How to Make a Professional-Looking Blog in Joomla

Joomla can be a viable alternative to WordPress, especially for users familiar with the former. While it’s not necessarily hard to set up a professional-looking blog in Joomla, you should learn from the start that it’s neither straightforward.

Joomla’s blog function is part of the CMS, it’s not separate software. Hence to set up a blog, you need to configure the blog component of the CMS. To do this you have to play with a few settings in the Admin Panel.

Activating the blog component in Joomla requires no plugins or addons.

1. Create a Blog Section

• Go to Admin Panel and click on Content.
• In Content, go to Section Manager and create a new section.
• Name the section and publish it.

The newly created blog section becomes the part of your website that functions as blog.

2. Create a Blog Category

• Go to Content and click on Category Manager then on New.
• Name the newly created category, assign it to the previously created section, and publish it.
• Repeat the process to create additional categories within the blog section.

3. Add Articles

• Go to Content and click on Article Manager then on New.
• Complete all the fields and publish your articles in the appropriate category and section.

Now you’re blogging component is fully activated.

Creating an Attractive Blog with EasyBlog

To create a really attractive blog you need to do more though. You need to find a capable blogging extension that will let you customize your newly created blog to the smallest detail.

There are many blogging extensions for Joomla such as JoomBlog and JaggyBlog, but EasyBlog is the best by far. It comes with great functionality and it’s easy to implement. The downside is that it’s premium. It’s worth every dollar though.

EasyBlog draws heavily on WordPress, and actually improves many of the features of the latter. It lets you easily create categories, has a ‘quick post’ feature, image editor, capable comment module, and excellent social implementation.

After installing EasyBlog you have to set up your blog title and description, and then set up permissions for bloggers. After that it all becomes play.

Joomla is enough for creating a simple blog, but if you really want to make a professional-looking blog you need a component like EasyBlog.