Got a worpdress blog? do you link to the iTunes Store with or without an affiliate program? this plugins for you!
The plugin adds an itunes button to the visual editor which when clicked brings forward a dialog containing a search for the iTunes store link maker.
After searching, clicking on any link will ask for a title for the link and insert it into the content editor. The link also enables the ability to directly link to albums, something the standard link generator does not normally do.
Requirements
- WordPress 2.8.1+
- PHP 5
Everything is being stored over at bitbucket in the a public reposity italm, so if you want to keep up with latest developments or join in, head there.ΓΒ I’ll push updates over to wordpress.org as versions are tagged.ΓΒ If you wish to donate to the development of this plugin, please use the button below.
You can also now check the plugin over at wordpress.org extend here.
iTunes Affiliate Link Maker Plugin v0.5.1
Works great, thank you
I would love to see this for the code editor as well. Any chance this might be implemented?
Yeah jean, it’s definately on the plan. I use the code editor myself quite alot, and it’d be handy to have it there, but as it stands i just switch back and forth.
The plan was to get all the history stuff functioning correctly (0.4) then fix and implement my original idea, using a shortcode output into the editor (0.5). Once the shortcode is done and working i’ll be putting it into the code editor in some incarnation. I don’t think it’ll be anywhere near as powerful as the visual editor version as i’m pretty sure somethings just wont be possible and that’s one of the reasons i’ve left it until last.
Thanks for the comment
Unfortunately the iTunes affiliate program is only for the USA iTunes store so sites like mine in Canada can’t benefit (even though there is a Canadian iTunes store) if we cater to Canadian visitors on our site.
Thanks anyway.
I’ll second the need for integration with the code editor — I avoid the visual editor at all times. Haven’t used it in at least a couple years. =(
I’m going to grab the plugin and keep an eye on your updates… hopefully we’ll see the code editor upgrade soon?
Thanks for a cool plugin, Ruxton!
Michael
Angelo, there are a whole heap of different affiliate programs, not just for the USA store. Check this link http://www.apple.com/ca/itunes/affiliates/ The ones in UK,AU & NZ are run by DGM and others by linkshare, do some research you may find things have changed.
Yeah soon, i’d say.. 2-3 weeks? if anyone is happy to attempt some testing a week before release, let me know. I’d like to avoid the kind of release i had last time where i had to update wordpress.com with a new version 5 minutes after i released. π
OK, so I’m an affiliat of itunes on linkshare… how in the heck do I get my “Partner Link Stuff”??
If you’ve ever used the link generator url supplied by link share it has some stuff on the end that looks like &partnerId=30&partnerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fstat%3Fid%3DlX3D146261%26type%3D3%26subid%3D0%26tmpid%3D1826%26RD_PARM1%3D thats what you want to put in there. I don’t use linkshare but all my testing shows if you put the right stuff in that box, it’ll work.
I am getting the following errors when trying to use the plugin. I set permissions for the plugin to 777.
Warning: file_get_contents() [function.file-get-contents]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /usr/www/virtual/angotti/www.timelessdjs.com/wp-content/plugins/itunes-affiliate-link-maker/itms.php on line 129
Warning: file_get_contents(http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStoreServices.woa/wa/itmsSearch?WOURLEncoding=ISO8859_1&output=json&country=US&term=just+the+way+you+are&media=music) [function.file-get-contents]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /usr/www/virtual/angotti/www.timelessdjs.com/wp-content/plugins/itunes-affiliate-link-maker/itms.php on line 129
Yeah I get the same error as well.
Hi Joseph
I’ve got a new version on the way in the next few days but it doesn’t check for stuff like that, i’ll try implement something different when file_get_contents doesn’t work to avoid this situation as im pretty sure many servers are going to have such a configuration.
Cheers,
Greg
The application search isn’t working for me.
I tried several countries but the plugin can’t find any of the apps im searching for.
For Example ICQ, Crazy Machines, Sonic…
Nothing works.
Any hints?
greez Web
Yeah, unfortunately i noticed i can’t pull results from the itms link makers using JSON for Applications, you just don’t get any results (not sure why yet). The new version which should come out in about 2 days has a minorly annoying workaround in place for these kind of situations, but unfortunately it still means you won’t be able to use the link maker to search for the Applications.
Every thing was working well until I tried to click on the link to my podcast on the itunes link maker. It wouldn’t open the dialog box to type in a title, it would open my Itunes. Help!
Yeow hadn’t noticed that one velmaj, but there will definately be a fix in the new version.
To touch on the new version for a second, i know i’ve made a few posts saying it would be out weeks ago. It’s so close to being finished but i keep finding minute issues. Hopefully i’ll having something on wordpress.com in the next few weeks, sorry about all the delays people.
When i use the itunes link maker tool, my parner ID structure looks a bit different…what do i put in the partner link box?
Thanks!
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=sv9SmvkUyLU&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D322470917%2526id%253D322470718%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
Sammy, my understanding is you should be entering everything http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=sv9SmvkUyLU&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1= if you have any dramas with it, i think we might need to get on MSN or something and sort it out.
Hey Ruxton,
got the same problem with applications when i tryed to make such a tool for an other system.
Try to use
http://images.apple.com/itunesaffiliates/API/AffiliatesSearch2.1.pdf
the keyword for applications is also “software”. Worked fine for me.
Felix
Thank you Felix, i’ve been trying to find this doc for a while, i swear i’d read it months ago before starting the project but could never find it after that.
Thanks π
I also am partnered through linkshare and not sure how to work with partner link stuff. Could you break it down for me?
Here is an example of a link:
see it looks too unlcean to read.
The link example did not post sry : / do you have aim?
yeah add me to AIM (ruxtonau) we can work out what needs to go where then and i’ll have then some linkshare data to test with
Hey bro, very cool plugin. I installed in on the latest version of WordPress (2.8.4) and there are a couple of slight glitches. When you click on a search result, it takes you to a general itunes page (Looking for…) instead of the dialog box which creates the link.
Also, there is no vertical scroll bar at all, so you can’t see what’s below the pop up window.
I don’t expect you to fix this stuff anytime soon, but I just thought I’d get that out there if and when you have time to upgrade the plugin.
Just so everyone knows, you can also use the manual link maker from apple with the same results: http://apple.com/itunes/linkmaker/
Cheers
Great stuff. Having trouble installing. I’ve unzipped the folder and not sure how to get the “directory” onto the destination you indicated in the instructions. My blog is being hosted by wordpress – is that an issue? Thx!
[…] just pushed version 0.5.1 of my WordPress plugin iTALM into the WordPress SVN, it should arrive soon enough.ΓΒ If you have any problems please let me […]
[…] iTunes Affiliate Link […]
[…] iTunes Affiliate Link […]
[…] seems there may have been a minor issue in the last release of my iTunes Affiliate Link Maker wordpress plugin. Quite simply, if you had an existing install and didn’t have any links in it yet, you may […]