phpLinkBid v 1.6 on the way. Controversial feature?

Thanks for sharing the updated news about phplinkbid script.

.SR

 

Happy to hear the phplb releases the update version soon!

 

Thanks for providing updated news on the phplinkbid, i've been keeping my eye on that

 

Bidding is making an offer of a price, if you don't need to do that then it can't be a 'bidding directory'. It can be 'pay for position' or something similar. Bidding directories have always been controversial. if you don't even need to bid they're nonsensical.

 

Yeah, I know it's a problem and not make sense,
But maybe we can trun on/off this feature at admin cpanel.
By the way you can send email to contact the owner directly to stop the new feature, isn't it?

 

Hello DP!

Just wanted to share that we're gearing up to release phpLinkBid 1.6 in the next few weeks. This new release brings a ton of new features, improvements and bug fixes to the script.

1. Site Pages - new WYSIWYG page editor and integrated image & file management
2. Administration - improved link & bid management, searching, sorting & interfaces
3. Reports - new charts & reports show directory earnings, growth, and stats
4. Payments - new payment processor support, payments API, and fee tracking
5. User Accounts - users can manage & update links, new admin user manager, change approvals
6. Category Leaders - optional category leader lists for top bids by category
7. Free Links - enable unpaid links listed with $0 minimum bid
8. Search - improved search interface w/ extended options
9. Link Tags - custom tags, tag pages, clouds
10. SEO - sitemaps, improved META tags, proper 404 page not found errors
11. Email Manager - manage subscriptions, custom lists, signatures, segments & HTML emails
12. Bad Word Filter - scan & automatically deny submissions with certain words
13. SPAM Prevention - new image CAPTCHA, custom Q&A verification, IP blocking, link cleanup
14. RSS Feeds - new RSS feed options & custom parameters, tag feeds
15. Themes - faster rendering, easier to customize, 1.4 compatible
16. Addons - less conflicts, easier to install w/ new addon manager
17. Categories - category suggestions, category icons, locked categories, new display options
18. Error Handling - cleaner, more detailed error handling for server & database errors
19. Site API - optionally provide site info, link and/or bid details in public API

Full Post: http://www.phplinkbid.com/blog/2009/01/phplinkbid-v1-6-release-status/

We're still aaccepting feedback and last minute bug reports so please share your questions and comments on this upcoming release.

Thanks for everyone's continued support - without all of our great users upgrades like this wouldn't be possible.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Yes it does but I gave it a thought, those who announce free links and give it a fake bid like 1$ or 10$ isn't it better now that link are announced free with 0$ bid? Atleast you know that was a free link.

 

WoW, lot of features and bug fixes in this version, thanks in advance for this release.

.SR

 

If managed properly, such a feature could add extra content through the free links and attract more traffic to the directory itself ...more traffic = more hits to the websites on the homepage = more happy customers. On the other hand this could mean loads more spam from the freebie hunters...

 

Thank you dude

 

I really don't see the issue. Bidding directories appear to be all about bidding for position. Isn't Google done much the same way? The organic results are those sites that gain position through SEO (free) and the premium positions are reserved for the paying Adwords customers.

In a way this just serves to "auction" the featured listings.

 

First of all, thanks for all the positive feedback on the upgrade! It has/is taking a ton of work and your support is very much appreciated.

Note: The post made above under my name was actually a separate thread I created directly related to the announcement, but apparently a moderator saw it fit to give me an infraction and merge my post with someone else's thread which is actually about a specific feature. Ok, whatever.

Anyway, regarding the "free links" feature. I respect all of the opinions on this subject that have been brought up over the past few years, but it has become pretty clear this feature needs to be incorporated.

Don't mistake this feature as the "introduction of free links to bid directories". They have been there since day one, under the guise of minimum bids, on nearly every bid directory ever created.

This feature is making free links transparent, which is giving advertiser's a more accurate picture.

Of course, the admin will have full control over this, and the default is still requiring a bid. Visitors can see at a glance whether the directory lists/accepts unpaid listings or not.

YWC also makes a good point - unpaid links will now be displayed last, as they should be.