#52 - Joomla Beginner or Newbie?

If you are a Joomla Newbie, there are some things you need to do, and some others which you should avoid. Read on for more information....

To Do

• Download and read from cover to cover the Joomla Installation Manual. There are two versions, an online version and an offline PDF version.
• Scroll through help.joomla.org. Its been designed and written with you in mind, there are lots of useful resources for Joomla beginners. Its the best place to obtain completely free Joomla advice.
• Use Google or your favourite search engine to find Joomla Tutorials, Joomla Tips and Tricks and millions of other free Joomla resources
• Read through our Joomla Tutorials and Tips and Tricks ;)
• Find an ideal Joomla book

No To Do

• Start using Joomla without reading anything at all. Joomla is a very powerful CMS. However, it takes time to get used to it. Some people will get frustrated when things don't go their way immediately. But don't' get dishearted, we've all been frustrated initially, hang on in there, and use the community to help you ... and eventually you will grow to love it!
• Upload a Joomla website to your host and start experiment online. A Joomla beginner should experiment offline, experimenting and learning online might bring in certain risks to your website and should be avoided
•  Ask on the forum WITHOUT searching. Believe it or not, probably 100s of people have already been through the problem you are experiencing, and have probable solved their problem. Being a large helpful community, you will typically find a solution to your problem either on the forums, or else if you do a simple search engine search. So use searches before resorting to posting on the forum. It will save your time, and save other people's time too.