Frequently Asked Questions

1) How does Zlinkexchange.com work?
2) How do I make link requests?
3) What are the differences in the 2 membership types?
4) Do I have to download and install anything on my site?
5) Is the software easy to install?
6) What are the important checks to make before upgrading?
7) Does the directory software work on all servers?
8) Does my server need to allow remote access to my mySql database?
9) What are the system requirements?
10) Can I use this on a subdomain?
11) Do I need to know HTML to use this?
12) How do I make my directory blend with my website design?
13) Does this site use cookies?
14) How do I customize my links pages?
15) How much control will I have over my backlinks?
16) How do I direct users to my directory?
17) Will I be able to have multiple sites?
18) Will I be able to check my backlinks ?
19) Do I need to be a paid member to exchange post and exchange articles?
20) What are link filters?
21) What is the IP address?
22) Where are the setup instructions?
23) What do I do if I need support?

1) How does Zlinkexchange.com work?

This website is all about saving you valuable time in your quest for backlinks. Here's 5 good reasons to join and upgrade to the advanced membership:

1) With the advanced membership, you don't have to copy and paste html code into your links pages, upload those files to your server and send an email to each prospective link partner. These tasks are all performed by the site automatically with the advanced membership!

2) After you have exchanged links, you can verify your backlinks with the advanced membership backlink checker. You can email webmasters about broken links with a single click and request that they correct their broken link. Also, you will be able to test whether they are in compliance with the TOS by checking on whether they are blocking search engines from indexing their links pages. You may also hide or delete links in your link directory at your discretion.

3) The Zlinkexchange script will make your directory look like part of your original website design. Any link directory program that you purchase will have its own set of templates. Chances are that your link directory won't have the look and feel of your website. So which do you prefer? A directory made by someone elses templates or a directory that blends in seamlessly with your original website design?

    4) A software program for creating a link directory is just that. A software program. It doesn't include a directory of websites like Zlinkexchange.com. We have hundreds of webmasters that are eager to exchange links with your site!

    5) And the best for last... The upgrade is currently FREE for a limited time!

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2) How do I make link requests?

To make link requests, simply login to your account, and click the Directory browsing link. Click on a category and search for a website that you like, and click the link that says "Request Link Exchange". This goes for the regular FREE membership and the Advanced membership as well.

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3) What's the difference between the regular membership and the advanced membership?

With the regular membership, you may exchange links with any member in the site by manually copying and pasting the other members linking code into your links page and uploading that file to your server. This may be any page from your website. While this may give you more freedom as far as where to place links on your website, it will take you longer to get links this way since it's more work. With the regular membership, Zlinkexchange.com will be able to recognize the link on any page of your site, as long as you correctly pasted the other member's linking code into your page, and you placed the correct url for that page into the reciprocal link field when making the request. The site will email the other webmaster of your link request. If your link request is declined by the other member, you can simply remove their link from your links page and reupload your file to your server.

With the Advanced membership, there is no copying and pasting of the other member's linking code necessary. All of this tedious work is done for you automatically behind the scenes. This will save you many hours of time. The software script will create a link directory on your site and automate the process of acquiring links. Webmasters will be able to request a link exchange through the link request form at your website, or by registering at Zlinkexchange.com and requesting a link with you through the directory. You will be able to create categories for all of your links. Your links and categories will be stored in a mysql database on your server as well as in the master database at Zlinkexchange.com

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4) Do I have to download and install anything to use Zlinkexchange?

If you remain a FREE Member, there is nothing to download.

If you wish to become an Advanced Member and get access to all the special features that will allow you to automate your links, you'll need to download the script and upload it to your server. Once installed you'll be able to manage your Link Directory from the members area.

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5) How long will it take me to setup my Zlinkexchange account and links pages ?

For the FREE Membership you only need to register which takes a few minutes.

To set up each Advanced Membership site will take about 15-20 minutes depending on how many categories and subcategories you add to your link directory. It will also take a few minutes to customize your directory with your template file. The setup instructions will be emailed to you immediately after your upgrade your account. However, if you misplaced them and you need to see them again, they are available by clicking here.

