I love Joomla. I live Joomla. I love to introduce new people to Joomla. I love to show people how to achieve the impossible no matter how improbable they think it is. We need more people who do this and more people who can do this.
I get excited showing people what they can achieve with Joomla. I get excited meeting people who have never heard of Joomla and Open Source software and showing them the benefits.
A 10 step guide to being a better Joomla lover
So what do you need to be a Joomla lover? Can anyone do it? Is there a course you can take? Do you get better with practice? Are there any safety precautions you should take before spreading the joomla love across the world.
1. Contribute to improve Joomla
No one wants to hear about something that isn't very good. So with whatever skills you have there are ways for you to contribute and make Joomla better.
2. Speak their language
If you are talking to a company then speak in business language. If you are talking to a non-profit talk in their terms. If you are talking to a developer talk in php. If you are talking to a designer talk in css and divs
3. Love what you do
It may sound obvious but if you don't love it then it will show. When you do love it and you are enthusiastic then that will come across as well. Be passionate!!
4. Talk to the person not the title
Everyone is equally important. Don't be fooled into thinking that someone at the bottom of the corporate ladder has no influence. Don't be bamboozled and tongue-tied just because you are talking to the CEO. Talk to them as individuals and equals. They will respect you for that.
5. Show don't tell
The only "sales" training I ever had was - if you can't show it in 5 minutes then it can't be done. When you can show what Joomla can do quickly and easily then you have captured their attention and interest.
6. Look for agnostics, ignore atheists
Guy Kawasaki - former evangelist for Apple said that. Time spent trying to convince someone who is an ardent believer in another product is wasted time. Spend your time instead talking to those with an open mind that are still looking for a solution.
7. Let them try it for themselves
Getting started is never easy. Making sure that whoever you speak to is able to quickly and easily try it for themselves when you have left is essential. If they have to stop to install something you have lost them forever. Give them the link to http://demo.joomla.org/. Explain that it is all setup for them and they can play with it for 90 days and it won't cost them a penny.
8. Never lie
As soon as you lie you lose. If you don't know the answer say so. You will be respected for your honesty. You will not be punished for not knowing the answer to everything
9. Show the benefits
What is a benefit of using Joomla? That will depend on the individual. It could be cost, support, extendability, open source or even something else. If you can find the right benefit for the person you are speaking to you win.
10. Joomla changes lives
This is what makes a community developed open source solution like Joomla unique. It is more than a piece of software. It is more than code. It is a cause. Something you believe in. Something you can participate in and something you become a part of.
It's just sales - right?
A salesperson thinks of themselves, making the "sale" and the value of the deal. A Joomla Lover is different. You care not about yourself but the other person's best interests. When you spend your time Spreading the Joomla Love you do this to help others not yourself.
