One of the web site solutions that Legacy Marketing Services offers is Business Builder web sites. This is our option for business who want a web site, need it fast, and also want a web site that is search engine friendly.
We developed this option after working with many small businesses who went the DIY route with one of the many site builder options and were frustrated in their attempts to get the site looking the way they wanted as well as the poor search engine rankings for their keywords.
The Business Builder program is not a “DIY” route (we set it up for you), but it is a “manage it yourself” option.
Below is a video on how to edit and update a page using the system.
For our current clients, the video is also located in the Knowledge base for easy reference.
Since migrating from Joomla 1.0.x to the 1.5 release, I’ve been very pleased with the changes to the platform. The backend is more straightforward for the end user.
The challenge is finding the right components and plugins to use with 1.5. I have been using the platform since 2004, beginning with Mambo before the project forked and Joomla was founded. I had tested countless add-ons and favorite standbys that I used on all of the sites that I developed.
The release of Joomla 1.5 marked a major update to the platform. So much so that transitioning a site from 1.0.x to 1.5 requires a migration, not just an upgrade. In addition, many of the pre 1.5 extensions are not compatible with the new release. So I have to do all of the research on the extensions for 1.5 again.
A client wanted to add a social bookmarking option to the blog section of her web site running on Joomla 1.5. Adding that functionality is a simple thing, but again the catch is finding the right plugin out of all of those available. There are 59 extensions for social bookmarking alone in the Joomla extension gallery. That is a lot to sort through to find just the right extension for your site.
Social Bookmarking Criteria
My client’s needs weren’t elaborate, but there were a few criteria that I was looking for in an extension:
The ability to easily enable and disable the bookmarklets for the different sites.
Bookmarklets displayed in a list.
An “Email to a Friend” option along with the bookmarks. Joomla does have a built-in “Email to a Friend” feature, but rather than having to style the core option to match the bookmarklets, I preferred that it was a built-in option for the plugin.
Since the site was more than just a blog, I wanted the ability to select which content types the bookmarks would display on.
Below is a comparison of the top rated extensions that I tested
Can exclude by specific article ID’s, but not by category or section
GPL
Yes
88
Notes:
Option to add additional bookmarking sites. With 88 services listed in the default plugin, one thing I thought was odd was that Twitter wasn’t included.
Sort of. You can’t specify by section or category; however, it does give you the option to choose to display on the front page, articles, and blog layouts
GPL
Yes. (One bug with vs 1.05 is that the Linked In and Newsvine options are switched.
23
Notes:
The reason these bookmarks are “sexy” is the rollover effects and the option to use either a “Sharing is Caring,” Sharing is Sexy” backgrounds or no background at all.
As the extension is a module instead of a plugin, it requires a module position in the location you would like the share button to display. The default setting uses the author’s AddThis account and also includes a keyword link back to their site. If you use this plugin, be sure to set up your own account on AddThis so you can track the analytics.
Yes. The plugin has an option for listing categories that you don’t want the bookmarks to display on.
GPL
Not in the plugin management area. You have to edit the XML file to change it.
10
Notes:
You can add to the list of available bookmarking sites by editing the XML file.
Module vs Plugin
There are two different approaches that the extension developers could take for the social bookmarking functionality: developing the extension as a module or as a plugin.
If you are not that familiar with Joomla, the difference between the two can be a little confusing.
A plugin performs an action on content items. A module displays existing information.
A plugin’s output is displayed within the content item itself. A module is displayed in a module location in the template and is assigned by menu items.
So in reference to the social bookmarking extensions, a plugin would display the bookmarks at the bottom of the content. One developed as a module would display the bookmarks in a module position on the page.
Extension Selected: Sexy Bookmarks
I chose the Sexy Bookmarks plugin because it met three of the four of my criteria out of the box, and I could make the fourth work with a little CSS manipulation.
Bookmark Selection: Bookmarking services are easily enabled or disabled with radio selectors.
Bookmarklets Displayed in a List: Not only do they display in a list, but they have cool rollover effects as well.
Email to a Friend: This was the only extension that I tested that had this feature.
