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Mod: Fireboard Latest Posts based on Searched Keywords

This mod was only tested on Joomla 1.5.

Description: Displays latest posts based on provided keywords in the backend. See screenshots to get an idea.

Version: 1.0 Beta

Detail Desription: Well, this module lets you search through your fireboard forum based on couple of keywords and display the results in a nice, cleaner module format. You can create unlimited content items right off with your forum posts. Its highly configurable and easy to install.

Installation: Just like any other module. If you need help, ping me or add a comment.

Download Now: Fireboard Keywords Posts Module

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1 Comment | Posted in » Joomla, Project

Block direct access to pligg pages

To block direct access to your pligg pages (which are residing inside Joomla Wrapper), use the following code.
In the pligg directory, create (or append if already exists) a .htaccess file and add the following code.

RewriteEngine On

# Blocking direct access
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://www.yourjoomlasite.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://yourjoomlsite.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} pliggdir [NC]
RewriteRule .* – [F]

2 Comments | Posted in » Joomla, Pligg, jpligger

How to get Motivation to work

Sometimes, after a long busy day at office, I don’t feel like working at home. I feel so lazy that I either watch another episode of Family Guy/America Dad/Arrested Development or something like that and just hit the bed. I would even spend couple of hours with my roomies, talking nothing but worthless crap (I know I need to be social too, but its just not my kind of thing right now). Lately I started reading some books on getting ‘motivation to work’ and also implemented few of the techniques that are proving fruitful. Here’s what I’ve been doing:

• Split the tasks into very small 10 min. tasks that look doable and easy
• Write down all the best things that would happen If I finish these small tasks early.
• Make a small plan on how I can tackle difficult problems in an efficient way.
• Talk to Mom for encouragement (sometimes this takes lot of time!).
• Realize how happy my client would be if I finish the project way before deadline (or) realize how mad my client would be if I delay the project any further.
• Go through my goals list to realize that I need more money!
• Have a coffee or tea to ensure I stay awake and work.
• Staying focused on those small tasks I created. Avoid blogging!

But unfortunately sometimes, even with all that my laziness overshadows my plans, tasks list, talk with my mom, goals list and everything under the sun. That’s when I feel I am tired and I need a good night sleep

No Comments | Posted in » Freelance, Intro, Learning

MIT Open CourseWare

Have you ever wanted to see, feel and enjoy the quality of education in big institutions like MIT? Well here’s a chance. Try MIT’s exclusive online courses all for FREE. Yes, its true! Go here, and try it. Check out all the courses, watch all the videos, download all the pdfs, capture everything you ever wanted and don’t pay a dime, don’t even register on the site. Here are the courses that I am following right now:-

• The Software Business
• Law for the Entrepreneur and Manager
• Introduction to Software Engineering in Java

No Comments | Posted in » Learning

Google Docs – Word for Requirement Gathering

Use Google Docs to prepare requirements and tasks collaboratively with your clients. It was few weeks ago when I first tried to use Google Docs Word as a real collaboration tool. On my very first online interview with a client, instead of simple discussing the project, either on IM or Phone, I invited the client to a new Google Document and we (me and the client) collaboratively worked on creating a proposal. It was fun and very interesting experience. I added few points, the client add few points, we discussed and the end result was very satisfying for both of us. I didn’t realize how advantageous this approach was until I read the book “How I raised from failure to success in selling” by Frank Bettger. He spoke about involving the client while writting down all the features/benefits your service would provide for him/her. That’s when I realized how I was making my clients involve in proposal preparation and how it was turning into a definate sale. I am added Google Docs into the Freelance Tools list as a most important mean for proposal creation (collaboratively).
Try it at your next client interview, I am sure you will be supprised with the results.

No Comments | Posted in » Freelance Tools

Use W8-ben instead of W9

Federal law requires all companies/individuals to hire contractor (freelancers) on W9 unless they are foreigners (international residents, non-us citizens, non-immigrants) , for which W8 form has to be submitted. I see a lot of freelancers do away from big projects that require contractor’s US tax id to work (especially for w9 purpose). But one thing most of them do not know is the fact that they can hire foreigners on W8 bases. W8 works equally well as W9 for tax filing. W8 is designed for US residents to hire foreign resources working off shore.