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6) Is there anything I should check first before doing the upgrade ?

If you want the advanced membership so you don't have to create links the old way, (i.e. cut and paste html code, upload files, etc.) check with your web host and be sure that you have a mysql database available and that your host allows remote connections to your database. Many hosts use the CPanel software and you must enable the Zlinkexchange IP address under access hosts by entering 69.72.236.% under your access hosts and clicking on add host in your mysql database maintenance screen. Other hosts have a different way of enabling remote access. So check with your host if you aren't sure how this works. A few hosts may have to make an internal change to your database in addition to enabling remote access in your cPanel. If your webhost doesn't allow for the wildcard % to bracket a range of IP addresses, then try using 62.72.236.194 You must test the connection by logging into your account at Zlinkexchange.com and clicking the LinkDatabase link. Make sure your information is entered correctly and push the "Fill databases" button.

Also, when you attempt the installation, if your config.php file does not get populated with data, which should happen immediately after you go through the wizard at zlinkexchange.com, you may need to have your webhost whitelist the file gen.php located in your admin folder. Certain webhosts run server software that conflict with this file due to the length of the parameters which you can see in the browser window.

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7) Does the Zlinkexchange advanced membership work on all servers?
Yes, now that the ftp utility has been implemented, it can work with any host.(Windows or Unix) However, if we have to host a database for you we will charge you $5/month. All of your links pages will be created on our end and stored in a special folder for you. Your pages will be sent to your site via ftp each time a new link or category is created. We will only need ftp access to one folder on your website.

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8) If I don't have the remote access capability at my host, what should I do ?

Zlinkexchange has launched its own webhosting site which is Solutions Web Hosting. We offer affordable web hosting plans ($12/year for full fledged cPanel hosting with Fantastico!) which will accomodate remote access.

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9) What are the system requirements to become an Advanced Member at Zlinkexchange?

The requirements are PHP and MySQL to be supported by your server. Nearly all servers have this, but if you aren't sure, please check your hosts online documentation, or simply call your host's support department and ask them. If they don't have this then you should consider whether it's time to find another hosting company. Also, the host must permit a remote connection to your mysql database. The advanced features will not function without this capability.

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10) My site is a subdomain. Will it work here?

Subdomains work at Zlinkexchange.com. (name.domain.com) If there is a problem connecting to your mysql database on your host, we can offer to host your database here at Zlinkexchange.com, and we can FTP your files to your site for you. The cost is $5/month for the database hosting.

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11) Do I need to know HTML to use Zlinkexchange?

It's not mandatory, however it's helpful to know some basic HTML. Setting up your link directory is relatively easy to do and we have a helpful tutorial to assist you. Once your script is installed, simply create some categories for the types of link partners you are seeking and they will be added to your link directory. You can preview your html pages while you create the categories.

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12) How do I make my links pages look like the other pages on my website?

You can have your directory blend in seamlessly with the look and feel of your web site. Simply open up a page from your website in your html editer and strip out the text in the main body of the page. This is where your directory will go. Open the template.htm file in your text editer and take a close look at this. (located in links folder) You need to make sure that everything in this file is in the page that you are creating. Paste the #TABLE# tag into the area where the directory will go. This normally works best without centering it. Next be sure that your opening and closing title tags have no text between them. <title></title>. The same goes for the meta tags. Make sure that you have them both there for keywords and description and there is nothing between the double quotes for content. (i.e. name="keywords" content=""). Finally be sure to add the comment at the bottom of the file , and check that all of your navigational links will work property given the location of this file on your website in the links folder. Usually, you will need to backtrack one level with ../ for the correct path to your other files. Depending on your setup, it could be 2 levels ../../ to get that right. Now save your file as template.htm in your links directory. This will replace the exising template.htm file that is there when you upload the files. You will need to recreate all your pages in the Link database/recreate pages area. Also, you can change the text font, text color, # of links per page, etc. of your directory, and you can also use CSS from within your members area. There is a how to video available on this at the support site

Additionally, you can change the background color of the iframe which displays error messages on the link request form to match the background color of your page. Error messages are in red text. To change the background color of the message box, edit the file called iframesource.htm located in your links folder. Simply open this file in notepad or with your html editor and change the word "white" in the BODY tag to another color. We recommend a light background color for your page such as beige #FFFDDA, light blue #D4ECFB, or light gray #ECECEC. Additional colors may be found by clicking here.

