Articles - Page 93

Agentic AI for Agencies in 2026

bmckeiver

Essentially, WooCommerce by <a href="http://www.woothemes.com" target="_blank"> WooThemes</a> is just another free WordPress plugin. However, you would be extremely hard-pressed to find a similar plugin which holds the same level of potential.
Launched in late September 2011,  <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce" target="_blank"> WooCommerce</a> now supports a sizeable slice of the ever-growing ecommerce pie, boasting over 1.6M downloads from across the globe.
The open-source platform provides users with a feature extensive, yet hugely user-friendly experience, making it perfect for ecommerce startups to get a feel for online business in a way which is easy to digest, and doesn't cost an arm or a leg.
So, let's take a look at just how WooCommerce fits the bill for budding online merchants.
<h2>1. It's Free</h2>
<a href="http://www.woothemes.com/" target="_blank"> <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/1.png" alt="WooCommerce" /> </a>
There is no shortage of high-quality e-commerce CMS currently on offer, all of which endeavour to help merchants sell online easily and innovatively. Most of the time, the only drawback is that they all come at a price. All except WooCommerce that is.
<a href="http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce/" target="_blank">WooCommerce is completely free to download, right now</a>. Yet, despite being free and open-source, WooCommerce offers extensive features out of the box, whilst also being extremely flexible both by nature, and via the additional of extensions, which I will mention later.
<h2>2. Huge Flexibility</h2>
Perhaps one of WooCommerce's biggest benefit to ecommerce newcomers, is that merchants using the platform can exercise a whole lot of flexibility with their products, without having to know too much about the technical side of things.
Products can be categorized, given sale prices, independent attributes, and more. Additionally, WooCommerce stores are capable of selling physical, virtual, downloadable and even affiliate/external products.
<h2>3. More Than Ecommerce</h2>
WooCommerce doesn't force users to go beyond their comfort zone when building their online store, yet at the same time, it readily opens the door for more than just ecommerce.
For example, WooCommerce users can build a fully functioning store within a professional website, alongside an integrated blog. All of these dimensions of a business' online presence are harnessed in one place, and presented together seamlessly, and it's all thanks to WooCommerce being a WordPress based platform.
<h2>4. Familiar Friendliness</h2>
Speaking of WordPress, the hugely popular CMS <a href="http://trends.builtwith.com/cms" target="_blank">supports over 51% of the top million websites currently in existence</a>, and so it would be fair to say that many ecommerce startups will have had the pleasure of using WordPress, for similar, or unrelated online project.
With WooCommerce being a WordPress plugin, past users of the platform will benefit from being able to recognize the user-friendly WordPress interface. That kind of familiarity when building an online store could easily save time and confusion, whilst bolstering creativity.
<h2>5. Vast Customization Options</h2>
<a href="http://www.woothemes.com/" target="_blank"> <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/33.png" alt="WooCommerce" /> </a>
Being free hasn't made WooCommerce a rigid platform. In fact, there is a lot of room to customize and tweak your online store to a level of uniqueness.
Currently, users can choose between 39 different WooCommerce enabled themes – many of which are free, via the <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/product-category/themes/" target="_blank">WooThemes Store</a>. Once a theme has been selected, you can then get to work on changing pre-set CSS styles and colour themes, tweaking the code and experimenting with the special features which each theme offers.
<h2>6. Professional Yet Simple</h2>
Although WooCommerce is a free, user-friendly ecommerce platform, you shouldn't let that fool you into thinking it isn't a professional online store solution – because that's exactly what it is.
Built into the platform can be found detailed order tracking and customer engagement tools, which allow merchants to view past and open orders, update delivery statuses, apply discounts and so forth. In fact, tax settings, inventory management, shipping options, coupon codes and pretty much everything else you need for a professional ecommerce setup, is part of WooCommerce, right out of the box.
<h2>7. Analytics Made Easy</h2>
A core tool used by any website owner, is their analytics tool. Many ecommerce startups may not know how to apply an analytics system to their website, nor will they know what statistics need focused analysis. Thankfully, WooCommerce has such merchants covered.
The built in analytics system makes a wide array of statistics crystal clear. Figures like total sales, sales by date, average order totals, individual customer statistics and much more are all neatly presented via graphs, without the user ever having to leave their admin panel. It's that easy.
<h2>8. Apps Galore</h2>
As it is, WooCommerce has the ability to help any aspiring online merchant set up, and run his business easily, and professionally. Yet, for those looking for extra functionality, WooCommerce once again doesn't disappoint.
There are hundreds of <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/product-category/woocommerce-extensions/" target="_blank">WooCommerce Extensions</a> available, some of which are free, and some of which require a fee. From these extensions, one can find applications relating to accounting, payment gateways, marketing, reporting and more.
<h2>9. Room For Growth</h2>
As simple as WooCommerce is as an ecommerce platform, it also allows you to exercise some growth and expansion in terms of how you manage your store, products and customers.
For example, modifying templates is made easy whether users want to do so directly via the theme files, or whether you use the many hooks &amp; filters. WooCommerce also has various APIs ready to be used for building extensions, along with an extensive documentation library, so that users can get to know how WooCommerce works, inside and out.
<h2>10. Because WooThemes</h2>
<a href="http://www.woothemes.com/" target="_blank"> <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/3.png" alt="WooCommerce" /> 
</a> Finally, one of the very best reasons for WooCommerce being perfect for ecommerce startups, is because of WooThemes themselves.
WooThemes have been around for a while, producing stellar WordPress themes, extensions and plugins, including WooCommerce. They  have a wonderful track record of being reliable and exceedingly professional with both their products, and their support system. On top of a <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/meet-the-team/" target="_blank">myriad of real, contactable people to talk to</a>, WooThemes users can benefit from community forums, video tutorials, and more.
So there you have it, ten very good reasons for why you should strongly consider using WooCommerce to propel your first ecommerce project to success.
To learn more about how WooCommerce can benefit ecommerce startups, check out the section on <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce" target="_blank"> WooCommerce on the WooThemes website</a>.

