Optimize Press 2.0 - Couple Issues...

by art72

Posted: 9 years ago 3 replies

WEB DESIGN

Hey all,

Ok, I had almost refunded this product when it came out because it was full of problems, and being I am not a php or coding genius, it was definitely frustrating.

However, I actually do like the product (overall), I just can't seem to get past some basic features that are annoying as hell, and are not working right.

1. ) The 'static' home page does not display the "Homepage Feature" - instead, it shows a small bar reading "Home" w/ the begin and end gradient colors I chose. Even when I turn it off, it shows the annoying strip with 'HOME' displaying under my Home tab....arrggghhhh!

2. ) The blog is set as my "posts" page in settings, and "home" is set as mt "static" page. Yet, my "Homepage Feature" is displaying on my blog above my posts??? WTF?

3.) The "Homepage Feature" video w/ optin seems to have a few issues...

a. The default button rarely opens, and I do not see any of the other button choices at all. So, it displays onsite as a yellow bar, not as a "Call-to-Action" button!
b. The email fields, tho are in order in the dashboard, display:
enter your email
enter your name
yellow bar

So, when did anyone ever optin to an offer and put their email 1st, then, their name... (*I don't get it!)

c.) While I am able to login to the optimizehub and access my API license keys, and some other stuff, they are now displaying a message that I am no longer eligible for updates, unless I pay $97
for updates... WTF???

Ok, sorry for my rant here, but I paid $300 for this when it fiirst launched. Couldn't use the membership plugin, too buggy...lost hours of work. Now, over a year later, and there's still stupid things that I shouldn't have to fix! And yet, to pay another $97 now seems like my investment will surely suffer "IF" I don't pay the annual updates fee that just magically appeared a couple weeks ago... bout the time, some of this issues arose with the forms not displaying right, the home feature issues, etc...

By my own ignorance, I hope there's something I am missing. I only uploaded the theme, as I do not have the patience to attempt using the membership plugin option ever again!

But, I am curious to know; are #'s 1,2, and 3 above easy fixes?

I'm not proficient with PHP, and really cannot afford to be paying others to fix what I feel should work for the $300 I already paid. Let alone, send them another $97.

Atop of the hours spent trying to get simple things working, AWeber won't let me generate a new web form, as they appear to be updating their site (*Which looks 10x better in my opinion, and more user friendly).

Anyway, if anyone can help calm my nerves concerning the 1-3 above, I appreciate your help!

Art

PS- I just started on the site tonight, so aside from a few graphics, and basics settings I don't think I did anything to break the theme, or cause these issues.

You can view the site here: http://ecover-creator.com (*no optin or products yet) just trying to get past the BS, before proceeding.

#couple #issues #optimize #press

savidge4 9 years ago
to get rid of the "Home":
Code:

.op-page-header h2 { display: none; }
Cant help you much with the others. Not a big Optimize press fan!
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ChrisWrok

9 years ago

Originally Posted by art72

I've been using OP2 for a while and I have NO real issues with it.
First, make sure you've got the latest update.

Have you set up the blog in the OP2 settings?
It's seperated from the WP settings

Did you change the default permalink structure? OP2 can't read the default one.

The reason you are getting the work HOME under your HOME button
is that your "breadcrumbs" are turned on.

You need to turn them off.

2. ) The blog is set as my "posts" page in settings, and "home" is set as mt "static" page. Yet, my "Homepage Feature" is displaying on my blog above my posts??? WTF?

as I stated above, OP2 has a separate Blog Set Up section that is seperate from Wp.

AND you can either make posts or pages in WP...not sure if you've mixed something up

3.) The "Homepage Feature" video w/ optin seems to have a few issues...

a. The default button rarely opens, and I do not see any of the other button choices at all. So, it displays onsite as a yellow bar, not as a "Call-to-Action" button!

