About Joomla
Joomla is an integrated platform of website components and modules built on top of a database (usually mysql). This means that it offers incredible functionality 'out of the box.' These functions include administrative access for clients and approved users, blogging functions, media management (including images, video and audio files), menu systems, contact functions, and so forth.
Among the most useful of these functions is access to content, which can be handled through both the 'front-end' and administrative (or 'back-end') views of the site. This means that the Joomla site owner or user or some approved party can edit, delete, modify, and change the layout of the content without having to go through a third party. This saves time (you change the website content as soon you like) and money (you do not have to pay someone like myself to do this. Not that I wouldn't ne happy to help you!).
In addition to the many 'out-of-the-box' features, Joomla sites can take advantage of thousands of extensions. Most of these are available to the general public for no charge so long as users respect the terms of the various open-source licenses. Some extensions are commercial. They often provide functions and solutions for specialized needs or vertical markets, such as real estate, or else they provide (so they claim) better quality than their open-source cousins. The price of the commercial extensions is rarely exorbitant, and the final choice of which product to use often comes down the particular context and needs, rather than budgetary restraints.
What do the extensions provide? Tons of features: calendars, galleries, e-cards, blogs, forums, chatrooms, guest books, polls, shopping carts, newsletters, weather panels, business directories, google map links, rotating 'Flash'-like banners, the list goes on and on.
The choice of any web technology, whether it is a CMS, Flash, or other type of platform, depends on your goals. Most users, however, do not have the time to set up and troubleshoot a site. That's where I can help: I can create a site to your specifications with the features you want and then show you how to work on the content once it's up and running. I will take care of the hosting - by the way, Karma has an extraordinary hosting service that provides unsurpassed security and service.
Once the site is up, working on content through the front- or back-end views is no more complicated than sending an email attachment or using ebay. The interfaces use big, easy to spot icons and there are lots of prompts and help resources to guide you along your way.
And you can always ask me! If you have a question about Joomla or other CMS platforms, I would be delighted to share what I have learned.