Attracta to become new feature in cPanel & WHM (Q & A)

[myusername]

Are you going to put every host on the planet on this page?

Attracta's Partners

How come we are not there now?

[TroyMcCasland]

Are you going to put every host on the planet on this page?

Attracta's Partners

How come we are not there now?

Once our integration with cPanel is complete there will be a place to upload your logo and provide a company description. The system will automatically to check to make sure you have the Attracta logo on your website as well. Now it's a manual process and we are still waiting for you to provide us with your logo and company description.

[texo]

This should not be enabled by default. I pay a lot of $$$ every month for my cpanel licenses, and I don't want things like this appearing in my clients' cpanels without my permission.

Most of our clients use CMSs like WordPress and Joomla which have plugins to automate sitemap creation and submission.

[Kent Brockman]

Interesting discussion, but wait, the issue that is mostly concerning to OUR security policy is: the Attracta dashboard will run on OUR servers or in Attracta's servers?

Given the direction of this thread, I will definitely turn off this feature when available. Probably we'll check it on one or two test domains before allowing our customers to have access to this app. It has to pass or QA revisions and even that won't guarantee we agree to offer this to our customer base.

I'm sure you're ok with this kind of decision. But I can say that people is not aware of this future de-facto addon to cPanel. I'd like to recommend cPanel to make this feature more noticeable to forum participants, in order to get more opinions. You could highlight this feature the same way you are doing with the Siteocity thing. This thread have been viewed <1000 times, but only a few users have given their feedback, and it's very negative feedback, guys. @t Mail and Logaholic should also be highlighted since not everybody may be aware of this section of the forum (I must confess that I wasn't until a few weeks!)...

I want you to explain me PLEASE, WHY ATTRACTA MUST BE shipped by default, when other products are only available as plugins. I think Attracta should be nothing else than other cool plugin that you can add IF YOU WANT, like the ones from Fantastico Scripts, ClientExec, Softaculous, NDC, Munin, ClamAV, ConfigServer... They are all cool, and I need them and use them, but I'm happy because they are free and more important: I installed some of them because I wanted to, I was able to evaluate and choose, nobody forced me to use them.

I don't know guys, I'd like to read better arguments that "XML Sitemap creation and submission is more important than disc space, bandwidth, and backup", because those words sound like the typical from a sales rep trying to convince an end user, non-IT, audience. At less, I don't feel comfy and I still feel am willing to deactivate it from our feature manager.

Hope to see more diversity in opinions, negative or positive, but I'd like to hear more voices here.

[Kent Brockman]

I've edited my signature to call others to join this conversation, but cPanel admins and mods can do it better

[lostmind]

I have nothing against Attracta. I'm not opposed to the product they sell in anyway yet (I'm just installing & evaluating it now myself).

I AM opposed to having this turned on by default.

What if I decide the Attracta program isn't for my company & clients? I have to go and ensure after every cPanel update it's turned off?

What about my clients who have dedicated servers or VPS/VM's with me yet I do not have root access to their boxes? I *can't* go and turn it off? Yet you know they will complain to me that we've somehow mucked about with their cPanel/WHM and included Attracta. They won't be complaining to cPanel or Attracta.

So it's just an extra support ticket for my team to deal with. This makes me unhappy.

Maybe in a couple days when I'm done testing Attracta, I'll think it's the best thing since sliced bread. But I still don't think it's something that should be turned ON by default.

[tank]

The ironic thing is that I actually do seo (search engine optimization) practices for several clients and I offer web hosting. Even more ironic for SEO purposes don't confuse your product!!!!!!! Cpanel is great the way it is, why add a product like SEO services. Product confusion. Where is attractas automatic recommendation on that? Really come on. those "free tools" are also provided mostly by google as well. In all the books and seminars that I have attended, not one SEO professional has told me..... ready for it... "Oh yea attracta is a great for SEO". I honestly wonder why that is? Please don't pretend that submitting site maps is a very complicated thing. Also this is just the "foot in the door" Now you can also offer services by all our cpanel servers linking to your site.

Clearly the community has spoken on the issue of attracta being turned on by default. Why can't it be the other way around? If Attracta is so fantastic, then we should all want to turn on the this awesome product right.... Troy let the product speak for itself. Let us be the decision makers for our companies and our policies.

Here is a hint most people don't like the option of being forced into something. Heck that is why most of us use a linux environment. Very flexible.

Please Cpanel listen to the cries. If you guys aren't truly biased please formulate a response to all the questions.

Update*****
If attracta gets this... they will literally get thousands of incoming links from around the world to them. This alone is a SEO boost for attracta. Don't be fooled by their generosity.

