How to build Joomla business web sites

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The Open Source movement has created some powerful, friendly and FREE software. With a little direction you can use this software to build a website or an online shopping cart. You don't need to be an expert Joomla programmer or an expert oscommerce programmer to own and build a powerful website and shopping cart.

Joomla - Drupal Duel

Which is better? Joomla or Drupal?

Which Content Management system is better?

Joomla is better than Drupal

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Joomla is a joy to behold

simhabook@gmail.com says:

my opi joomla

Adam Turner says:

Joomla would beat drupal in a punch up any day!

Dhiraj says:

Joomla is better

Steve L says:

joomla

GunZ says:

Joomla is easier, and better

Drupal kicks sand in Joomla's face

Nga says:

Cant help but wonder if the people criticizing Drupal have used it for more than a day... Joomla is such a pain to do anything more than what is readily offered!

flex says:

Joomla may be easier but it's like saying a bicycle is easier to use than a race car. For powerful, flexible web applications Drupal wins hands down.

Matt says:

There is a prevalent myth that Drupal is hard to use, but once you get beyond the basics of a site, many CMS alternatives, including Joomla are worse. And when it comes to power, flexibility, and building robust websites, Drupal is in a completely different league than less sophisticated systems like Joomla.

webmaster says:

Drupal is amazing. Can't speak about Joomla, but Drupal's CCK, views, and templating are hard to beat.

 
view all 14 comments

Which is better, osCommerce or Zen-Cart

Which shopping cart is better?

Which is better?

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I bless the day I found osCommerce

digiweb says:

I love osCommerce but Zen-Cart is a joy as well.

Zen-Cart makes the sun shine.

 

Introduction to Content Management Systems

Content Management Systems (CMS) are powerful website builders

The Open Source marketplace now offers several free tools that let you accomplish these three goals.

From simplest to most complex, three of the most popular are:
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Drupal

Wordpress is the simplest. Joomla and Drupal have more power. Each of these is a great tools for the business owner who wants a solid web presence. Preferences come with experience. I have high regard for all three packages. As a Joomla Expert I've produced many websites using the Joomla Content Management System (CMS). Joomla is my favorite tool to produce business websites. It's more powerful than WordPress but quicker to put together than Drupal.

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal 

Business Website Goals

Publish, Read and Rank

Joomla is a powerful, free software package. It's easy to install and easy to use. You don't have to be a Joomla Expert to create a powerful business website.

Let's make some assumptions about your business website goals.

You want the site:
- to be easy to publish.
- to be easy to read.
- to rank in the search engines.

Joomla Lets You Easily Save and Publish Your Website 

What about Fantastico? It's a security hole.

Most Joomla updates include security fixes. If you use Fantastico to install Joomla you have to wait for your hosting company to upgrade Fantastico before you can install the security fix. Installing Joomla manually means you can immediately upgrade security fixes.

Find one of thousands of Joomla templates to design your site in a click 

Submit your business website to the search engines 

Joomla Websites

Business Websites Built Using Joomla

These are expert Joomla sites. They each have a custom design. This list shows you a little of what is possible using Joomla.
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Joomla Minimum Requirements

Download, Unzip, Upload, Create Database, Configure

To create your Joomla website you will need:
1. a domain
2. a web host
3. the Joomla source code
4. an FTP tool

Get a domain, web host, MySQL database and an FTP Tool

Joomla Requirements

Get a domain, web host and MySQL database at Host Gator. Get the FileZilla FTP tool at Download.com.
Host Gator
If you like this lens please consider using my affiliate link, above.
FileZilla Client
FileZilla FTP tool

“Version 1.5 came out today. Best to give it time to ripen. I suggest installing Joomla 1.0.14RC1.”

Joomla Installation: Download

Download, Unzip, Upload, Configure

If you got this far without a domain, hosting account or MySQL database, go back to the Host Gator link above. They will get you setup.

Download the Joomla source code version 1.0.14RC1 ZIP file (link below).

Extract the contents to your hard drive. Make sure the USE FOLDER NAMES option is checked.

Download Joomla

Get Joomla Source Code

Download Joomla
Download the Joomla package from Joomla.org

Upload Joomla to Web Host

Push extracted zip conents to your web site

Open FileZilla client. Connect to your web host account. I'll refer you to your hosting company for more detail on this task.

Push the Joomla source code on your desktop to the website's root folder.

Web hosting configurations vary so I'll point out that the following example works for Host Gator. Assume the source code is in c:\joomla. The website root folder is /public_html. Push the contents of the Joomla folder (administrator,components...) to /public_html. When you're done, public_html should have the same files and subdirectories as c:\joomla.

Configure Joomla

Add a database, run the wizard

Contact your hosting company if you need help creating a database. They will give you a tutorial.

Use your browser to navigate to your Joomla installation. I will look like this:

Joomla Pre-installation Check 

Database Configuration

Skip through the license and pre-ambles. Enter the hosting and database information you create a few steps ago. Your hosting company should have no problem helping you with this.

Joomla Database Configuration 

Your Website Name

Enter your site's title

Now enter your site name. As an example we'll say our website is about adopting homeless pets.

Your Website Name 

Enter your email and password in Step 3

Add your email

Step 3 just requires you enter your email. Don't change the values for URL or path. Change the password if you like. Note the password now.

Enter email and admin password 

Remove the Installation Directory

Required for security purposes

You will use either your hosting company's "file manager" or the FTP tool for this step. Find the directory named "installation" and delete it.

Remove Installation Directory 

View Your Site

Uses the default layout

Use a browser to navigate to your domain. Here is your new site. It uses the default Joomla layout.

Default Layout 

Joomla Administrator Login 

Visit the Administrator

Control your content

The Joomla control panel is at the /administrator directory off of your domain: http://yoursitedotcom/administrator

Enter your login and password from the previous steps to being your Joomla adventure.

Introduction to Open Source eCommerce Software

osCommerce, Zen-Cart and Offshoots

For a small or medium-size business an open source shopping cart makes the most sense. The code is both free and modifiable.

Two of the best open source shopping carts are osCommerce and Zen-Cart.

Zen-Cart is one of the more mature and accessible osCommerce offshoots. Other branches off the osCommerce tree include X-Cart and CRE Loaded.

Whether you will like osCommerce or Zen-Cart more depends on your skill set and store needs.

A technical novice who wants to go it alone will prefer Zen-Cart for its pre-loaded functionality.

Someone comfortable with uploading and configuring software -- or who hires a programmer -- might be better off with osCommerce.

osCommerce has a much larger programmer base than Zen-Cart. It has more add-ons that plug into your store's code.

Both osCommerce and Zen-Cart are excellent platforms for creating your online store.

osCommerce Default Shipping Options 

Zen-Cart Extra Shipping Options 

Reader Feedback

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Joomla Books on Amazon

Top-rated Joomla Books

Joomla books have two audiences:
- the business website owner who uses Joomla to build a website;
- and the programmer who changes Joomla to do new things.

These books are for the Joomla website owner.
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About digiweb

Digiweb is a Joomla Expert
and osCommerce programmer.
She's been writing software
for 20 years. For
Expert Joomla
help, please visit.

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digiweb

Joomla Expert and shopping cart builder. Free websites for animal rescues and animal shelters. more »

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