10 Reasons Why WooCommerce is Perfect For Ecommerce Startups

mike-johnston

Ah, Social Networking. We love it so much that we just can't stay away. Some people love social networking so much that they want to start their own and there are more and more niche networks opening up every day.
For all of this activity, you need a great platform and this year, we have several amazing solutions competing for the People's Choice Award for Best Social Networking Solution.
As a reminder, here is the list of nominees for this year:
<ol>
<li><a href="/products/dnn-evoq-social/"> DNN Evoq Social </a></li>
<li><a href="/products/phpfox/"> PHPFox </a></li>
<li><a href="/products/oxwall/"> Oxwall </a></li>
<li><a href="/products/socialcore"> SocialCore </a></li>
<li><a href="/products/social-engine"> Social Engine </a></li>
</ol>
We are very excited to announce that we've had a huge turnout this year in both the nomination stage and the voting stage and we're looking forward to even more exposure for these great products for the 2014 awards season.
The winner for this year, according to your votes, is…
<img style="max-width:150px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best-social-networking-solution150x0.png" />
Social Engine!
Social Engine is a popular social network software that comes in two editions: SocialEngine Cloud and SocialEngine PHP (non-hosted). SocialEngine is completely unbranded and can be changed in any way you like. There are plenty of addons and themes and the community is large. SocialEngine Cloud, their hosted solution, is far different from the PHP edition and we’d recommend you try out the demo to get a taste for what it is and how it works.
They offer a 14-day free trial which is a great way to test out the software prior to purchasing so we’d suggest you take a look if you are considering getting social network software in the future.
<a href="/social-engine">Check out Social Engine</a>

2013 People's Choice Winner for Best Social Networking Solution

Today we unveil our choice for Top 10 WordPress Themes for the first quarter of 2009. This will be one of many new features on this site.
There are so many themes put out daily that it was tough to weed through them all and find the ones we thought were the best.
Let us know your thoughts and feel free to contact us if you think your theme should be considered for the next Top 10.
<h4>#1 – <a href="https://www.cmscritic.comhttps://www.cmscritic.com/themeforestitem/design-photograpy-portfolio/31774" target="_blank">Portfolio by Themeforest</a></h4>
This goes without saying. We think it's an incredibly beautiful and visually unique theme.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/portfolio-300x271.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#2 – <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/28/vintage-and-blues-wordpress-themes/" target="_blank">Vintage by Smashing Magazine</a></h4>
This incredibly beautiful theme comes from the fine folks at Smashing Magazine and has some of the most gorgeous imagery we've seen in quite some time.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/vintage1-300x225.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#2 – <a href="http://www.studiopress.com/themes/streamline" target="_blank">Streamline by StudioPress</a></h4>
The Streamline theme comes from one of WordPress' top designers and is a beautiful choice for any site.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/streamline-300x165.png" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#3 – <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/28/vintage-and-blues-wordpress-themes/" target="_blank">Blues</a><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/28/vintage-and-blues-wordpress-themes/" target="_blank"> by Smashing Magazine</a></h4>
Another beauty from the fine folks at Smashing Magazine.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blues-300x225.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#4 – <a href="http://www.studiopress.com/themes/album" target="_blank">Album by StudioPress</a></h4>
Another great theme from Brian and crew at StudioPress
<h4>
<div class="mceTemp">
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/album-300x165.png" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
#5 – <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/23/magazeen-free-magazine-look-wordpress-theme/" target="_blank">Magazeen by Smashing Magazine</a>

</div></h4>
Smashing Magazine is at it again with another great looking theme release for free.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magazeen-300x195.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#6 – <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/03/10/download-imprezz-a-free-wordpress-theme/" target="_blank">Imprezz by Smashing Magazine</a></h4>
These guys release a lot of great themes, as you can tell since they have landed in 4 places on this list.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/imprezz-300x273.gif" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#7 – <a href="http://iacobionut.com/proudblack-free-wordpress-theme/" target="_blank">Proudblack by Iacob Ionut</a></h4>
Clean, functional and easy on the eyes.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/proudblack-300x153.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#8 – <a href="http://web-kreation.com/demos/oneroom/" target="_blank">Oneroom by Web Kreation</a></h4>
Attractive, well laid out theme with nice design touchs.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/oneroom-300x150.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#9 – <a href="http://bizzartic.com/archives/projects/wordpress-themes/igloo-news-theme/" target="_blank">Igloo News by BizzArtic </a></h4>
Cool design elements and nice use of colours.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/igloo_21-300x167.png" alt="igloo_21" /></dt>
</dl>
<h4>#10 – <a href="https://www.cmscritic.comhttps://www.cmscritic.com/themeforestitem/business-professional-package-wordpress-edition/30008" target="_blank">Business by Themeforest</a></h4>
Simply put, a damn fine looking business theme.
<dl>
<dt><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/business-300x286.jpg" alt=" " /></dt>
</dl>
<a href="http://www.netidnow.com">Create an eCommerce Website</a>

