Building Online Communities with Joomla
Barrie North
www.compassdesigns.net
www.joomlashack.com
www.simplweb.com
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The Usual Bit
www.joomlashack.com
www.compassdesigns.net
www.joomlabook.com
www.simplweb.com
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Housekeeping
Joomlashack 40% couponexpodenver (expires Dec 20th)
simplweb.com/expo2 winners get a free website for life
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What is an Online Community
A Group that communicates online
to fulfill a need
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We all got Needs Buddy
Informational
Economical
Emotional
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Informational
www.aicardisyndrome.orgA support site for families with daughters that have a rare genetic disorder called Aicardi syndrome.
www.wikipedia.orgA free encyclopedia built collaboratively using Wiki software. Also emotional as the community is in the people that build the site, not in those that read it.
www.joomlashack.comCommunity forum for Joomla website help.
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Economical
www.warriorforum.comForum devoted to Internet marketing, search engine placement and optimization, plus affiliate programs advice and support.
www.teachingsells.comAn online course to create membership sites. Note, this is in economical rather than informational because the driving need of members is to generate revenue from their sites.
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Emotional
www.dooce.comPopular blog about motherhood. The community is in the conversation in the blog comments between mothers.
World of WarcraftAn example of an online community that isn't a website. At over 6 million subscribers, Blizzard is appealing to some key emotional needs!
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Getting Dirty with Marketing
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The Gode-ster
Turn strangers into friends (Traffic) … Turn friends into customers (Conversion) ... Turn customers into salespeople (Sticky)...
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In Warm and Fuzzy Speak
Strangers are site visitors, lurkers and readers
Friends are members, participants and content contributors
Salespeople are Sneezers, those that will spread the word about your site
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Visitor Lifecycle
Turn strangers into friends This is about getting the traffic to your site. It includes strategies such as SEO and advertising
Turning friends into customers This is about conversion. having a defined plan of how you convert (get to register) a site visitor.
Turning customers into salespeopleCoined as viral marketing, this involves inspiring and empowering members to spread the word. Think moveon.org and grass roots fund raising
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How do I get People to Come to my online Community?
Everyone needs traffic
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Marketing 101
Ways to get traffic
Organic (SEO) Referral (links) Pay per click (Google adwords) Email (return visitors)
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Organic SEO
SEF Internal Linking Sitemap Crafting titles Steve Burge (joomla-seobook.com)
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Referral Links
Don’t bother with submission directories Industry forums
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Pay Per Click Traffic
Google Adwords Highly predictable Organic costs too
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Its all about the list Add value Get people coming back Measurable and predictable J!Contact
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How Do I get People to Join My Online Community?
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Conversion pages
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Other Tricks
Optimizing Your Landing Pages
Take the Control back From Joomla
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How do I Exponentially Grow My Community
You need to give people a reason to spread the word
You need to give people tools to spread the word
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What Tools Does Joomla Have to Build Online Communities?
Joomla does two things very very well. Its easily manages any amount of content,
user submitted or otherwise. It easily manages huge numbers of
registered users.
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What Tools Does Joomla Have to Build Online Communities?
Forum – Fireboard
User Enhancement - Community Builder
Comments – JomComment
The New kid - Jomsocial
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Warning – Live demo approaching
http://exposkibums.simplwebsite.com/
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New Product Launch!!
Simplweb – Turnkey websites Teaching Sells – How to build ILE’s Community Builder – Subscription plugin
Get a fully managed Joomla site with paid subscriptions. Currently in pilot, $49.95 a month.
www.simplweb.com/teaching-sells
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Stump the Chump
Free bananas to any question I can’t answer