Sandbox

Hello all.

I'd like to ask for some review on my church website, which has been launched several months ago.
http://www.newhopefellowship.org/

It obviously is the default solarflare template with a few very minor tweaks, and the following components:
- book library
- community builder
- events calendar
- joomlaboard forum
- mambomap
- zoom media gallery

If you look at Worship Service > Worship Resources, I have some custom code to denote podcasting, allow uploading of service pdfs, mp3 downloads, etc.

I've purchased TinyMCE imagemanager so that users can upload images themselves.

I am resigned to not having a very customized template at this point, there is simply too much to otherwise do content-wise, and have deferred some design issues such as replacing the default address bar icon.

Just trolling the site showcase threads, I think most of the discussion revolves around site design, but I would like a slightly different focus.  (Although template pointers are certainly most welcome!)

How successful are you getting your users to contribute content?  I can live with non-standardized image borders, but the whole point of having a CMS for me was letting my users submit the site content, with appropriate checks and balances built in from myself.  I've trained a core group of people in how to use the site (publisher status, how to use the calendar, some have access to administrative panel, etc.).  I've written a LOT of tutorials about how the site works, these might come in handy for others as well actually.
http://www.newhopefellowship.org/conten ... y/1/32/51/

And yet the vast majority of my users continue to be consumers, not contributors, even though some of them are avid bloggers.  Is it just that Joomla is not intuitive to use?  It's something I noticed when writing my tutorials... I get it because I built it, but I shouldn't have to write three page tutorials about how to use an image gallery.

Thanks... all comments are welcome!  Cheers, Terry Kim.

Hello,

All of non profit websites have the same problems like yours.  I am almost begging your article contributions, only a few responses.  So,

You are not alone.  Just simply serve then we have a peace of minds.

Hello Tnpa.

Sorry for the late reply, I do agree with your points.  It almost seems as if I gave a car to a man who walks, and he insists on taking the air out of the tires before driving.  He's still better off, but he'd be so much better off if he used it as it was intended.  And yes, the person who implements does need to stay involved in the core content generation process.

Looking at the two sites in your signature, I was very impressed not just by the smooth and thematic design, but also by the volume of your content.  How did you introduce the process to your users... did you have a Q&A session, a demo session (just trying to get people together was also difficult), introduce your own documentation, or something else?

I have very articulate, empassioned, and spiritual people in my congregation, and I would like to tap into their faith and testimony so that others benefit from it as well.  Unfortunately, many of them are not technical.  So my initial thought was to stay involved for as much as necessary, but if I am resigned to being the primary content contributor, they are going to continue to associate the church website as being a 'technical' thing and not a common one.

And in the long run, I may someday move on to another role, or even to another church, and I would like to see the website grow regardless of whether I am involved or not.

Sorry if this qualifies as a rant... I just don't see myself making much progress at my current rate of growth.  A fresh pair of eyes, from people who have opinions to offer would be helpful but hopefully the way my church website is setup has something to offer to others as well.

Cheers, take care.
Terry Kim
http://www.newhopefellowship.org

Hello Terry73,

Thank you for reply and compliments.  I totally understand your frustration.  I suggest you try to find just several core people, technical or not, just Biblical sounds, ask them to contribute somethings, anythings.  Your website will have plenty of contents.  Try to focus on contents.  For any websites, the content is the key.