Testimony: http://www.seomoz.org/q/attracta-com...search-engines

[TroyMcCasland]

The ironic thing is that I actually do seo (search engine optimization) practices for several clients and I offer web hosting. Even more ironic for SEO purposes don't confuse your product!!!!!!! Cpanel is great the way it is, why add a product like SEO services. Product confusion. Where is attractas automatic recommendation on that? Really come on. those "free tools" are also provided mostly by google as well. In all the books and seminars that I have attended, not one SEO professional has told me..... ready for it... "Oh yea attracta is a great for SEO". I honestly wonder why that is? Please don't pretend that submitting site maps is a very complicated thing. Also this is just the "foot in the door" Now you can also offer services by all our cpanel servers linking to your site.

Clearly the community has spoken on the issue of attracta being turned on by default. Why can't it be the other way around? If Attracta is so fantastic, then we should all want to turn on the this awesome product right.... Troy let the product speak for itself. Let us be the decision makers for our companies and our policies.

Here is a hint most people don't like the option of being forced into something. Heck that is why most of us use a linux environment. Very flexible.

Please Cpanel listen to the cries. If you guys aren't truly biased please formulate a response to all the questions.

Update*****
If attracta gets this... they will literally get thousands of incoming links from around the world to them. This alone is a SEO boost for attracta. Don't be fooled by their generosity.

Testimony: Attracta.com / "weekly submissions to top 100 search engines" | SEOmoz Q&A

Many people question the need for an XML Sitemap, and for frequently updating it.
However, creating and submitting an accurate up-to-date and properly formatted XML Sitemap in a fundamental part on good on-site SEO

Google recommends XML Sitemap submission in all of their Webmaster and SEO tutorials:
" Whether your site is old or new, we highly recommend you submit an XML Sitemap" - Google Webmaster Tutorial

Testimony: In fact, recommending people NOT use an XML Sitemap is #4 on SEOmoz's list: "The Biggest SEO Mistakes SEOmoz Has Ever Made" written by a widely recognized SEO expert, the CEO of SEOMoz himself:
The Biggest SEO Mistakes SEOmoz Has Ever Made - Whiteboard Friday | SEOmoz

[Kent Brockman]

What about my clients who have dedicated servers or VPS/VM's with me yet I do not have root access to their boxes? I *can't* go and turn it off? Yet you know they will complain to me that we've somehow mucked about with their cPanel/WHM and included Attracta. They won't be complaining to cPanel or Attracta.

So it's just an extra support ticket for my team to deal with. This makes me unhappy.

This is an issue to me and others. You're surely not the only one in that position. Value added or annoyance added? That is the question.

The ironic thing is that I actually do seo (search engine optimization) practices for several clients and I offer web hosting. Even more ironic for SEO purposes don't confuse your product!!!!!!! Cpanel is great the way it is, why add a product like SEO services. Product confusion. Where is attractas automatic recommendation on that? Really come on. those "free tools" are also provided mostly by google as well.

I do SEO for my customers too, and sending sitemaps to the 2 major search engines (Google + Bing, which is running the Yahoo index actually) is the simplest task every SEO noob knows about. Also, looking for the best keywords for content is possible thru a number of services like AdWords Keyword Tool... One can question: how does Attracta improve those tasks for people actually doing SEO?
In the other hand, this app will put a great power in inexpert and/or bad guys. That should be at less, creepy, because Google will be receiving lots of sitemaps incorrectly build, or even for inadequate websites for the ecosystem.

[dhabets]

Ok, please answer this Why is this not opt-in?.

Troy, can you answer the question above? And please don't go on a rant telling me sitemaps are great and that's why it's on. Why don't you disclose the agreement between attracta and cpanel inc? I don't understand the hard sell...

Also, I still have to see the privacy pages, etc. I don't think I should have to install your software to see the terms of software use/service. And what if we don't agree to the terms? Are you going to accept all liability from the use of your service/software?

[Kent Brockman]

Google recommends XML Sitemap submission in all of their Webmaster and SEO tutorials:
" Whether your site is old or new, we highly recommend you submit an XML Sitemap" - Google Webmaster Tutorial

Well, Troy, we indeed agree with this statement. But, can you provide some insight on what options does your app allow to be setup? Does it allow for sitemap indexes? video sitemaps? Does it recognize (or allow to) different parts of a website, like a blog and a forum or does it index everything to the xml? Does the sitemap generator have full features or there are some limited to paid suscription? The response to these questions, are the ones that will add real value to your proposal, because any newbie can build a sitemap, but not everyone has the knowledge to do it well, if you know what I mean.

I googled a while and Attracta demo was not found. Why don't you guys PLEASE provide a demo in order to allow US, the forced sysadmins, to better determine if we will like it or not.

[TroyMcCasland]

Well, Troy, we indeed agree with this statement. But, can you provide some insight on what options does your app allow to be setup? Does it allow for sitemap indexes? video sitemaps? Does it recognize (or allow to) different parts of a website, like a blog and a forum or does it index everything to the xml? Does the sitemap generator have full features or there are some limited to paid suscription? The response to these questions, are the ones that will add real value to your proposal, because any newbie can build a sitemap, but not everyone has the knowledge to do it well, if you know what I mean.

