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How to integrate FindaPro with WordPress and Drupal

Submitted by msulit on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 00:22

(Re-posted from my blog Manny Matters with the title, "BusinessCard2: the first step to any online business relationship)

The Japanese have a rather formal way of passing a business card or meishi, giving and receiving it with both hands, like something really special. Here are some reminders on how you should receive a meishi, and any business card for that matter:

  1. Take special care in handling cards that are given to you.
  2. Do not write on the card.
  3. Do not put the card in you pocket or wallet, as either of these actions will be viewed as defacing or disrespecting the business card.
  4. Upon receipt of the card, it is important to make a photocopy of the name and title of the individual in your mind.
  5. Examine the card carefully as a show of respect.

That's how you should really treat a business card the first time you received it offline, whether or not it came from a Japanese.  The first business cards, called "trade cards" were to be found in England, which function as advertising and maps. Why maps? These direct the public to the merchant or business being advertised because they didn't have a formal street numbering in their time, which we still don't have until now in most Philippine towns (we just ask barrio folks to show us the way).

Business cards are no longer as popular today, as business engagements become more and more virtualized. Perhaps to revive interest in it, Workface Inc. has developed "my online business card," which has recently had a relaunch as BusinessCard2. Click here to see my own business card and to get your own. Did you notice that tab on your right labeled "Find a Professional"? Upon getting your own business card, you can "drop your card" on this site by clicking that tab. You can do the same on my other site here. If you have your own site that you'd like people to drop their cards on, you can sign up here and wait for confirmation from Workface Inc.

Now, this I promised to Lief Larson, co-founder of BusinessCard2, that I will share on this blog how I got to integrate FindaPro with WordPress and Drupal. It's quite easy actually, and perhaps real web developers will just shrug their shoulders on this. But the point is, I searched the web for ways to do this and it returned answers that are hard to figure out for novices (like me). So I just relied on common sense and look for options right there on my sites.

Integrate FindaPro with WordPress:

  1. Login to your site admin.
  2. On the left of your dashboard, click "Appearance" and choose "Editor," which will take you to "Edit Themes."
  3. On the right, find "Header" (header.php).
  4. Scroll down, and after the first body tag, paste the javascript that Workface Inc. will send you in the confirmation email, like this:

<body>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://businesscard2.com/api_1.php/api/findAProButton?publisherId=bae2248925a40ec10276d95abfaa64ae&domain=mylako.net&color=0x7E2217&direction=right"></script>

Now, click "Update File" to save the changes.

Integrate FindaPro with Drupal:

  1. Go to your site's "Administer" area.
  2. Under "Site Building," choose "Blocks."
  3. You will use the "add block page" to create a custom block.
  4. On "Block description," write "FindaPro" to identify this block.
  5. Leave the "Block title" blank.
  6. On the "Block body," if you're using a rich text editor, click "Source" or you can switch to plain text editor, and paste the javascript provided to you by Workface Inc.
  7. Continue on to "Custom visibility settings;" select "Users cannot control whether or not they see this block."
  8. Next, select all roles on "Role specific visibility settings."
  9. Then select "Show on every page except the listed pages" on "Page specific visibility settings;" leave "Pages" blank.
  10. Save block.
  11. Go back to "Blocks." You will now see your custom block "FindaPro" in the list. Unless you place it in a region, it will not be activated. Choose "Footer."
  12. Save blocks.

On choosing the region to place your custom block, "Header" is also good, but it leaves a line on your header, where the block is supposed to be, which is less prominent on the footer.

You may edit the tab direction on the script (direction=left or right) and change the color (color=0xColorCodeHere). Go here to get the html code for the tab color you like. Do not include the # sign when you paste it on the FindaPro script.

That's it. You should now be able to serve FindaPro on all your WordPress or Drupal pages.

References:

http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/japan.htm

http://www.belightsoft.com/products/composer/historytrade.php

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