find ways to maximize profits. Smart scripts will increase your bottom line.
Our Klixxx Innovator, Susanna, hails from Canada and operates Thunder Entertainment Network. She and her staff are involved in many projects on the Web, and she is the founder of Adult-Temp-Staff.com and Couples-Sex.com, and www.4womenavs.com. Susanna searches for the unusual opportunities in the adult entertainment arena, and always takes the unique approach. Write her with questions and commentary at: insider@klixxx.com.
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