BENEFITS OF UPGRADING:

Better Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Joomla has improved their SEO features. This is a big deal.

Better features. Joomla 2.5 makes it easier to manage, add, edit content. The extensions are better all around.

Easier to keep up with updates. Joomla 2.5 has a built-in upgrade process where it tells you there's an update and a click or two and you're up-to-date.

Joomla 1.5 is reaching it's End of Life in September 2012 which means it won't be updated any more. Upgrading to 2.5 means you keep up with the improvements and security fixes.

PROBLEMS IF YOU DON"T UPGRADE

Security becomes an issue: As I mentioned above, you'll be stuck with 1.5 and no further security patches. Hackers need only find a new exploit and you're a sitting duck for attacks. Loss of revenue, reputation, loss of data, costs associated with fixing and possible theft make that NOT worth it.

You're stuck in more than one way. Extensions supported by older versions will not be developed or updated either. If you're customizing an old version, it makes it that much more difficult to upgrade when you have to. You'll potentially spend much more in the long run.

Eventually the technology used to run the older versions will be updated to the point where your site no longer runs properly. You risk complete shut down as servers continue their technological advances. Can you think of some Windows 3.0 software you wish you could run?

Do you need to upgrade right now?

Nope. Look your website isn't going to suddenly stop working after each version reaches it's "End of Life". We mentioned the inherent risks of not upgrading, and they shouldn't be glossed over, but it is not necessarily an emergency situation.

Now, I love books, and I have some favorites I refuse to part with in my library. However, I find myself more and more drawn to electronic media for my both my entertainment and learning needs. Especially now with the prolific smartphone app options, it's not only more cost effective, it's easier and quicker to find my favorite titles. I have instant access anywhere I am. Imagine the dilemma of lugging around a huge manual on Javascript to the doctor's office because you want to catch up on some technology know-how while waiting. Not likely. Instead I can load my favorite books onto my droid and have them at ready access to peruse rather than read a 4-month old copy of Business Week or Woman's Day.

I've been working with DT Register as an event registration component for Joomla, and I'm really happy with it. I have actually been privileged to work behind the scenes with the developers to work on troubleshooting. As I dig deeper into this component I find the features are unparalled even in components that deal with other functionality and have much higher price tags. Here's why:

It's paramount to understand that you just can't throw up a website (although there are still sites out there that look like they have been vomited up), and expect people to just show up and give you money for your product, service or information. That's like hanging a sign on your closet door and pronouncing yourself in business. It doesn't work. You have to be findable.

Now there are all kinds of magic bullet, secret, guru-type things that only the very elite (and very expensive) SEO experts know how to do to get #1 Google rankings for the most competitive keywords available, BUT there is hope for us small business folk and startups that are still spending money on testing and research all all those goodies too.

I offered to build my mom a website so that she can market her hair salon online. She asked me if it would really do her any good and would anyone search for a hair stylist on the web.

After I took a moment to collect myself, and recover from a moment of stunned disbelief that anyone would still question the validity of the most valuable marketing tool currently known to man, here is what I explained ...

This is how I spent a portion of my day (If you think of your day, you may actually have a similar story. It is a common tale). After deciding I needed a computer part and figuring it'd be cheaper and quicker to buy the part locally, I typed in "cookeville computer parts" in my Google search box at the top right area of my browser.

Is it just me or are you completely tired of the term "hip"? Isn't it just a little overused? Another good one is "relevant". We web designers use those words to try to convince you that we know what people want.

What's the written equivalent of a blowing a raspberry? ffffbbbttt!?

It's so five minutes ago to claim to know what's "hip". It's even more passe to claim to be hip when you're more likely to be someone who needs hip replacement.

C'mon! "Hip" is an old word anyway. There's nothing worse than trying to fit in. The best we can do is allow ourselves to NOT get in the way of what YOU want.

That's it.

I am now taking clients for joomla and other CMS templates. Joomla is a versatile content management system that makes it easy to maintain and customize your site. Using a CMS program such as joomla has been found to help increase your exposure in search engines.