Critic's Choice: Top 10 WordPress themes for first quarter 2009

I don't normally push a lot of causes on this site but since prostate cancer has affected my family in the past, I thought it was an important cause to get behind this year.
As a result, I'm going to be participating in looking ridiculous for  <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> Movember </a> this year in order to help raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's health. I think it's a worthy cause to support and I'd really appreciate your help in making this a successful campaign.
For those of you who are unaware of what Movember is, it's where men start growing full mustaches in November (starting with a clean shave November 1) in order to raise funds to help support men's health (and specific issues like prostate cancer).
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/movember-iconic-mo-pin-blue400x0.jpg" />
So. If you want to see how ridiculous I look with a full blown mustache (and believe me, I can grow it very quickly) then share this post, donate to using my link (any amount helps) : <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> http://mobro.co/cmscritic </a> and I will continue to post not only pictures but updates on the progress of the mustache in all its glory.
Thanks in advance to all of you awesome readers, I know I can count on your support.
<h3>To push things even further, in exchange for every donation, I will publish a personal thank you post on CMS Critic (and our Twitter and Facebook) thanking you and linking to your website. </h3>
<h3>(My way of saying thanks) (minimum $30 donation for this). This is a permanent link in a post from an extremely powerful authority website, something that most people would kill for.</h3>
(no gambling or inappropriate websites allowed, we reserve the right to refuse sites of an inappropriate or illegal nature)
Drop me an email when you've contributed so I can thank you and include your website URL. You can email mike@www.cmscritic.com
Donate here: <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> http://mobro.co/cmscritic </a>

CMS Critic does Movember (and you can get a free link from us!)

It's always been pretty simple to create a blog with Wix but with the release of Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) it just got a whole lot easier. Let's take a look how easy it is to create a blog using Wix ADI.
Before you get started, you'll need a Wix account which you can get for free by <a href="https://www.wix.com/" target="_blank">signing up</a>.
Once you have a Wix account, log in and click on Create a Website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-54546-pm-lg864x0-is.png" />
You will then be asked what type of website you'd like to create. Click on Blog.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-54732-pm-lg686x0-is.png" />
Now you'll be asked if you wish to use the standard Wix editor or Wix ADI. Choose Start with Wix ADI.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-54858-pm-lg839x0-is.png" />
Now it's time to tell Wix ADI what type of blog you want to create so it knows what to build for you. For the sake of this tutorial, I'll choose Food Blog.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-55109-pm-lg683x0-is.png" />
You'll then be asked if you need any of the optional features. If you do, click yes and next. If not, click no and next.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-55223-pm-lg759x0-is.png" />
The next optional step will be to enter address information. You can skip this or fill it in if you like.
Then it's time to upload your logo and fill in your social media information, etc.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-55559-pm-lg504x0-is.png" />
Click next and the Wix ADI will launch, getting ready to build your website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-60016-pm-lg.png" />
Once you click Start you'll be asked to choose a style that appeals to you.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-60110-pm-lg709x0-is.png" />
Once you've chosen a style, the Wix ADI will begin creating your home page.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-60208-pm-lg.png" />
Once it's done, you'll be shown the initial version of your new website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-60310-pm-lg892x0-is.png" />
Now that you have the initial design, you can tweak to your needs. Click the play icon on the bottom right and the ADI will walk you through the rest of the creation process!
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-60409-pm-lg740x0-is.png" />
I won't walk you through the rest as it's pretty self-explanatory and differs based on the individual users. Enjoy the process and feel free to leave me a comment below to let me know your thoughts!
If you haven't signed up for Wix yet, <a href="https://www.wix.com/">get a free Wix website of your own</a>.

How to Create a Blog with Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence)

<a href="https://www.shopify.com/" target="_blank">Shopify</a>, one of the world's most popular eCommerce platforms, has just released a revamped, responsive checkout system.
As it is now well known, mobile browsing – and shopping – is now a bigger deal than ever. In fact, over <a href="https://www.shopify.com/blog/15206517-mobile-now-accounts-for-50-3-of-all-ecommerce-traffic" target="_blank">50% of traffic</a> to eCommerce sites now comes from smartphones and tablets.
In response to this rise in mobile shopping, and also in response to the calls of their users, Shopify has redesigned their checkout system. Let's take a look at what they did.
<h2>Optimized For All Screen Sizes</h2>
<a href="/shopify" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-post-banner-03_0ddcb834-245a-45fa-bf54-9328867e2c50.jpg" /></a>
According to Shopify, their goal with this update was, “to create the world’s most conversion optimized checkout experience”.
Their Responsive Checkout adapts to different screen sizes, displaying a specifically optimized layout for whichever screen your customer is using.
For example, on mobile devices where screen space is limited, the order summary shifts from the right of the screen to the bottom of the page. This helps your customers complete their purchase faster and with less tedious scrolling, ultimately resulting in more orders for your store.
<h2>Brandable &amp; Customizable</h2>
<a href="/shopify" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-post-banner-01_05792aa7-c2f2-4454-875b-aeecc32104c2.jpg" /></a>
With the introduction of Responsive Checkout, every Shopify online store now comes with easy design controls that give you powerful customization options for your checkout page. No coding required, of course.
You can upload a custom header image, edit the background color, add a logo and even a tagline. You can also customize your checkout’s primary, accent, and call-to-action colors to match your brand. International stores can also translate the page’s content into the language of their choice.
Furthermore, with Shopify's Responsive Checkout, your business is protected by Level-1 PCI compliant security – the same security used by large banks around the world.
All existing Shopify merchants can now preview and upgrade to Responsive Checkout in their admin dashboard as of right now. All new Shopify stores will have it enabled right from the get-go.
To read more about Shopify's new Responsive Checkout system, <a href="https://www.shopify.com/blog/15714308-introducing-responsive-checkout" target="_blank">have a read of their official blog announcement</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/shopify/" target="_blank">Shopify via our CMS Directory</a>.