I googled a while and Attracta demo was not found. Why don't you guys PLEASE provide a demo in order to allow US, the forced sysadmins, to better determine if we will like it or not.

The best way to demo Attracta is login as root, and run this GET command to test it on a new site not yet in Google. Then Google the site and see how fast the service works. Most sites get indexed immediately. You could signup for a FREE account from Attracta's home page, but that won't give you the full user experience because Attracta's cPanel integration has more features and works much better.

Attracta provides a FREE XML Sitemap creation and submission to Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask for up to 1,000 pages. It does do Sitemap indexes and mobile sitemaps but not video Sitemaps, yet.

Turbo Traffic 20 and Turbo Traffic 100 paid subscriptions provide automated creation and submission monthly and weekly for sites up to 100,000 pages, plus link building.

Others have posted comments about Google and Yoast having FREE Sitemap generators that do the same thing - fact or fiction, you decide, see Attracta vs Competition.pdf

[nibb]

Troy, don´t take this personal but I think you are insulting the intelligence of most people discussion here.

Your services has 0 influence on Google indexing and how fast its done. Unless you claim to have some inside Google privileges which any company can claim ever, otherwise they would be boosted in the media over this.

Nobody has influence on how Google works at all, this includes indexing. So please trying to sell a gimmick.

I recently launched a new website and Google took 24 hour to index it. Yes, 24 hours. It was a vbulletin site and it has absolutely nothing special on it, except that I added it to Webmaster tools and the next day it was appearing in Google already, so I think what you claim is pretty rubbish. Any site can be indexed pretty fast, its not like it was years ago where it took weeks.

About the sitemap feature I think its a bit insulting as well.

I will not provide any particular suggestion here but ff you Google in Google "sitemap seo script" you find more that enough free and paid scripts that do this not to mention allot of other websites that do this also for free.

I still cannot possible think how you are advertising the XML sitemap creation as being the next biggest think invented, when there are thousands of websites that offer this free, and even without any type of registration like Attracta.

Any cPanel owner discussion here can gladly put such a sctript in their servers for their clients if they feel is an absolute need. Google Webmaster tools does this as well, and you can integrate that with cPanel as well. You can get free PHP script or even paid ones and they do far more than what Attracta free XML sitemaps does.

Its like if a new company now being a default addon on cPanel says "You need this, because our free service lets you put a contact form in your website, and any website needs a contact form"

What you claim is very similar. The free service of Atttacta is so simple and so easy to do that I hardly see why cPanel could come with a decision like this unless they really lowered their IQ mental levels I don´t see how this is the next big thing everybody wants. And sure, some people will love it, but just like they love any other services outhere. Hey, I love allot of services that give webmasters and designers tools. But that does not mean I will spam their cPanel with everything I happen to like. The number one complain when people buy new laptops (read Amazon reviews) is always how much trash software comes installed and they need to remove it just because Vendors think they need that great Antivirus installed by default. People and consumers don´t like this. They like freedom and choice.

If we think Attracta is needed, we are going to install and it offer it to consumers, but letting cPanel do the decision for us is not nice. And to be honest, you can take this how you like it but im being very honest with this, the reason I think you wanted it to be a default and probably was one of the strong points you negotiated with cPanel is because what Attracta does and offers is so simple nobody would use it unless its spammed right there by default into their servers. Yes, I tried your services and I never logged in after 24 hours because its was all whistles and bells and then when I signed up I just was scratching my head into what in the world was so amazing about it, it doesn't do anything at all. Even the paid version doesn't do anything you cant for free with other tools.

This is also why you probably don´t have a demo and the same reason why you want or need this to be default, otherwise it would not had market reach.

And someone else posted here something that make my lights come on. Its true, Attracta will actually boost their own SEO with all this links from their control panels and even you said here that hosters need to put a logo or link back to Attracta websites.

I think this is a big scam coming from cPanel in partnership with Attracta, they basically want to use their customers websites (and their hosting customers websites as well) to boost their own seo which then will give SEO services again to their own clients, while the biggest benefits are actually for Attracta.

So hosters need to put a link to Attracta, and the customers inside cPanel using it probably will need to do this as well for future services, thats what the little badge on the footer is for probably. How long will you think Google will bust you and cPanel websites for doing this? When they start to see massive linking coming such fast they will consider it Black Seo tactics.

If cPanel goes forward with this decision. I will pay a developer to code a script that disables this from all servers by default and forces it so it cannot be enabled or re-installed on any update. And I will provide this script for free here and on the Internet. We pay for cPanel and now we are not free to choose what external services we can or can´t use? So if that is how cPanel wants it then don´t expect customers to stay sit and see how you advertise on their customers control panels.

