2010

ReVou Twitter Clone Script

ReVou is another Twitter clone script I’ve accidentally come across in the past couple weeks. It’s got a pretty clean looking demo with those for the most part. At a price of  $200, it’s one of the more expensive Twitter clones so far, especially if you’re interested in the additional plugins for ads and mobile functionality. ($80 each)

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The site offers some great features such as custom urls for every user and group, multi-language support, and 3rd party login integration allowing users to sign in using an account from a number of existing social networking websites. One simple feature that caught my eye was the tabbed functionality on your main message page so your friends messages and replies are only a click away.

There was something I didn’t care for that isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but definitely something that would bug me a bit. When I go to the demo, in the right hand column there is a Most Popular and Most Recent box. In this box are some square avatars and some distorted boxes around text when using the latest revision of Firefox. I’m assuming this means the users don’t have an image uploaded, but it distorts it enough to be an eye sore to me. If I click another tab and come back, the avatars snap back to square, but every new visit is the same thing. This doesn’t happen in IE, but I would hope there is a simple way to set a default smaller avatar to avoid the broken image look for users without one.

Other than the price + plugins total and perhaps the awful demo colors (ha), this is a pretty solid looking script. All we need to do now is find out how to grow your own standalone niche Twitter clone and become wildly successful. If anyone knows of one, I’d be very interested in finding its secret to success.

Scritter Microblogging Twitter Clone

Scritter is a commercial Twitter clone from the same company that brought you the familiar F My Script software. The main site is called Scriptolution and they have some very cool looking scripts for sale. They also post these aggressive looking discounts via coupon codes posted to the site that make it appear there is a big sale going on, but anytime I’ve ever visited the site, the coupon codes (and discounted prices) are always available. Let’s hope it stays that way.

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The great thing about Twitter and similar microblogging clone sites is that there’s not a lot to them as far as the design is concerned. You need a couple of links for users to either join or login and an area with the latest member updates. There’s no need for clutter and that keeps these sites looking clean and organized.

Scritter is no different. It has a very neutral looking updates page that is easy on the eyes. This is exactly the kind of script that makes me want to come up with my own new idea and launch a site with it. When programmers can make their work look simple and very user friendly to the typical end user, they’ve scored high in (at least) the design department in my opinion.

The only thing I wonder is if anyone is really running a successful Twitter clone website out there. Certain kinds of sites are ideal for creating smaller clones dedicated to a specific niche, but I’ve yet to see a successful niche Twitter clone site. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. I sincerely believe it is, but I’m also a hopeless and unapologetic entrepreneurial dreamer, so be careful when taking advice from me.

I feel like it might take a different spin to have the best shot at success. Even clones need to have their own twist. Maybe if we smooshed the Twitter concept together with some aspects of a dating script we could actually create something that appeared somewhat original even if it began with a clone.

Building a High Traffic Web Site

I’m starting to realize that there’s not a lot of tricks to building a sticky website. I’m constantly scouring the internet for the best tips on attracting more visitors to my website, yet time and time again I find the same advice that can be summed up in three words. Create quality content.

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It’s not the most glamorous thing to talk about, but I have to tell you that in my limited experience, it’s the one that works. I’m not saying you should stop adding your site to search engines and directories, or to stop building backlinks, or cease submitting press releases and articles. What I’m saying is if you add quality content often enough, people will end up finding you anyway.

Even the word “quality” is debatable and I’m a perfect example. I know I’m primarily writing for myself on this site because I love finding new website software. I’m not weaving magic with my words here. I’ll leave that to the poets. However, I do hope there are others like me out there who might somehow benefit when they find a new (to them) script on this site.

I think the handful of traffic building tip examples I mentioned (directories, articles, press releases, etc.) all work, but they’re more like the branches of the tree while your new content is the trunk of the tree. You need the content (base) first before you can announce it elsewhere (branches). Am I deep with these analogies or what? 😉

In my many searches for creating a higher trafficked web site, I’ve come across a particular website time and time again. You can tell that the individual running the site takes the time to create compelling content for his readers and he’s truly reaping the benefits. The site is also a testament to the fact that you don’t need a flashy website to be super successful. The site is StevePavlina.com.