Shopify Rolls Out Responsive Checkout

Power your CMS on AWS

Manage your websites & apps in the most trusted cloud.

#ffffff

Linux Mint is one of the most popular Linux distributions on the planet. It was originally started back in 2006 and is based on Ubuntu. It retains compatibility with Ubuntu to this day but has surpassed Ubuntu when it comes to ease of use. You'll be hard pressed to find a Linux user that doesn't agree that Linux Mint is a great option for new users and those who love the Cinnamon Desktop. Let's dig a little deeper in this Linux Mint Review.Installing Linux Mint is very easy to do so I'm going to bypass that in this review. You can however, read my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/how-to-install-linux-mint/">How to Install Linux Mint</a> article if you want to see the process in depth.<h2>The Cinnamon Desktop</h2>No Linux Mint review is complete without screenshots and this one is no exception. My goal is to show you the basics and explore some of the functionality to help you make a decision as to whether it's something you want to try. The Cinnamon desktop is a very well put together desktop environment that is in version 4.0 as of the latest Linux Mint release.Here's how it looks post-install:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-welcome-screen_q4n5d2.png" />Linux Mint Review – Welcome ScreenYou'll notice that the first thing to pop-up is a welcome screen introducing you to the system. This is also present in several other Linux distributions such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/ubuntu-mate-review/">Ubuntu Mate</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/mx-linux-review/">MX Linux</a>.<h2>The Welcome Screen</h2>The welcome screen is intended to provide you with quick shortcuts to useful information as well as some things you should consider exploring after installation. Clicking on First Steps showcases some of the post-install tasks to explore.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-welcome-screen-first-steps_qcdhib.png" />Welcome Screen – First Steps – Linux Mint ReviewHere's a quick summary of each of the sections:<ul><li>System Snapshots – this app is intended to help you set up automatic backups of your system that you can restore if something breaks.</li><li>Driver Manager – this driver manager provides you with a means of scanning your system to see if any drivers are available for any of your hardware.</li><li>Update Manager – this one speaks for itself, it checks for updated software in the repositories and initiates the updates.</li><li>Desktop Layout – New in 19.1 is a layout tool that allows you to choose between two different panel layouts; traditional and modern.</li><li>System Settings – Offers quick access to all of the settings for items such as appearance settings, preferences, hardware and administrative tools.</li><li>Software Manager – This allows you to manage software on your system and install new software from a massive repository.</li></ul>Now that we've explored the welcome screen, which I feel is one of the best ones out there. Let's take a look at some of the individual components available to Linux Mint users.<h2>System Snapshots</h2>With system snapshots, you can choose either RSYNC or BTRFS for snapshots. If you aren't sure which one to choose, click the HELP drop-down for more information on each option. I typically choose RSYNC but if you formatted your partitions with BTRFS, then feel free to choose it. The choice is yours.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/system-snapshots-linux-mint-review_dyssyt.jpg" />System Snapshots – Linux Mint ReviewOnce you've made a selection, Timeshift will load allowing you to configure your snapshots. For more information on using Timeshift, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift">this link</a>. The inclusion of Timeshift is a smart one. It's a very useful tool and given that Linux Mint is geared towards new users, it's a good idea to offer some sort of recovery option. This will not only bolster the confidence of new users to try new things with the system without fear of breakage but also offers peace of mind overall.<h2>Driver Manager</h2>The Driver Manager, as mentioned, will scan your hardware and check to see if there are any hardware drivers (third party Nvidia for example) that may be required. It will then let you choose whether you want to install them or not.Opening the driver manager will kick off an update of the cache so that Linux Mint knows what's available.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-driver-manager_iphi5c.jpg" />Linux Mint Review – Driver ManagerOnce the cache update is complete, the Driver Manager will load and present you with the available drivers, if any.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-driver-manager-2_qgyzea.jpg" />Linux Mint Review – Available DriversThe driver manager is an essential app for Linux Mint and is similar to the one included with most Ubuntu derived distros. This simple offering helps make Ubuntu and related distributions such as Linux Mint stand out when it comes to ease of use for those being introduced to Linux for the first time.<h2>Update Manager</h2>The update manager allows you to check the Linux Mint repositories for updated software and security fixes. Launching it, you'll be presented with the following screen:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/update-manager-linux-mint-review_jh3blc.jpg" />Update Manager – Linux Mint ReviewOnce you click OK on this screen, the update manager will do a scan of the repositories to see if there are any security or version updates that are available to install. You'll then be presented with a list of updates which you can either choose to install all of or select individually.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/update-manager-available-updates-linux-mint-review_e7c6ls.jpg" />Update Manager – Available updates – Linux Mint ReviewLike any good distro, there's multiple ways to perform system updates and Linux Mint is no exception. While the hardcore user will likely end up using apt commands in the terminal, the new user has an interface that's easy to understand and use until they begin to discover the wonders of the console.