This release provides several small fixes and one major fix for Pro users and so everyone should update as soon as possible:

Changelog:
* Small Fixes
* Fixed an issue in Pro with automatic link creation for posts

This release provides several important updates including some security fixes so all users of both Pretty Link Lite & Pro should upgrade:

Changelog:
* Security Fixes
* Fixed some issues with Pretty Link running in WordPress Multisite
* Altered the way Keyword Replacements can be disabled on individual pages in Pro
* Fixed an issue with import feature in Pro
* Fixed an issue causing “ghost” update messages in Pro
* Updated browscap file for more accurate click tracking
* Fixed an issue that interfered with Pretty Link’s option saving for some users

This release fixes a few potential security vulnerabilities …

We’ve fixed a few issues that users reported to us from release 1.5.8 and have added some link management features that have been requested by our users:

Feature Added Bulk Actions for Pretty Link Management page
Feature Added the ability to change the number of rows displayed in the Pretty Link Management page (no longer limited to 10)
Feature Added 1-click copy for pretty links in the Pretty Link management page and bookmarklet
Feature Added the ability to click on the referrer links in the pretty link hits table
Fix Fixed the permission issue when clicking on some links in the pretty link admin interface
Fix Fixed the timestamp issue in hits that some people were experiencing

This is a major new release that fixes numerous bugs and adds several new features for Lite and Pro users. Everyone should upgrade …

Feature Re-factored the add/edit link screen to be more intuitive and accurate
Feature Added the ability to add a new group from the Add / Edit Link screen
Fix Using uniqid() to generate visitor id for normal & extended tracking now in order to increase performance and avoid issues with mt_rand and pow
Fix Replaced all code dependent on curl to now use the more versatile WP_Http
Fix Altered the hits list for normal & extended tracking to use GMT time
Fix Fixed some issues with Parameter Forwarding
Fix Fixed the conflict with W3 Total Cache Object Caching that was causing pretty link options to not be saved when it was enabled
Pro Feature Added Double Redirection for any pretty link
Pro Feature Added Google Analytics support for any pretty link by integrating with the Google Analyticator, Google Analytics for WordPress and Google Analytics Plugin
Pro Feature Added Delayed Redirection for any pretty links using Javascript and Meta-Refresh Redirection
Pro Feature Added the ability to automatically create and download QR Codes pretty links
Pro Feature Added the ability to change the minimum user admin role that can access Pretty Link
Pro Fix Made some major performance enhancements to Keyword and URL Replacements
Pro Fix Fixed an issue adding Twitter accounts for some users running wordpress within a subdomain
Pro Fix Fixed an issue with select all links

This is a security release of Pretty Link Pro:

• Fixed a cross-site scripting vulnerability that could have affected a very small number of users

This release added some new functionality that could be important for many users. Also fixed some minor issues affecting some users.

• Added the option to redirect on the template_redirect hook
• Fixed an issue with the database upgrade process
• Added Javascript redirection for pro users
• Added Meta-Refresh redirection for pro users
• Fixed issue where keywords were only being replaced on the first post of the post overview page for pro users
• Fixed issue preventing the graph from appearing on the conversion reports page for pro users
• Fixed issue with automatic tweeting when a post title contains a dollar sign for pro users

Since I released Pretty Link Pro (PLP), I’ve become friends with some fantastic bloggers. Many of these PLP users are really top notch bloggers and have used Pretty Link Pro in ways that I never anticipated. One of these PLP users is Mitch “planetMitch” Aunger over at planet5d.com.

Great Content + Awesome Marketing = A Thriving Brand

PlanetMitch knows just about everything about Canon Cameras, Accessories and Photographic techniques and his site is definitely proof of this fact. He’s only been at it for 2 years and in that short time has built an impressive blog and brand that is a destination site for anyone interested in Photography. His articles have been picked up by several major news sites because his content is so timely and relevant.

How planetMitch Does It

PlanetMitch has been using Pretty Link Pro to accelerate the success of his blog and brand for a year now. Here’s what planetMitch has to say about Pretty Link Pro:

Yup, it is true, I’m a Pretty Link Pro fanatic and that’s because I know it has helped turn my blog into a hugely popular destination for photographers. If you’re a WordPress blogger, you probably know that blogging actually takes time – shocking I know! But as you spend time working on your blog, you look for tools to improve your user’s experience as well as ways to make the process of blogging easier. Pretty Link Pro is a must have tool for both.

New bloggers (and even experienced ones) don’t spend enough time working on branding themselves and their blog. Pretty Link’s Pretty Bar and URL shortening tools are phenomenal ways to let readers see your brand and share your brand with others. The more readers see your brand, the more they’ll think about coming back – isn’t this what advertisers know how to do? Well, you should be doing the same things to build your brand – and Pretty Link does just that.

I have one case where other people were sharing a page that I linked in one of my blog posts (that was created with the URL shortener and with the Pretty Bar attached) with others – and they were copying my branded link to share. My post had over 1000 hits, but thru sharing my branded URL with the Pretty Bar has been shared over 50,000 times. Imagine your brand being shared so many times with just one simple link that PLP created!

And let’s not forget the time savers. PLP’s keyword replacement tool alone saves me hours and hours - because all I have to do is to include a keyword (“training” for example) in a post and PLP automatically inserts a link to my training page – apply that to your affiliate links – type a product name and PLP inserts your affiliate link – simple. I have hundreds of keywords built up. Imagine the amount of time that saves! And that’s just one of several different time savers included.

[Pretty Link Pro] replaces several other wordpress plugins – Blair has included several features that do the same things as other plugins (re-tweet, social media bars etc) – using only one plugin saves resources and reduces plugin conflicts.

Would my blog be as popular as it is without Pretty Link Pro? Maybe – but I know that it makes my blogging life easier and I know it has helped branding my site. I darn well won’t give it up!

Here are a couple of links to planetMitch‘s blog that will showcase his use of PLP’s Tweet Count Badge and PLP’s branded pretty bar:

http://blog.planet5d.com/vvq — Just an example of some of planetMitch‘s phenomenal content and his use of PLP’s Automated Keyword Replacement (the red links in his content body)

http://blog.planet5d.com/zs5 — Many of planetMitch‘s articles get re-tweeted like crazy

http://blog.planet5d.com/5dadb — Even when planetMitch‘s external links are shared, they retain his branding — helping his site be more viral

PlanetMitch over at planet5d.com is a great example of someone who has used PLP to streamline his blog and to create a thriving brand — I think anyone trying to build a brand could take a lesson or two from him.