Yesterday I wrote about time issues and getting a web site online. I mentioned that most small business owners I talk with who wish they had a web site have some time to spare getting everything together for me to build a site for them.
Recap: I have some time to spare
If you just want to get on the blog bandwagon you can have a site up and running in minutes. If you need something more customized you might be able to find it on some of the template sites out there.
So let's look at the use of templates. When I design a web site I use a content management system [CMS] called Joomla. There are several great ones out there but after playing around with them I decided Joomla was my kinda CMS. It is Open Source, which means FREE, and by using that I pass on savings to my clients while ensuring they are getting a top notch product. Joomla is so popular s a CMS that there are a million and one [OK, that's a bit over the top] add ons for it to make it anything you dream of - in an online sense.
Joomla - check it out.
Using Joomla means I need to create a template to get everything up and running. The template is a framework for the various add ons that I need to customize a site with. Using Joomla also means that my clients can easily edit their web sites and do not have to trouble me for a few changes here and there - which saves them money.
If you have ever used a word processor you will be very comfortable using Joomla to edit your web pages. You can edit the text inside your web page while you are looking at it in your browser - how cool is that?
I also love Joomla because it is flexible: as your web site grows you won't need to redo all your pages - just change the template and with one click you have a new looking site. No cut and paste anywhere!
Consider Joomla if you have some money to spend on a designer who can install and configure everything for you as it will take a loooong time to learn all that stuff yourself. If you don't have the bucks then maybe just the regular HTML route will be your best bet.
What do I mean by 'regular HTML route'? I mean getting an out of the box template and creating a web site that is not reliant on a database working 'behind the scenes', keeping your content separate from the design. That feature is what enables Joomla to change the look of your web site in a click - the pages and the framework tying them all together are not all in the same king size bed, but more like in twin beds pushed up close together... am I making any sense? I hope so! :)
Ah, now a quick chat on blogging. You can get a web site like this one set up in minutes and be on the web. If you like the blog format but need more freedom of customization than what you see here, you might want to use Wordpress and set it up on your own server. Again you need a template [or theme as Wordpress templates are called] - and some come free with your install - or you can easily find some very nice ones out there that can have to upload to your server before you can use them.
Why not just use a free template? No reason against it but they do have copyrights attached you you may have to keep certain links visible on your site that might not meld well with your business persona. Just something to think about. Also, because you don't know the author of the template you might not always get want you bargained for.
Here are some free Joomla and Wordpress template sites I like.
Best of Joomla
Joomla Shack
Themes Base
Free Wordpress Themes
Top Wordpress Themes
CSS Design Templates
Wordpress Templates
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