Important note: This is a critical review and not a salesletter or an ad!

Format

Cgi Perl-script (delivered as an ASCII-file) plus an instruction manual (delivered as a HTML-document).

Review

What this script does

Master Syndicator makes it possible for you to let other webmasters publish (syndicate) your columns and articles on their web site.

Why would you want to do that?

There can be several good reasons. One important reason is that this'll promote your web site and brand your name on the net.

Ease of set-up

Master Syndicator is just as easy to install and set up as the other scripts by Will Bontrager, which I've installed and set-up.

Just unzip the script files (for instance using a software program like Winzip) and upload the files to your server (for example using WS_FTP). Once you've done that, you simply call script through your browser. Finally, you configure the script by filling in a few fields.

When you've done that, you're ready to set up your first channel, by entering the relevant information.

The help-information, which Will Bontrager gives you for every function in the control panel, makes it very easy to set up your first channel. 

As soon as you've set up your channel, webmasters who want to publish your column or article on their web site, just enter a simple Javascript code on their web site. It's nothing complicated - just a line of simple code which they'll add to the html-code for the web site where they want to publish your column.

From now on everything is almost totally automated. You just write your column whenever you choose, and the script takes care of the rest. Your column is automatically published on the web sites that have agreed to.

Features

Master Syndicator has a lot of features. Here are some of them:

• Through the built-in control panel you can manage all your operations and adjust everything.
• Through the built-in control panel all configurations can be adjusted to your needs and wishes.
• Through the control panel you can create new channels, just by a few clicks and by filling in a few fields.
• You can update your channels.
• You can view the statistics over the number of users of your articles.
• Etc.

If you invest in the more advanced version of the script, Master Syndicator Gateway 1, you'll also be able (through the control panel) to specifically allow or ban certain URLs from publishing your columns on their domains. Thus, you alone (directly through the control panel) decide who's gonna publish your columns.

Ease of using

As I said above, once the script is set up, it's very easy to control through the control panel. And the control panel is very easy to use and navigate around in.

The explanations and instructions are easy to understand and follow. This is one of the features of Master Syndicator which I find really useful. Instead of having to constantly jump back and forth between an instruction manual and the control panel, when looking for help, you'll find most of the instructions you need directly in the control panel. And if you need more help, you can still consult the instruction manual.

How well does the script work?

Like I always do, when testing scripts, I set up a test page, using Master Syndicator. And the results of the test were very fine. I didn't find any bugs, and the script worked fully satisfactory.

As I've already mentioned above, I like the integrated control panel. This panel makes it really easy to use the script and change anything you may like to change.

It's easy to publish new messages (for your column). Just enter the message in the "publish new content"-field, and in a moment it'll be displayed on the web sites that feature your columns.

You also have access to several useful features, when writing new messages. For example, the script can be set up to automatically recognize URLs and turn them into hyperlinks. And email-addresses can be automatically converted into clickable links.

One very commendable part of Master Syndicator Gateway I, is the statistic function. The statistics gives you a really overview over how popular your columns are. The statistic function will show you each URL that displays your column. Besides, you'll get the total number of hits to your column for each URL and the week day. 

Thus you'll be able to see which kind of information your readers are most interested in reading, which is a very important information to you. 

Overall assessment

This is a really fine and useful script, in my opinion. If you want to start a viral marketing campaign and spread your message all over the net, you'll probably find this script very usable. It's easy to install, to set up, to customize and to use in your day-by-day operations.

Will Bontrager has created another really good script which I highly recommend.

Price (at the time of this writing)

US $99 (Master Syndicator)

US $175 (Master Syndicator Gateway 1)

About Will Bontrager

Who is Will Bontrager? Click here for the answer!
 
 

Buying information

Website 

http://www.willmaster.com

Email

http://willmaster.com/contact.shtml

Snail mail

William and Mari Bontrager
RR 1, Box 271-B
Solsberry, IN 47459
USA

Phone

812.935.8269