I have an idea for a Website and have a couple of days ago come across CMS and Joomla. I am being led to believe this CMS is the best and easiest to use for Newbie's, with even limited HTML knowledge. I have my plan for a website noted down on paper and require assistance as to which direction i should head in! whether i should simply download the Joomla files and head on into the forums for guidance to learn as i go along, or whether i should request assistance from experts and template sites, such as compass, Joomlashack, etc. The former i feel maybe slightly daunting, time-consuming and frustrating. Please point me in the right direction. i would love for a freelancer to help me out by creating the whole thing for me and leaving me to maintain.. (with maybe some support! just in case!) i have a limited budget for the project. you should also know that it MAY BE (haven't decided yet!) NON-PROFIT, i have good intention....... but also need to earn a living!! The site needs to incorporate: - community module - searchable directory (of community members), - forum - Article submission - Download of pdf's, audio. - Shop - ECommerce - Donations to community members - Google Adsense or similar integration - SEF plus, various others. Yes, it is similar to myspace, but a better understanding can be gained if you pm me to obtain full details. Should you be able to let me know of your costs then plese do so now!! i am looking to launch the site prior to September 06
I believe the original poster is looking for someone to build the site, and show him how to maintain and update it.
I do not suggest doing it yourself. There are too many server problems that can go wrong depending on your host. For example, my hosting doesn't cache so I had to put a tmp file and source to that file on every PHP page... It was crazy. No manual on the internet would have told me that. You have to configure the htaccess file and if you store it in the wrong directory you can screw up your entire web. I know people would like you to think that this is easy, but, for God's Sake, the manual doesn't even come packaged in the intallation files. You will have to know how to hook into a mysql database....... Then after hours, possibly days, of figuring out how to install, you will spend that much time and more figuring out how to install the modules, etc.... Also, if you do find a template, you will have to figure out how to change the logo..... A little HTML knowledge is probably not enough for this undertaking. If you want your site done correctly and efficiently, make sure your hosting provider gives you PHP and MYSql and has htaccess redirection. If you don't have any of the 3 you won't be able to accomplish the task. Please spend the money now and give it to someone who can really do the job correctly. Good Luck...
thankyou for your responses people! i have been given a price from a freelancer to build the site for me and may take it up for now whilst i learn the thing for myself..... in my opiion, CMS and especially Joomla is gaining pace and will take over the world! There will be numerous "beginners" wanting to use Joomla to create sites......it would be a good idea for me to learn now! i've already started to learn php, apache, mysql and Joomla...... There's a UK function, where the likes of Phil Taylor (the number 1 Joomla expert) will be speaking on the 31st July in Leeds where i've already booked my seat! I'm gonna dive in and collect as much info as possible! my exisiting site (a pixel site! www.pixaprize.com) has got people talking about me locally and i have been asked if i could build sites for local business and institutions. Joomla will help as i can offer more features to customers and with CMS, the can maintain with ease. oh, Berserker........ you're not stating that i shouldn't even try....... obviously, it's going to be difficult to learn, as with anything in life....... but you've gotta try, and not just try, but keep going until you succeed....... and i'm willing to give it a go!
Check out my site, in my signature. It has all that you want EXCEPT for e-commerce/donation because I dont need it. Just install Zencart and you can have all teh functions my site does It's easy.
you can do everything you want in joomla , but you must be carefull with seo , it's more complicated in joomla.
It's better if you are really eager to learn joomla yourself. Once you've learn the curves of joomla it can really be fun.