I don't know what you are referencing there.
OP2 has dozens and dozens of Home Page templates with Video with optin.
It sounds like you need a new template.

b. The email fields, tho are in order in the dashboard, display:
enter your email
enter your name
yellow bar

So, when did anyone ever optin to an offer and put their email 1st, then, their name... (*I don't get it!)

each optin box you create will have different options depending on the one it is.
There is a place to put a number, so you can order the email, name,
and other fields that you wish to be in the optin box.

OP2 has a very large training section,
and all the features are fully described with video tutorials.

Go to the member's area and take the lesson about your problem.

c.) While I am able to login to the optimizehub and access my API license keys, and some other stuff, they are now displaying a message that I am no longer eligible for updates, unless I pay $97
for updates... WTF???

Their license lasts 1 year. I guess it's time for an update.
That's probably why your site does not work right.

You are missing updates, and since you have not paid your annual fee,
you are not getting them automatically, so your site is broken.

Ok, sorry for my rant here, but I paid $300 for this when it fiirst launched. Couldn't use the membership plugin, too buggy...lost hours of work.

The membership plugin works great.
there's a learning curve but it works.
I build and sell full membership sites with OP2 all the time.

Now, over a year later, and there's still stupid things that I shouldn't have to fix! And yet, to pay another $97 now seems like my investment will surely suffer "IF" I don't pay the annual updates fee that just magically appeared a couple weeks ago... bout the time, some of this issues arose with the forms not displaying right, the home feature issues, etc...

I haven't had any issues,
and they are prob the world leaders as far as themes go.
They don't need to rip you off.

It's more likely that your year was up
and you need to pay the annual fee to continue getting updates
or go somewhere else for service like Landing Pages.

bugs always happen with these sorts of things,
because WP is an ever changing animal.
that's why OP2 needs your annual fee, for development,
or else their stuff wouldn't work at all after a while...

and it does, as long as you have the current update.

By my own ignorance, I hope there's something I am missing. I only uploaded the theme, as I do not have the patience to attempt using the membership plugin option ever again!

Dude, it's easy once you dive in and look around.

But, I am curious to know; are #'s 1,2, and 3 above easy fixes?

I'm not proficient with PHP, and really cannot afford to be paying others to fix what I feel should work for the $300 I already paid. Let alone, send them another $97.

I think your going to be stuck paying the $97 yearly,
and you should have already dealt with the issues a long time ago during this year.

As I said, I've had OP2 during the same time frame and my stuff works great.
You should have went to the clubhouse and watched the video training way back then,
and if you had any issues you should have wrote them and told them.

There's also a lot of places online that folks would have helped you out for free
just like the WarriorForum,
but it seems that you've waited to the last minute, too long actually,
and now your year is up and you have to pay the annual fee
or else your site will never be fixed..

Atop of the hours spent trying to get simple things working, AWeber won't let me generate a new web form, as they appear to be updating their site (*Which looks 10x better in my opinion, and more user friendly).

huh?
OP2 has that all built in.
Upload your Aweber API Key and voila...
it gives you the option to connect to any list on your Aweber account.

You can also paste Awebers own Optin Box html
right into any form that you are building with OP2.

So, it can use either OP2's form integrated with Aweber
or it can use Aweber's Forms as stand alone forms

Anyway, if anyone can help calm my nerves concerning the 1-3 above, I appreciate your help!

Art

PS- I just started on the site tonight, so aside from a few graphics, and basics settings I don't think I did anything to break the theme, or cause these issues.

You can view the site here: eCover Creator — eCover Creator (*no optin or products yet) just trying to get past the BS, before proceeding.

I had a look...definitely OP2, but dude, get the upgrade and use another template...they've got hundreds to choose from.

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art72 9 years ago

@ChrisWrok,

Thank you for restoring my faith in OP 2.0!

I bought James Dyson's first OP and loved the squeeze pages. I do understand that the annual $97 fee is fair considering the amount of coding that has gone into the themes, plugins, and integrations they offer, clearly that's why I bought in as soon as it was released!

