Wolf

Joomla's flexibility leads to opportunity and long hours.

Joomla is highly customizeable. What makes Joomla stand out is its user friendliness, but there is an element of surprise when working with third party plugins that you can almost always depend on. They either have a tendency to make things real simple or real complicated.

If you're like me, the things that you can do with Joomla provide all kinds of creativity. Sometimes you can depend on it launching you into new site ideas, or hoping that you have a client/purpose to use the solution on. You spend hours plotting, determining and executing code, placement, aesthetics and SEO. It's truly addictive to see what you can do with a site. I've got so many sites that I haven't launched in any form or function, but I keep telling myself that someone will come along and I can "sell" them the idea, at least.

Recently, I've gotten into blogging. I know...My name is Wolf...I follow the pack. But, I've found that it helps to do two things specifically, and more just vicariously.

First, it allows me to vent on a couple of my blogs, and that's a release. Second but probably most importantly, it builds traffic for my sites.

What I'm able to say in a blog either gets my mind off of it so I can move on, or it allows for discourse to build premise and learn some valuable information and lessons from. With great systems from Joomla like comments and community building solutions, it gives me a chance to network and create my own world. That's important when 10-14 hours a day are spent in front of what I like to call the "Digital Depleter".

Consequently, I get traffic that either builds advertising power, or I can expose my services/products to others through the connections that I often am able to build. You will either get targetted detail to your site, or you will build loyal followers that either look for your assistance, build relationships or just want you to do the work for them.

I've been lucky thus far in my design career. I've had the word of mouth working for me. I didn't have to advertise when I was getting started, because people were spreading the word. Now, I am having less luck. I need the work, so I'm having to do what I can to advertise or promote myself.

JOSTalk isn't part of that, really, but if it does translate to a chance for people to find me for work, consultation or just interaction, then I suppose this Joomla Addiction I have will pay off far better than any of the other addictions I COULD have.

Tags: Joomla | Addiction | Designer