Customize

Find on this page suggestions for: customizing design, content, plugins & features, site administration.

VideoWhisper provides consulting services for technical solution, so you can run own website on own domain with own content, users, terms.

• This proposed technical solution is compatible with the popular WordPress framework, platform of choice for over 1/4 of top internet sites. This means you can find a great number of high quality themes, plugins, tutorials, documentation sources and service providers for your new project. For more details, see why using WordPress.
  If you already have a WordPress site, you can also easily Export/Import content from Tools menu in backend, apply same design (theme) and features (plugins).
• Theme
   All WP themes that meet WP coding standards (free or paid) should work fine.
  • Theme Requirements:
    – A theme with wide content area (preferably full page width) should be used so web application interface can use most of the space.
    – Theme should not disable WP hooks like actions and filters. Plugin hooks into WP registration to implement a role selector. A theme that manages registration in a different custom page should be compatible with WP hooks to show the role option, unless you manage roles in a different way.
    – Theme should not disable or replace with older versions standard WP JS libraries like jQuery, as these are used for interface elements. This can be fixed with a plugin that forces latest version (which may affect the older theme).
    – Theme CSS should not conflict with Semantic UI elements by defining generic classes. In example some themes make buttons wider or taller by defining generic “button” classes that also apply to “ui button”. Themes can be fixed by adding specific identifiers like “theme button” as Semantic UI does with “ui button” to not affect other elements.
    Another fix is to rewrite certain Semantic UI styling like “.ui.button” with “important!”.
    CSS conflicts can be tested by reviewing solution pages like Performer Dashboard and web app with theme.
    – If theme implements specific custom post types (video, webcam, download), these can conflict with the same custom post types implemented by the proposed solution plugins. The custom post type slug (name) can be changed in the plugins and will result in 2 different content types.
    In example, when a video theme implements video posts (that embed videos), that content will not be compatible with the video posts implemented by VideoShareVOD that involve specific meta information, video files, conversions. VideoShareVOD post type can be configured to something like clip/film if theme video posts can’t be disabled.
  • Theme Suggestions:
    – Sample free themes:
    + New projects are usually deployed with the free Twenty Seventeen theme, with all sidebar Widgets removed from Appearance > Widgets sections (so it shows wide content without sidebar). You can widen layout with this custom CSS code: .site-inner {max-width: 1600px;} . See it on Videochat-Scripts Webcams Demo .
    + BuddyX is a great free theme for social sites using BuddyPress or BuddyBoss. See it on FansPaysite Demo .
    + Another free theme is Enlighten for e-Learning LMS sites, that can be used with Sidebar Layout > No Sidebar when editing pages.
    – Sample premium themes:
    Browse professional WordPress themes to skin site, change design. Check demos to make sure it supports wide content area templates.
    In example: WP Script Tube themes, Sweet Date 4U, AeroLand, VideoPro, Elision, Impreza, Jupiter – test latest version with plugin during trial to make sure it works as you expect.
  • Most premium themes should work fine, these are just some we or our clients deployed in some projects and showed all solution features working fine. Latest versions may be different.
  • Custom or Premium Theme: If you have a budget for web design, we recommend starting from a premium theme and hiring a designer to create a child theme and customize it for your project requirements. A premium theme includes more features (editors, widgets, seo tools, complex interface elements) beyond a simple design. A custom design can be applied in a child theme, keeping the advanced tools and interface from the premium theme.
  • Theme Setup:
    – Tutorial for installing themes: Upload and Setup Custom WP Theme
    Sometimes themes have different menu placements and you need to configure checkboxes and enable menu from Appearance > Menus.
    – Demo theme content:
    Do not activate options that reset database as that would remove solution pages and menus and you will need to setup sections for accessing features again.
    Avoid installing sample theme content on main installation (pages with “lorem ipsum” texts and other fake content showcasing various theme pages). You can setup a new dev installation for tests or check theme demos, without cluttering your setup with useless content.
