Dear Johan
At first it was indeed a steep learning curve. Then it became easier as I started to understand the Joomla GUI. Perhaps it is an idea to first give a thorough overview of the Joomla main menu before tackling the individual menu items. Just a thought.
I found Joomla in terms of what it offers fantastic, you no longer need to be a geek to build websites. Joomla offers a wealth of no or low-cost modules, components and templates to you heart’s desire. For me as a designer, the templates tend to look the same but I am sure with some experience and experimentation I will eventually be able to alter existing templates beyond recognition. That is unfortunately a fact of life; if you want originality, it does not come cheap. Not everyone or all clients can afford a custom designed template.
But for the web developer and novice with no design skills the Joomla templates are an absolute blessing. Just add your modules and components and you are able to build a website with all the bells and whistles in record time. From a credit card gateway, to auto-responders to a mass email database. The list goes on and on. The flexibility and speed in altering, adding or editing anything on a Joomla website is mind-blowing.
However, all of this was not possible to absorb without your patient instruction, assistance and support that were extended to after-hours and beyond the end of the course. Thank you for coping with all our embarrassing rookie mistakes that were instantly resolved when confronted by you.
One last suggestion. At the end of all your Joomla Boot Camp, why not have a competition for the best three websites. This way it motivates everyone to get their sites built and running and an extra incentive to create stunning sites. Give the last boot camp a month to get their sites up and running and then close the competition. All rookies then vote (with a pre-agreed scorecard) with your vote as the casting vote with the winning websites getting prizes.
One way to fund the prize money could be a R 50 or R100 entrance fee per site assuming they may enter as many sites they have built since Joomla Boot Camp there will be enough for generous cash prizes. That could translate in the #1 site getting his/her Joomla Boot Camp training for free. Another way could be Joomla goodies as prizes.
I am willing to design a “Best Joomla Boot Camp Website” logo pro bono that the winners may display on their sites, emails, business cards and stationary. This could extend to an annual competition with the “Best Joomla Boot Camp Website 2009”. The winning sites could also be featured on your site demonstrating the effectiveness and results of your course.
I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to all the Joomla Boot Camp Rookies to connect with each other through the social sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Naymz) and Skype. We are all still learning and could benefit from each others mistakes, experience and share business opportunities. Johan maybe you could facilitate this and share the relevant info of the rookies at the end of every Joomla Boot Camp? This will of course be with the rookies’ permission.
Would I recommend Johan Rossouw’s Joomla Boot Camp? Without hesitation. Did I think it was worth the money? For sure, the DVD with all the free goodies alone is worth the price of the Joomla Boot Camp. Anyway, I have now said enough.
With appreciation and kind regards.
Alexander Greyling
Author of
Face your brand!
The language of visual branding explained
www.faceyourbrand.co.za
Tel +27 (011) 888 8778
Fax +27 (011) 888 8724
