I just started making a round of updates to some of the sites that I manage.  I’m trying to increase usage by simplifying the info submission process.   Some of the more notable places for this would be the Russellville Arts Council, Logan County Republicans, and Russellville United Methodist Temple.

By creating a front-end registration process, and then utilizing JoomlArt.com’s JA_Submit component with no WYSIWYG editor, you create an environment where you can simply and easily submit content, and you still only allow certain users to publish content.  That way anyone can register, anyone can submit, but only editors/managers get to publish the pertinent info.

Previously I operated under a faulty assumption – that you absolutely had to minimize visual clutter on the page in order to maximize user experience – but if there’s nothing on the page because the authors don’t really know how to post, then it defeats the purpose.  There is a balance to be found.