• Logo: You can start from a professional logo template. Logos can be configured from plugin settings, Integration tab and by default load from images in own installation.
• Design/Interface adjustments:
  After selecting a theme to start from, that can be customised by a web designer experienced with WP themes. A WP designer can also create a custom theme (that meets WP coding requirements and standards).
  Solution specific CSS (like for listings and user dashboards) can be edited in plugin backend.
  Content on videochat page is generated by shortcodes from multiple plugins: videochat, profile fields, videos, pictures, ratings. There are multiple settings and CSS. Shortcodes are documented in plugin backend and can be added to pages, posts, templates.
  Multiple videochat interfaces are available: Flash (advanced), HTML5 (simple), HTML5 App . Can be customized separately.
  Flash videochat skin graphics can be edited by replacing interface images in a templates folder as described in plugin backend. Videochat application layout and functional parameters can be edited in plugin settings.
  HTML5 interface elements can customized by extra CSS. A lot of core styling is done with Semantic UI and custom CSS can be used to alter elements.
  In example Semantic UI Button font can be edited with code like “.ui.button{font-family: verdana}” .
• Content Types:
  From plugin settings, role names can be adjusted as necessary (for Customize, Performer, Client tabs) and also other settings like group mode labels (Group Modes). Webcam listing label (slug) can be configured from plugin settings, Integration tab and categories can also be edited (site wide categories are used) from Posts, Categories.
  Examples:
  – Room Label: webcam, room, office, venue, meeting, conference, business, company, shop, agency Default: webcam
  – Performer Label: performer, expert, host, professional, teacher, trainer, tutor, provider, model, author, expert, artist, medium, moderator, owner Default: performer
  – Client Label: client, customer, student, member, subscriber, participant, user Default: client
  – Chat Modes (multiple): Free Broadcast, Group Paid Show, Video Conference, Video Collaboration, Audio Only, Calls Only (specific interaction configuration for each)
• Site Contents: Site pages, menus, content categories and theme widget sections can be edited from WordPress CMS backend.
  – If you have content from a previous WordPress site, you can Export it from backend Tools menu and import it to new setup.
  – Most sites require Privacy Policy, Terms of Use pages. Adult sites in US jurisdiction also require a “18 U.S.C. 2257” compliance and contact info page.
  Other pages for policies may be required depending on site jurisdiction (business location, provider/client location). Content of these pages depends on each site, business: you may find some samples/templates to start from online.
  You can add pages from Pages > Add New in WP admin area and then add these to your menus from Appearance > Menus.
  – Depending on site membership, users should have menus to access registration, login and site features. Although this solution will show Login/Registration buttons for features that require that, users should also have these options in menu or theme, for clarity. Plugins that show special menus to site visitors and logged in users can be used.
  – Widgets can be edited from Appearance > Widgets. For this solution, removing all widgets from sidebar and disabling sidebar is recommended, to have more room for content and features.
• Translation: Plugin is localized, meaning a .pot file that contains mosts texts is included. Multiple translations for plugin are available as .po/.mo files and you can also edit/adjust or add new languages using a translation plugin. There’s a special section in plugin settings for backend, with instructions for translating plugin to other languages.
  Text chat supports multi-language (users can pick their preferred language by flag) and DeepL API integration (with free or paid key) for users to translate other messages to their language.
• Settings: Available plugin settings and options are documented in plugin backend and organized in multiple sections:
  Streaming Server, WebRTC FFMPEG / HLS, HTML5 Videochat, Pages, Customize, Integration, Appearance, Listings, Chat Modes, Random Chat, Collaboration, Performer, Account Records, Features, Profile, Studio, Client, GeoFencing, Billing Wallets, Pay Per Minute, Tips / Gifts, Paid Messages, Videos Pictures Reviews, Playlists, Schedulerm BuddyPress, Translate, Import Settings, Reset, Requirements & Troubleshooting, Support, Setup.
  Additionally there’s feature pages for Approve Users, Session Logs, Stream Sessions, RTMP Admin, Room Posts, Documentation.

