barrie north: building better sites in joomla 1.5
DESCRIPTION
Author Barrie North's presentation on how to build better websites, using Joomla 1.5.TRANSCRIPT
Building a Successful Website
(With Joomla 1.5)
By Barrie NorthCompass Designs & JoomlaShack
The Usual Bit
Here I pretend to know what I am talking about….
www.joomlashack.com
www.compassdesigns.net
www.joomlabook.com
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
So you want a website?
Why?
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Measuring Success
Much more than just traffic
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Why Use Joomla?
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Joomla is…..
• Easy• Powerful• Cheap (not free!)
• The 80/20 rule
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
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.
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Elements of a Joomla site
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
The Template
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Step 1 - Planning
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There is no spoon, er, I mean page
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Where’s the Beef, er, I mean articles?
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Sections and Categories
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Content Organization
• UncategorizedSmall sites
• Global Section, multiple categoriesMedium sites
• Multiple Sections and categoriesBig sites
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Never Just One Answer
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Step 2 - Navigation
More than just paths through the siteMenu Items control PAGE LAYOUT
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Menus
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Layouts
Three default layouts
• Article• Blog• List/table
Template overrides!Using the description and modules
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
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
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Step 3 - Templates and Design
• Important for credibility
• Page design– Image margins– Stock Images (istockphoto.com)
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Credibility
1. Design Look — 46.1% Overall 2. Information Design/Structure — 28.5% Overall 3. Information Focus — 25.1% Overall 4. Company Motive — 15.5% Overall 5. Information Usefulness — 14.8% Overall 6. Information Accuracy — 14.3% Overall 7. Name Recognition— 14.1% Overall 8. Advertising — 13.8% Overall 9. Information Bias — 11.6% Overall 10.Writing Tone — 9.0% Overall
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Step 4 - Marketing
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Marketing 101
Ways to get traffic
• Organic (SEO)• Referral (links)• Pay per click (Google adwords)• Email (return visitors)
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
How to Build a Successful Site
• Understand the goal• Planning (understand Joomla content)• Navigation (usability)• Design (credibility)• Marketing
© Barrie North compassdesigns.net
Questions?
Stump the chump