eARNING TRICK: wordpress plugins

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kedyrQgCSqCnefbihMr6Yje3oKge3LbG56HaGPiDitfEntxw5FQkWN7E64PT55CmKZmiVWm1O52275gM1rUDcIn7gwUpUxjyyjLrAZHubHX0rVA2_Vv9gw_2KOJkSUyn9xtyw43E8XA/s1600/wordpressstickboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kedyrQgCSqCnefbihMr6Yje3oKge3LbG56HaGPiDitfEntxw5FQkWN7E64PT55CmKZmiVWm1O52275gM1rUDcIn7gwUpUxjyyjLrAZHubHX0rVA2_Vv9gw_2KOJkSUyn9xtyw43E8XA/s320/wordpressstickboy.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>In <a href="http://helpfulinformationfornewbies.blogspot.com/2017/03/adsense-is-retiring-their-official.html">a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago</a>, I made note that AdSense was retiring (deprecating) their official Wordpress Plugin, and linked to recommendations made by AdSense - in particular the "QuickStart" Ads option for WordPress users. That's the official recommendation, but they also indicate you can simply paste your code into a text widget, which is fine if you want to put it in a sidebar area. What that won't do is insert code into your header or footer area of your site, so when using a wordpress site to apply for AdSense (or a host account upgrade) if you aren't able to (or comfortable with) editing your php files, you may feel a little lost. There have been a fair number of users coming to the forum asking what they should do now. I can understand this myself. I've edited php files very few times, and each time felt like I could very easily screw something up, so I'd be pretty uncomfortable editing the header file myself. For those who need an easier solution, there are other plugins available that can do that - insert codes into your header or footer. And there are themes that will allow you to do that directly from a box in the "customizing" options of your theme, without manually editing the php files. For new wordpress users and non-coders, this might be the best option. At least until you feel comfortable editing your theme files yourself. <a name="more"></a> Although I can't recommend any particular plugin there are several popular ones you can try (<a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/free">free plugin directory</a>).  There are some things you should consider BEFORE selecting ANY plugin to use with your wordpress site. <ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Ensure the plugin is compatible with your version of WordPress.</li><li>Check to make sure the plugin is being updated and maintained regularly.</li><li>Read the descriptions of the plugin and what it does carefully.</li><li>Read the developer's information and terms - yes, that's important. You don't want someone else's ads showing up in your site if you use a free plugin supported by ads.</li><li>Make sure the developer offers & responds to support for the plugin (even if it's free).</li><li>Check the number of "stars" it has, BUT don't rely on that number alone. A plugin might have 5 stars, but may only have had 1 person review it. That doesn't mean it's a great plugin or that people trust it.  It also doesn't mean it's a bad plugin. It may just be a "new" plugin without much exposure yet. If it has thousands of reviews and hundreds of users giving it 5 stars, it's a good bet that's a decent plugin.</li><li>Make sure the plugin is easy to use once installed.</li><li>Check the number of downloads it's had, and the number of users who have reviewed it. Read the reviews.</li></ol> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmrvG2MbPwms-OZQxaVs2w1MjLlT_dpTDPFUS7qF7ummb3RtlcdGxFh_Abru5x-SzjmwNUTT0kUN7Ig2AGpqrZdKjZx39LLKcELFgvkwoPs4EqehVOFFtb7XL2LuWzrvy5UoZljPz2_0/s1600/WPLogoGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmrvG2MbPwms-OZQxaVs2w1MjLlT_dpTDPFUS7qF7ummb3RtlcdGxFh_Abru5x-SzjmwNUTT0kUN7Ig2AGpqrZdKjZx39LLKcELFgvkwoPs4EqehVOFFtb7XL2LuWzrvy5UoZljPz2_0/s320/WPLogoGirl.jpg" width="165" /></a>If you try a plugin and love it, and the developer offers a reasonably priced "pro upgrade" for it, it's a good idea to pay for the upgrade if you plan to be using it for a long time. You usually get better support, and more functionality with paid versions. In the end, only you can decide which one is the best one, and most of the time, you can try more than one, just uninstall the one you didn't like and try again, BUT (yes, another but) be careful because poorly coded plugins can mess up your wordpress installation. Here's links to a few: <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/header-footer/" target="_blank">Header, Footer & Post Injections</a> <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/add-to-all/" target="_blank">Add-To-All</a> <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/header-footer-code-manager/" target="_blank">Header Footer Code Manager</a> The other option for users would be to choose a theme that comes with <a href="https://wordpress.org/themes/tags/custom-header/" target="_blank">customization of the head code</a> directly in the theme. There are some that allow easy integration of other codes into the header, but you're on your own looking for those. I tend to use templates that are simple, without much in the way of frills. No matter what you choose, you'll still need to ensure that your ad placements don't violate any AdSense policy, so it's a good idea to review those before you get started: <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1346295?hl=en" target="_blank">Ad Placement Policies</a> <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1354740?hl=en&ref_topic=1271508" target="_blank">Ads in a New Window</a> (not allowed) <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1354736?hl=en&ref_topic=1271508" target="_blank">Code Modification</a> (read this - some things are NOT allowed) <div style="text-align: right;">posted by J. Gracey Stinson </div></div>

