Should I Use Joomla or a Regular HTML Site?

I am creating a site with information about investing. I also want to have a forum. I want to make money from this site using adsense and the Amazon Affiliate program. I am not sure how I am going to create the site though.

I have never created a site with the intent to make money using programs such as adsense until now. I have made many websites in the past using Dreamweaver and Photoshop and feel I am very good at using these tools and can build professional websites.

I found Joomla recently. I like the consistency and dynamic nature of a CMS. I would love to use one but I have no experience using a CMS and have no idea how to code php. My problem with Joomla is that you need to use a template. I would like to create my own design for the website, but don't think I would be able to create a professional design since I have no experience using php.

Is there a way to easily integrate a CMS into a site that I could build on dreamweaver?

Also, is it better to use a CMS or regular HTML site if I am making a site with many articles and a forum?

Thanks for the help.
Matt

 

i suggest joomla
it's easy to organize your pages

 

yes i agree^

plus there is alot of help when you want to expand.

 

Thanks for the replies. I like Joomla also. My problem is I don't like the templates but I don't want to spend the time to learn php to make my own. Any suggestions on easy ways to make your own template?

 

you can take the design of one that you like and then redo the graphics

 

even buy a template.. they should be $20 to $40...

 

I haven't tried Joomla, but I have tried other CMS and I didn't like it. I prefer having complete control over my pages. Using a CMS seems so restrictive. I suppose if you were just doing an article site, it would be easier to use a CMS.

 

You know there are programs that can almost automate all what you need in just a short time and it will look as professional as the Trump tower.

HTML is much more flexible when it comes to creating a fine website.

 

Are you saying that there are programs other than Joomla that use HTML that can automate your site? If so, what programs?

 

The programs that can automate your site work in a dinamic way (pulling information from a database to create pages on the fly) hence, they can't be html, html is good for static pages. Dinamic websites are built in a server side language, like php or asp.
There are other CMS (content management systems) besides joomla, but joomla is probably the best open source out there.
If you like a blog style, you can use WordPress, it allows you to add pages other than the blog, so you can easily build a website around it.

About joomla templates, you can find near 1000 templates in
joomlaos.de/joomla_template_galerie.html all you need is a little customization (maybe change the header image).

 

All you need to know is css and a little html to design your template.

 

Hey im doing a research on this - found this thread interesteing.

Cheers to all who contributed.

 

You don't need to know php to create a Joomla template. All you need to do is insert a could of php commands into your HTML template and you're running. You can copy the php commands out of an existing template.