<h2>Desktop Layout</h2>This is where you can choose between either the modern layout which Linux Mint has by default or the traditional layout from older releases. Here's what the Traditional Layout looks like in comparison to the Modern Layout.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/traditional-panel-layout-linux-mint-review_lgjdn9.png" />Traditional Panel Layout – Linux Mint ReviewI like that the devs chose to include the previous panel layout as an option. For those who are old school Mint users, this keeps them happy and choice is never a bad thing. While I personally thing the new panel look and feel is better overall, I'm pleased to see that they are offering the choice to switch if desired.<h2>System Settings</h2>System settings is where you get access to all of the, well, settings that are available in Linux Mint. Launching it will present you with the following window:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/system-settings-linux-mint_lsuvyd.png" />System Settings – Linux Mint ReviewWe won't get into every single option here as that would be very time consuming but what I will do is touch on some of the key items within this window that I think are worth pointing out in this Linux Mint review.<h3>Effects</h3>Cinnamon comes with numerous options for desktop effects. Within the Effects icon, you'll find two tabs.The first tab presents you with ability to enable or disable effects for individual components of the desktop as well as choose from some pre-defined effect styles.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-effects_oiqmwp.png" />Linux Mint Review – EffectsThe second tab offers you more granular control over your settings by allowing you to customize them individually.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-effects-2_gyqoje-1.png" />Linux Mint Review – Effects-2<h3>Themes</h3>While Linux Mint does offer a slick default look and feel, you can also change individual components of your theme or download new ones. Clicking on Themes will launch the related window so you can do this.The first tab lets you customize the themes for individual areas of the desktop.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-themes-individual-settings_e17gec.jpg" />Linux Mint – Themes – Individual SettingsThe second tab gives you the ability to add or remove themes that are available for download. Once you download a new one, switch back to the first tab to make your customizations.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-themes-add-and-remove_aiokpu.jpg" />Linux Mint – Themes – Add and Remove<h3>Applets</h3>Applets are small apps that run inside the Cinnamon panel and offer additional capabilities or information. You can manage them by clicking on Applets inside the Settings Manager.The first tab lets you manage your applets – functions such as adding and removing them from the panel, etc.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-applets_jk4pbq.jpg" />AppletsThe second tab gives you the ability to download additional applets from the Linux Mint applet repository.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-review-applet-download_q5ltgc.jpg" />Applet DownloadExtensions functions similarly to these as well, allowing you to customize and download additional extensions for Linux Mint.The remaining settings dialogs are all pretty self explanatory and I encourage you to explore them each individually to ensure you have a solid understanding of what Linux Mint is capable of and what can be configured.<h2>Applications</h2>Be default, Linux Mint comes with numerous applications installed by default such as Firefox, Thunderbird, GIMP, Rhythmbox, VLC and LibreOffice.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-applications_xq3nzr.png" />ApplicationsYou can always download more via the Software Manager app.<h3>Nemo</h3>The file manager, Nemo, is excellent as well and offers more than just basic file management capabilities. You can also connect to servers and mount locations via various protocols.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-nemo_toqpdq.png" />NemoThere are also numerous plugins that can be used with Nemo, which you can access from the Edit menu.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-nemo-customizations_tobcnr.jpg" />Nemo Customizations<h2>Performance</h2>Performance wise, Linux Mint is pretty good. With Firefox, Calculator, GIMP, Terminal and Nemo running, memory usage was pretty reasonable. The CPU usage was pretty high but I was also running all of this under a limited VirtualBox session.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/linux-mint-system-monitor_yf0y8j.png" />Linux Mint – System Monitor<h2>Conclusions</h2>Overall, it's easy to see why Linux Mint is so popular. It's visually appealing and highly customizable use of the Cinnamon Desktop lends itself well to new and old users alike. The choice of applications and ease of installing new ones is broad and well thought out. Little things such as an app for backups make it easy to recommend. I'm giving it a 5/5. What do you think? Are you a fan of Linux Mint?

Linux Mint Review

Corporate intranets are used worldwide by millions of corporations big and small. They need to be agile, easy to implement solutions that offer functionality and advanced capabilities to cater to today's business. Selecting one can be a difficult task but today, we're going to make that task a little easier.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best CMS for Corporate Intranets.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_cms_corporate_intranets.png" alt="Best CMS for Corporate Intranets " />
This year, the contenders in this category were Liferay, Entando and ocPortal.
In the end, the winner became cleaar and I'm pleased to announce the award for 2014 goes to <a href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a>!
<a href="http://www.liferay.com"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/liferay.png" /></a>
The runner up this year was <a href="http://www.entando.com/portal/">Entando. </a>
Congratulations to Liferay on their win as Best CMS for Corporate Intranet.