I’m posting a link back to his site for two reasons. The first is that there are some incredibly helpful articles and interesting reads. I highly suggest you click on over and spend some time over there. Make sure you give yourself ample time if you’re going to visit because Steve often writes lengthy articles. The second is in relation to the title of this post. In his article on building a high traffic website, he speaks of creating valuable content and a number of other priorities for reaching this goal. I don’t think I could put it any better than Steve, so go read it, learn it, and live it.

Run a Software Repository Website

I come across and utilize a lot of different utilities and scripts in my technology related job. Luckily, I have plenty of space on a corporate file share to store all of these helpful files so I always know where to find them when I need them. The file share works great for now, but what happens down the road when I’m no longer employed by the same company? Unless I copy my accumulated data over to a hard drive or some place else, all these useful tools might be lost.

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I’ve always wanted to put them in one centralized place where they would always be accessible no matter where I work. I figure a software repository site is the ideal solution because if I can get online, I can get to my data.

The eSoftScript software repository script caught my eye because the demo looks just like Download.com. (Both links will open in new windows if you want to compare) The site looks like it’s packed with all the features you’d ever need to run a fairly large repository site. Visitors have the ability to create an account in order to upload software, but in addition to that, they can submit reviews and rate software as well.

Last month I briefly mentioned the iDevSpot Software Repository script when I was contemplating offering downloads here as well. I still think that is a decent script too, but I’m undecided on which would work best in this situation. If I wanted to keep the online technical toolbox smaller and more private, iDevSpot might be ideal. If I wanted to grow it into something bigger, eSoftScript might have the edge.

The one thing that I find kind of a bummer is I’ve yet to find an attractive open source software repository. There’s certainly no shortage of quality repository scripts out there, but what most lack is a decent, usable out of the box design.

Getting back to my initial idea, it would be extremely helpful to have all my files available where ever I am in the world. I know this could be achieved by utilizing a number of other upload sites offering free space, but that gives me no pleasure because I wouldn’t get to try out some new repository software from time to time. I want to be able to install it, configure it, run it, own it, break it, and then have to test out yet another repository script to either improve or replace it.

It’s probably a good thing I’m not a programmer because the way my mind jumps around wanting to try new things, I’d probably be wasting my time attempting to create a multitudinously functional script that would be a bit too ambitious. It’s the social networking cms event calendar photo battle script with url shortening that has a forum, an attached help desk, an ecommerce store, built in classified email marketing, and an article site link directory. Oh, and it can also balance your check book.

Search Network Free Search Engine

Update – 7/28/2012: Apparently the SearchNetworkHQ.com now forwards to the MySEOTool website.

Search Network has figured out a pretty good angle on the whole free software thing. They have built a search engine script that is completely free to download so you’re able to either add search functionality to your site or (I’m assuming) you can run it as a stand alone search engine as well, customizing it however you choose.

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This is how I understand their operation from the rather skimpy documentation on the site. You download and install their free software to run your own search engine on your domain. Your search results (no idea if your results are urls added by you or if its a feed) display ads that Search Network has sold and if any sales are made through your site, you earn 20% of the sale. I’m not sure if you can sell your own advertising in addition to theirs, but something tells me you cannot.

This affiliate program sounds like it definitely benefits Search Network a lot more than the person running the individual search engine. By giving away this software, they are creating a massive sales force to display all the ads they sell for a monthly fee starting at $59 a month. On top of the monthly income, I’d have to surmise they receive a portion of the affiliate profits as well.

It might be ideal for someone wanting to add a search to his site and maybe make a few bucks in the process, but for someone serious about creating his own search engine and earning money from advertising, I believe it would be much better to go with a platform where you have more control over the ads.

There’s a tons of commercial search engines out there to choose from and a few free ones as well. By going with another script, you won’t have that network of built in advertisers that the Search Network has created for you, but you will definitely have more control over your ads. This translates to higher earnings down the road when you are able to obtain your own site advertisers.

Perhaps there’s a lot more to it that I’m missing, but if that’s the case, there really should be some additional documentation on the website to explain how everything works in detail. The way it looks from where I’m sitting, it looks like a pass, but I’ve also been spoiled by both free and easy with Sphider.