JOOMLA CMS SUMMARY;
Objective
This is a brief review of the Joomla CMS (Content Management System). The article will discuss the key issues and benefits of using the Joomla open source CMS system to build Websites. This is also a discussion of the pros and cons of Joomla CMS versus static HTML Websites.
Joomla was selected as the technology of choice by Intuitive Websites for non-eCommerce Websites after much experience with a variety of software and development platforms including .NET, Flash, Cold Fusion, Front Page and DreamWeaver to name a few. Joomla outperforms these software options in several areas described in this document.
What is Joomla?
Joomla is a Website development platform that pulls content from a database and displays it on template based pages on the Web. The database separates the Website’s content (text, photos and media) from its structure (design, functionality and code). This separation allows two things to happen:
- Users can edit page content via a Web browser while Web developers can simultaneously but separately edit the site’s structure.
- Developers can make site wide changes by editing the template one time instead of making redundant edits to every page on the site.
Joomla CMS Strategy Summary
Joomla works best with Websites that depend on content based strategies to drive results. These are usually sites whose purpose is lead generation or branding. Because content drives results, it is important to have the flexibility to add new content and edit existing content from a Web browser as needed. Content management is the major strength of Joomla. If the Website needs content to drive results, then Joomla is the best solution.
Why Build a Joomla CMS Website?
The three key objectives behind a Joomla Website include the following:
- Joomla allows users to edit the site from any browser.
- Joomla templates improve design with CMS templates that are flexible, easy to modify and easily integrate with current content, photos, logos and graphics.
- Flexibility in the design, content and Web modules allow for a more dynamic Website that will peak user interest, driving inquiries to the sales team and online sales.
In order to allow for more flexible site updates and content modifications, a Joomla CMS Website is recommended. It is very common for Google to index hundreds of Website pages and using DreamWeaver or static HTML to edit a large Website is like having multiple users editing a large word processing document and saving it every time they complete their edits. This will result in limited access to the Website and lost work as users save over each other’s work.
Project management and site accessibility is very limited when working on large HTML Websites. Websites need to be dynamic and allow multiple users to edit the site as needed. The site should also have a professional and modern looking design that is flexible and can be easily modified from a template, which saves development and coding costs. Joomla CMS allows for this and much more.
Why Use Open Source CMS?
Open source software, like Joomla, has been around since the early days of the World Wide Web in the 1990s. It has grown increasingly in popularity and is now a mainstream in Website development. Developers from around the world prepare the code for the CMS software and it is downloaded for free by Website developers and designers. An organization is formed to monitor and set standards for the CMS software and the release of new versions.
Open source applications have exploded as technology consumers move away from the concept of licensing fee based software to readily available code that can be used for free. Not only is the code free, but it is also updated and improved by the huge team of developers that also create plugins and other modules that enhance the functionality. This is the future of major software applications for both online and offline applications. The days of a developer writing code and then licensing that code will soon be gone to the great benefit of Website owners that will now have access to the site’s source code. This puts the value emphasis on the developer and not the code.
This concept has also taken hold among small businesses who want to customize Web applications to meet their needs, rather than rely on licensed software products that come with limitations, restrictions and additional costs. Costs are less with open source because you pay for installation and set-up of the application, rather than the fees to buy the software. Best of all, the code can be edited at any time to improve site functionality.
Joomla is the most popular of the open source CMS programs in PHP programming language and was selected by Intuitive Websites following much research and work with other HTML tools and .NET applications.
The Joomla Interface
The CMS interface in Joomla is easy to use, so non-programmers can perform tasks that were difficult in HTML and on static page Websites. The interface is clean and allows for multiple staff members to make site updates without the risk of over-writing each other’s work. The CMS manages the database of content and placement on the page so programming is not required. This also saves money.
Here is a screen shot of the Joomla user interface screen:
Here is an example of the Joomla editor:
Cost/Benefit Analysis
The cost/benefit analysis for the Joomla Website is very promising. It is comprised of time and money savings, along with better Website performance.
Time and Money Savings
- It will take less time to edit the Website.
- More staff and team members can add content simultaneously saving project management costs and speeding up development time.
- Work on the site will not be overwritten, resulting in having to re-create pages and redundant work.
- Templates can be changed and modified in the CMS program, which greatly reduce design and development costs.
- Joomla modules require minimum program and most are free to install.
- A minimum amount of technical support will be needed to maintain the site.
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