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Use CGI to Automate Your Web Site
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By Shelley Lowery
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Are you taking advantage of the powerful automation technologyavailable on the Internet? Common Gateway Interface, betterknown as CGI, is one of the most widely used server applicationson the Internet. This software resides on your server andautomatically performs specified functions on your web site.
If you've been on the Internet for a while, you've probably seenmany examples of CGI use and didn't even realize it. SearchEngines, Directories and Forums all use CGI scripts. Scripts canrun everything from a form on your web site to an affiliateprogram. They can give you the power to completely automate yourweb site.
There are scripts online that can automate all of the following:
* Make your product available for download * Take the customersorder * Approve it right online * Send your customer a password* Send you a confirmation of the order
You can sell your products around the clock and never lift afinger.
SuperScripts - http://www.superscripts.com/
If you have a subscription box on your web site, then you'realready using a program to process the information. That's agood start however, there are many additional ways you can usethis powerful technology.
Here are some great scripts to get you started.
The Master Series:
Master Form
This form will enable you to have the results emailed to you orto a specified address. It can write your information to adatabase file and even enable you to have a personalized thankyou page. In addition, you can even have multi-page forms withno limit on the number of pages. Master Feedback
Allow your visitors to provide you with feedback. MasterFeedback enables you to add your own information fields withradio buttons, checkboxes, dropdown lists and text fields. Thegreat thing about using Master Feedback is that it helps youspam- proof your site by not requiring your email addressanywhere on your page.
Master Recommend
Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising. MasterRecommend will enable your visitors to recommend your web siteto a friend. This great script is multi-lingual, which meansthat the emails sent can be written in any language.
Master Subscriber Pro
Enable your visitors to subscribe to multiple ezines by checkingthe boxes beside the publication they wish to subscribe. They'llonly need to enter their email address one time and won't beforced to leave your web site.
The great thing about this script is that it is compatible withezines hosted with Egroups, Topica, etc., or any ezine that usesan email address for subscriptions.
Master Syndicator
If you write articles, Master Syndicator will enable you tosyndicate your content. You simply copy and paste your articleinto a form and click on submit. Your article will instantly beready for syndication. To display your content, webmasters willneed to place two small lines of JavaScript within their webpage where they'd like the article to display. Each time youupdate your article, every web site using your code willautomatically be updated.
The Master Series scripts can be found here:http://hop.clickbank.net/hop.cgi?wsnet/willmaster
WebBBS
This great script will enable you to set up your own forum.Unlike most bulletin board scripts, WebBBS stores messages assimple text files and creates HTML pages as needed.
This great script supports automatic quoting of message text andemail notification of those who want to be informed of newposts. http://awsd.com/scripts/webbbs/index.shtml
WebAdverts
Set up a rotating banner system on your web site and trackresponse rates. WebAdverts will enable you to not only set up arotating banner system, but if you'd like, you can set up yourown banner exchange. Banners can be displayed on your pagesusing SSI tags, IFRAME tags, or standard IMG tags.
The great thing about this script is that you can includebanners on CGI-generated pages. In addition, you can filter thebanners by allowing certain banners to appear only on certainpages. This script is a little complicated, but well worth it.http://awsd.com/scripts/webadverts/index.shtml
Links
If you've ever wanted to set up a directory, this great scriptwill make it simple. It is modeled after Yahoo and inspired byThe CGI Resource Index. It can be completely customized to matchthe look and feel of your web site.http://www.gossamer-threads.com/scripts/links/
POD
The Personal Open Directory script will enable you to pull thecontents of the Open Directory Project into your own web pages.It is completely customizable and will enable your visitors tohave access to this great directory without leaving your website. http://grohol.com/downloads/pod/dmoz/
Learn more about CGI: http://www.howstuffworks.com/cgi.htm
Locate CGI Scripts:http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/
If you're not utilizing the full benefits that CGI has to offer,you're missing the boat. Not only will it save you a great dealof time, but it will also process your information around theclock. Scripts can assist you in making your web site aninteractive community and bring your site to life.
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