Web Design Blog

This is an administrator module (installed via normal Joomla 1.5 extension installer) that has been rearranged and customized for sites primarily running K2 for content management. [Based on: Admin Menu K2 on JED]

If you look at the screenshots, you'll see that I've moved a number of things in the control panel - users, modules, components, global configuration... I've moved these things based on my own personal experience building over 100 Joomla sites and training each client personally to make changes on their own.

To install:

1. Install via Joomla extension manager
2. Navigate to Extensions -> Modules -> Administrator
3. Edit the new K2 admin menu module, enable, assign to "menu" position
4. Disable the standard Joomla admin module

1. Claim your Google Listing (also, keep an eye out for feedback and reviews that others may have posted about you by creating a Google Alert!)
2. Update your site's footer (e.g. © 2003 Your Company, LLC)
3. Mobile Device Check: Check your site from an iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, etc...
4. Check for broken links, broken search boxes, etc... test everything!
5. Visitor Tracking: Check your Google Analytics reports - find out what's working and what's not. Also, schedule monthly report delivery via email if you haven't already!

Domain Registration -> Hosting & Email -> Framework, Content, Updates

As a business owner, the thought of not having control of your website is is most likely frightful.  I've experienced a handful of situations where a client hired a different web developer previously, hire me to re-engineer the site, then come to find out that their prior developer has more control of the site than they do...

Attached are a few files needed to create a "show-hide" action in Joomla's popular CCK extension, K2.

I've had some requests for me to put together some sort of a "guide" to show how I organize all of my "work stuff" on the computer - client files and folders, notes, leads, invoices, to-do's, bills, etc... this is one writing assignment that I put off for a while.  Luckily, clients are keeping us busy.  The other issue is the non-disclosure agreements I've signed, so I'm not able to include screenshots or provide helpful examples of my actual data.  Moving on...

I've run into a few clients who have told me that other developers forced them into upgrading their Joomla installation (e.g. from Joomla 1.0 to 1.5, or 1.5 to 1.6).  I am hoping that this article will provide clarification and possibly save a few folks from going through this unnecessarily.

[Edit May 4, 2012]

• You do not need to upgrade to Joomla 1.7
• You do not need to upgrade to Joomla 2.5
• You do not need to upgrade to Joomla 3.x 
• Note: Upgrading is still a good idea!

We've heard from multiple clients who have received letters in the mail from Domain Registry of America (DROA).  Read carefully - this is a solicitation.  They are trying to trick domain owners into transferring their registrations to DROA.  If you are happy with your current registrar (we suggest GoDaddy), you don't have to do anything!

I wish someone had written an article like this when I first started with Joomla.  It would have saved me a *LOT* of time.  The first thing that Joomla does, whenever it loads, is to check and see if an ItemID exists for a given page.  Normally, a Joomla link will include an "&ItemID=" statement, but not always.  If it doesn't, then Joomla will look for a match in the database.

An ItemID in Joomla effects all of the following:

- Component
- Modules
- Template
- Access Control (ACL)
- sef URL

...we will explain each in detail below.

1.  Enhanced visibility for your members and yourself.

Build your own online community and news portal.  Let your members advertise on the site.  Manage all of your members’ directory listings, contact information, and site content through a web-based control panel.  Visitors will be able to search your directory by zip code or keyword. Some of the latest third-party extensions for Joomla, like the K2 Framework, make managing content a breeze!  [Video]

2.  Online payment processing for membership dues, donations, and events.

Automatically send email reminders to past-due members for payment.  Offer online payments through PayPal, Authorize.net, 2Checkout, or other supported platforms.  Do your members pay with cash or check?  No problem, offline payments are supported as well.  Your members’ information is stored in a database, so we can connect Joomla with third-party platforms.

1.  Design Options:

• Provide the Photoshop / Illustrator file and we can build a custom template from scratch.
• Choose a professionally crafted stock template and we’ll customize it to suit your needs.

2.  White Label Support

If you want, set up an email address for us to use with your clients (e.g. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

3.  No monthly recurring fees

We only charge for actual time spent updating and customizing your site.