Specify Categories to Display: This was the one criteria that I had to fiddle with to get it to do what I wanted. The plugin does offer the option to specify the display on the homepage, category lists, or articles; however, it doesn’t give you the option to limit it by category or section.
Fine Tuning the Plugin Display
I got around the inability to specify the display by category or section with CSS. In Joomla, the displaying of information is controlled by the menu items. When you set up a menu link, you specify what the name of the link will be, what type of information it will display, and how it will display it.
A cascading stylesheet (CSS) basically tells your HTML page how to display specific information. For example, you could specify in a stylesheet that all heading 2’s (h2) would be 15 points, in the Georgia font, and the color blue. You could further specify that h2’s with a class of “school” would be orange and those with a class of “work” would be green. (Visit CSS Zen Garden for a vivid illustration of the power of CSS.)
The Joomla menu manager provides the option to specify a page class suffix for each menu item. Even though the option for a unique ID for each menu item is built in, it isn’t hugely useful in a stock Joomla implementation. The only place it is output on a page is in the content heading and content page classes, which doesn’t do much for you if you want to style each page differently.
However, there is a way to make that page class suffix more useful. When designing the client’s site, I coded the body tag to display the page class suffix if one was specified. This allows for every single page to have a unique ID and to be styled differently.
Since this was already built in to the template, in order to set the bookmarks to only display in the blog section, I set up each menu item related to the blog with the same page class suffix. Then I set the first CSS definition for the division containing the bookmarks not to display. The second definiton set the bookmarks to display on any page that had the blog page class suffix.
Here are a few things I hate hearing when talking to a new client about a web site design.
I Want it to Look Exactly Like . . .
When someone says this, what they usually mean is that they want a complete ripoff of someone else’s site.
When you were in school, did you copy someone else’s essay and claim it as your own? No, that is plagiarism.
There is a difference between getting inspiration from other web sites and copying it.
As an example when designing 1stBling.com, the layout inspiration came from a section of the NYTimes.com and the product feature from Delight.com. Now that I point it out, I am sure you can see the similarities, but I doubt anyone would be able to tell otherwise.
One of the worst things about working with someone that says that is that they really have no concept of their own company identity or what their style should be. They have no confidence in their business, so they have to copy another that is successful.
If your site is just a carbon copy of someone else’s . . . why should anyone visit it?
I give guidance in a web development project, that is part of my services. But it really gets tiring having to continually explain why you can’t just copy other people’s work.
This Should Be Easy If You Know What You’re Doing
Classic statement . . . translated it means, “If you know what you’re doing, I should be able to pay you next to nothing.”
I’ve been getting updates from the WordPress professionals job list, and some of the job requests are outrageous. The replies from developers have been hysterical though. Word of warning: don’t post to that list if you don’t actually have a development budget.
When you hire a web developer or programmer, you are paying for their skills, experience, and expertise, all of which took time and expense to develop.
Just because I know what I’m doing, it still will take TIME to do . . . and that is what you are paying for.
Looking for a Web Development Partner
Anyone who has been in web design for any amount of time has received countless of these “proposals.” Someone has an idea for a web site, doesn’t have a budget for development, and is trying to find someone to create it.
It is presented in one of two ways. Either they want someone to develop it and if the site makes money, they will kickback a small percentage of the revenue, or they will offer you a “partnership” in the site ownership. In a nutshell, they want the web designer to work for free and then maybe . . . someday . . . you might make something.
There are several common characteristics of people who ask for this. They always think it is an amazing idea and that they are doing you a favor by offering you this “opportunity.” Also, they usually want a site that has everything plus the kitchen sink and have no appreciation or respect for the skill and work involved in developing a web site.
If what I’ve described above sounds familiar, here are a few things to consider.
First, ideas are a dime a dozen. Everyone has them and I can guarantee that someone else has had the exact same idea as you. The difference between a successful idea and a pipe dream is the execution. If you don’t take action, that is all it will ever be . . . an idea.
As I mentioned above, everyone has ideas . . . web designers included. I have a Godaddy account full of domain names that represent great ideas and are waiting for development. If I am going to work on spec, I’ll do it on a site that I have full ownership of.