Inserting AdSense Code into Wordpress Header/Foot

In a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago , I made note that AdSense was retiring (deprecating) their official Wordpress Plugin, and linked to...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KQyncMRzmV5LklbPruqOmQiIa3GMKRCktVUpPUkjR13g3aEpg7x2bBeDuokG8m9DHrHsjJrcg3TfomoPkc3AEEJO3GP4_EOW3eO6-Ots-_eKXYu26zMSD4j7QPaoUgYwT0eFPC2qeU4/s1600/WPAdsenseGoodbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KQyncMRzmV5LklbPruqOmQiIa3GMKRCktVUpPUkjR13g3aEpg7x2bBeDuokG8m9DHrHsjJrcg3TfomoPkc3AEEJO3GP4_EOW3eO6-Ots-_eKXYu26zMSD4j7QPaoUgYwT0eFPC2qeU4/s320/WPAdsenseGoodbye.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>For publishers hosting their sites on wordpress.org sites, this recent information will be of interest to them, particularly if any of you are using the official AdSense Wordpress Plugin. They'll be saying good-bye to plugin pretty soon. Key dates <blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 4px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="list-style-type: none; margin: 4px 0px; padding-left: 16px;">Early March, 2017: New publishers will not be able to sign up for AdSense by using the plugin.</li><li style="list-style-type: none; margin: 4px 0px; padding-left: 16px;">Early April, 2017: Existing publishers will not be able to change their ad settings or ad units through the plugin.</li><li style="list-style-type: none; margin: 4px 0px; padding-left: 16px;">Early May, 2017: Google will no longer provide support for the plugin.</li></ul></blockquote><a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/3380626?hl=en&vid=0-712699449183-1489498449859&visit_id=1-636251057845854736-4223141785&rd=1" target="_blank">AdSense Help Center Article </a> Early March has already come and gone, so any new publishers trying to sign up for AdSense through the plugin probably won't be able to, and since it will no longer be much use to publishers after the beginning of May, it doesn't make much sense to install it now. If you've tried to apply through the plugin and get an error notice, you'll probably need to re-apply at the <a href="http://www.google.com/adsense" target="_blank">Adsense homepage</a>; if you applied in March through plugin and don't receive any notices from AdSense in about 4 weeks or so, I'd suggest you will probably need to reapply as well. <a name="more"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSkbg3b6vbbR_PHgI2VklCrwVRQhkJpqSwpsKPwH75gLapApjHdozzQdPbpTpSff6uXvoI-MXlBqSSkLLtfuXGbjOb0WhgoE5N5D4MESlbJfKjswwOnU8ewDfza0qhQ6ToJABQpe2b1I/s1600/wordpressstickboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSkbg3b6vbbR_PHgI2VklCrwVRQhkJpqSwpsKPwH75gLapApjHdozzQdPbpTpSff6uXvoI-MXlBqSSkLLtfuXGbjOb0WhgoE5N5D4MESlbJfKjswwOnU8ewDfza0qhQ6ToJABQpe2b1I/s200/wordpressstickboy.jpg" width="149" /></a>For those who have been using the plugin successfully, if you haven't already, then you'll likely be receiving an email in the very near future from AdSense with instructions on what to do. I'm guessing there will be publishers who aren't sure at all what to do and may not do anything right away. The help center article has covered this a little: What Will Happen if I do Nothing? <blockquote class="tr_bq">There will be no change to your ad settings as they're stored in your WordPress site. Your existing ads and layouts will be unaffected and ads will continue to serve. However, you won't be able to edit the position of your ads. We recommend that you switch to using <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/7171740" style="background-color: white; color: #7759ae; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">QuickStart</a> or <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/6002575" style="background-color: white; color: #7759ae; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">ad units</a>, so you can make changes to your ads going forward.</blockquote>What that means is that your ads will still show on your website, and you'll still earn from those ads. But that's the extent of it. There will be no flexibility in allowing you to change any ad placements through the plugin, or remove any ad placements, or edit anything at all about those ad placements ... and you may not be able to remove them in a hurry if you needed to. They don't really cover that, and for some publishers that may be a pretty big concern. And I have no idea if the deleting of ads will work either. