Progress on PowerKeys Publishing Conversion
I thought I would post my progress on the PowerKeys Publishing site conversion. The process involves several things, including several new pages to write, a re-organization of the physical files on the server (both product files and programming code files), and a few other things.
So far, I've been writing new pages as I wait for Mike Filsaime's office to clean up their mess from the sales event and give me access to the Butterfly Marketing (BFM) software. They have assured me that this would only take a few days, although I'm starting to wonder.
Before Mike announced the BFM deal, I already owned a copy of aMemberPro, and was considering using it on the PowerKeys Publishing site. This means I can always release the 'new' site using aMember instead, and then use the BFM software for other sites later.
In all of this, the idea of creating my own website software comes back. I learned BASIC programming back in high school, and picked up a few things with MS Excel and Access, and have poked around the website software I've used, so this isn't too far fetched. I have a good understanding of what goes on in software, and it would just take some time.
Creating a new software program is a significant project, and I don't intend to start it for at least several months, even if I do decide that this is the year to start it. I want to make sure I've done everything I can to get my message out into the world before moving on to something new.
Back to the conversion project -- I have a few more pages to write for the new site, and then I'll have to decide which software to use to run it - BFM or aMember. If I don't have the BFM software at that time, then aMember will certainly serve well. However, in that case, I'll want to make a few modifications to enhance it before launching the new site.
All in all, I expect the new site to be ready by the end of next week.
Comments
Got the BFM software
Just a quick update to the update. Mike's office fixed my account this morning so I could access the software. I've already installed it on the PowerKeys Publishing website and have been working with it all day, configuring and discovering what it can do and how it does it.
So far, I've only run into 2 bugs, but neither of them were serious. Minor glitches easily worked around. The most annoying thing is that it was designed for very simple websites and building a more complex one is tedious.
I have most of the configuration done, and will be working on adding templates and such tomorrow. From there, it's a matter of getting the content locked into the system and adding the description pages.
Yes, I should be ready to release the new site late next week.
- Alan Tutt
We all have the Power.
All we need are the Keys.
http://www.PowerKeysPub.com
Moving forward
Another update here.
After working with the BFM software for a while, I realized it was developed for very simple websites and doing anything beyond the basics gets to be tedious. This means that it will take a while longer to perform the site conversion, although I'm still hopeful that it will happen sometime next week.
Part of the reason for this is because the BFM software has a LOT of flexibility, with plenty of options for just about every aspect of the system. However, the administration interface was set up to make very few changes at a time, and many things have to be done in steps, requiring repeated actions on my part to set up a complete website.
However, once I get the first website set up the way I want, I can then copy the framework to use for other websites fairly easily. I already have plans to improve the KeysToPowerProsperity.com website, the KeysToPower.com site, and several others as well.
Perhaps I shouldn't have closed the PKP site until I had already developed the new site. At least that way, the old site could have continued to serve my readers, and the disruption would have been more minimal. I do apologize to anyone who has been inconvenienced by this.
- Alan Tutt
We all have the Power.
All we need are the Keys.
http://www.PowerKeysPub.com
Getting Closer
For anyone who is following along, I'll mention that the new PowerKeys Publishing website is coming along nicely. I have set up the various download pages for the different membership levels, tested much of the functionality of the site, and have only a few more things left to do before I can reopen the site.
One of those "yet to be done" tasks is writing a number of pages describing what is included in each membership level. I expect this to take a few days, as each membership level includes a lot of material.
I also have to test out the payment system for those who may wish to upgrade to a higher-level membership either during the registration process, or afterward.
When I get both of these tasks done, I will invite previous customers to check out the website first. These folks will get a very special offer to upgrade into the higher membership levels. My newsletter subscribers will be the next in line to gain access to the new site, and will also get a special offer to upgrade.
And finally, I'll open the site to everyone else and pricing will be adjusted to it's intended level. I expect to reach this point in a couple of weeks.
As I read my comments above, I see that with each post, I expect to release the site the following week, and then the following week post another comment that the site should be ready the week after. Let me explain what's been happening.
The more I get into the BFM software, the more I find that I want to modify, fix, or augment. For some reason, I'm getting into the programming code a lot more than I ever have done with any other website software. Here are just a few things I've done in the past few weeks:
Considering that I'm still in a learning process for the programming, these have taken longer than they would if done by an experienced web developer.
Overall, these may seem to be minor things, but they will have a dramatic effect on the user experience on the new website.
- Alan Tutt
We all have the Power.
All we need are the Keys.
http://www.PowerKeysPub.com