For a future project I needed these days some easy to use zip or gzip class to create a zip file from files / folders inside a specified directory. A short search on Google has lead me to the Create ZIP File PHP class from Rochak Chauhan. I tested two other scripts before and must say that this script works great for single files if you add them manually.

To compress a whole directory with an unknown number of files into one zip file I created some class extension to get this job done.
I used some directory functions (opendir, readdir) to get all the files from the specified directory. Inside each directory there are files and “real directories” and directory locations. We need only the real directories. We test each value with “is_file”, “is_dir” and we filter off the directory directions (”.” and “..”). After the “file” is identified, the files content is added to the “addFile” object and for other directories the method “get_file_from_folder” is called again. Read the rest of this entry »

You have enough of shared hosting and/or the costs for bandwidth are too high? OK, the next step is your own dedicated server, but with a limited budget it’s hard to find a good and cheap managed server.

For all beginning server administrator is this guide about how-to setup the DNS for a server with a DirectAdmin control panel.

Why DirectAdmin (DA)?
I like this control panel at most, it’s fast, frequently updated and there are updates also for the latest PHP and MySQL version. I’m sure there are much more pros and of course there are more powerful control panel systems.

If you buy an unmanaged dedicated server, the operating system and DirectAdmin should be installed. If not, you need to do it by yourself (check the DA website for further information). I guess this is a hard job for a beginner, if you need to start from the beginning try to use Ubuntu, this Linux distribution works great with DirectAdmin. Read the rest of this entry »

When you are setting up a website for the first time, one of the more important considerations is the domain name you will use. Probably as important as the domain name you will use for your website is the company that you use to register the domain. Here we will explain how you can choose a domain name that matches the needs of your business as well how to choose a domain name registrar that will be suitable for your type of business.

Choosing the domain name

There are two ways to choose a domain name for your website; a branded name or a keyword focused name.

Keyword focused domain names

Keyword focused domain names are exactly what they sound like, choosing a domain name that incorporates the use of keyword phrases, or terms that you would like to rank for in search engines. Let’s say, for instance, that you want to offer writing services on your website. If going the keyword focused domain name route, you might look for “writingservices.com”, “freelancewriter.net” or the like.

There are two benefits to choosing a keyword focused domain name: Read the rest of this entry »

Internet marketing Guru’s swear by them, and you’ve no doubt heard the phrase “the money’s in the list” more times than you care to acknowledge. Certainly running an email list can be lucrative, but why is it so lucrative, and how can you build a mailing list that not only increases sales, but increases your website traffic as well?

Why running a mailing list can increase sales

It’s statistically proven that on average a person must be exposed to a website or offer 7 times before they’ll make a purchase. While the underlying reason for this fact is not as clear as the “magic number” itself, running a mailing list allows you to keep your primary offer in front of perspective buyers until they purchase or they unsubscribe from your list.

Of course, a mailing list that is sent to potential consumers that is blatantly sales-focused will undoubtedly suffer from a high unsubscribe rate. Giving your potential customers value amongst subtle recommendations is a much better practice than blasting advertisements with no real value to their email inbox every other day. Get to know your subscribers and know what kind of questions that they are asking; if you cater to their needs with free information or free resources, over time they will learn to trust your insight and will be more likely to act (purchase a product or service) based on your recommendation alone. Read the rest of this entry »