Great Plugin: Meteor Slides, part 1
It has been awhile since a plugin has captured my imagination and kept me busy for 2 days.
This plugin called "Meteor Slides" has created a whole new set of strategies for me. So much so that I want to document my experience with it. I think it will take several blogs to present it. But it will be worthwhile for me to make a record of it for myself. And maybe others will be helped by it.
Plugins > Add New > type "slides" - install "Meteor Slides"
This one is compatible with my theme. After installing it, the first thing that struck me was the design of it. It was as if it was part of WordPress all along. It took a lot of stress away and got me to use it effortlessly. You won't believe how natural it looks inside WP.
The Basic Concept: creates a set of pictures with or without text to be displayed in a timed sequence.
Advantages
1. It jams a ton of information into a tiny space so that the readers don't have to click all over your site to be exposed to it. Actually, they probably won't go around clicking everything. So, it brings the information to them.
2. The dynamic of sliding really draws attention
Here in part 1, I want to just introduce the possibilities.
1. Embed a slider into any post or page
It only requires a simple short code that is pasted right into the post or page. There is no crazy-hair-pulling code work with the WP editor.
You can advertise anything you want in a sequence of slides.
UPDATE: There is a glitch when it is embedded into a post or page. Now, this may be a problem related specifically to my own theme, Espressionista. It may behave with your theme. The problem is that it plays ALL the slides from all your files. This means that the subfolder organization is not working. Now, it does work in the sidebar but not on my page or post. Let me know if it works for you. Actually, I'm ok with it not working on the page/post because it can be a distraction from reading the post/page. I think it works better in the sidebar. So, the problem is that a big deal to me.
2. Embed the slider into the sidebar as a sequenced advertisement
-now, this gets interesting. There are a number of possibilities here. You can create your own whatever!! Affiliate links, links to other pages, the services you provide....anything
-and you can create as many of these as you want...I guess...until you run out of real estate on your sidebar.
-I created a whole bunch and each slider has its own unique purpose. You can see it on any of my sites (listed below)
-here's a quick overview of the unique purposes of each slider-set
1. Slide set to advertise all my sites so visitors can see the big picture of 8 sites working together
2. Slide set to show what other leaders are saying about me. Adds authority to my sites.
3. Slide set to display all the services I provide.
* and each set is linked to take them where I set
3. Embed it into the sidebar as a SINGLE slide.
-obviously, being one slide, it doesn't slide. But now, it functions as a classic widget advertisement like putting a graphic-banner on your sidebar. But now, you have the design power to make it whatever you want.
-so, I created a static slide situation to advertise my ebooks. And of course, it is linked to the page I want them to go.
-I also created a static slide widget for my YouTube channel. It's just a convenient click straight to that channel.
* I feel like I have just begun to play with the possibilities. If you choose to try it, let me know how you are using it.
Click for part 2 on tech set up
.
Pastor Tae
* to see the overall inter-relationship of all the websites, click: http://pastortae.com/sponsor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeStreamsOnline/videos?sort=dd&view=0
www.oppositeparentingstyles.com
LIKE the green button. Thanks
Recent Comments
41
I think you shd start a training on this great plugin, I think it is great stuff, thanks for yr kind sharing, Pastor Tae. :)
I thought about it but I've never done a training and it seems like too much work when I am so busy....
excuses
Wow, your sidebar looks amazing, what a great way to get all that information into a small place. I have to take a closer look at this, bookmarked and thank you, Very useful.
That's a nice simple way to put it: getting a lot of information into a small space and to draw attention to it.
Yes. It's really a future consideration because one's site has to have things to offer and things to raise awareness. If it's put it too early it won't be as effective. I think I will make a lot of adjustments to it in the future. That's why it captures my imagination.
Hi PastorTae, impressive plugin but would welcome your next lesson on how to use it as im having difficulties in setting it up with images,
Ok. The plugin is about setting it up. It doesn't teach you how make the images to insert. You would have to learn how to create an image with or without text. And the image has to be BIG and LONG So that it can be stretched or squeezed into different situations. The default setting which you can slightly modify is 900 x 220.
Those tiny skinny slides on my side bar are really 940 x 240
well the 3 basic options are page, post, and sidebar. Maybe you could have it where it shows golf swing or stance.... in your lessons area
Ok im going to have to give this one alot of thought, just hope i can replicate your efforts
On your other site you could slide several advertisements like
1. WA
2. Jaaxy
3. To contact you.
4. A free gift
5. Email subscription
In other words it's a lot of advertisement in a small space as opposed to going all over the place to find it.
And the sliding itself draws the attention
No. Each is a separate image which you add one at a time and organize into separate sets or you could play all of them as one set. In my case I have 4 sets and planning to have more
LIKE? Love! Looks great Tae :)
Can't believe you have eight sites! I am in awe; just one takes enough of my time!
C
Yeah it's a little crazy with 9 sites. But there is an overall plan that I hope to realize later this year. BTW Like? means to click the like in the green button above.....no big deal. Haha. It's not like I win anything. Thanks for stopping by
Nine? Oh my! Do you ever sleep?
Green button has been clicked :) Sorry, it's early here, don't think I'm quite awake yet!
C
And it's really late for me. Thx for the like. I honestly don't know why it's there. Anyway there are a lot of people here with multiple sites and so it's kinda crazy for a lot of us.... like that old lady who lived in a shoe!
No problem! Time for bed :)
I do intend to get a few sites up and running by the end of the year, but am taking my time and trying to get the first one nailed before I divert my attention.
I like that analogy.. I enjoy reading your blogs, Tae, they are always engaging :)
C
Thanks Claire. Wish you the best. The general wisdom is to work more focused on one and then expand later
Likewise, Tae :)
I don't like to put all my eggs into one basket, I just wish I had the time and dedication that you do to set them all up in one hit.
C
When I started I did focus on one site for about a month. That taught me a lot of basics and so the subsequent sites were developed much quicker because I was passed the learning curve. It will go faster and faster for you.
And you're right. We shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket. We might trip and fall or the basket might have a hole. We must diversify
Absolutely! I would rather have ten sites earning me $100 a month, than one earning $1K. You never know what will drop out of fashion from one minute to the next.
I honestly can't believe how much I have learned from WA in six weeks. I intend to go back through all of the training again when I do site #2 and write everything down, so if I need references for setting up #3 it is close to hand.. then it should be plain sailing *fingers crossed*.
C
It certainly seems like the sensible thing to do. Kudos to Kyle and Carson for making the training so easy to follow!
C
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This is a very interesting plugin I might possibly be interested in, in the future. It moves just a smidge fast for the testimonials but is fine otherwise! I will be curious to see what success you have with it! :)
The timing can be adjusted of the slides. Still playing with it. Thanks
Good to know! Then I would suggest you slow that one down a bit! :)
Thanks for the tip
Well, you know the comments, but the rest of us want to read it and know it too, lol! You're welcome! ;)