Read This Before You Upgrade To Semiologic Pro v.5.0
November 25, 2007 by Trish Jones
Filed under Website Promotion Strategies
Okay, after weeks of putting off upgrading to Semiologic Pro v.5.0 last night, I bit the bullet and upgraded.
In the main, the upgrade went quite smoothly and there are some features in version 5.0 which just makes it easier for the blog novice to use such as the drag and drop page order feature, the upgrade wizard which means users no longer have to pay us, Denis’s VA’s, $25 to upgrade their site and, there are some really cool new skins.
The addition of the new skins was, in my view, long time a coming and thanks to The Techie Coach, there are some “nice” skins and a few of them have a kinda web 2.0 look. I say “kinda” because they are not totally web 2.0 looking, but they have the smooth look which I’m really beginning to love on blogs.
If you’re an affiliate marketer who makes use of Deal.com, then you’ll love this because it’s obvioulsy so popular that it gets its own widget!
But why have I suggested you read this before you upgrade Semiologic to version 5.0?
- First off, there are only 9 text widgets and if like me, you were using 16 of the 20 in a previous version, you may find yourself having to recreate those text widgets. It was a pain in the backside for me and I know what I’m doing so others who may have had to pay to have their text widgets coded may be tearing their hair out.
- The one feature I loved about Sem Pro was Denis’s Ad Spaces plugin. This allowed you to add contextual ads practically anywhere on your blog monitor their efficiency. But, don’t worry you still can … only, this feature has been replaced with a plugin called “Who Sees Ads.” It didn’t take me too long to work out how to use it - after I visited the Semiologic forum - and I’m getting used to it BUT … as with my text widgets, the old Ad Spaces wasn’t even an option and this upgrade wiped out my ad! I was not amused since it was the ad that I now use to display my subscription box and for which has been working extremely well for me.
So, what’s the solution?
BEFORE you upgrade:
- Back up your blog. You may think this unimportant, but I have seen posts on the forum where people want to go back to a previous version and you’ll need the database from the previous version
- Copy the code from your text widgets and Ad Spaces if you use them - something you ought to get into the habbit of doing anyway - and paste them into a notepad document which you should keep in a place where you can find it. Then all you have to do is copy and paste the code from Notepad into either your text widget or the new Who Sees Ads plugin.
Hopefully, you read this post before you upgraded to Semiologic Pro v.5.0 and I hope your experience with using this easy to use search engine friendly theme is a pleasant one!
The Blogging Queen
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Hi Trish- I just signed up for your Blog Reporter (which looks great btw) and watched the Semiologic video. It just about convinced me to switch to Semiologic until I read this. I’m a new blogger and maybe I’m just confused, but why would he get rid of Ad Spaces? That was the main thing that impressed me in your video, and as you say, one of the main reasons I’d switch to Semiologic. Does “Who Sees Ads” provide the same functionality? I also don’t understand why it’s gone from 20 text widgets to 9. Any other “surprises” since you made your video? Thanks! ~jan
Hi Jan,
Welcome to The Blog Net Reporter by the way …
Jan, I can assure you that Denis wouldn’t do anything that would be detrimental to the development of Semiologic and the truth is, I have no reason why the number of text widgets were reduced but, Who Sees Ads is probably more powerful than Ad Spaces and when I first started using Ad Spaces, Denis had to send me step-by-step instructions and that after watching a video tutorial on it!
I will cover how to use “Who Sees Ads” in the next round of videos though and my blog post was really a caution to those who already have Semiologic and were upgrading. It won’t affect you otherwise.
With the text widgets, I have only ever known 1 client use 7 and right now, I’m only using 4. It’s just that I get lazy and once I’ve created one, I keep it for future use - just in case. Now, I just copy and paste the code into notepad and save it just in case I need it for later.
So there again, if you’re not upgrading, it isn’t an issue but if you are upgrading, you could find some of your widgets missing if you’re using more than 9.
Look forward to working with and for you Jan.
Trish
Hi Trish: just found your website and LOVE it! It’s so informative and looks incredible. the structure and set up is so logical and easy to navigate — very sharp.
Now I am thinking of testing the free version of semiologic pro to see if it’s a ‘fit’ for what we want to do on this thing known as the affiliate game or computer / internet marketing journey! Currently our site is comprised of ebay listings for games, toys, sports, collectibles, comics but also computer games and electronics such wii, xbox, play station.
Looking forward to learning what plugins and widgets you think are the best before - gulp - taking the leap to invest the big bucks
thanks!
GFS
Hi there …
Thanks for the compliment on the blog … it’s easy to get cluttered and I am really diligement when thinking of adding new images etc so as not to confuse people.
Now, I think a blog would be great for your business but, I would personally not have a blog that covers all the items mentioned. Problem with doing this is that you create what I call a “flea market” site and it can confuse your visitors.
If we take the games and consoles for example, can you imagine how many people are looking for little “cheats,” tactics etc on how to get a bigger score or, accessories for their xbox etc? This is a huge market and one I think a lot of money can be made in because once people have one thing - the console for example - they want the whole kit and, they want to know how to play the game … to win!
My advice would be to use the free version and, I will do a blog post over the next couple of days on which plugins to use … The pro version comes with about 80 and some of them are active before you get going … but the truth is, I have seen people doing okay with the free version and with a handful of plugins that I recommend as crutial rather than just “nice to have.”
Semioloigic pro is a big investment but I like the fact that I can use it on all of my own sites, I get regular updates, new plugins as necessary when the new release version are launched etc, but as I said, I would start with the free version if you are not sure since you can easily upgrade later WITHOUT destroying what you’ve already created.
