We specialize in creating dynamic and powerful websites for Realtors and agents and we use the content management system called Joomla.  Joomla, like Wordpress and Drupal offers us the best blend of features, ease of use and search engine functionality - a hands down winner over template providers and custom, HTML only websites.

Our own website runs on Joomla and we've been installing, configuring, optimizing and designing for Joomla for several years now.  

We'll work closely with you to create a site that you own outright - that you can customize and add unlimited content to yourself, without having to know any HTML - and with all your important features like IDX, Featured listings, Blogging, Google Maps, Calculators, Search Engine Friendly content, Lead Generation forms, Link directories, Sitemap, 24hr automated backup to you via email and so much more!

Just take a look at our website design portfolio and view many example websites we've created.

How to start with Joomla

Since Joomla is a Content Management System, you'll need a web hosting account in order to launch your Joomla site.  Joomla is basically a set of PHP files that 'talk' to a MySQL database that stores all of your content. We offer web hosting, but you can also get your own web hosting at companies such as 1and1, GoDaddy and Dreamhost. Hosting can often be as inexpensive as $6.00 per month and that usually covers the hosting of files, FTP access, domain forwarding, email configuration, etc.

Once you have hosting, all you need to do is go to Joomla.org and download the files. If you work with us on your Joomla site, we handle all of this for you. I recommend starting your Joomla site with version 1.0.14 as many of the best real estate extensions or "add ons" are not yet ready for the new 1.6 version.  It's an easy process to migrate your 1.0.14 version over to the new 1.6 version, once we know those extensions are available.

Once you have the files, you simply load them to your web host. You also need to create a MySQL database to use with your joomla site.  Your web host's control panel will usually have an icon for 'MySQL' and can walk you through the process.  Make a note of the mysql server name (i.e. mysql.domainname.com), the database name (i.e. joomlasql), the username and password as you'll need this when you install Joomla

Typically, your web host will assign your domain name to a particular folder on your web server - upload the joomla files to that folder and then open up that domain in a browser and Joomla walks you through the easy install process. Once you've installed Joomla, it will ask you to delete the installation folder - you'll be able to do this either with an FTP program such as Filezilla or directly through your web host control panel. FTP is short for 'File Transfer Protocol' and is how you can access your web host folders from your PC.  Filezilla is an open source (free) program that makes this very easy - you add your ftp login details and it displays a screen where your PC files are displayed on the left, the web host files are displayed on the right.  To add files to the web host, simply drag them from the left side over to the right.

You now have a basic Joomla site installed and ready to go!  If you've installed under say 'www.mydomain.com' - you can open up that url in your browser and you'll see the basic, bare bones Joomla site.  You can now also open 'www.mydomain.com/administrator' and login to your Super Administrator account with the login: admin and whatever password you set in the installation.

Here's where you may find you need a bit of help as any new system will take a bit of getting used to.

How Joomla Structures Content

A. Content ‐ Content is King and Joomla has a unique way to manage it. First, we have to categorize the content so as you add more and more, you can easily manage it. Sections allow us to do this ‐ a typical site I would install for an agent might have a section called 'Real Estate' and another for 'Blog.' Under each section, we have categories. Categories allow for further classification of our content. So, under the 'real estate' section we would have 'Buyers,' 'Sellers,' 'Communities,' etc. And finally, we have Content Items ‐ these are our website pages. They are classified under one 'Section ‐ Category.' An example would be a page for ‘First time buyers’ under the ‘Real estate’ section, ‘Buyers’ category.

B. Menus ‐ Without a menu, our content would never be seen. Joomla provides robust menu features ‐ it has it's own area in the backend to deal with them. Any section, category or content item can be added to the menu. You can have several menus ‐ perhaps a main menu, a top menu and even a user menu (for displaying content only registered site users can view, private).

C. Templates ‐ A template is one set of files that tells Joomla how your website should look and feel. Joomla comes with several basic templates you can customize or you can download free and commercial templates or have a designer customize one for you. This is where your fonts, colors and backgrounds are setup. This enables you to maintain a strict style or look throughout the site - and you'll never have to highlight text and change fonts or sizes or colors, it's all pre-programmed in for you.

D. Modules ‐ Modules are 'widget' like elements you can display anywhere on your website. Joomla comes with several pre‐installed such as a Login module, Newest articles module, Banners module among others. As an example, a typical real estate site could have a 'Contact Me' module that displays on every page or we could create a 'Featured Properties' module and have that only display on the homepage.

E. Components ‐ Components are individual functions of your Joomla site in addition to content articles. These include components for managing and uploading properties, comments on your blog, lead generation forms, a link directory, an event calendar and more. Since Joomla allows you to manage every aspect of your website from the backend, you can also manage these components and how they function on your website.

F. Mambots ‐ Mambots (Joomla was once called 'Mambo' - thus their 'robots' should now be called Joombots) are simple code additions to the Joomla core that allow for extra functionality. For example, you have a Property component installed and displaying on the website ‐ you want Joomla's built in 'search' functions to also be able to search those properties, so you have a mambot installed that does this.

Joomla Components, Modules and Mambots together are referred to as 'Extensions.' The Joomla.org website has a directory of literally hundreds of free and commercial extensions that can greatly benefit your website that are very easy to install and configure to your preferences. All of this functionality, while a bit intimidating at first is exactly why Joomla is such an amazing solution for a website. It provides for the scalability and performance that you need for something so important to your marketing. After an initial learning curve, I'm sure you'll come to agree that Joomla is a phenomenal product that lets you take complete ownership of your website.

Already have a Joomla site, but need a new template or some search engine optimization?  We can do that, too!  Just give us a call - (253) 565-3015