Have you set up the blog in the OP2 settings?
It's seperated from the WP settings

Yes.. that part is no problem. My design ability is lacking, but overall, I understand the entire blog setting, and global setting options.

Did you change the default permalink structure? OP2 can't read the default one.

Yep, always set as %postname%

The reason you are getting the work HOME under your HOME button
is that your "breadcrumbs" are turned on.

Oh, didn't know that!

You need to turn them off.

Where?

as I stated above, OP2 has a separate Blog Set Up section that is seperate from Wp.

Yeah, I understand that loud and clear.

AND you can either make posts or pages in WP...not sure if you've mixed something up

Above I was referencing my WP 'reading settings' whereby I set a "Static Page" having 'Home" as my front page, and "Blog" as my posts page, so all my new blog posts will automatically display in my blog. That's all good, no problems there.

I don't know what you are referencing there.
OP2 has dozens and dozens of Home Page templates with Video with optin.
It sounds like you need a new template.

Here I was referencing the 'Homepage Feature" being turned on in the 'modules' section in "Blog Settings", it (*Homepage Feature" displays on my blog above my posts, not on my home or main raw URL landing page. (ex: www.mysite. com) - Could be 'breadcrumb related or due to a missed update, not sure exactly... but, I know I don't want it on my blog, I want it on my home URL.

each optin box you create will have different options depending on the one it is.

I completely understand that.

There is a place to put a number, so you can order the email, name,
and other fields that you wish to be in the optin box.

Yes, and in the natural order of an optin, the name field (0) is above the email field (1) , but when I publish the page... the fields reverse, and it asks the subscriber to "Enter Your Email... then, Enter Your Name..." and the button options (while editing the optin elements in OP 2, never opens) thus, I have no choice or option to change or edit the default button- again, an update issue perhaps?

OP2 has a very large training section,
and all the features are fully described with video tutorials.

I have watched most of them, some more than once (tho it's been a minute, I'll admit). Regarding, the member plugin and membership setup, I spent 70-80 hours following step-by-step video instructions, and nothing seemed to work.

*Again, this was immediately after it was released, and James and the OP crew admitted there were some gliches/bugs... Shame on me, but I got frustrated, and scrapped my entire project, and started an offline business, for the better part of last year... spawning largely impart from that very frustration. (*Note: I didn't quit, just took a long break away from IMing)

Go to the member's area and take the lesson about your problem.

That's the problem... I don't/didn't understand why I am having all these problems(?) Aside from 'turning off' the breadcrumbs... and maybe the possibility of having a broken version or an outdated theme in need of an update(?), I don't understand why certain things aren't displaying or working right?

Their license lasts 1 year. I guess it's time for an update.
That's probably why your site does not work right.

Yessir, I'm inclined to believe; this is likely my problem!

You are missing updates, and since you have not paid your annual fee,
you are not getting them automatically, so your site is broken.

If you're correct sir, that sucks! - Not because I am too cheap to invest another $100, but because I just dropped $1,000 buying a ton of stuff to bring to market, and those almighty words to my significant other were; "No, honey... after this I have everything I need - I'm not buying anything else."

The membership plugin works great.

Thank-You for confirming this, helps my mindset immensely, and in restoring the belief/faith I once held in buying OP 2.0 to begin with! (*Clearly, I don't expect the theme itself to drive me to my destination, but knowing the engine is good sure helps!)

there's a learning curve but it works.

I am addicted to the learning curve, so no problems there, just want to be sure I am not wasting my time trying to fix what I was almost convinced was possibly beyond repair.

I build and sell full membership sites with OP2 all the time.

That sir, is my ultimate goal online... recurring income, spread across multiple membership sites... and over-delivering value to the end user of course by solving their problem, cheaper than it cost me to buy the solution on an individual level.

* I am assuming you have a developer version of OP 2.0 (?), perhaps... if my site building skills continue to remain limited, I'll might just pm you for a quote.