What you are basically asking a web developer to do with a proposal like that is to have more faith in the project than you do yourself. If it is such an amazing idea, a gold mine that is waiting to happen, then sell a few things on Craigslist or KingwoodYardSales, work some odd jobs, or pull out a credit card to pay for the development.
Even if the site doesn’t have any hard development costs, there still is the opportunity cost of time. If I spend my time working on your project for free, then I am not able to use that same time to work on a project for a client that is paying or developing new business.
Time is the most valuable asset a service business has . . . you can’t buy anymore of it.
How to be a Client that Web Designers Love
Know What You Like
Take some time to really study your favorite web sites and key in on elements that you really love. Look both within your industry and without. A few things to look at are color scheme, layout structure (top or side navigation, two or three columns, etc), and site features.
Know What You Need
Make a list of feature you would like on your site and categorize them by “must have,” “wishlist,” and “future development.” Prioritizing site features will help in setting your development budget.
Know What You Can Spend
All too often it is like pulling teeth to get a prospective client to tell you what their budget is. Would you go to a home builder and say, “build me a house” and give them absolutely no guidance on what you can afford? Of course not.
If you are hesitant about giving someone a number for fear that they will max their quote out to your limit, then keep looking for a web designer that you can trust. I have web site design options for almost every business, but I have to know what someone is prepared to invest to make the best recommendation.
When first talking to a potential web development client, I ask them to fill out a web development questionnaire that covers each of the areas above. If you’d like to receive a copy of the questionnaire and get started on a new web design or a redesign of an existing web site, please contact us.
If you have a domain name that has been live on the web for any time at all, you have most likely received junk mail from one kind domain scammer or another. Whether it is renewal notices from “registrars” you’ve never heard of, internet “directory listing” services, or the countless email spams, there are a ton of them out there.
These predatory companies bank on the fact that in most businesses, the web/marketing arm of the operation is usually a separate department than accounting. They are hoping that the accounts payable person will just pay the bill as if it were an approved invoice.
The latest one that I received takes a different approach. I received a fax from Domain Registry Rights stating that the .us extension of a domain that I own the .com on was available and basically if I didn’t secure the other domain, that it could result in conflicting domain names and trademark infringement.
???
Yeah, exactly. The site for the company listed also links to the official ICANN site as its forum and quotes the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy in order to sound official. The fax actually looks like a legal document.
While it may not be technically fraud, it is using scare tactics and misleading information to get people to pay for the domain registration. These people are bottom feeders. They profit from the ignorance of others.
If I had wanted that extension, I would have registered it at the same time I registered the .com, so no, I’m not interested.
While doing a quick search on the scammers, I found numerous others who had received similar notices.
Keep Your Domain Name Current: Every once in a while I will talk to someone that thinks that if you let a domain name expire, that it’s not that big of a deal and that you can reregister it right away. This is not the case. When a domain expires, it goes into a redemption period giving the previous owner time to reclaim it (and it will cost you extra.) After that it goes into another period of time where it is pending deletion.After all of that, it will be available for registration again and there is an entire industry devoted to snapping up expired domain names and selling them at a profit. Believe me, they have a lot more time than you do to sit and catch domains that have dropped. If you are running a business on that domain, you can’t afford to let it expire. Keep it current.
Keep Your Contact Information Current: Your registrar will send you emails when your domains get close to their expiration date. Make sure that your contact information is current so that you receive them.
Keep Your Domain Name Safe: Also, keep your domain names locked so that unauthorized changes can’t be made to your domains.
Your Domain Name Registrations are Valuable: Treat your domain registrations the same as you would the documentation for any other valuable asset like the title to your house or car. Print out copies of your registration. Keep a hard copy of the information for your registrar account, including the user name and password. If you didn’t keep your contact information with the registrar current and you forget your log in information, it can be a real hassle to get back into your account.
Manage Your Domains Well: If you are reading all of this and are thinking that you don’t want to mess with it, assign someone to manage it for you. Godaddy and other large registrars offer the option to assign account managers to all of your domains or only those in certain groups. Have one person in your company be the point person for the domain registrations. If there is no one in your company to handle it, develop a relationship with your web maintenance or development company to keep your domains up-to-date.
