iAuto is a SEO friendly auto/vehicle classifieds web software that allows you to create an auto/vehicle classifieds website, similar to www.autotrader.com. It has all you need to start your own vehicle listing service, and doesn’t require much time to learn the way it works.

iAuto was developed by WorksForWeb software team with a set of other niche classifieds software products such as iRealty and iLister. WorksForWeb started to develop its classifieds framework, that is used in all WFW products, in December 2005 and since that time scientifically improved it to correspond to the market needs.

This web software comes with different price ranges:

• Standard edition – $519
• Special edition – $219
• Hosted version – $49.95/month

Technical requirements
iAuto could be easily installed on almost any hosting server. Here is a list of what you need to successfully run the script:

• Apache web server
• PHP 4.3. or 5.x
• MySQL 4.1 or higher
• ionCube or Zend Optimizer
• mod_rewrite
• GD library

As you can see, ionCube or Zend is required to run iAuto, which means that some part of the software code is encrypted. Actually there are only a few encrypted core files, which are not responsible for any software functionality. I personally have made lots of modifications and added new modules and there weren’t any problems with the encrypted files.

Zend or ionCube are installed on the most modern hosting servers. But if it is not you steel can install it yourself. In this article you can find instructions on how to do that: http://customers.worksforweb.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=40

Installing iAuto
One of the iAuto advantages is that you can install a free 15 days trial version and test it on your server before the purchase. After you make an order you’ll need only to change your trial license files with permanent ones.

So here is step by step instruction on how to make an installation:

Follow this link to download the package http://customers.worksforweb.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view

Upload the package to your server and unpack it to your installation folder using file manger in your control panel. If you don’t have a file manager, then you’ll need to unpack the package on your local computer and then upload it to the installation folder on your hosting server.

Run your installation URL in your browser. You should get installation form on your screen. Fill this form, following the instructions written at it, and submit the form.

After installing the script you’ll need to get the license to make it work. If you’re installing the trial version, you can generate the trial license here: http://www.worksforweb.com/system/licenses/generate_free_license/ . If you’ve made a purchase, than request a permanent license from the iAuto sales staff.

If you install the iAuto script on your local computer, then you can run under localhost url without any licenses. This allows webmasters to make significant script modifications and test it before buying the license.

Using iAuto

Configuring listing types and user groups
After successful installing iAuto you can start configuring it to your particular needs. Log in to your admin panel and start your configuration.

iAuto allows you to easily set the listing fields you need for your classifieds site and configure appropriate listing types for your business model. For example you can create “cars”, “bikes”, “trucks” vehicle types and configure custom fields for each type.

You can also crate separate user groups and configure individual profile for each group. E.g. you can create “Private seller” group” for private listings and “Dealers” group for auto dealers. After crating user groups you can set listing conditions and price options. iAuto includes flexible membership plans and packages system, that allows you to implement almost any business model for your service.

Customizing iAuto templates
iAuto framework includes flexible Smarty driven template engine. The software package comes with 2 default themes. You can either integrate your own design into the script, or modify one of the included themes. All template files are stored in the single folder, so you can easily copy themes between iAuto installations.

Translating iAuto to your language(s)
Starting from version 4.3.0 iAuto supports Multilanguage functionality. This means you can easily translate iAuto to your language, or run your classifieds site on several languages. Using iAuto admin panel you can provide support for as many languages as you need, and make translation to any language. On the front end, user can choose their language and the system will display user interface in the language chosen.

Optimizing iAuto for search engines
iAuto is one of the most search engine friendly scripts You can customize it to get effective results from your SEO program. Here is what iAuto allows for SEO:

• Custom listing URLs. By default listing detail page has the following URL www.yoursite.com/listing_details/2573/1988-BMW-525.html. As you can see listing keywords (Year, Make and Model) are included to the URL, so that search engine will consider this page more relevant to that keywords. You can include any additional relevant information to the listing URLs.
• Listing info in the title metatag. Another important SEO feature is keywords presence in the title and description metatags. iAuto allows you to include any listing info to these metatags.
• Listing browsing. To make search engine crawler index all ads on your site these ads should be accessible from the homepage via direct links. By default iAuto includes “Browse by Make/Model” and “Browse by body style” features. You can configure browsing by any other listing field, such as state or city.