Also, in your link request page (add_link.php), there is a tool tip which you may customize as you like. This is for the small help icon next to the "Permanent Email" field of the form. Simply scroll to the bottom of this page in your text editor and change the attributes in the style code. The attributes you may change include the background color, border, text color, padding and width of the tooltip.

div.htmltooltip{
position: absolute; /*leave this and next 3 values alone*/
z-index: 1000;
left: -1000px;
top: -1000px;
background: #D3FFCA;
border: 1px solid black;
color: black;
padding: 3px;
width: 260px; /*width of tooltip*/

Finally, you can change the number of columns, links per page, fonts for categories, subcategories, the link text, and other options in the link page settings area. This link is found in the advanced user options in your control panel. If you are using a black background for your directory and you want to have white text, (or other color), you can change the text color for the descriptions of the links by editing the file called func_generate_lpages.php which is located in the admin folder. If you open this in your html editor, the line to change is line #103. It appears as follows:

table cellspacing='3' cellpadding='2' width='100%' font color='' Just insert your text color for the link descriptions between the single quotes of the font tag and this will change the color. The default text color is black with nothing between the quotes. Once you have changed this to your desired color you will need to recreate your pages.

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13) Do cookies have to be enabled to use Zlinkexchange?

No. Cookies are not used at Zlinkexchange.com.

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14) How do I customize my links pages?

All you need to do is login to Zlinkexchange and click on manage categories/preview. From there you can add categories and subcategories and view your directory pages while you create them. To make changes to the settings on your pages, click on 'Link files settings' link and you can change the background, font type, size, color, # of links on a page, etc. See also #12 above for more info.

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15) How much control will I have over my links?

You have full control over your link directory. You set your filters for the types of sites which you are interested in receiving link requests for your directory. It's completely up to you whether to accept or reject the link requests from other members. Just remember that your scoring factor takes into consideration the number of links you have accepted and the number of links you have rejected.

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16) How do I point my website visitors to my links pages?

All you need to do is create a link on your Home page that points to your directory index page: http://www.yourdomain.com/links/index.htm It is required that all members have a link on their home page to their link directory so that links pages are included at Google and other search engine databases.

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17) Can have more than one domain listed at Zlinkexchange?

Yes, however you only need to register once. Simply login to your account and click the 'My Websites' link and then click on 'Add New Website'. You may add as many web sites as you wish, and you may upgrade other sites to the advanced membership if you wish.

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18) How will I know my link is still up on their site? If you have a FREE Membership you will need to manually check all sites where you exchanged links to verify your backlinks. If you are an Advanced Member you can use the Reciprocal Link Checker tool to make sure all your links are still linking back to you. This is done by with just a few clicks.

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19) Do I need to be a paid member to exchange articles?

All members may exchange articles. As soon as you register you can add your articles and start requesting article exchanges with other sites in our database. This is helpful for your interior pages of your website.

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20) What are link filters?

Link filters are set in your MyWebsites area. Select one of your websites, and click the Link filters link. By default all website categories are selected and any webmaster may request a link with you. If you do not want to have webmasters in a particular industry contacting you for a link exchange, you can modify your filters by deselecting categories. Be sure to click save when you are through modifying your filters.

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21) I'm having trouble completing the Advanced Membership setup. Will you help me complete the installation? Is there a charge for this?

Yes, we will install the script to your server and there is no charge to get your directory configured. If you wish our assistance with this please subscribe at the help desk (you must create a username and password here) and submit a ticket for this. The help desk is located at here. Be sure to include all the information fields in the ticket so we may access your control panel, your database, etc.

After your Link Directory has been set up please take a moment to login and change your password. Also, be sure setup your filters the way you want them and create your categories.