Next time when you were asked to submit W9, request your client to process W8 instead. W8 entitles you to pay taxes in your home country.

No Comments | Posted in » Freelance

Evil Yahoo charging $35/y for domain name

Since Microsoft‘s pull-off from the bid, Yahoo is acting evil. Increasing prices on services and trying to rip its customers. One of the ugliest move came from its Small Business Services. Yahoo is now charging $35/year for domain renewals. The worst thing is you wont even know about it.

Today I got an email from them notifying me of an upcoming renewal of one of my domains. I glanced through it and ignored the content for the first time . Then later I got another email for another domain, but this time I noticed the increased price of domain name renewals they have imposed. I strongly feel that $35/ year is too high for domain names and Yahoo must pull it back to $10.99 else they are to lose my kind of customers who owns 100s of domains and cant afford to pay $35/year for each.

I already started looking for options 1and1 sounds nice but need to research a little bit.

1 Comment | Posted in » News

JPligger 1.2 (Joomla 1.5 and Pligg 9.9 Integration)

Current Version: 1.2 Beta

License: GPL

Description: This mambot will sync Joomla 1.5 and Pligg 9.9 login with ease.

Looking for JPligger for Joomla 1.0.x and Pligg 9.8? See here.

Tested on: Joomla 1.5.2; Pligg 9.9.0
Note : CB is not required for this plugin to work

Detail Description: This plugin will allow you to run Pligg inside Joomla using Wrapper. It will sync user registration, login and forgot password between Joomla, CB and Pligg.

Support: Community Driven and If I find time.

Ideal Installation:

• Use at your own risk! Backup first or use in test environment first.
• Install Joomla in root folder
• Install Pligg in /
• Note DB settings of Pligg
• Install JPligger Plugin in Joomla
• Visit its settings
• Provide details of Pligg DB
• Publish and Save
• Hide Registration through Pligg. Instructions here: hide-pligg-registration.txt

Optional Information: Pligg inside Joomla wrapper view instructions here.

Download JPligger 1.2 Plugin

This project was funded by Guillermo Moreno

21 Comments | Posted in » Joomla, Pligg, Project, jpligger

Freelancers, do you work or sleep?

I have many friends that are into Freelancing and share the same experience. Many times freelancers have to do away with sleep and work 24 hours stretch, just like a resident in a Hospital. I came across a nice tool that will create a pie chart based on no. of hours you spent on daily routine. Have a look.

I have attached mine here.

No Comments | Posted in » Freelance, Freelance Tools

Learn to Sell

Freelancers, its high time. Learn the insights of sales and marketing!

Every wonder why something that you’ve been using to drive sales wont work anymore?  Or why you could never get enough clients/leads? Or why other freelancers get better and more than enough clients? Start your way into sales dude!

Today, in this freaking competitive market, forget about getting a new client, retaining the existing ones have become increasingly difficult. Especially with growing web developers market, keeping yourselves with technology and at the sametime focusing on new marketing trends have become darn too tough (at least for me). Unfortunately theres nothing much you and I can do about it but to keep looking for new ideas to drive sales. Last month, I spent quite a lot of time searching for best possible way to drive sales and to be honest, theres not one proven method. Today, sales knowledge has become a vital expertise for every freelancer. Without it you are just a pony. I know few freelancers are too good at it but I am talking about people who never knew what is sales. So, how do you go about learning this freaking important piece of life?

Buy Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness by Jeffrey Gitomer. I’ve been reading this book when ever I could find time and theres nothing better I’ve read so far that I could relate to my business and strategies. Jeffrey highlights many tools and strategies that every sales guy must practice and be aware of. As a freelancer, reading this book and implementing at least 2 principles is the least one can do. The book is small in size, easy to carry around and has nice little red bits filled with humor. I strongly encourage every freelancer (at least the ones new to sales) in the industry to go and read this book.

vaked.com rates Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness by Jeffrey Gitomer as the most important tool for freelance business!

No Comments | Posted in » Freelance, Freelance Tools, Sales & Marketing