In the mid 90’s we had the Stick-Every-Blinking-Graphic-You-Can-Find Stage.
Then as Y2K approached, the heavy chrome look became popular and then grunge.
Then came the Web 2.0 phase. Of course, Web 2.0 is about more than just a particular “look;” however, the prevailing elements of a 2.0 design were minimalist layouts, a lot of white space, reflective graphics, and gradients.
The curve seems to be swinging back to more artistic designs. Grunge and illustration based designs are making a comeback and more images are being integrated. As CSS layouts are becoming more mainstream, designers are not only utilizing it, but using it creatively. A CSS web design does not have to be a bunch of blocks.
Even so, there are always those designs that everyone tries to imitate and this is one that I am sick of already.
Color Tinting on BarackObama.com
The 2008 Presidential election was historic in many ways, not the least of which was the importance the internet and personal branding played.
The logo was inspired, the social media campaign ground breaking, and the web site design was so incredibly beautiful that you can get lost in it for hours looking at all the detail. It wasn’t enough to get my vote, but the campaign staff that created the marketing collateral are to be commended for a brilliant job.
Here’s my gripe. The multilayered color tinted background on BarackObama.com was creative and innovative. It is not creative and innovative when countless other designers do the EXACT SAME THING.
Don’t get me wrong, I love it too. But if you’re going to copy the technique, can you at least use a different color scheme?
Here are a couple of examples.
Joomla.org
I love the CMS. It’s one of my favorite platforms to use. I noticed the web site went through a redesign in the past few months, and check it out.
It is almost exactly the same with the exception of the white bar at the top of the site wrapper on the Obama site.
MyKingwoodHome.com
I probably would never have found this one except that I was looking for more Kingwood related domains (this isn’t my Kingwood, but another one in Tennessee.)
At first glance this doesn’t look like an obvious derivative, but look at it with the rest of the layout.
See it now? If you notice, they didn’t include the background for the content area on the image as the other two did. If you are going to have a large image for a background, include as much as it makes sense to on that image. Why waste another DIV and CSS definition?
Inspiration vs Imitation in Web Design
Every designer gets inspiration from somewhere; however, there is a fine line between being inspired by someone else’s work and imitating it.
One of the pitfalls of echoing another’s work too closely is that your work will be compared to the standard set by the original designer. This is clearly illustrated in these two examples. The Joomla.org background is a better rendition than the second, but neither has the texture and depth of the BarackObama.com site background.
So I guess the point of this ramble is that when you come across a great piece of creative work, study it and look at the elements that make it unique. Open up Photoshop or Illustrator and see if you can recreate it as practice. Then take what you’ve learned from that exercise and find a way to make it your own.
If you come across another Barack background, let me know.
Acrobat PDF files are pretty much the standard for sharing online documents.
There are free pdf converters that will allow you to “print” from any program to a pdf file; however, I have long been a fan of using the original Adobe Acrobat Professional. One of the handiest uses of Acrobat Professional is the ability to create forms that users can fill out, print, email back to you, and even submit to a database.
I have recently created application forms, estimate worksheets, and interactive postcards for clients using Adobe Acrobat Professional and the Livecycle Designer that ships with Acrobat.
Creating forms used to be tedious with early versions of Acrobat Professional. However, since version 7.0 and the debut of Livecycle Designer as a companion program, creating editable forms has been a snap.
Rather than drawing each individual form field, Livecycle will automatically detect most, if not all of your form fields.
Make the form convenient for the end user by setting the tab order of the form.
Setting Form Field Tab Order
In Adobe LiveCycle, go to “View” => “Tab Order”
Boxed numbers will appear on each form field displaying the current tab order.
Shift Click on the field that you would like to be first in the tab order, then click on each field in the desired tab order.
These predatory companies bank on the fact that in most businesses, the web/marketing arm of the operation is usually a separate department than accounting. They are hoping that the accounts payable person will just pay the bill as if it were an approved invoice.