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best CMS for Corporate Intranets

BrowserStack Review: Make Your Website and App Testing Simple and Scalable

paris-tuzun

Are you looking to put together a quick and easy resume website but aren't sure how or where to get started? It's now easier than ever with <a href="/strikingly-websitebuilder">Strikingly</a>. <a href="/strikingly-websitebuilder">Strikingly</a> now has the ability to generate an instant resume website using your personal Linkedin profile. Here's how to get started.
First, you need a Strikingly account, which you can <a href="http://bit.ly/wbc-strikingly">sign up for here</a>. Once you have an account, visit <a href="https://www.strikingly.com/online-resume/linkedin" target="_blank">this link</a> to connect Linkedin and begin the process.
<img alt="instant resume website" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/instant-resume-website-lg574x0-is.png" /> Once you've authorized Linkedin, Strikingly will begin generating your new resume website.
<img alt="instant resume website" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-32024-pm-lg.png" /> Once complete, you'll be given the chance to customize your new website.
<img alt="instant resume website" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-32117-pm-lg883x0-is.png" /> Once you've selected your theme, you'll be able to access your new website. Here's mine:
<img alt="instant resume website" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2017-07-01-at-32239-pm-lg987x0-is.png" /> The website includes a handy “Let's Chat” section which includes the option to phone, email or contact you via a contact form. Everything, of course, is customizable using the Strikingly editor and that's all there is to it! If you are looking to create your own instant resume website, <a href="http://bit.ly/wbc-strikingly">head on over to Strikingly and get the process started</a>.

Create an instant resume website with Strikingly

eCommerce solutions are becoming more and more necessary as companies transition from standard store fronts to a new digital presence. This year, we have two categories for eCommerce solutions, SMB and Enterprise.
This year, the contenders for Best eCommerce Solution for SMB were Prestashop, Shopify and ASPxCommerce. All three solutions are great ones and any small or medium business that chooses to go with these contenders would end up with a great implementation of their online presence.
<img style="max-width:188px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_ecommerce_solution_for_smb.png" />
In the end, only one solution came to the forefront to take the prize and that solution was <a href="http://www.prestashop.com">Prestashop</a>.
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/prestashop-logo_400x100_2_ofuqwp.png" alt="&quot;" />
The Runner up this year was Shopify.
Congratulations to the team at <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/">Prestashop</a>, who put on a great campaign for the awards this year!
Head over to our forum and share your thoughts on the winners: Discuss the Winners of the People's Choice Awards

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best eCommerce Solution for SMB

<a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a>, which is without a doubt one of the most popular website builders out there, have made some welcome changes to their Site Creator interface. The changes, which are rather dramatic visually, are definitely better than what they previously had in place and we're excited to share with you those changes today.
<h2>Weebly's New Site Creator – Before and After</h2>
Here is a before shot of the <a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a> Site Creator:
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/weebly3600x0.jpg" alt="Weebly Site Creator" />
And here is the brand new interface:
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/6170890600x0.png" alt="weebly new interface" />
As you can see, content elements are no longer on the top of the page but are now on the left hand side. While this looks significantly different, the elements still function in the exact same way: you drag them to your site in order to add text, pictures, and other content.
<h2>Renamed Elements</h2>
Some of the elements have also been renamed. For example, the Custom HTML element is now labeled as Embed Code. The Paragraph element is now called Text. What about the picture element? Now it's Image. The Scribd element? It's called Document. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/weebly-renamed-elements.png" alt="weebly new interface" /> Functionally, all these elements work in the exact same way as ever, they've just been relabeled to make it clearer what they do and given better visual appeal.
<h2>New Element Toolboxes</h2>
The old toolbars felt a bit cramped and it wasn't always easy to decipher which button performed which function. The new toolboxes are bigger and very clearly labeled. Plus if you don't like where a toolbox shows up on the screen, you can click on it and drag it somewhere else.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/weebly-new-element-boxes.png" alt="New Element Toolboxes" />
<h2>New Mobile Editor</h2>
Now you can see easily see what your site looks like on iPhone and Android, as well as choose a unique mobile theme and edit your mobile site directly from your computer. Whether you make updates to your main site or to your mobile site, <a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a> will now make sure both sites are always in sync so that you don't have to constantly flip back-and-forth between both of them.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/weebly_mobile_editor.png" alt="weebly mobile editor" />
<h2>The Site Planner</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/weebly_site_planner.png" alt="weebly site planner" />
Get ideas and inspiration to help you create a high-quality site or even to have fun refreshing your current one. Site Planner shows you how to organize your information, layout your pages, choose your site address and grow your traffic. And, best of all, it can be easily accessed at anytime while you are working on your site.
And there you have it folks! A much better look (in my humble opinion) and better usability. If you were a fan of Weebly in the past, you're going to love it even more now. If you haven't tried Weebly yet, there's never been a better time!
<blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Try Weebly</a> </h3>
</blockquote>

Weebly introduces newly revamped Site Creator!

CMS Summit 26

Find out at CMS Summit 26, May 12 - 13 in Frankfurt, Germany

What's ahead for CMS in the agentic era?