Examples of iAuto powered web sites
iAuto is widely used by webmasters to create vehicle classifieds web sites of different kinds. On the portfolio page of iAuto official web site http://www.iautosoftware.com/portfolio.html you can find a list of featured projects based on iAuto engine.

Bellow I’ll describe only a few iAuto powered web site that I like:

• http://www.sellingacar.co.uk – One of the most successful car classifieds online services created using iAuto. Its database includes about 5000 listings, and keeps growing.
• http://www.mvvideoads.com – Military vehicles and accessories classifieds. A good example of customized iAuto installation.
• http://www.sandiegoautofinders.com – A car dealership web site.
• http://kunstzonen.dk – A good example of translated iAuto installation to Danish.

Conclusion
iAuto is good choice for everyone willing to start his own online auto/vehicle classifieds service. It’s already pre-configured for car listings and includes make/models database, as well as 2 ready to use templates. You can easily customize default templates or integrate your own.

iAuto core files are encrypted so it may not work on some hosting servers, that don’t have ionCube or Zend. So you’ll need to pay attention to this issue when choosing hosting for your iAuto based site. Otherwise you can choose hosted version of iAuto, in this case you won’t have any problems with hosting.
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Igor Karmanov is an online entrepreneur working in Kyrgiz Republic (former Soviet Union). One of his latest successful projects is local automobile classifieds online service www.bib.kg. Currently he’s working on a new car owners social network for Russia.
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©2010 MyTestBox.com :: web software reviews, news, tips and tricks. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own online classified ads website? Using GeoClassifieds, the online classifieds software solution, you can get yourself started for no money out of your pocket, and easily continue to add useful features as your business does.

GeoClassifieds was developed by Geodesic Solutions as part of their core product line. The business and IP professionals of Geodesic Software opened their doors in Dallas, Texas in 2001 and been delivering a variety of classified and auction software to a wide variety of international clients.

What does my server require?

GeoDesic Solutions creates 4 versions of their GeoClassifieds software. They have a Lite (free), Basic, Professional, and Enterprise version. No matter which version of GeoClassifeds you chose to install, you must have the following basic services on your Web host:

GeoClassifieds is compatible with any popular browser from Internet Explorer to Safari. Users may want to have a high speed Internet connection, simply because the nature of classified ad software implies the use of a lot of small and large images associated with selling individual items.

Can My Server Install GeoClassifieds For Me?

Many web hosting providers use control panel software to allow the automatic installation of a preset list of programs. GeoDesic is not currently announcing an affiliation with any of these control panel developers, so you may not find it listed in your control panel. Because of the time involved in installing and configuring a PHP application on a Linux server, you may want to check your hosts control panel first. Most of them can be accessed through a Web Applications or Add New Application link on your control panel’s home page.

How Can I Manually Install GeoClassifieds?

In the event that your server control panel doesn’t list GeoClassifieds in its Web Applications, you can install it yourself with nothing more than FTP access to your server.

The default user name and password are:
username: admin
password: geodesic

Once you are logged into the administration program for the first time, you will want to change this. You also need to delete the SETUP and SQL folders on your web host. This will prevent anyone else from logging into your site, and reconfiguring it back to the defaults without your knowledge.

What If I Have Trouble?

A typical GeoClassifieds installation will go smoothly, but if “Murphy’s Law” strikes, you can try these basic steps first. Support is also available from GeoClassified’s developers at: http://www.geodesicsolutions.com/products/services/support_updates.htm. On purchased products, you will receive 12 months of software support through unlimited emails, Forum access, Knowledgebase, FAQs and Tutorials. You also receive free updates, both major and minor, to your edition of the software.

Do you have the correct server support software loaded?