Instead of letting customers choose by default opt-in this will completely backfire you. Users hate forced opt-out and more people will disable or not use Attracta just because of this decision. More people would if it was opt-in and not forced opt-out, that is how spammers think, that if you don´t complain then you actually want the email.

And not you or cPanel answered the concerns about some other customers asking some real questions here. Instead like a sales guy you go around them telling how great the service is and how we all need it. I think allot of us asked real questions about real concerns here which neither cPanel or Attracta even bothers to try answering.

[Kent Brockman]

Also, I still have to see the privacy pages, etc. I don't think I should have to install your software to see the terms of software use/service. And what if we don't agree to the terms? Are you going to accept all liability from the use of your service/software?

These are the Terms of Service, if this is what you mean:
Terms Of Service
Nothing you would not find in another terms of service.

The best way to demo Attracta is login as root, and run this GET command to test it on a new site not yet in Google. Then Google the site and see how fast the service works. Most sites get indexed immediately. You could signup for a FREE account from Attracta's home page, but that won't give you the full user experience because Attracta's cPanel integration has more features and works much better.

Sounds nice. But what exactly these commands will install in my server? Attracta will be installed like a feature? does it use or install any service/daemon? what are the minimal hardware requirements to run it? What should I expect after running those commands?
Please answer these questions, because we all see too much of a hard good marketing speech, but there are no Attracta's tech support members participating in this forum to answer our tech questions. Because it is not as simple as "just install it and let's the magic come true", we are sysadmins who daily eat spam, malware, DoS, and support tickets in our breakfast. We need screen captures, real world info, before we even download the installer.
Some clarification would be just lovely.

Attracta provides a FREE XML Sitemap creation and submission to Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask for up to 1,000 pages. It does do Sitemap indexes and mobile sitemaps but not video Sitemaps, yet.

Pinging to Yahoo is no needed since Bing is running their indexes now, and for the next 10 years.
Microsoft, Yahoo! Change Search Landscape: Global Deal Creates Better Choice for Consumers and Advertisers

And Ask, who's actually using Ask? It has less than 2% in market share.
Search Engine Market Share / Usage Statistics (Trend Analysis)

Turbo Traffic 20 and Turbo Traffic 100 paid subscriptions provide automated creation and submission monthly and weekly for sites up to 100,000 pages, plus link building.

Quite impressive. And how much it costs to do SEO for forums with over 100k pages?

Others have posted comments about Google and Yoast having FREE Sitemap generators that do the same thing - fact or fiction, you decide, see Attracta vs Competition.pdf

Others? That report forgot to mention xml-sitemaps.com, which I've used and I'm happy for small, non-Wordpress sites. For Wordpress sites I cannot doubt of the quality of Yoast plugin, which can analyze keyword density on the fly to avoid over-optimization and then being penalized by Google.
Too Much SEO? Google

Q. How do I turn Attracta on and off?
We believe you should have the freedom of choice, and this feature can be turned OFF at your convenience if you do not wish to offer these services. Like other software bundled within cPanel, this add-on can be restrictedon a per-user basis.

The problem is that we don't have enough samples of this product to say "yes! cool! ship it enabled by default, I love it". As said above, we currently fight lots of malware daily, and even the internet world is changing its trends right now; understand our concern if we don't feel comfy, even if this awesome product comes inside such a respectable product like cPanel. The problem is that Attracta doesn't look so clear, seems to be an obscure service, when everybody knows that building a sitemap is not black magic...
We are not against Attracta. We are pinging Troy in order to get more info, please guys you can release more info.

Q. What are some of the free tools that web hosting providers will be able to offer to their clients?
Attracta SEO offers several free SEO tools to aid in driving traffic to your customers’ sites. Some of these tools are: Google Blacklist Check, XML Sitemap creation and submission, SEO Tips, link building services, and social networking tools to verify proper Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Aaron, you described "Some of these tools". Can we get a full list of what available services will be shipped FREE by default?

[Kent Brockman]

The best way to demo Attracta is login as root, and run this GET command to test it on a new site not yet in Google.

I forgot to ask.... If I run the GET command and I DON'T LIKE what I see, please provide the commands to uninstall the package. Publish it in your website ASAP to help others to restore things if something didn't work.

Others have posted comments about Google and Yoast having FREE Sitemap generators that do the same thing - fact or fiction, you decide, see Attracta vs Competition.pdf

Well, we cannot decide anything as this package will be enabled by default. Sysadmins who don't read these forums will be unaware of this, thus, making impossible to them to take a decision.

Also, that PDF is just a white sheet, with no logo, no nothing. In fact, "printed" in your wife's computer. I'd rather prefer a link to any press release, or review, coming from a well known SEO news site. Please, can you?