Wordpress/Joomla/Drupal/Html For A Large Content Site?

by JackPowers

Posted: 14 years ago 11 replies

WEB DESIGN

Hey,

I thought I'd like to get some opinions on how to make a large content site and make it look good. I've really only worked with Wordpress and XsitePro, so I don't have a lot of experience in webdesign.

I was wondering what your suggestions are for making such a site.

I would want 3 columns frontpage, 2 column individual page, java dropdown menues and a clean personalized look, that doesn't look like a blog. This is my main issue with using Wordpress, no matter how hard you try, Wordpress is a blog and looks like it. I've used the Studiopress Themes and customized them heavily in the past and that's what I'm going to do if the other options are too difficult.

I've read a little about both Joomla and Drupal and both seem to be better for creating sites that look more professional, but don't know about the difficulty.

I don't think I have the time to learn CSS and HTML.

Anyway, for someone who can use Wordpress and do a little bit of HTML/CSS, what do you recommend?

Thanks!

#content #large #site

RokNStoK 14 years ago

I think Joomla and Drupal are both aimed at 'social networking' applications. If that is the type of thing you're looking for, check out 'Dolphin' too! If you go the Dolphin rout PM me and I'll give you the name of the greatest dolphin host ever... All the help and service you will ever need.
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Debbie Songster 14 years ago

I think Joomla and Drupal are both aimed at 'social networking' applications.

My reply to the above quote is NOPE
They aren't "aimed" at social networking applications

Jack
For what you are wanting to do Wordpress is out. Don't even try using it

I've used Drupal in the past and didn't like it. There are plenty of people who swear by it though.

My personal favorite is Joomla
It's scalability is endless and you will be able to easily customize each page with the numbers of columns you want.

With Joomla don't expect to get all your functions for free though. Unlike Wordpress plugin contributors, Joomla add ons vary in price. There are a lot of free ones but also a lot of paid plugins. For your needs you might not need any of the paid plugins - I'm just giving you a heads up that in the Joomla world - not everything is free.

Personally I don't mind that. When I buy a plugin its for a specific function and I know what kind of time goes into developing these apps.

I can show you samples if you are interested - PM me

I build Joomla sites so I know its limitations and its benefits
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- Harrison Ortega 14 years ago
  
  I can't think of a single reason, why you shouldn't even try it.
  
  For what you are wanting to do Wordpress is out. Don't even try using it
  
  @Jack
  I agree with you Wordpress will always be a blog management system, but completely disagree regarding the layout. In fact, you can have any design done in Joomla in Wordpress as well. Take a look at my portfolio (Sig) and you'll see some examples of that.
  
  I've stopped using Joomla 5 years ago to use Wordpress and I'm glad I did.
  
  My suggestions to...
  - Lots of content. Nothing better than Wordpress.
  - Clean professional layout. You can have any kind of layout on any CMS system as long as you have the ability to add/edit the HTML and CSS.
  
  Just my .02 cents.
  
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  NJ web design / NJ Web Designer. MY Wordpress portfolio. 10 years of HTML/CSS - 6 years developing professional Wordpress websites. Currently not available for services.
  
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Debbie Songster

14 years ago

I've stopped using Joomla 5 years ago to use Wordpress and I'm glad I did.

Joomla was crap 5 years ago - not anymore
5 years is long time where technology is concerned.

I can't think of a single reason, why you shouldn't even try it.
Quote:
For what you are wanting to do Wordpress is out. Don't even try using it

I can
He says he wants 2 column then 3 on the inside. He doesn't want to be editing html and css

He wants to make a large content site. Out of the box Wordpress wouldn't work

Harrison: I saw your work - you do fantastic work with wordpress.
I still think wordpress wouldn't be the best choice - both from a design / function standpoint and most importantly a user standpoint

Just my opinion

Thanks
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Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

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Harrison Ortega

14 years ago

Debbie, good point. In 5 years, things have changed.

I don't know what the "little bit of CSS and HTML" would be, but with a few tweaks he can have any type of design on any CMS system included 2 or 3 columns on the inside too. But you made another good point, is not out of the box.

Originally Posted by Debbie Songster

Joomla was crap 5 years ago - not anymore
5 years is long time where technology is concerned.

I can
He says he wants 2 column then 3 on the inside. He doesn't want to be editing html and css

He wants to make a large content site. Out of the box Wordpress wouldn't work

Harrison: I saw your work - you do fantastic work with wordpress.
I still think wordpress wouldn't be the best choice - both from a design / function standpoint and most importantly a user standpoint

Just my opinion

Thanks

Signature

NJ web design / NJ Web Designer. MY Wordpress portfolio. 10 years of HTML/CSS - 6 years developing professional Wordpress websites. Currently not available for services.

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Mohit Anand 14 years ago

@Jack
If you don't have any time to learn but want more flexibility, you may try shifting from Wordpress to Joomla. It won't take more than a week to understand the concepts and know about the required plugins and templates with the help of the wonderful Joomla community.

However, my personal favorite is Drupal. Learning curve is a bit steep. Still from a developer's point of view, it is awesome. Learning some modules like CCK, Views and Panels will make you feel on top of the world. No coding required to learn these modules. The video tutorials from lynda.com or vtc are good. They even describe the ways to design the themes (templates) of Drupal. You may find some on the Youtube too. The rumor is that Drupal is more SEO friendly. It's debatable but I can't deny it.
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blueclcl 14 years ago

Have you tried the privateer forum for wordpress?

It,s great for making your site not look like a blog.

You can get it for free in the War room
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- lesliewu 14 years ago
  
  I recommend drupal too.
  
  Like trafficwiz said, take time to learn cck, views and panels and you could pretty much do anything.
  
  Thanks
  
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  kittyd 14 years ago
  
  drupal is good but Joomla is easy. I will aways go for joomla for more than bloggging sites. I did tried Drupal, but i can`t make it look the way i want it to look, even if it functions the way i waant it to. Drupal is "ugly" by default, was never made with "design" in mind, but with clean coding in mind. But are iportant but if you want your site to be "handsome", drupal is painful ...
  
  there are some thinsg in Joomla though that you need to know before starting on it:
  -if you want one article to show up in more categories: this won`t happen unless you use some 3rd party compenent (there are some, even free...)
  -if you want unlimited nested categories, you should wait for Joomla 1.6. Right now there are only 2 levels: section>category - but also the CCK type conponents an deal with the job. But that requires learning the component also.
  -user acces control can be tweaked only with 3rd party extensions
  
  other that those 3 limitation, and are only limitations as far as "out of the box" options available, i can`t imagine anything that joomla can`t do now.
  
  so if you have a good 2 levels content structure, and the users don`t need to have a huge input on your site, that you can safely go with just "out of the box" Joomla
  
  Thanks
  
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JackPowers 14 years ago

I'm actually reconsidering. Tried out Joomla, but to be honest, it still seems like a lot of work to make it look good.

So, I'll be learning html and css instead and using a tool like Kompozer until I get the hang of it.
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- Mohit Anand 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by JackPowers
  
  So, I'll be learning html and css instead and using a tool like Kompozer until I get the hang of it.
  
  That's the way to go..
  
  Thanks
  
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  Customer service shouldn't be just a department; it should be the entire company
  
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