|
CGI-World.com:
"FAQ Manager"
(cgi-script)
Important note: This is a critical and independent review
- not a salesletter or an ad!
Format
Cgi-script (written in Perl).
Review
What is this script basically?
FAQ Manager is a cgi-script written in Perl. But don't let
that scare you. It probably sounds more difficult and
complicated than it actually is.
FAQ Manager is constructed to make it really easy to start up,
run, edit and update a Frquently Asked Questions (FAQ) section
on your web site.
You can handle everything directly through the built-in
control panel. You can set up new categories, add new
questions of your own choice, answer questions, automatically
notify your visitors by email when you've answered one of
their questions on your FAQ page etc. etc.
The possibilities are almost endless.
One of the features I really like in FAQ Manager is the
ability to generate the FAQ pages as html-pages. This makes it
much easier for the search engines to index your FAQ pages,
even though lately they've become better at indexing dynamic
pages.
And exactly this fact is one of the really important arguments
for setting up a FAQ section on your web site: The html pages
that together constitute your FAQ section will tend to drive
more traffic from the search engines to your web site.
Another very important reason is that a good FAQ section is a
fine service to your visitors and customers.
A third - and very important but often overlooked reason - is
that a good FAQ section can give you an excellent impression
of which kind of products your visitors and customers would
like to get from you.
The installation process
Setting up FAQ Manager is relatively easy. The installation
manual is fine and very easy to follow. If you've ever
installed other cgi-scripts, most of you who read this will
probably also find it fairly easy to install this FAQ Manager.
The only little point at which the installation manual can be
misunderstood, is the section about the (extra) "directory
which will hold your new FAQ Area" which you'll have to create
- in addition to the directory (containing the script itself,
the images, the templates etc.). When you read the
installation manual, you could get the impression that the
"extra" directory will have to be in a totally different
directory that the first directory you made.
There is nothing complicated about the process. Just follow
the instructions step by step, and you'll soon be up and
running.
What is good in this script?
Administration panel
The administration panel that comes with FAQ Manager is
really, really good. It's one of the best adminstration panels
I've seen. It's simple and easy to use. Yet, you get all the
features you need to run, edit and update your FAQs.
If someone visits you FAQ area and asks a question, you'll
immediately see a notice in the administration panel. And
you'll also be informed how many new questions that have been
submitted.
Then you just click the link called, "Submission", and you can
either answer or delete the question - directly in the
administration panel.
The whole process works like a dream.
The navigation structure in the FAQ pages generated by FAQ
Manager, is really good. At the top of each page with
questions and answers, the script automatically generates
links that show the structure of your FAQ. Thus, if you'd like
to go back to your FAQ index page (with the overview over your
complete FAQ), just click on the first link in the navigation
line, and you'll immediately be forwarded to the index page.
This is a really fine feature that makes your FAQs look more
professional and user-friendly.
Here are a few other really fine features that set this script
apart from most of the other FAQ scripts I've seen:
- You can create all the categories
(FAQ groups) you like.
- Each category and all
questions/answers can easily be deleted.
- You can edit all posts in your FAQ,
directly in the administration panel.
- You can easily sort the
questions/answers in each category.
- You can see the number of
questions/answers in each category.
- You can easily get access to the
templates directly in the administration panel.
- Etc.
Let me just elaborate a bit on one of
these useful features...
Update information
At the bottom of each of your answers in the FAQ area, FAQ
Manager automatically enters the date when the page has been
updated with your answer. If you - as the administrator -
would like to change this date, you can easily do so in the
administration panel.
There are several other excellent features
in FAQ Manager, but I think you get the
picture.
What could have been better?
The only criticism I have of FAQ Manager is the price: $125.
It really is an excellent script, but $125 may be out of reach
for some owners of smaller, new online businesses. This is a
shame, considering how valuable this script is and how much it
can do to make your web site more user-friendly and helpful
for your whole online business. FAQ Manager will make it
considerable easier for your visitors and customers to stay in
touch with you and air their questions.
Overall assessment
FAQ Manager is the best FAQ script I've seen so far, and I've
tested a lot. It's relatively simply to install. It's easy to
set up and configure. And it's really a breeze to use, once
it's installed and configured. And what's at least just as
important, is the fact that it's so easy for your visitors and
customers to use.
One very commendable aspect of FAQ Manager, is the ease with
which you can customize everything so that it looks just like
you'd like it to look. You can easily choose one of the
pre-made templates, if you'd like to them. And if you'd like
to change the look of your FAQ so that it looks like the rest
of your web site, you can relatively easily do that.
I'll certainly look out for other scripts made by this
company.
Buying information
Website
http://www.cgi-world.com/faq_manager.html
Email/contact
contact@cgi-world.com
http://www.cgi-world.com/contact_us.html
Snail mail
CGI World / i2 Services, Inc.
1971 Esther Court.
Forest Hill, MD 21050
USA
Phone
Voice: 410.420.1901
Fax : 410.420.9611
|
