Building a Successful Website (with Joomla 1.5)

The Usual Bit Here I pretend to know what I am talking about…. www.joomlashack.com www.compassdesigns.net www.joomlabook.com

Here I pretend to know what I am talking about….

www.joomlashack.com

www.compassdesigns.net

www.joomlabook.com

So you want a website? Why?

Measuring Success Much more than just traffic

Much more than just traffic

Why Use Joomla?

Joomla is….. Easy Powerful Cheap (not free!) The 80/20 rule

Easy

Powerful

Cheap (not free!)

The 80/20 rule

What is Joomla? Its a Content Management System CMS and the Single Web Designer (A List Apart - 2002) Designers used to make and maintain content, now they need to make and train.

Its a Content Management System

CMS and the Single Web Designer (A List Apart - 2002)

Designers used to make and maintain content, now they need to make and train.

Elements of a Joomla site

The Template

Step 1 - Planning

There is no spoon, er, I mean page

Where’s the Beef, er, I mean articles?

Sections and Categories

Content Organization Uncategorized Small sites Global Section, multiple categories Medium sites Multiple Sections and categories Big sites

Uncategorized Small sites

Global Section, multiple categories Medium sites

Multiple Sections and categories Big sites

Never Just One Answer

Step 2 - Navigation More than just paths through the site Menu Items control PAGE LAYOUT

More than just paths through the site

Menu Items control PAGE LAYOUT

Menus

Layouts Three default layouts Article Blog List/table Template overrides! Using the description and modules

Three default layouts

Article

Blog

List/table

Template overrides!

Using the description and modules

Tips and Tricks A better frontpage Tokyo ~ $2 a square foot/month CNNMoney ~ $8,000 a square foot/month The Hidden Menu Landing page links SEF

A better frontpage

Tokyo ~ $2 a square foot/month

CNNMoney ~ $8,000 a square foot/month

The Hidden Menu

Landing page links

SEF

Step 3 - Templates and Design Important for credibility Page design Image margins Stock Images (istockphoto.com)

Important for credibility

Page design

Image margins

Stock Images (istockphoto.com)

Credibility Design Look — 46.1% Overall Information Design/Structure — 28.5% Overall Information Focus — 25.1% Overall Company Motive — 15.5% Overall Information Usefulness — 14.8% Overall Information Accuracy — 14.3% Overall Name Recognition— 14.1% Overall Advertising — 13.8% Overall Information Bias — 11.6% Overall Writing Tone — 9.0% Overall

Design Look — 46.1% Overall

Information Design/Structure — 28.5% Overall

Information Focus — 25.1% Overall

Company Motive — 15.5% Overall

Information Usefulness — 14.8% Overall

Information Accuracy — 14.3% Overall

Name Recognition— 14.1% Overall

Advertising — 13.8% Overall

Information Bias — 11.6% Overall

Writing Tone — 9.0% Overall

Step 4 - Marketing

Marketing 101 Ways to get traffic Organic (SEO) Referral (links) Pay per click (Google adwords) Email (return visitors)

Ways to get traffic

Organic (SEO)

Referral (links)

Pay per click (Google adwords)

Email (return visitors)

How to Build a Successful Site Understand the goal Planning (understand Joomla content) Navigation (usability) Design (credibility) Marketing

Understand the goal

Planning (understand Joomla content)

Navigation (usability)

Design (credibility)

Marketing

Questions? Stump the chump

Stump the chump