• Billing: A payment website is required to process cards, collect payments from clients and send to your account. Registering with a supported billing site needs to be done by site / business owner with own details (to receive the payments). After registration/approval, payment details need to be configured in site configuration for the specific plugin (WooCommerce and MyCred) and gateway as described in the Billing backend section for this plugin.
• Backend Documentation: Backend includes a setup tutorial with setup overview links / extra documentation links / shortcodes and parameteters, a setup wizard that detects configuration steps and guides trough setup, specific documentation in plugin settings tab and backend feature pages. Also see setup tutorial .
• Plugins: Add and customize site features with WordPress plugins (+50k available).
  – Recommended Plugins:
  • WordFence: site firewall and scanner (configure to protect by limiting failed login attempts, bot attacks / flood request, scan for malware or vulnerabilities).
  • To prevent spam registrations use a captcha plugin (get a key from google) and user verification plugin to automatically verify users by email confirmation. Also setup a special email account and a SMTP plugin to make sure users receive verification emails.
  • A SMTP mailing plugin like Easy WP SMTP and setup a real email account from your hosting backend (setup an email from CPanel) or external (Gmail or other provider), to send emails using SSL and all verifications. This should reduce incidents where users don’t find registration emails due to spam filter triggering. Also instruct users to check their spam folders if they don’t find registration emails.
  • For sites with adult content, an age verification / confirmation plugin should be deployed. Such sites should also include a page with details for 18 U.S.C. 2257 compliance. Also, read more about Adult Videochat Business setups.
  • Updraft Plus – Automated WordPress backup plugin. Free for local storage. For production sites external backups are recommended (premium). Great to have restore points in case of failed tweaks, hacks, data loss.
  • HTTPS redirection plugin like Really Simple SSL , if you have a SSL certificate and HTTPS configured (as on VideoWhisper plans). HTTPS is required to broadcast webcam, in latest browsers like Chrome. If you also use HTTP urls (not recommended), disable “Auto replace mixed content” option to avoid breaking external HTTP urls (like HLS).
  • WP Super Cache: cache (configured to not cache for known users or GET parameters, great for protecting against bot or crawlers eating up site resources)
    Do NOT enable compression, minimization or other complex processing on dynamic sites as provided by these solutions, because that causes unnecessary overhead, including performance degradation, high resource usage. Anyway, transfer size gains of optimizing text data are tiny and media is already compressed with appropriate codecs.
    Complex caching features and services often have a negative impact on performance and reliability for this type of dynamic features. Less is more.

