Project: pingPressFM
May 11, 2008 @ 8:17 pm


Description | Recommended Ping.fm Settings | Troubleshooting | Installation | Bugs | Annoyances | Frequently Asked Questions | Downloads

Ping.fm is a cool service. For one, I now have accounts in more social networks (sNetworks) than I'd ever care to have had in the past. But more importantly, and for two, Ping.fm lets me update those sNetworks without having to visit each one and do it by hand.

This plugin allows you to do that via your WordPress blog. It does three updates in total. One status update (facebook, myspace), one micro blog update (twitter, jaiku), and one blog update (blogger, livejournal). You can easily configure each of the three ping types in your WordPress settings. Examples of ping formats below.

For status: (truncated at 200 characters)
New Blog Post: $title — $post $link

For micro-blog: (truncated at 140 characters)
New Blog Post: $title — $post $link

For blog:
New Blog Post: (My Original Post: $link)\n$full_post
(the $title is sent separately full form)

Recommended Settings for the Particular sNetworks
Bebo: Blogging
Blogger: Blogging
Facebook: use plugin, allow status updates
Hi5: Blogging
Jaiku: Status updates
LinkedIn: Status updates (as if you had a choice)
LiveJournal: Blogging
MySpace: Blogging, Micro-blogging (they actually handle both well)
Pownce: Status updates
Tumblr: Blogging (my new favorite)
Twitter: Micro-blogging
WordPress: Nothing, because you no longer have to wait!

Troubleshooting
Unfortunately, I won't be a lot of help. Make sure your server is actually reaching the Ping.fm, and make sure you typed in your keys correctly. AND make sure your key wasn't revoked. Other than that, the plugins works for more people than it doesn't. So when it doesn't, the problem is generally with your wordpress installation, your server, or your keys. I know its mean to go you you you, but the truth is the truth.

Installation
1. Download latest version (below).
2. Unzip folder to your plugins directory.
3. Activate plugin on the admin plugins page.
4. Set up your pingPressFM settings.
5. Enjoy the free time.

Known Bugs (ie, Temporary Failures)
Can't reping blog posts, or ping posts made prior to plugin installation.

Annoyances
If you do something like, Blog Post: $title: $post $link and your $title is longer than any truncate length (140, 200, etc), the $post will not show up at all. The $title will be truncated with '…', but the ': ' will still be there. I probably won't try to fix that either, because if you have a 140 character blog title, chances are: people hate you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Hey, I tried to apply for a Developer API key and they weren't giving me one!
A: They changed the way in which API keys are handled. Just upgrade to version 2.1.3 and all you need is your own personal API key. No worries.

Q: Why don't you allow us to control individual services through WordPress?
A: Because if you want to micro-manage your Ping.fm account… use the Ping.fm site. The idea of a WordPress integration with Ping.fm is to spread your blog posts through Ping.fm, not to specifically post to your Twitter via Ping.fm via your WordPress Blog.

Q: If we bitch enough, will you add that?

A: Yes, but it would have to be a lot of bitching.

Q: How do I get my Ping.fm API key?
A: This is a relatively simple process:

  1. Go here, your USER key is ready for copy/paste.
  2. Paste both the above keys into your pingPressFM settings page.
  3. Update your settings.
  4. Done!

Downloads

Download from WordPress Repository. Help out! Vote 5!
Mind the version number there, make sure it matches the top of the following list.

pingPressFM v2.1.4
pingPressFM v2.1.3
pingPressFM v2.1.2 (removed Dev. API Key, no longer required)
pingPressFM v2.1.1
pingPressFM v2.1.0 (found a bug, fixing)
pingPressFM v2.0.0
pingPressFM v1.0.0 (didn't use the API)

45 Comments »

  1. Nice plugin idea, I will give it a whirl a bit later today, thanks man!

    Comment by Francois — June 6, 2008 @ 2:32 pm

  2. hi. Thanks for plugin

    perfect.

    Regards

    Comment by baron — June 12, 2008 @ 11:01 pm

  3. OK, I have tried all I could…

    Anytime I do update of the options - I get this error message "Your options have been updated, but you still haven't updated your API key. How do I get my key?".

    using latest 2.1.3 plugin. WordPress 2.5.1. API key was pasted into notepad and then into the appropriate field. I tried to clean the db, remove plugin and reinstall it - same result.

    I don't know yet if plugin will simply work even though I get that message or not as I haven't tested … but that message is baffling and makes me wonder. Any ideas?

    Comment by Alex — June 14, 2008 @ 3:05 am

  4. I too am getting the error "Your options have been updated, but you still haven't updated your API key. How do I get my key?". I have uninstalled the plugin, reinstalled, making sure it was 2.1.3 and it still tells me the key cannot be verified. The only key I have access to is the Application Key and I do not have a Developers API Key. I am baffled by this.

