Building Your First Joomla Web Site

So either you've already made the decision to build your website with Joomla, or your just curious about whats involved with an installation and setup of this wonderful CMS - regardless, congratulations, you won't regret it! Joomla can seem somewhat overwhelming to the beginner, but if done properly, building your first Joomla web site can be a rewarding experience.

Step One: Brainstorming your Joomla web site.

I know your excited to get your hand dirty, but the Joomla CMS is a very powerful too - and if you don't take the time to properly outline your plan of attack, you are likely to wind up knee deep in problems or concerns, and unsure of which direction to take. The beauty of Joomla is it is practically alive, it grows daily, and many new uses are discovered regularly....if you do not outline your objective, you will be making it harder on yourself. Brainstorm a handful of objectives for your Joomla web site, stick with it.

Step Two: Properly plan your Joomla web site.

Once again, I know you cant wait to get started, but once you go hunting in the Joomla jungle, its better to stay focused on the goals at hand, else you will constantly be distracted (there really ARE that many Joomla extensions). Once you understand your objectives, structure your Joomla web site. Map out your navigation, plan your sections and categories. Some call this an web site outline, some call it a blueprint, I call it smart. 

Step Three: Properly research Joomla extensions.

Once you've determined your Joomla site's purpose, you can then explore your extension options. Take the time to understand each component limitations, evaluate alternatives...if your stuck, ask for help! You do not want to be two weeks into your project and realize your primary components wont meet your needs. Find Joomla extensions that work, add them to your plan, and move forward. If your a little confused about the various aspects of Joomla extensions, please read my Joomla components, modules and Mambots tutorial.

Step Four: Aquire a Joomla template.

Now that you know how you want your Joomla web site to unfold, and understand what extensions you'll use. Find a great Joomla template, or have one made for your site. This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP. The Joomla template is the foundation for which your entire site will be structured, be sure the Joomla template you choose will meet your project requirements. If you have very specific requirements, consider having one built for you, or depending on your experience, build a Joomla template yourself. Do not settle for a second-rate template, as it can potentially impede your progress due to bugs, errors or simply inefficient design. Important things to consider are its speed, WC3 compliance, ability to render similar in multiple browsers, and layout of module positions (ie, ensure it will support all the Joomla modules you wish to display).

Step Five: Ensure your Joomla install is properly configured.

Sorry if it seems I jumped beyond the actual installation of Joomla, since that is a guide in itself. If you are the complete novice, consider choosing a Joomla host that will install Joomla for you, or offers Joomla through Fantastico (auto-installation of Joomla). Worst case, hire help...though I wouldn't suggest it. A good web host will have no problem installing Joomla for you. With all that said, make sure your Joomla install is up to date, be sure it is configured for security. Once again, a good host will ensure this is complete - so step five can likely be called "ensure your using a good Joomla host". You also want to be sure your directories are writable, as much of your Joomla setup will require that.

Step Six: Install, configure and test your Joomla template and extensions.

Install the Joomla template, and all Joomla extensions (components, modules, mambots/plugins). If they all install correctly, now is an excellent time to backup your site. For more information on backup, please read my how to backup your Joomla web site tutorial. If you make mistakes, you can always revert to your fresh Joomla install. Once backed up, you can then explore how everything works; the various component settings, module configurations and placements, parameters, etc. You'll also want a solid grasp on adding/removing content before actually moving on to adding real content. Drag your Joomla web site over the hot coals, its much better to input dummy text, test data and garbage images before you start adding things the wrong way.

Step Seven: Populate your Joomla web site with content.

This step seems like a no-brainer, but its important to learn the ropes before you go adding real content. Depending on your particular website, this content could be anything from images to copy, whatever the case, it makes sense to understand how a paintbrush works before you go painting a masterpiece.

Conclusion

I hope you've enjoyed this Joomla beginners guide. I am sure much of it is Greek to you, but thats ok - the plan still works. The important thing to remember is that Joomla is somewhat massive and entangled, there are tons of extensions and tons of ways to go about the same thing - its very important to stay focused and on track. Avoid distractions. Many times you'll find yourself searching for a solution and discover something you never knew existed. I understand its difficult the first time around, but avoid taking the newly discovered trail to minimize the learning curve. Enjoy!