Tuesday 29 April 2014

New API Improvements

Better Implementation

We have made some recent improvements to our API by refactoring some of the classes, adding a JSON output writer to complement the XML writer this allows us to use either format for API output by changing the URL suffix for the request.
JSON Output
The  old map XML code has been ported over to a new GeoApi module for handling all our map data requests such as the "other homes in this area" feature or local amenities map markers which is used to display local places of interest.


Icon image with XML in the middle written in orange
XML Output
Along with these changes we have created some new DTDs which go with our XML API output, there have been multiple bug fixes along with removal of some unneeded code which has been deprecated.

Our hope is that by implementing these changes we can provide data to the public via a uniform simple to use API. This will be ideal for when we release our new testimonials feature which we plan on opening up for public use.

Saturday 19 April 2014

Care Supplier Promotion

New Homepage Section

Our supplier directory is slowly being populated so we decided to run a promotion on our homepage by adding a new section to the bottom.

We thought it would be beneficial to both us and the supplier to promote the work they have done by adding a quality listing to our system.

You can view Andy's Gramophone Classics supplier listing and we hope to drive contacts to his page. They also have a Facebook page here which shows some pictures of his old records and such so, check it out!!


Wednesday 16 April 2014

New Feature Release: Dedicated Global Feedback System

Simple Site Feedback

For our latest release we have implemented a basic feedback system on a global level so it is accessible site wide rather than using our contact form. We feel that having the link to the top left of the screen will encourage our visitors to help improve our website by leaving some feedback.

We hope to integrate this feedback system tightly with our systems over time in an attempt to improve these systems using genuine user feedback and other data we collect. We are also coupling it with our error reporting system to help improve our website even more.

Global Feedback Link

Feedback Page

Monday 14 April 2014

New Alternate Domain Name for The Care Homes Directory

Going biz

The Care Homes Directory can now be accessed using a new domain name which is www.carehomes.biz this should redirect to our main domain using a 301 redirect using the Apache rewrite module.

Friday 11 April 2014

New Feature Release: Recently Updated Care and Nursing Homes

Homepage Listings

We felt that it would be good for our visitors and home owners if we rewarded owners who keep their listing up to date by placing their listing on our homepage. We though that the last five updates should be shown at the bottom of the content area.

You can update a homes listing information by clicking the edit homes details link which is located under the homes contact information this has the advantage that the homes information will pre-populate the form.

New homes can be added by completing this form and once the information has been reviewed by one of our administrators will be made public and displayed to our visitors.

We have found our new and update home feature has been very successful and we have only had two junk submissions so far which is quite a good rate, our admin tools make it simple to remove these entries and they are very obvious to the eye.

Soon we will be release a new service for allowing homes or care related companies to post job vacancies on our site and we plan on tying it in with our top nurses product we also have some good ideas for features.




Saturday 5 April 2014

New Feature Release: Similar News Articles

Read Similar Articles

Our latest feature release has added support for displaying similar news articles allowing our visitors to read any article which matches the keywords for the current news article. All our articles have a set of tags allowing us to search the database for matches to those keywords.

We hope this will help promote our other articles better  and allow visitors to keep current with news specific to a certain subject.


News page screen shot highlighting the similar stories list
Similar News Articles