    Comment by Rob White — June 14, 2008 @ 3:27 pm

  5. Great plugin!
    Primarily, I'd like to be able to just make it post a post in my myspace blog and leave everything else untouched. But that can't be done right?
    Consider me bitching then ;)

    Comment by Mads — June 14, 2008 @ 8:26 pm

  6. I am currently apartment hunting, but when I return home, I will look into this. The iPhone doesn't make for a good dev tool… I'll email you two if you left real emails.

    As for the question about myspace, yes you can, just uncheck the status and micro-blog options.

    Comment by Sold Out Activist — June 14, 2008 @ 8:46 pm

  7. Thanks, I see that now. I'm having the same problem as the two others.

    Comment by Mads — June 14, 2008 @ 10:26 pm

  8. I'm having the same problem as the the three above. If you get this fixed, I'd appreciate that e-mail too!

    Comment by Llenar — June 16, 2008 @ 4:43 am

  9. Hi, unfortunately I am getting the same problem, would be great if you could email me too as I can't wait to have this working. Thanks

    Comment by Adam — June 16, 2008 @ 9:48 am

  10. Same problem, but went ahead and tried to post anyway. Nothing seems to have happened. Hrm.

    Comment by Ayrkain — June 16, 2008 @ 3:09 pm

  11. [...] pingPressFM plugin by Sold Out Activist. This plugin is an actual integration of the API for ping.fm (remember, I promised to help you save time?) and your WordPress blog posting. It failed to work on my blog but concept is brilliant and I recommend you try it at least, for me API activation failed, each time unfortunately! Make sure to follow instructions on author's page as he provides recommended settings for ping.fm because this plugin will actually perform ALL the actions on your behalf each time you post new article on your blog - SUPER COOL! [...]

    Pingback by Be Part Of WordPress Spotter Social Influence Experiment | WordPress Web 2.0 Spot-Er — June 16, 2008 @ 4:27 pm

  12. Well, just uploaded the 2.1.4 version. Now I get error "Your key could not be verified. Check your key, or the troubleshooting guide."

    I have verified that my key is correct. Do we need to clean out the db option table and try to re-install the plugin? or does overwriting files (as usually) should work?

    Comment by Alex — June 16, 2008 @ 4:35 pm

  13. [...] really like the idea of this PingPress.FM plugin for Wordpress, but it's not embedding the link to the original post correctly. Not sure why [...]

    Pingback by Tikkun Kelim » Blog Archive » Cool, but still limited for the moment — June 16, 2008 @ 10:17 pm

  14. Key is verifying now. thanks.

    Comment by Llenar — June 17, 2008 @ 4:37 am

  15. I am so, so close to having this work. I've just blogged and the blog shows up perfectly where it's supposed to - AND IT ALSO SHOWS UP AS A STATUS TOO. I think it has something to do with the triggers or the formats, where do I put what???

    Comment by Llenar — June 17, 2008 @ 5:11 am

  16. I'm gonna' go vote 5 for ya' now 'cause it's workin'. Thanks for ALL your help and suggestions.

    I unchecked status and microblog in pingPressFM (Wordpress Settings). I left the ping.fm multiple settings for each network.

    I typed my Wordpress blog as usual and VIOLA' it worked perfectly! All my networks were updated as they were supposed to be.

    I also sent statuses(@s) via my @ping.fm address and that worked fine too.

    Later today I'll see what happens when I use the @ping.fm address with @b to send a blog.

    pingPressFM is A GREAT PLUGIN!!!

    Comment by Llenar — June 17, 2008 @ 6:50 am

  17. I'm getting the "Your key could not be verified. Check your key, or the troubleshooting guide." error. I verified my key, and it's correct. What's the problem? Thanks, great plugin! (If only i could get it to work!)

    Comment by infiniteproject — June 17, 2008 @ 2:05 pm

  18. Nice plugin! Is there any way to exclude posts from custom categories? e.g: like I want updates to ping.fm for categorie 3, but not for categorie 7…

    Cheers,
    André

    Comment by André — June 20, 2008 @ 11:34 am

  19. I'm also getting the "Your key could not be verified. Check your key, or the troubleshooting guide." error. I've just upgraded to 2.1.4.

    Please advise.

    Comment by Scott Roemermann — June 21, 2008 @ 10:23 pm

  20. Is there any hope for support for scheduled posts?

    Currently, it looks like the only way to get new posts to ping Ping.fm is to post them immediately. Not sure if this would even be possible since WordPress basically just future posts the date and then only displays what is in the current date range.

    Comment by Travis Vocino — June 24, 2008 @ 8:25 pm

  21. Yes, in the next major version will allow for back- or re-posting of old posts as well as checking for posts that have been slated to be posted in the future.

    And to Andre, it will have category-based filtering.

    Comment by Sold Out Activist — June 25, 2008 @ 1:09 am

  22. That's cool. I don't wanna be pushy (That's of course a bloody lie… ), but do you have any estimate, deadline for the plugin-update? :)

    Cheers!
    André

    Comment by André — June 29, 2008 @ 6:12 pm

  23. Looks like pingPressFM doesn't handle Scheduled Wordpress posts - Could you make it send a Ping out when those scheduled posts get posted, too?