Well, it's been another action-packed month in the CMS and DXP worlds, and there's barely time to process the news.
Just as we finished breaking down <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/key-takeaways-from-gartners-2021-magic-quadrant-for-digital-experience-platforms/">Gartner's 2021 Magic Quadrant for Digital Experience Platforms</a>, the 2021 Forrester Wave for Agile Content Management Systems was released. You can get a copy of the report <a href="https://www.forrester.com/report/The+Forrester+Wave+Agile+Content+Management+Systems+CMSes+Q1+2021/-/E-RES161667">here</a>.
There's a lot to unpack, but the main question is: how do you make sense of both the Gartner and Forrester reports when evaluating a solution? There are similarities and differences to be sure, but the comparisons reveal some bigger things happening across the experience management landscape. We'll have a detailed analysis next week.
<h3>Automattic's WordPress VIP Acquires Parse.ly</h3>
<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img style="max-width:700px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/s_1e19aa0823516118dba1b011a8e58da9fab02af727b4e0a2ccc1c309e755f029_1613586989136_wordpress-parsely.png" /></figure>
WordPress VIP (<a href="https://wpvip.com/">WPVIP</a>), Automattic’s WordPress enterprise content management platform, has announced the acquisition of <a href="https://www.parse.ly/">Parse.ly</a> – a real-time content analytics platform designed for content management and e-commerce platforms. The goal is to provide enterprises with content analytics that integrate seamlessly across WPVIP’s commerce and content offerings.
Parse.ly is the first large enterprise software acquisition for Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, Tumblr, and other tech platforms that enable people to publish content to the open web.
Previously, Salesforce made a <a href="https://ma.tt/2019/09/series-d/">$300 million investment</a> in <a href="https://automattic.com/">Automattic</a>. In a post about the transaction, Matt Mullenweg – the founder and CEO of Automattic – said that Salesforce "helped open his eyes to the potential there is in the enterprise market for WordPress VIP."
While the Parse.ly purchase represents a larger enterprise strategy, Automattic is no stranger to acquisitions. One of their most notable, <a href="https://woocommerce.com/posts/woothemes-joins-automattic/">WooCommerce</a>, provided a critical pathway to e-commerce, and had become a well-known brand in the space. On the other side of the stack, they acquired the <a href="https://angel.co/today/stories/automattic-acquires-wordpress-plugin-zbs-crm-4292">ZBS CRM</a>, a customer relationship management plugin for WordPress that enables online retailers using WordPress and WooCommerce to keep track of their customers.
Through Parse.ly, Automattic is elevating the value of enterprise analytics for its customers. Parse.ly uses predictive analytics for content recommendations, driving engagement with personalized experiences for every visitor. It also provides both real-time and historical data.
“We’ve always had a deep admiration for WPVIP as the gold standard for enterprise content teams, and we’re thrilled to join together,” <a href="https://blog.parse.ly/post/9995/wpvip-acquisition/">said Sachin Kamdar</a>, the CEO of Parse.ly. “From the culture and people, to the product, market, and vision, we’re in lockstep to create more value for our customers. This powerful combination of content and intelligence will push the industry forward at an accelerated pace.”
With Parse.ly, WPVIP customers will get much more than basic analytics like page visits and views. Commerce brands will be able to see which content converts visitors into buyers and deliver content recommendations for top-performing products.
<h3>Oracle Announces Cloud Customer Experience Updates</h3>
Oracle <a href="https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/oracle-cloud-cx-updates-021021.html">announced</a> that it's rolling out updates to its Cloud Customer Experience (CX) platform. The latest updates to the CX suite adds enhancements and capabilities to Oracle Sales, Oracle Service, and Oracle Marketing.
“Customers aren’t afraid to walk away after a single bad experience, and that reality means organizations have to empower their sales, marketing, and customer service teams with the data they need to make every customer interaction matter,” said Rob Tarkoff, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Customer Experience.
The latest updates within Oracle Customer Experience (CX) include new B2B selling, service, and marketing capabilities.
<ul>
<li>B2B Selling Capabilities: Improve efficiency and accelerate sales cycles by providing a more prescriptive sales experience and removing tedious data entry tasks.</li>
<li>Voice Capabilities: A new digital assistant allows sellers to talk to their CRM system and use voice commands on a mobile device to create follow-up tasks, add an attachment to an account, record an update to an account, and more.</li>
<li>Streamlined Quoting: Sellers now have the ability to search, view, and manage complex quotes on one screen via desktop or a mobile device, eliminating the need to toggle between data and screens.</li>
<li>Communications Industry: A new Buy application in Digital Experience for Communications helps service providers give customers more relevant offers to increase conversion rates. This includes making it easier for customers to buy services via their preferred channels.</li>
<li>Actionable User Interface: Data-driven recommendations help sellers save time and focus their efforts on the strongest opportunities.</li>
<li>Smart Lists: Help guide sellers on what action to take next by automatically displaying relevant information based on past behavior.</li>
<li>Infolets: Enable sellers to quickly accept leads, qualify prospects, rank deals, and create tasks from the home page of their CRM system.</li>
<li>Advanced Search Capabilities: Help sellers quickly and easily locate information related to a sales opportunity, territory, account, and quotes. In addition, Favorites allows users to mark records to save for later.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Siteimprove Releases Upgraded Accessibility Module to Empower Organizations to Meet Increased Digital Experience Expectations</h3>
<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img style="max-width:700px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/s_1e19aa0823516118dba1b011a8e58da9fab02af727b4e0a2ccc1c309e755f029_1614205140284_next-gen-accessibility-potential-issues-feature.png" /></figure>