The template design is by far the easiest to maintain.  Also, they guarantee a uniform look throughout the site. This is user-friendly as most  consumers now expect to be able to navigate a site reliably. They want to know where the navigation is at all times. Templates are flexible as well. You can create a custom template and change the look or colors of your site without re-writing or importing your content. No more uploading page after page of HTML documents. Your important product information or service contracts are held in a database.

One more advantage to CMS programs are the ease in which you can add content - articles, links, pictures, videos, mp3s, etc.No matter where you are, you can access your site online, and edit it right there. You don't have to have a web designer at your beck and call each time you want to edit your site because it's not that complicated. I'll show you how to update your own site and save yourself some money.

Let me help get your CMS project off the ground or just out of the mire. I specialize in joomla, CMSMadeSimple, CRE Loaded, AgoraCart, Xoops, and phpWebSite, but I am familiar with just about any CMS because I understand php and CSS code. I can design a template from the ground up and I can troubleshoot and adjust someone else's work.

I am available on an hourly basis or I can work with a contract.  I've built a reputation for service and giving you more than you expect for the money.

Contact me for your project today.

Webtech Chick now offers a monthly maintenance and upgrade package for all Joomla! users.

One of the headaches involved with running a Joomla! or CMS website is keeping it updated and secure. Also sometimes it can just go haywire for no apparent reason. Most web sites do regardless of their design or implementation. I won't go into all the why's and wherefore's here.

For those of you who need someone to just be there if those little bugs pop up, you can take advantage of my subscription service. This service includes updating your Joomla! site with any security updates from Joomla.org and your extensions. It also includes some minor fixes if needed, so it's a really great deal.

Just $30 per month!

*This is essentially one hour per month on retainer. It is a discount from my normal hourly rate. Additional fixes over that one hour will be billed at an additional $35 per hour for my regular subscribers. You can subscribe for 3-months, 6-months, or 12 months at a time.

Contact me for more information. We can talk about what exactly you need. I'll keep a record of your very specific requirements, and I'll work personally on those specifications. This isn't an automated, faceless service. This is my personal attention to your web site, month after month.

Keep your site running smoothly. Call (888-414-2819) or email me ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

Purchase online now!

Monthly Maintenance (1 month) Add to cart

Monthly Maintenance (1 Year) Add to cart

Microbusiness Web Design Sometimes the success of a microbusiness hinges on how effective your web site is. You may not need a website, but if you do, you need it done right. Your site should be optimized so that your readers CAN get to your information, product, or service and WANT to.You also want to have a site that loads quickly and utilizes SEO (that's Search Engine Optimization) because that's where a lot of your passive traffic is going to come from. I have a low cost solution for you. Just contact me, and we can discuss it.

But what about managing your site? Are you confident you can keep your site up without spending a lot of money on expensive web designers to maintain it? I can help. With CMS or Content Management Systems, the job of adding content, whether it's articles, updates, pictures or videos, is relatively easy. Of course there's a learning curve, but I can help make that painless.

Now setting it up is the REALLY easy part. Let me do it for you. I specialize in CMS and shopping cart programs. they are so much easier and more cost effective than traditional web sites where you have to edit and maintain each page individually.

Examples:

• JenHutchings.com
• GreaterWorksMinistry.com
• USContractorRegistration.com

I can customize a logo for you as well. It's what I do. So if the internet intrigues you or you've finally realized you have to have an internet presence to continue competing in today's market (even my husband, who's a local builder, finally realized that his tire-kicking clients want to check him out on the web), just follow the link to contact me . I'll get back with you as soon as humanly possible, and we can talk about YOUR presence on the web.

You're gonna need to put your web pages somewhere. They're just files on a computer with a domain name pointing to the main file after all. You could use your own computer, but that requires special geek powers and equipment most of us don't own.

It's a MUCH better solution to rent space each month from a web host. That's what most of us do. Prices range from free to thousands per month. We can assess your needs when we go over your web site plans, but I'll tell you, this is probably the easiest area to get ripped off.

We offer web hosting that meets just about anyone's needs for $5.95 per month. Seriously. All the bells and whistles. Plenty of space and bandwidth. Emails. The whole shabang.

If you want to do it yourself and find your own hosting, no problem. We'll still help with some great recommendations. We have personally used all of these hosts and feel confident they'll treat you right. (just please don't use godaddy for hosting. We hate it. It's ok if you have your domain there though)