I have been using Joomla for a year now and I am still learning daily. Normally I spend at least 8 hours a day on-line working with numerous Joomla installations. It would not be unusual to do an 18 hour day just researching and installing different extensions. One thing is for sure, its not all that easy!

Most people I talk to and that includes customers, are new to Joomla the content management system. They believe it will be easy to use because thats what they have read about Joomla and other content management systems also. Database driven websites were once only something a large corporation could afford to own and operate. Although everyone can have one now, it still takes the 'operating part' to make it all work.

The truth is you are going to have to spend time learning how to use the system. You can have someone set it all up for you by naming your sections, categories and adding in your first content item. You could also have your menu names done for you. You can have your template installed and custom logo inserted into the header. It can all be ready to go.

Now most customers of mine want to make changes to module positions and an assortment of features that can be used. If you want it to be easy from the start you will need to let someone set up the basics for you. Then all you do is find the new content button, click it, and enter your article. Learn how to publish first and get right to the most important part of your site, the content.

The only other method to starting a Joomla powered site is to spend the time necessary to learn how to use the system. I can tell you from experience that after one year of use and over 50 installations of Joomla and hundreds of extensions, I am still learning daily. It all changes at a high rate of speed and requires that you stay on top upgrades and new components. It is a daily job researching upgrades and bug fixes.

I would suggest that you decide before you start what your plan will be. Do you want to spend a few months learning the ropes or do you want to get started with your content, products or service? Most people I talk to had expected it to be very simple to use and everything would be 'plug and play'. Sorry, that is not likely going to be the case for most Newbies. The upside is a large community of Joomla users around for help and of course its what I do.

What I think is meant when you read about Joomla being easy is that you can manage the daily needs of your website. That means most people should be able to use the editor and enter content. This was always a question I would get years ago when I built HTML websites. The customer would always ask "can I change some words or add in some content", well sorry no you likely can not. You would have to know either HTML or how to use the same software I used to make the site.

So what someone is saying when they claim Joomla is easy, is they mean it will be easy for you to manage your content on a daily bases. They did not mean it would be easy to install components and move modules around. Although doing these things may become easy, that will not be the case for a newbie.

This article is now a few years old. The point behind it has not changed but Joomla has come a long way since writing this. Baratta Design has also advanced it's knowledge of Joomla and the high quality templates that are available for the content management system. (Today is July 8-2009)