Siteimprove, the cloud-based Digital Presence Optimization (DPO) platform, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210212005296/en/Siteimprove-Releases-Upgraded-Accessibility-Product-to-Empower-Organizations-to-Meet-Increased-Digital-Experience-Expectations">announced</a> the release of the new and improved Siteimprove Accessibility module. The new feature was created <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/about/projects/wai-tools/">in partnership with the EU Commission and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)</a>.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to identifying and fixing accessibility issues is the wide array of rules that are constantly changing. Siteimprove solves this problem by actively integrating the new <a href="https://act-rules.github.io/pages/about/">Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) rules</a> into their Accessibility module on an ongoing basis.
ACT rules are a growing set of test rules that aim to harmonize the interpretation of W3C accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
Since WCAG 2.1 requirements can be vague and difficult to read, they are open to interpretation. This makes it challenging for organizations to know whether they have met the legal requirements or not. With the latest approved and confirmed ACT rules at the core of Siteimprove’s Accessibility module, users can expect consistent results and a better understanding of how to work towards meeting the recognized accessibility standards.
The features and benefits that come with the Siteimprove Accessibility module include:
<ul>
<li>Setting site targets to track progress: With the module, you can set a custom target to work towards a specific compliance goal such as Level A, AA, or AAA accessibility compliance. The module also provides an Accessibility Digital Certainty Index (DCI) score, which measures your site’s accessibility compared to other companies in your industry.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img style="max-width:700px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/s_1e19aa0823516118dba1b011a8e58da9fab02af727b4e0a2ccc1c309e755f029_1614205110626_next-gen-accessibility-set-site-target-feature.png" /></figure>
<ul>
<li>Identify and prioritize issues: By filtering your site’s issues by the page section they are found in – header, footer, metadata, or all other content– you can more easily prioritize the issues that need to be remediated.</li>
<li>Fix issues with easy-to-follow instructions: Quickly review potential accessibility issues using an assisted review flow.</li>
</ul>
You can find out more about Siteimprove’s Accessibility module <a href="https://siteimprove.com/en/accessibility/">here</a>.
<h3>Twilio Segment Releases 2021 CDP Report: A Look at How Pandemic-Driven Digital Acceleration Ushered the Industry into a New Era</h3>
Segment – which was <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/twilio-acquires-segment-for-3-2b-adds-market-leading-cdp-for-building-data-driven-apps/">purchased by Twilio in November of 2020</a> – released their second annual <a href="https://learn.segment.com/customer-data-platform-report-2021/">Customer Data Platform Report</a> (CDP), and it further reinforces the pivotal role of customer data in the future of digital experiences.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an enormous amount of digital transformation at a frenzied pace. Segment's comprehensive report was put together from anonymized usage data from Segment’s 20,000+ customers, portraying the pandemic's impact in staggering numbers.
Based on the metrics detailed in the report, 2020 saw exponential growth in customer data. The volume, velocity, and variety of data being tracked across organizations nearly doubled – and by the end of the year, Segment was processing over 1 trillion API calls a month.
<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img style="max-width:700px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/s_1e19aa0823516118dba1b011a8e58da9fab02af727b4e0a2ccc1c309e755f029_1614276145234_segment-cdp-report-data.png" /></figure>
With the increased adoption of digital channels, 73% of companies report that a CDP will be critical to their customer experience reports.
Segment has been at the forefront of CDP innovation, working to unify customer data from fragmented, isolated silos. As a rule of thumb, data has always been collected and organized in the channel where it was created – and locked away across inaccessible databases.
That all changed in 2020 as Covid-19 shifted consumer behavior. People began jumping across channels as they embraced curbside pickup and telehealth. Remote work also exploded, surfacing the operational inefficiencies of having data spread across disparate systems within an organization.
With Segment, organizations can track event data from a wide range of applications and trigger a multitude of actions. The main types of data flowing through Segment's CDP are coming from four types of sources: Web (Javascript), Mobile (iOS, Android), Server (HTTP API, Node.js, etc.), and Cloud (Stripe, Sendgrid, etc.).
The data from Segment's report illustrates how the customer journey spans across multiple channels, generating millions of events. The insights gleaned from these datapoints and trends are worth their weight in gold – and underscore the value of a CDP as a core component in the modern enterprise stack.
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/twilio-acquires-segment-for-3-2b-adds-market-leading-cdp-for-building-data-driven-apps/">Twilio’s acquisition of Segment</a> ushers in a new era for CDPs, as the market shifts from pure-play data platforms towards integrated customer engagement platforms. We can expect more platforms like Twilio to address their own CDP gap through partnerships or acquisitions as the year unfolds.
You can access Segment's full report <a href="https://learn.segment.com/customer-data-platform-report-2021/">here</a>.

CMS Monthly Recap: WordPress VIP Acquires Parse.ly, Siteimprove Releases Upgrade, Segment's 2021 CDP Report, and More

Call Tracking + AI 

Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

Explore a wide range of informative articles, insights, and industry updates. Stay informed and ahead of the curve with our diverse collection of news and posts covering the latest trends and developments in the industry. Page - 93