*Knowing what I want to build is easy, I could lay the whole thing out, blueprint the sales funnel, draw it on paper, etc... but often, as soon as I start the building process, and the tech issues arise...I find myself spending countless hours trying to fix them...and suddenly, all seem's lost - as is my focus, mindset, desire, and all the excitement suddenly depreciates fast, and eventually goes out the window. (*I certainly do not want this to reflect upon my visitors experience using my sites.)

I haven't had any issues,
and they are prob the world leaders as far as themes go.
They don't need to rip you off.

I didn't mean to imply they ripped me off or were even trying to, I just wasn't 100% sure if spending more money was even a plausible solution to all the little hiccups I've been having with the theme functioning?

It's more likely that your year was up
and you need to pay the annual fee to continue getting updates
or go somewhere else for service like Landing Pages.

I did look into LeadPages, and they too seem to have a decent product, but there pricing seems a bit steep... again, confirming that OP 2.0 is priced fair, even with the $97 annual updates fee. - I just need to know this beast will run, as it should.

I sincerely hope paying for an update, or maybe even downloading the theme from scratch and re-uploading to WP will resolve most of these issues. I certainly don't want to start sending 'support tickets' without doing some homework first...like I am doing now.

bugs always happen with these sorts of things,
because WP is an ever changing animal.
that's why OP2 needs your annual fee, for development,
or else their stuff wouldn't work at all after a while...

Understandable. I simply feared the OP crew may not have ever caught up in fixing the gliches they were having from the release. Perhaps, I under-estimated James and his crews ability to get it right.

and it does, as long as you have the current update.

No comment, I plea the 5th ....

Dude, it's easy once you dive in and look around.

Being you are the 2nd person to tell me this in so many words within 24 hours, I appreciate your speaking from experience with the product.

I think your going to be stuck paying the $97 yearly,
and you should have already dealt with the issues a long time ago during this year.

Yep, which I'll gladly submit to paying, having now overcome my initial bad 'experience' with the product early on. No denial there, I probably could have been a bit more optimistic, and stuck with it from the beginning, but it was costing me too much time, and money to keep screwing around with what (in my previous opinion, was a product not quite ready for release at the time I purchased it).

As I said, I've had OP2 during the same time frame and my stuff works great.
You should have went to the clubhouse and watched the video training way back then,
and if you had any issues you should have wrote them and told them.

Actually, I did... bought the Clubhouse membership for the $17, but at the time, there wasn't much being offered in there yet... so I downloaded everything, and cancelled my Clubhouse subscription shortly thereafter.

I'm guessing now there's a lot more being offered up in there now from the looking at it from the outer wrappings?

I will probably, just buy back into the clubhouse with my update fee. [*Dogging bullets from wife's verbal assult, lol]

There's also a lot of places online that folks would have helped you out for free
just like the WarriorForum,

Honestly, for as long as I've been around, and for as much as I actually do know and understand about a multitude of marketing practices, theories, philosophies, and the psychology of business itself... It's actually humiliating to admit "I STILL SUCK at a lot of the webmastering skills associated to design, and yet, I am determined to learn it... or burn trying!"

but it seems that you've waited to the last minute, too long actually,
and now your year is up and you have to pay the annual fee
or else your site will never be fixed..

Yeah, in that light... I guess my early complications with this theme/plugin kinda influenced some ill-regarded decisions... (but, at least I'm willing to admit it openly, as I was probably wrong to assume they would continue.)

huh?
OP2 has that all built in.
Upload your Aweber API Key and voila...
it gives you the option to connect to any list on your Aweber account.

Note: AWeber was finishing up there new design the other day, just as I was trying to give OP 2.0 another go and create a new sign up form (*their sign up form section was down momentarily), so this was just a reference to my timing & luck, not a issue with using my AWeber API inside the OP dash, just for the record.

You can also paste Awebers own Optin Box html
right into any form that you are building with OP2.

Yep, in the widgets section using 'text' - I got that part down. or even with a javascript or lightbox pop, as I have plugins for a multitude of optional form displays that can indeed work well with OP 2.