Hope that helps!
Trish
Wow! Brilliant. This idea of honing in on Wii as a game site or rather a complete site concept — all things related to Wii, Wii consoles, Wii games, Will cheats and strategies all together … That is so smart and insightful. And it’s a really generous suggestion too; I am glad we found your site and the entry path into semiologic pro — especially the free path for now…
What you said makes total sense and has given me a whole new understanding of how to begin to think about this — as a newbie it is incredibly overwhelming! Now to proceed with some changes soon…I feel like I need to learn more before trying to take on too much so I will very much look forward to your new tips and lessons. You are a real sport to share the insights, and a true gem. Thank you, Trish.
I’m looking forward to seeing your new Wii gaming site. I really do think this is the way to go and, if a new game comes along and replaces the Wii, you just replicate the successes you’ve achieved on the Wii site and, when the Wii site becomes successful, you then replicate it and do one for say Sony PSP and so on.
As a newbie, if you want some help moving forward, you might want to check out my new membership site, http://www.TheBlogNetReporter
It’s about to have a facelift to make it even better and take you step-by-step, not just through the building process of a blog, but more importantly, the marketing - which is of course where the money is. All the best in your venture whatever you decide. Trish
Love your phrase “flea market.” True on so many websites — “everyone wants everything I’m selling because it is their job to support me, not my job to serve them!”
…and am trying to decide whether to upgrade. I have an older version with 100+ blogs on it (and Ad Spaces!), but just started a couple new sites with only a couple of blogs.
Doesn’t GNU mean Denis can ask us to pay for it, but can’t require us to do so, and it isn’t illegal not to pay? I mean, we can send money after we’ve sold something? (first born comes to mind)
Lin
Hi Lin,
I’m afraid I can’t comment too much on this one. Whilst WordPress is open source, and free, Denis has put blood sweat and tears into developing Semiologic which is a theme developed specifically for use with WordPress. I’m not aware that this makes it open source any more than Microsoft owns the rights to tutorials someone else creates to aid learning of their product.
I may have missed what you’re getting at here Lin so forgive me if I have, but when you first purchased Semiologic (assuming you have the paid version), it came with a year of free upgrades. I have personally enjoyed almost 3 years of free upgrades and Denis, quite rightly in my view, has now began to charge for upgrades.
I have seen other blog software try to rival Semiologic but none as yet - not even “Authority Site Center - has wowed me. I think the customer service is excellent and, the support forum is the best I’ve ever been inolved with.
Just my two cents.
Is it worth upgrading? Absolutely. Version 5 of Semiologic just makes so many aspects easier to manage and as long as you back up all of your Ad Spaces, (copy into notepad), you can just copy and paste into the “who see’s ads” plugin.
Hope you get your blogs sorted … 100+ … WOW!!
Trish
OK — I meant over 100 entries, daily blogs, not different subject blogs, and thank you. Yes, I’m sure I have that many subjects and opinions in me–and the smart people I call friends!
I’ve blogged for a few years, off and on, but just started a daily blog mid-Nov. I confess, it hasn’t been daily, but I will also aver I lose about 3-4 visitors each day I do not blog. @#$%^!!
Since I love writing, it’s only my own @#$ fault if I do not blog daily. Sometimes I set the bar too high. I want to be Linda Ellerbee, and I haven’t been even on my BEST day! 200 words is better than none. Good enough JUST IS!
You make a fantastic point about buying Denis’s Sky Gold skin for SemioLogicPro 5.0. I do believe and trust the laborer is worthy of his or her hire. Thank you for making the case so eloquently. XXOO
What we sow we also get to reap. I’ve certainly had people download my eBook, then request refunds after it saved them $90,000! I can only, therefore, put out what I wish to receive back, which is like the old saw, “No charge till you use it; then, pay me what it’s worth to you.”
That is the best of all possible worlds, and the world I so long to live in. So, let me take the first step…
With you - thanks - for showing the way.
Lin
in Arizona USA
This software looks very interesting. The biggest issue that I have with Denis, however, is that he isn’t really going out of his way to make things easy for its users. What I mean is what good will it do for me if I don’t know how to use its features? I realize that there is a help forum, but a lot of people are more visual when it comes to learning things. This is why it is good to have video tutorials.
Many marketers are making it easy for people to use their products by providing them with easy to follow video tutorials. I don’t understand why Denis hasn’t done this. It’s not even expensive to do this. For the amount of money that he makes on just one sale of semiologic he can practically pay for Camtasia.
Either he is being cheap or just simply lazy, or there is some other reason why he won’t put videos up (possibly a copyright issue with the plugins).
Whatever the case may be, for the amount of money that he is asking for this software, at the very least he should provide easy to follow videos.
Maybe he has. I have searched for them and haven’t found anything.
Appreciated Chris but in fairness, Microsoft provide a guide but other people create the “how to” products. Denis does have a list of MOST of the plugins on his site at semiologic.com and there are sites such as my site at http://www.theblognetreporter.com (which is currently closed for new members but will be reopening in a couple of weeks - you can sign up for early notification) which cover the video tutorials.
This is the issue also Chris, if you check out the forum, once people want to know how to use the software they want to know everything.
Creating the videos are time consuming and, you have to be regularly updating to keep up with wordpress and plugin changes.
I have recently been uploading standard wordpress blogs for my clients and I have to say that customizing is work with these themes. You have to hard code almost everything. I can change the header of my Semiologic blogs with two clicks of the mouse.
See my latest blog post … http://www.trishjones.com/free-wordpress-blog-themes-a-dear-experience/
Hope you find the best solution for your blogging needs,
Trish