CMS (Content Management System) versus layout (CSS).

I’ve heard a few complaints, not necessarily from clients, but from those who use my You Tube tutorials about Joomla.  The complaints are based around the fact that the user can’t change the template layout or look the way they want to.

First, the tutorials are to teach you how to learn the platform to do one thing – ORGANIZE YOUR CONTENT -> which is exactly what a CMS does.  When you speak of layout and design, you are now in another entire industry of CSS and graphic design.  The two are completely separate entities, which most confuse with being the same.  Many seem to feel that somehow the CSS and look/layout should be just as easy as the learning how to organize content.  Well, it isn’t.

Read more: CMS vs CSS

Why do seemingly remedial requests turn into huge expenses?

Well let's talk about that.

There are two types of tasks.

1 Open Ended
2 Closed Ended.

Read more: Why So Long and Expensive?

Something that confuses me greatly is why people use Microsoft Outlook.  Here I am setting them up with a class A webmail account, and they want to have this tie into their Outlook.  Good people, all outlook does is provide a mirror copy of webmail. 

Read more: Why Outlook?

I recently completed another tutorial series for Joomla dealing with the Community Builder component.  This comes from a large request from users and I'm proud to announce that it is now available for viewing at QuicSite.com 

Read more: QuicSite Tutorials

Twitter is becoming an increasingly popular social networking tool that is foolish to leave out of your website’s overall business plan.  Customizing ones twitter page has proven to be a fun and special way to essentially make an online business card for yourself with updates as you “twit” or “tweet” away.

PlanetTucker.com creates custom backgrounds and images for twitter profiles, to express to your followers more than just your website and whatever a twitter entry can hold. 

Now you can have your other websites, phone numbers, lists of products and services or any other information you want followers to know. 

This makes your twitter page look professional, unique and functional in your marketing efforts. 

Listen folks, if you want the best interface for your hosting environment use Cpanel!  If a hosting company you are looking at doesn't have Cpanel - DO NOT USE THEM.

Yes I offer hosting through topgradehosting.com, and it uses Cpanel, but even if you don't use my hosting make sure that the hosting company you do choose uses it.  HostGator uses it and I highly recommend them if topgradehosting.com is too service oriented for you. 

Read more: Cpanel

Recently I have had a wave of clients that were charged out the wazoo for a website built in HTML :o  Alright, I'll try and explain this without too much jargon.  Here is the problem with an HTML site.  First the exception.  If all you need is a site for a personal page, or maybe a splash page then a 100% HTML site will be just fine.  If, however you intend for your site to grown, adapt, and give YOU the ability to change it without an act of congress then you want to use a dynamic programming language.

Read more: HTML vs PHP

I recently worked on two projects where the webmasters (my clients) were currently using the web building tools provided by Yahoo and GoDaddy for business reasons :o  This was tragic.

While these tools are nice for someone who may want a personal page or at least "some" presence on the web then these tools may be justified - maybe.  Otherwise, with these proprietary systems you pay an inflated price for a system that comes with many restrictions on what you can do and is at best a pile of rubbish!  The systems I set these clients up with saved them money, saved them time, saved them frustrations, gave them more options, more control, and more webmaster independance.

Read more: Yahoo & GoDaddy

I had the privilege of creating an account with twitter and guess what I found? Another waste of time.  While I'll retain some hypocrisy in the matter and will keep my account, this does not change the fact that this is an idea that I truly, from the bottom of my heart, find to be a complete waste.  Waste of what?

Well let's see.  Since all it provides is essentially a bulletin board for text messages it is a waste of time to write, and a waste of time to read.  We are in an age were text messaging among our young people is at an unprecedented level, which will naturally leave our next generation lacking in communication and articulation skills, but now we have a fad that perpetuates this problem.

Read more: Twit This

I wanted to a moment and recommend Cricket to those who want good cell phone service, but with NO CONTRACTS, NO CANCELLATION FEES, and UNLIMITED MINUTES.  I know it might appear that I'm a spokes person for Cricket but I'm not.  My cell phone is with cricket and the unlimited calls for the same price is wonderful.

Since my blog is to help others in the right direction, I recommend them.  Now the down side is this:  They still don't have the best of coverage areas compared to others, so if you get their phone/service, make sure you ARE NOT one who travels a lot AND depends on their cell phone during this travel.  You may find more blackout spots than with other services. 

So, it is worth checking out if you are sick of your current phone companies restrictive contracts, limited minutes and high fees.  It really almost too good to be true, but sure enough they are legit and I've been happy with my cell service with them since late 08.

Well, the only exception is if you are wanting to purchase domain names and use their domain name management services.  To get a domain name simply click here.

I have always hated GoDaddy, because they are masters of marketing, not service and solutions.  They do a fantastic job of selling new webmasters inferior products and services.  Over the last several months I've had the horrible honor to deal with them on many levels, anywhere from database creation to WebSiteTonight - which has to be one of the worst web creation tools out there - the fact they charge you monthly for it is unbelievable to me.

Read more: Don't Use GoDaddy!!!