Any Press Solution

By: Terry SmithFriday, May 8, 2009

The *Press Solution

Growing user communities and interaction

WordCamp Toronto 2009By: Terry Smith


Me, Myself and I• Terry Smith• Programmer for b5media• Wordpress experience– Same code base, helped a lot


The Problem• Lack of user to user interaction• User persistence and “home”

Before After


The Solution• Forums – Encourage user to user interactions

and discussions• Social Network – Create a home for them on

your site


Software Stack• Wordpress MU – Run multiple blogs on the

same install• buddyPress – Social networking features• bbPress - Forums


Advantages• Encourage other interactions (not just poster

to users)• Create a niche• Increase time on site and activity• Increase page views


Disadvantages• Pre-1.0 software changes rapidly• Communities aren’t as active• Not extremely well documented (ala

Wordpress)


Easy Part• Installation:– Wordpress MU (http://mu.wordpress.org)– buddyPress (social) (http://buddypress.org)– bbPress (forums) (http://bbpress.org)


• “Real”, full integration, three steps:

Hard Part


BuddyPress• Replaces author pages• Replaces forum profiles• Theme is hard (completely localized)


bbPress• Install in a sub-directory• Only serves one domain (Channels coming!)• “BuddyBar” tough to bring over• Theme isn’t too difficult• Hint: Bring Wordpress into the loop


Wordpress• Link author pages to BuddyPress• Link commenters to their profiles too• Promote friendships


Other Resources• Software forums (bbPress and BuddyPress)• Wordpress and BuddyPress Codex• http://bavatuesdays.com/integrating-wpmu-b

uddypress-and-bbpress/• Crazies like me!


Help is coming• Plug-in sets• Tutorials• Documented walk-through


Thanks• Andy Peatling• Sam Bauers• Everyone at b5media


Fin

Questions welcome

Technology

Any Press Solution