  – Turnkey Features Plugins:

  • WooCommerce : ecommerce platform
  • BuddyPress : community (member profiles, activity streams, user groups, messaging)
  • Sensei LMS : learning management system
  • bbPress: clean discussion forums

  – Plugin Suggestion: install only plugins that are really necessary for project because adding many results in higher setup complexity (hassle with conflicting settings or hooks) and high resource usage per request (lower user capacity and speed for website). Often when adding plugins, less is more.
  Plugins should be activated and configured, one by one.
  – If site gets broken by a plugin you add, you can disabled last recently added plugins with WP Toolkit in cPanel on VideoWhisper hosting. On other hosts remove by ftp from /public_html/wp-content/plugins or contact technical support.
  Plugins should be updated often to latest versions. Using older versions is high risk due to public exploits or bugs from older versions.

• Features: After ordering solution and setting up existing editions, VideoWhisper.com developers can customize and add features for additional fees depending on exact requirements. This mainly refers to VideoWhisper plugins and 3rd party items with good development documentation / samples. For 3rd party items, integration and customization is limited by implemented hooks and depends mainly on existing code, documentation or their developers that can expand that.
  Software consists of videochat app that can be customised with parameters / by replacing interface skin images and the integration code (plugin) including php, js, css, settings that can be changed as needed. New options, features or changes in the app can be implemented by VideoWhisper developers.
  For 3rd party items, VideoWhisper developers can only evaluate integration / customizations depending on documentation and programming hooks/samples available for those items.
• For VideoWhisper plugins, our developers can add additional options, settings to ease up customizations, for additional fees depending on exact customization requirements.
  Customizing 3rd party plugins or themes can be done mainly by their providers.
• Plugin code, updates, forks: All VideoWhisper plugins and updates are available for downloading for free with source php code from WordPress plugin repository.  We don’t recommend editing current plugins and creating forks because you will lose ability for future automated updates. Updates are important with this cutting edge technology as browsers change and features may break. Updates may also include important optimizations, fixes, security patches that you will need to manually find and update in your new code if you work with a custom version.We recommend building/changing features using WordPress hooks, by creating a new plugin or child for your theme, per WordPress coding standards.
  Mobile apps or desktop applications to interact with the website platform can be integrated using WordPress REST API.
  Tell us the features you want to add and where we can suggest options including addition of new insertion points like new actions, filters, REST API fields or end points, recommend freelancing sites, developers, other plugins.
  Plugins include full php source and applications can be embedded by other plugins in similar way. Other applications (including mobile/desktop) can connect to same platform.
  On request, VideoWhisper developers can evaluate additional hooks or application features/options for extra functionality that will be implemented by 3rd party plugins or code.
• Mobile apps:The platforms we provide come with HTML5 responsive web based interfaces that should work in mobile browsers that support these capabilities. These platforms and streaming protocols can also be used in combination with mobile apps (generic or custom). You can also test generic mobile broadcasting RTMP apps including Wowza GoCoder for iOS / Android, Telestream Wirecast Go, Teradek Live Air Solo, Broadcast Me, nanoStream Live, Larix Broadcaster. Streaming RTMP over TCP provides better reliability and quality compared to WebRTC over UDP, on wireless and mobile connections.
  After deploying base platform, our developers or other developers can build custom iOS or Android apps with registration/login and features similar to web based apps, including chat and other interactions. For starting to develop mobile apps, some requirements are involved:
  -the functional streaming platform to work with, needs to be deployed
  -accounts on iOS/Android app stores to be able to host apps (involves fees and approval from app stores)
  -site/platform, business, terms of use and policies need to be setup in detail for review by app stores
  -platform, business and content must meet app store terms and conditions, including content restrictions: some type of apps are not allowed
  -business registration with app stores for paid apps / services in needed
  -revenue sharing (app stores take 30%) and app store payment restrictions
  -specs of features that need to be implemented in mobile apps (usually similar to web app + registration/login)
  To avoid revenue sharing with app stores (30%, in addition to revenue sharing with performers) we recommend focusing on web based interface or building apps for broadcasters / clients without paid functionality (pay per minute, gifts, paid access or membership). For paid features clients should be directed to site.
  The web based apps work with calls to web platform and mobile apps can also be implemented to use same calls.
  Mobile apps can also be implemented by 3rd party developers as plugins include full php source for the site platform.  Our developers can provide clarifications for streaming part or develop extra API calls for new features, in addition to existing web app functionality.
  In first stage we recommend starting with turnkey the web based platforms that you fully own and control. Then after customization and setup of business details, mobile apps can be developed and submitted to app stores.
• Site Administration, Fine Tuning, Webmaster Services:
  Although VideoWhisper provides turnkey packages with software, hosting, installation, you are the owner and manager of the new site/platform & business. That involves some time, patience and technical abilities or staff to run and manage own WordPress site.
  – VideoWhisper developers can evaluate code for implementing new features and options in VideoWhisper plugins. For detail work specific to your project, design, administration or customizing other plugins, you can find other providers specialized in those tasks.
  – When using other plugins or themes, these are supported mainly by their providers, especially for paid items. Running and managing WordPress can be done based on WordPress Documentation .
  – Site administration may include review of registrations if approval is required, fine tune settings and configuration for own business (configuring billing plugin settings to match your billing account, membership roles, prices, toggle features), setup specific site pages like terms for your project requirements, install and configure 3rd party plugins you may want to use in your project.
  Finding a Webmaster / Consultant / Freelancer:
  If you don’t have the extra time or experience to run your new online business, you can look for a freelancer WP consultant or agency. You can post a project on a site like Freelancer.com or Upwork.com, with your project requirements or inquire local webmaster/design service providers.
  Consultant needs to have previous experience with self hosted WordPress sites, setting up pages and menus, configuring plugins and themes and HTML/CSS skills if you need adjustments on theme and feature styling and experience with tasks you need done.
  When posting a project on Freelancer.com or similar marketplace you can mention:
  – that your site is on WordPress and uses VideoWhisper turnkey site plugins for live streaming and videochat, WooCommerce and other plugins tasks may refer to
  – what you need done (configuration, administration, tweaks, design adjustments, a new WP child theme for an existing theme or completely custom new WP theme, SEO, performer verification & approval, custom development of new plugins or theme features),
  – preferred communication language and methods, maybe freelancer location/timezone to fit yours
• Site Optimization and Content for Traffic, Promotion:
  A new site / domain does not have any traffic until promoted (listed on other sites so people find the new domain / site link).Traffic can come from:
  – social media (new site should have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn accounts or business pages that can also be promoted with paid ads or partner influencers)
  – search engines (content pages that target specific keywords, SEO with back links from directories, other sites, forums where site is added or paid ads with Google ads)
  – other sites (link exchanges, paid links, listings) that also improve search engine rankings
  Easiest way to promote this type of site is from performer/provider social media accounts and other influencers / partners. Popular providers have many clients and followers.
  As platform uses WordPress, it’s easy to add specific content/articles/news in posts that can be shared on social media.
  Also platforms supports adding videos and pictures that can be shared on social media. Multimedia content (videos, pictures) has greater visibility and engagement.
  For SEO services, assistance with advertising site and campaigns, you could post a project with your requirements on Freelancer.com or similar site and discuss in detail with freelancers. You can also try promotional gigs from sites like Fiverr.com to get some starting backlinks, social media followers.VideoWhisper provides the website software and compatible hosting with live streaming services to implement features similar to live demos.
  Other aspects of the new site (marketing, management, logo and identity design, registration with billing sites and social media platforms) are beyond the scope of these services and depend on each business.
  These can be done by site owner, business staff or other specialized providers, depending on startup strategy, target market, local/niche opportunities.

Also See

Installation and Configuration

 

Tour: Review Solution