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFqjHzUtFf5VTz6jUyqB2LW94Akbx8fujUEV_dhyYJpM-YWqcuBc3Dk8oMsLiX-m1HBByRTSh6th1QyPQV6knB3b3UMteG4BRyOr0ozWniFWabtb0wwioYw4Wneu-LdpUiMJNUXpG-kg/s1600/WPLogoGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFqjHzUtFf5VTz6jUyqB2LW94Akbx8fujUEV_dhyYJpM-YWqcuBc3Dk8oMsLiX-m1HBByRTSh6th1QyPQV6knB3b3UMteG4BRyOr0ozWniFWabtb0wwioYw4Wneu-LdpUiMJNUXpG-kg/s200/WPLogoGirl.jpg" width="103" /></a></div>If you have a large site with hundreds (or more) pages, and you can't remove those ad codes with the plugin that would mean you'd have to manually pages to remove the ad codes. Whether this turns out to be the actual case, I don't know but if I were using this plugin (I'm not, I've used a different one for a long time now) on my site, I'd want to remove it before it loses it's functionality. The help center article explains how to do that, so make sure you start taking steps before the time frame gets "down-to-the-wire". People may think they wouldn't ever need to remove their ads, but there are many cases where some publishers will want to - for example if you decided to sell your website to another individual, or transfer ownership of it, you would want to remove all of your own ad codes first. If the plugin still works to remove codes (and that's "up-in-the-air" since I don't know) then it's an easy job. If it doesn't, it could take a long time to remove all the ad codes from every page and sidebar/header/footer of your website. Overall, that could be pretty frustrating. I will qualify this by saying that I don't know how it places the codes - whether directly into a php (in which case deleting it could be simple) or into individual posts. Either way, for some publishers editing manually is a frightening experience if they don't know how. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYupQvQhXUx9LZwpVzTXEN9VJq5ZaEWVzd0TpuA_qdPtENLYo-0WB0aAdX4Jmo0aom2Ht0H_FC_tku8vOjiQ3rCf1ncylSH7GIQNzc9EJSN-l1v7x9KJxP9nd3kwKWG1fMT9VwYbAzUc/s1600/WPQuestionStickGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYupQvQhXUx9LZwpVzTXEN9VJq5ZaEWVzd0TpuA_qdPtENLYo-0WB0aAdX4Jmo0aom2Ht0H_FC_tku8vOjiQ3rCf1ncylSH7GIQNzc9EJSN-l1v7x9KJxP9nd3kwKWG1fMT9VwYbAzUc/s400/WPQuestionStickGirl.jpg" width="248" /></a>AdSense is recommending their <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/7171740" target="_blank">QuickStart</a> ads or standard ad units, and have given no recommendation for other plugins to use. AdSense generally can't support other plugins created outside of AdSense but that doesn't mean others won't work, it just means AdSense has no control over what those other plugins do or whether those other plugins might put ads where ads shouldn't be put. In the end it is up to the publisher to understand the <a href="https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1346295?hl=en&ref_topic=1307438" target="_blank">ad placement policies </a>and choose a plugin that allows the publisher to have control over the ad placements. If you haven't taken time to really understand the ad placement policies, you will need to. Publishers have always been responsible for the ad placements on their sites, but there are publishers who just allowed the plugin to choose the best spots which (to be perfectly honest) sometimes violate policies too, depending on the contents the publisher has. When I tried the plugin, it placed ads so that they overlaid some of my images, which violated policy, and my choices were limited with that plugin - either I edited all the pages on my site where it messed up my images, or I stopped using that plugin. I stopped using that plugin because I already had my pages laid out the way I wanted them. The point isn't that the plugin was bad, but that the plugin can cause policy violations in ad placements too if you don't check every page on your site after installing it. Not just the official plugin - any ad plugin. It's up to you as a publisher to make sure whatever you use (even QuickStart ads) doesn't create problems for your site design and layout, and if it does then you need to fix it. <div style="text-align: right;">posted by J. Gracey Stinson </div> </div>

AdSense is Retiring their Official Wordpress Plugin

For publishers hosting their sites on wordpress.org sites, this recent information will be of interest to them, particularly if any of you a...