So, it can use either OP2's form integrated with Aweber
or it can use Aweber's Forms as stand alone forms

Indeed... no problems creating the forms outside of OP, just getting them to display the fields properly has been a bit of a chore, maybe due to an update, breadcrumbs, or my choice of theme perhaps...

I had a look...definitely OP2, but dude, get the upgrade and use another template...they've got hundreds to choose from

And there in lies the problem, I have 6-7 domains, and they all look similar to the one I am building now (eCover-Creator.com). Perhaps, I need to start keeping things more clean and simple, and stop trying to create every detail, every graphic, etc...

I know they have some amazing themes, and content pages... but honestly, I still haven't gotten used to the 'live editor' as I know the kind of pages and websites I want to develop, and yet, they always lack-luster, and I feel confined (limited) in the live editor, especially in designing pages loaded up with on-page SEO in editor.

Whenever I attempt to use the 'live editor' I cannot figure out simple changes like proper layouts, placements, and font sizes. So, I've tried to avoid using it.

Honestly, I feel restricted in the 'live editor', but it's probably just my lack of experience using it with the pre-templated themes. Truth is, I know how to rank an article easily, but unless I'm using strickly paid ads to drive traffic or get optins, I cannot seem to imagine how I'd actually rank any page created in the live editor?

Note: not a fan of relying on SERP's of even that concerned about ranking, as I can write well-optimized pages... if I ever STOP fudging up the design process, and get to actually start building content.

In the least, with a few of my recent blog "experiments" using OP 2.0 as my blog, my pages are getting ranked fast, usually hitting page 1 or 2 in less than a week, but the rest of the design, delivery, and list building gets in-the-way due to the above technical problems I mentioned, and being that it is severely effecting the functionality of my sites... it either stalls me out, or causes me to completely shut the project down! (*as happened last year)

So, I find am pausing, contemplating, and trying to build as oppose to writing more content... and if I do write more content, and start driving traffic without the proper elements aligning (and functioning properly) on my page designs, I feel to be putting the cart-before-the-horse... and risk losing the visitors respect, and appreciation for making a user friendly experience!

No sarcasm intended above, as I am still trying to have fun, and enjoy using OP 2.0 in delivering value to the end user, and start developing more sales funnels, lists, and eventually my membership sites...

Honestly, if I can just get the base foundation completed with one OP 2.0 site, I think I'd be fine, and would have more confidence. Yet to date, (in my current experience with 2.0) many simple features in the theme still seems buggy/broke, or lack functionality (and it very well might be due to updates, my inexperience, or both!) - Either way, I need for this to start flowing... and with each little nuisance, it just agravates the hell outta me, and compounds my prior belief that something just ain't right with this product!

So, with that said, I really am not trying to bash OP 2.0, I just would really like to experience some success with it, as opposed to sitting there cussing out my computer every time I try to create something with it.

If paying $97 to update, and spending another 10-12 hours (or even another 1000 hours) setting up a working, functioning membership site is all I'm lacking... I'm totally cool with that.

But, being I've made more money writing 5 crappy reviews for a product, on free web 2.0 platforms then I have to date with this theme, and having invested both an ample amount of money and time... at this point, I just needed to confirm, it'll be worth the extra effort, cause to date... my ability to fail with this product has reigned superior. (*Probably, at the expense of my own ignorance and impatience to some degree, impart.)

Anyway, thanks for your long response Chris, I really would like to post a testimonial one day, that OP 2.0 is the kick ass marketing machine I once believed it to be.... as I am trying hard to still believe; it can indeed be.

Alright... enough f'in around, I'm gonna set up an S3 bucket, update my OP theme & plugin, get some goodies from the clubhouse, and build a kick ass website... within the next 30 days. *And when I do, I'd greatly appreciate it if some of you would 'critique/review' once it's done.

My sincerest thanks, for all who contributed to this thread... clearly, fixing my OP 2 theme...will restore some of what I felt was lost.

Art
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