Whether you want to trade your current website in for a more user-friendly, flexible site or need to create your first company website, Joomla is a good place to start. Joomla is a free content management system that allows anyone to easily update information, whether you are an Internet novice or a seasoned Internet user. For those who use Joomla, programming is much simpler than with other website-building systems. Joomla site development goes faster than other similar websites, making the Joomla CMS extremely popular.

The Joomla content management system may be a great fit for you when it comes time to build your company's website. However, you should do the following before committing to using the site:

1. Learn how to properly use Joomla before building a website.

2. Add to your website with Joomla extensions.

3. Make your site colorful with templates for Joomla.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself about everything Joomla has to offer

Before committing to the Joomla content management solution, you need to determine if it will fit your needs. Fortunately, the Internet offers plenty of information about this site that enables you to make an educated decision. Once you have decided, you can either move on to the next step or check out other content management systems.

I recommend: Take advantage of Joomla's demo, which allows users to check out the program's features. If you decide that the Joomla CMS is for you, convert your current website to a Joomla site using the steps detailed on Joomla's site.

Spice up your site with Joomla extensions

The sheer number of extensions available for Joomla ensures that you can get what you want on your company's site. Whether you want to add a calendar, blog, calculator, forum, weather information or other features, the choices are endless. The open source characteristic of Joomla allows users to create their own extensions and share them with others, indicating that no matter what feature you want to add to your website, you can do it.

I recommend: Browse this list of Joomla extensions to get ideas on what features to add to your site. Check out the most popular Joomla extensions on JoomlaCollection.com.

Add to your Joomla website with templates

Joomla site design doesn't have to be boring. Give it any look you think is appropriate for your business with Joomla templates. Choose among green-inspired designs, colorful and artistic templates, or a clean, professional look, to name a few. Simply download your chosen template and apply it to your website to achieve your dream company image.

I recommend: SiteGround provides hundreds of free templates for Joomla. Best of Joomla! offers some of the most popular templates to paid members of the site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Joomla can be difficult to master in the beginning, so be sure to set aside a lot of time to get used to it. However, once you get your site up and running, the most difficult part will be over, and you can begin customizing your site with templates and extensions.