Random link generator for wordpress plugin authors

[MrP]

Hi, I decided to post this here because it was kind of taking my other thread off topic. For the background on what lead me to this - see here

Did you read it..? - if not please do, it may make the rest of this more understandable

Right... with that out of the way, I just like to thank grynge for the original idea and input so far.

Here is the code I've come up with. It will generate a random link with random anchor text. Currently, it will pick from 3 URLs, giving each URL one of 3 different anchor texts. It could easily be add to too give more URLs and anchor texts.

There are two ways this can be used:

First method:

The idea is to call the main function during plugin install process. This method will add a 'static' link to the plugins options. Then when the plugin is parsed to the front end (visitors view), if the link is set to display, the same static link will show every time.

<?php 
### Function to call on plugin install #########################
function make_random_link ()
{
 # get base url
 $sitebase = get_option('siteurl') . '/';
 
 # build array of landing pages
 // edit these to your page links
 $url = array ('page-1', 'page-2', 'page-3');
 
 # build arrays of anchor-texts
 // edit these to your required anchor texts
 $Ankr1 = array ('anchor-text1', 'anchor-text2', 'anchor-text3');
 $Ankr2 = array ('anchor-text4', 'anchor-text5', 'anchor-text6');
 $Ankr3 = array ('anchor-text7', 'anchor-text8', 'anchor-text9');
 
 # generate random number for url
 $u = mt_rand(0, 2);
 # generate random number for anchor-text
 $a = mt_rand(0, 2);
 
 # build random url
 $random_url = $sitebase . $url[$u];
 
 # find which url we have and get appropriate anchor text
 if ($u == 0){
 $anchor_text = $Ankr1[$a];
 } else if ($u == 1){
 $anchor_text = $Ankr2[$a];
 } else {
 $anchor_text = $Ankr3[$a];
 }
 
 # build and return complete link
 $random_link = '<a href="'. $random_url .'" title="'. $anchor_text .' - '.$sitebase.'">'. $anchor_text .'</a>';
 return $random_link;
}
 
### Add to plugin install function ###############
$get_author_link = make_random_link ();
add_option('author_link', $get_author_link);
 
### To display link ##############################
# see if link will show
if (get_option('show_author_link') == "YES") {
 
 #check we've got a link - if we have, load link in to var
 If (get_option('author_link') != '') {
  $Author_link = get_option('author_link');
 
  # display link with random anchor-text
  echo '<div style="width:'.$cft_mn_wth.'px; margin:0 auto; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">'. $Author_link .'</div>';
 }
}
?>

Method 2:

Almost the same except the main function is called while the page is being parsed instead of when the plugin is installed. Done this way, it will generate a random link on-the-fly (every time the page loads).

<?php 
### Function to call on plugin install #########################
function make_random_link ()
{
# get base url
 $sitebase = get_option('siteurl') . '/';
 
 # build array of landing pages
 // edit these to your page links
 $url = array ('page-1', 'page-2', 'page-3');
 
 
 # build arrays of anchor-texts
 // edit these to your required anchor texts
 $Ankr1 = array ('anchor-text1', 'anchor-text2', 'anchor-text3');
 $Ankr2 = array ('anchor-text4', 'anchor-text5', 'anchor-text6');
 $Ankr3 = array ('anchor-text7', 'anchor-text8', 'anchor-text9');
 
 # generate random number for url
 $u = mt_rand(0, 2);
 # generate random number for anchor-text
 $a = mt_rand(0, 2);
 
 # build random url
 $random_url = $sitebase . $url[$u];
 
 # find which url we have and get appropriate anchor text
 if ($u == 0){
 $anchor_text = $Ankr1[$a];
 } else if ($u == 1){
 $anchor_text = $Ankr2[$a];
 } else {
 $anchor_text = $Ankr3[$a];
 }
 
 # build and return complete link
 $random_link = '<a href="'. $random_url .'" title="'. $anchor_text .' - '.$sitebase.'">'. $anchor_text .'</a>';
 return $random_link;
}
 
 
### To display link ##############################
# see if link will show
if (get_option('show_author_link') == "YES") {
 
 #check we've got a link - if we have, load link in to var
  $Author_link =  make_random_link ();
 
  # display link with random anchor-text
  echo  '<p>'. $Author_link .'</p>';
 
}
?>

So there it is...

I have tested this on wordpress 3.1.4 and not had any errors. Also with minor editing I don't see why it wouldn't work on any php based site. There are probably improvments that could be made to this (I'm quite new to php ).

Thanks for reading my blabber, I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[grynge]

Well done, I can't see any problems with it.

Once the link was generated I would probably store it in the db so it becomes static across all users.

I would love to test the random generator on a very successful plugin/theme. I do have to wonder what the results would be in the serps with a random link each time the google bot visited and then on say 10,000 sites that would be some test hmmm

[MrP]

Well done, I can't see any problems with it.

Once the link was generated I would probably store it in the db so it becomes static across all users.

Yes, If you use the first method (creating link on plugin install), the link will be static for all users and stored in the 'options' table of the wordpress DB.

I do have to wonder what the results would be in the serps with a random link each time the google bot visited

That would be Method 2 (a random link on each page load).


10,000 sites... wow... I'm obviously thinking too small, I was hoping to hit the 1000 mark.

[grynge]

Yes, If you use the first method (creating link on plugin install), the link will be static for all users and stored in the 'options' table of the wordpress DB.

Sorry about that it was late at night and I had a few drinks not the best time to read code lol

That would be Method 2 (a random link on each page load).
10,000 sites... wow... I'm obviously thinking too small, I was hoping to hit the 1000 mark.

I can see a popular plugin in the making here for you.
You could incorporate this plugin into just about every cms there is as well as for just about every theme builder.
Make an admin section for it and let it loose into the wordpress wild.

[MrP]

Make an admin section for it and let it loose into the wordpress wild.

Hmmm, I give that some thought. I can see that it would be a good addition for theme builders as well as other plugin authors to incorporate into their code. I'm not sure how it would be used on its own though, even with an admin section.

I'll apologies now just in-case I've misunderstood your meaning. It's 3.55am here

[grynge]

You could offer 2 versions a free version which has your links already inserted in (they could remove if they know mysql)
A paid version that they could use as they wish with no paid links.

The other thing would be people would link to the page you had the plugin on which would if the plugin takes off get quite a few links as well.