Even More Updates
Mar 6th in News by Collis
Quarterly Subscriptions Added to PSDTUTS Plus
I'm happy to report that subscriptions to PSDTUTS Plus are going well, and it's already really boosted the site's income. In fact the day after we launched, I went and commissioned a special (read expensive) tutorial by a famous artist. That should be coming in a couple weeks.
Anyhow, on request, I've also added quarterly subscriptions where you save $5 off the regular price. You can get them at the usual PSDTUTS Plus Signup.
User Link Feed — Fixed!
A few months back, we added the user-link feed that you see in the right-hand column. As most of you remember they are links submitted by anyone that appear on the site and through an RSS feed. This means anyone can get some exposure for their site/project. We vet the links to make sure they are interesting and worthwhile, and we've had a lot of cool stuff come through.
The only problem has been that the RSS feed was a bit demented (due to how I built it). But after a few hours of learning about Wordpress's RSS feeds, I finally managed to fix it all up, so links go straight out rather than back through the site. Yay! Now, hopefully, the already 200-odd people who have subscribed will be boosted up higher, and having your link in there will become even more of a good thing to do!
Proper Suggestion Area
We've always been open to suggestions, but lacked a proper place to put them. So I've created a special post called Tutorial Suggestions / Requests where you can comment in your requests. I can't make any promises that we'll manage to do them all, but I know I get tutorial writers always asking what they should write on, so you never know!
Updated Top Menu to Include PSDTUTS Plus Login
Some of the first people to join PSDTUTS Plus wrote to me and asked exactly how they were supposed to log in. It seems that somehow in my excitement to release, I forgot to add a login link to the site — D'oh! Anyhow, it's now present in the top right. And for those observant among you, you'll notice I've also fixed the menu so it has a down state when you click on other pages (the devil's in the details!)
Expanded Resource Directory!!
As promised, I've upgraded the resource directory to include thumbnails, categorization, search, breadcrumb trail, and user submissions. It currently has about 50 links in it, and I'll be adding a few more daily for the next few weeks. I'm trying to be quite elitist and only include really great sites, so if you submit, the rejection rate may be a little high. Nonetheless, if you know some great resources that you think other readers would benefit from, please do add your links.
If you're a blogger yourself, the plugin I used is called WP-Directory and is pretty cool, though I had to spend about four hours customizing it to PSDTUTS :-)
Coming Soon — Wiki!
Lately, I've been thinking about PSDTUTS a lot — so much so, that on Monday I woke up in the middle of the night and the first thought in my head was "maybe i should add a wiki to PSDTUTS." While this is a sad event (waking up in the night and thinking about work), it is good news in that it's a good idea!
So I did a bit of research and apparently I can hook up Wordpress so that every time you see a word (e.g. Clone Stamp Tool), it'll automatically link up to the wiki's definition. I think this will be a huge enhancement to the learning available from our tutorials, as beginners will be able to instantly get a definition on tools and Photoshop features they've never seen before.
So now I just need to install a wiki, write definitions, and install the linking plugin . . . hmmm, that may take a little while :-)
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Markus March 6th
Thanks for the updates, you are always supriseing me!
( )Aloke Pillai March 6th
Wow, its growing like crazy. Can’t wait to see more updates.
Keep Rocking!
Aloke Pillai
( )Shawn March 6th
Collis you totally rock.
( )Dan March 6th
For those of us that have signed up with PayPal for the monthly subscription, how would you suggest we go about changing to the quarterly subscription in order to save some money?
( )Arik March 6th
Sweet, hey if you need help with those definitions I am willing to write some of em.
( )Daniel Holter March 6th
Waking up in the middle of the night and thinking about work is NOT a sad event!!
Nope, I don’t believe it.
Greatness is built by those restless few. Keep it up!
( )Collis March 6th
Thanks Arik! I might take you up on that. Actually now that I think about it I guess we should make a wiki that works like wikipedia – ie. lots of people work on it – that would make life easier
@Dan: Good question! I think you can upgrade at the end of your first month. If you wish to do it earlier you can send me an email to psdtutsblog@gmail.com and we can cancel your current membership, refund your money and then set up a new one, it’s a bit more troublesome, but for you I’ll do it! hehe, and for anyone else actually
( )Collis March 6th
And thanks Daniel! I will!
