For the average person, and especially developers, the potential of the Web as a media platform has long been understood. In my experience, it didn't take long to recognize the benefits the Web could offer to even the smallest businesses. Compared to traditional media, the overhead costs are extremely low and markets can be targeted accurately with the right techniques.
Over the years I've noticed that big businesses have pushed the development of major Web technology and small businesses often settle for what they can afford, from whoever can deliver it. Often this leads to a project that is left unfinished, too expensive to maintain, or outdated too quickly.
I always found this frustrating and totally against the purpose of the Web. Nonetheless in the interest of eating and paying rent I played along for too long hand-customizing Web sites for too little cash.
I played along for too long hand-customizing Web sites for too little cash
It was only after following the trails of successful companies and developers that I discovered the Joomla! content management system (CMS). At first I was skeptical, assuming that it was a new-age Geocities that might not benefit an experienced Web developer. But after seeing more and more successful sites developed on Joomla!, I began to learn how it was the perfect tool for those small business Web design projects.
Because Joomla! is an open-source CMS, it has a lot to offer small businesses that aren't prepared to create proprietary software for their Web sites. By now, countless thousands of experienced designers and programmers have contributed to Joomla! and its applications (called extensions). You could say this has spread out the cost of development to the point that it's reasonable to offer these amazing products for free, or simply in the interest of visitor traffic.
I have to emphasize to anyone who was in the same boat as me: as a framework and CMS, Joomla! could potentially save the career of even the most experienced or freelance Web developer. Granted they need to take the time to understand it's proper use, but in the long run developers will save themselves days of headaches trying to rewrite already-perfected Web applications which are a breeze to set up in Joomla!. This makes those small business-niche projects more feasible, profitable, and sustainable in the long run -- for both sides of the deal.
Doctor's Orders
For a small business weighing their Web development options, Joomla! can be a far more powerful solution than Wordpress or Drupal when implemented by a team who understands its proper usage. Check out some of these links for more information, and If in doubt, don't hesitate to ask us here at JomDoc how Joomla! might remedy your troubles.
- Joomla.org
- Joomla Extensions Directory (list of all GPL applications that work with Joomla)
- Sites built with Joomla (our own portfolio of over 50+ joomla sites)
Jom Docta Jones has been practicing various Web medicine for around a decade now. As clean code and family values are important to him, he has never lost a patient and believes in a tableless operating room whenever possible.