If you are unsure what version of PHP or MySQL you are running, check with your Web host administrator. The support team for your server will need to know that your software requires GD Libraries, PHP 4.3+ and MySQL. If your server can’t install or update this software for you, a variety of other available web hosts can be researched at http://www.web-site-hosting-reviews.com/

Do you set the correct file permissions?

Unlike most other PHP programs, GeoClassifieds does not require that specific directories are set up with read, write, and execute permissions. But I have found that on some servers, you may want to set the Setup and SQL directories to have full access (777). You must set these permissions while you are FTPing the files to the Web server. In most FTP programs, you can right click on the name of the directory of file that you want to work with, and select either CHMOD, File Attributes, or File Permissions. Even if you believe that you have set these permissions, reset the, as some software will not change file permissions consistently, nor will they accurately display the file permissions for your folders.

Did you FTP files in ASCII or Binary?

PHP files must be loaded to your server in ASCII mode. This type of file transfer maintains the integrity of the file, without converting its special characters. Quite often, when uploading your files in a large group to your server, some ASCII text files are transferred in Binary mode. To ensure that this isn’t an issue in your installation, re-upload all of your PHP files in ASCII mode. You may need to look at your FTP software manual to see how this is done..

Is your database configuration correct?

The wrong access information for your database will prohibit your installation from continuing. GeoClassified will give you specific errors if you are experiencing this problem. In the event that you cannot get GeoClassifieds to connect to your database, verify your database information by contacting your Web host administrators, or reconfigure your databases using your hosts control panel. Make sure to write this information down so that your installation can continue.

Ok.. Its Installed.. Now What Can it Do?

GeoClassifieds Lite, is the free version of Geodesic’s GeoClassifieds line of software applications. Depending upon your needs, you can purchase more feature rich versions of the software. You may want to study this chart to see which version of GeoClassifieds is for you.

GeoClassified has a wide variety of features that you will have to explore fully to understand. Although the Lite version is free, it is also the most limited in layouts, and configuration. If you want to start out with the free version of the software, and then upgrade, you can do that simply by purchasing the commercial product and installing it over the top of your existing installation.

With some knowledge of HTML you can configure this free version of GeoClassifieds blend with the layout of your existing web site, You can modify the HTML templates that control the contents of both the header, footer, right and left columns, as well as the layout of individual ads. Although due to its feature intensive nature, some of these features are hard to find within the administration panel, but trust me, they are there. You will spend a lot more time configuring GeoClassifieds, than you will on the base installation, but once you are done, you will have a feature rich classified ad software that should meet all of your business needs, as well as a version available to fit your budget.

How does GeoClassifieds Compare to its Competition?

There are many other commercial and GNU/GPL classified ad software programs available for use, but GeoClassifieds is definitely one of the better options. If you are looking for software that has a ton of features, and you aren’t afraid of spending the time working on the configuration, or doing a little HTML/PHP coding, then GeoClassified just might be the right software for you..

Where Can I See GeoClassifieds In Action?

If you want to check out some GeoClassifieds installations before you invest your time and hosting space you may want to take a look at these sites. Some of them are personal, some professional.

Have Anything Else to Suggest?

Overall GeoClassifieds (online classifieds software) is one of the best choices for starting a Web-based, classified ad business. It will grow with you, expanding its options as your business expands. Its configuration intensive features are going to turn away anyone that is looking for something they can get up and running in just a few hours, or someone that is uncomfortable with using HTML and PHP code. For those that want a fully customizable, classified ad system, that will collect payments, create invoices, control their banner ads, and customize their interface, they will have to look for a long time before they find another product with more features. If you are looking for something simple, check out Noah Classifieds. I had that up, running, and customized within 2 hours.
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Heather Williamson has been a professional writer and author since 1997 when she had her
first IT related book published. Since then she has published 11 more Internet and technology related titles covering the gamut from browser technology, to XML, from Dreamweaver to Linux Applications. She has been involved in Internet related software development for 14 years, and runs her own web development and contract writing firm in East Texas.
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©2010 MyTestBox.com :: web software reviews, news, tips and tricks. All Rights Reserved.