    Comment by Josh — June 29, 2008 @ 9:50 pm

  24. [...] Sold Out Activist » Project: pingPressFM After the shock of seeing my del.icio.us post sent to all my pnig.fm sites one can safely say this plugin works as intended. (tags: wordpress plugin ping.fm) [...]

    Pingback by links for 2008-07-09 | the markfr ditherings — July 9, 2008 @ 11:32 am

  25. [...] is a cool service that allows you to essentially ping several different services at the same time. PingPressFM is a plugin that allows you to send a ping to Ping.Fm when you make a new blog post on your [...]

    Pingback by Easily Update Social Networks with the PingPressFM WordPress Plugin — July 10, 2008 @ 9:01 am

  26. Awesome. I can't wait to try it.

    Comment by mixedbrains — July 11, 2008 @ 2:49 am

  27. [...] is a cool service that allows you to essentially ping several different services at the same time. PingPressFM is a plugin that allows you to send a ping to Ping.Fm when you make a new blog post on your [...]

    Pingback by Easily Update Social Networks with the PingPressFM WordPress Plugin | Hack that Blog — July 11, 2008 @ 12:05 pm

  28. One needs a BETA CODE to join PingFM. Do you have any available?

    Let me know, would love to try this service (and your wordpress plugin) out.

    Thx!

    Comment by Missy — July 14, 2008 @ 3:54 am

  29. Missy, try "pingbewithyou"

    Comment by Mads — July 14, 2008 @ 9:35 am

  30. Hi,

    Any idea when the new release with the scheduled post feature will be a fact?
    I'm eagerly waiting for it.

    Eddy

    Comment by Eddy De Clercq — July 14, 2008 @ 9:57 am

  31. [...] along the way that required turning off that plugin. I looked for another solution and came up with pingPressFM which makes use of the ping.fm API. At first I was concerned that this would update facebook and [...]

    Pingback by Cross posting redux: pingPressFM | digiculturetravelexpatasia — July 16, 2008 @ 1:32 pm

  32. Seems they changed API Key usage again? No longer workin for me.

    Cheers,
    André

    Comment by André — July 22, 2008 @ 6:40 am

  33. ne1 else having problems - or is it just me?

    Comment by André — July 22, 2008 @ 8:24 pm

  34. Onya bro!

    Your plugin worked like a dream 1st go! Looking forward to the scheduled posts enhancement.

    All I have to do now is find someone to twitter with!!

    If you could give us an estimate for the next release that would be much appreciated.

    R

    Comment by Robert@PNG — July 24, 2008 @ 2:57 pm

  35. best plugin ever. 1 request. I need it to only post from 1 category. How can i add that query?

    Comment by beachbum — July 25, 2008 @ 6:01 pm

  36. Keep up good work. But i still need to read it twice before i give my opinion.

    Comment by marketing — July 25, 2008 @ 8:59 pm

  37. Not working for me either atm. Posts to the blog, but doesn't go back to the write screen - just hangs on a blank white screen. Doesn't show up on any of the ping.fm blogs.

    Comment by Ayrkain — July 27, 2008 @ 6:22 pm

  38. [...] myspace), one micro blog update (twitter, jaiku), and one blog update (blogger, livejournal). Sold Out Activist » Project: pingPressFM Twitter Updater WordPress [...]

    Pingback by pingPressFM WordPress plugin — July 27, 2008 @ 7:54 pm

  39. I get this whenever I activate the plugin (after I had input my settings)
    Fatal error: Call to undefined function curl_init() in /home/tohuw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/pingPressFM2.php on line 493

    Comment by RAdams — July 28, 2008 @ 6:22 pm

  40. [...] another note, there is a WordPress plugin called PingPress.fm by Sold Out Activist.  This plugin will allow you to automatically send your blog post to all the [...]

    Pingback by Viral Web Publishing with Ping.fm — August 4, 2008 @ 12:44 am

  41. [...] Pingpress.fm plugin can be downloaded [...]

    Pingback by Intro to Ping.fm(In case you don’t know) and Wordpress Plugin. — August 7, 2008 @ 7:42 pm

  42. [...] Pingpress.fm plugin can be downloaded [...]

    Pingback by New Jersey — August 7, 2008 @ 9:49 pm

  43. Hello, I love the plugin, I am seeing one small issue with it though. What I am seeing is that it does not ping posts that are scheduled when they get posted. Any thoughts?

    Comment by Eaglehawk — August 17, 2008 @ 4:35 pm

  44. [...] pingPressFM - Will communicate with ping.fm to update the social networks that it works with. [...]

    Pingback by 30+ Plugins to Make Your WordPress Blog More Social — August 20, 2008 @ 7:32 pm

  45. [...] pingPressFM - Will communicate with ping.fm to update the social networks that it works with. [...]

    Pingback by hasselquist.net » Blog Archive » 30+ Plugins to Make Your WordPress Blog More Social — August 21, 2008 @ 3:00 am

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