( )Andrei Constantin March 6th
this site is getting better and better Collis, keep them coming
( )Zach March 6th
i would love to be able to contribute to that wiki. let me know if you need the help.
( )niksy March 6th
Nice updates, wiki idea is really great!
( )ali March 6th
what CMS does psdtuts.com use?
( )Collis March 6th
Hey Ali! The site is on Wordpress, I use something called aMember to make the membership section, WP-Directory plugin to make the link directory, and I hacked together the user link feed from the comments of one of the posts.
Thanks Zach for the offer! When i have all the software in place I’ll write it up and get some volunteers, yay!
( )Armen March 6th
I agree with Shawn, you rock Collis!
( )skut March 6th
Thanks for hearing us
( )Muhammad Haris March 6th
Great work done, Collis.
I’ll be waiting for the wiki.
( )goldenthunder March 6th
Fantastic!
( )kuldeep March 6th
Good Job! I am loving how PSDTuts is growing. Keep up the good work and ideas!!!!!
( )Arnaud March 6th
Cool I will save 5$
( )Arnaud March 6th
I want more bonus download
( )Shane March 6th
Fantastic stuff. This site is my first read every day now. Thanks.
( )giackop March 6th
Eh eh the site is evolving.. in better.. thanks!!
( )Paulo Sales March 6th
fantastic job ppl…
congrats !
great new tuts…different stuff.
( )remarcable..
Constantin Potorac March 7th
Great news. Also the forum is something I am looking forward too.
The community will be able to discuss and learn so much more.
( )Ali March 7th
thanks collis, this is excellent
( )Marian March 7th
The wikipedia-Idea is great!
Would be happy if I could support you in any way (perhaps translation from German –> English or vice versa?)
Feel free to contact me
Seriously.
Greetings from Hamburg,
( )Marian
Andrew D March 7th
FORUMS! add forums!!!
( )Shan March 7th
Wow Collis – kudos to you for giving all that info out about what you use to make psdtuts run! You seem to be a very nice and helpful admin!
On the signup page “Three Great Reasons to Join PSDTUTS Plus” – you might want to amend the “What does it cost?” section and mention the quarterly subscription rate. People always like a good bargain so I am sure it will help to sell more memberships!
Once someone has not renewed their membership, how long will it be till the are removed from the system? Does their username get deleted (so available to others?) or is it just frozen pending a renewal?
Sorry for these kind of questions but perhaps its good to have a sort of terms and conditions (T&C) that outline all this as it will make things clearer and whilst everyone here seem to be in good spirits, when you start taking money things can get ugly when they don’t turn out so good. A simple T&C should prevent people from kicking up a fuss about things they agreed to. Perhaps a check box with a link to T&C on the sign up page before clicking “continue”?
( )Collis March 7th
Hey Shan, good point on the quarterly subscription, will add!
In terms of user accounts, I believe once you have one it stays permanently, then you can log in later and pay for a subscription again.
I’m still getting to know aMember (the software for the membership) but I’m fairly certain thats what happens. You’re right though, i’ll look at beefing up the T&C’s,
Thanks!
( )Shan March 9th
Thanks Collis!
Oh could you please fix the picture on step 7 of “Quick Grunge Poster” tutorial? I know you fixed 8 & 9 but 7 is still broken. Thank you!
( )Marian March 10th
Like i said before, my help offer was meant serious.
So if you need voluntary help, don’t hesitate!
Cheers,
( )Marian
cet May 21st
we wait new updates about tutorials..
( )Rafael June 21st
You talk about a Wordpress-Plugin that automatically links to a wiki page.
“So I did a bit of research and apparently I can hook up Wordpress so that every time you see a word (e.g. Clone Stamp Tool), it’ll automatically link up to the wiki’s definition.”
Can you name that plugin?
Does automatic mean it really searches für existing Wiki-Pages? Or does ist link to [[words]] ?
Rafael
( )