This visitor publish is by Austin Gunter of WPEngine.com
If you happen to’ve spent sufficient time working with WordPress, you’ve come throughout the ever-present “WordCamps” and possibly requested the query, “What the heck is a WordCamp?” Hopefully at this level you’re contemplating attending an area one, and also you wish to know, “How can I take advantage of out of my weekend?”
It is a good publish to learn earlier than you go. It is going to show you how to make a convention plan to maximise your weekend. There’s so much you may get out of a WordCamp, so let’s show you how to determine what that's!
Earlier than I go away for a convention, I all the time begin by understanding what kinds of individuals will attend. Relying on town, a WordCamp may have 50 to ~1000 people attending. It will embody professional WordPress builders and designers, web site homeowners, entrepreneurs, sponsors, and full and complete noobs. A standard false impression is that WordCamps are for professional customers, however that’s not true! WordCamps are excellent for newbies simply getting began.
The native WordPress rockstars will present up, and the people who find themselves nonetheless getting their ft moist will present up too….BUT…
Everybody attending WordCamps has the identical 4 targets:
- To be taught extra about WordPress
- Share their data with others
- Join with extra individuals in the neighborhood
- Develop their WordPress-based enterprise
Which of these 4 targets matches your present targets? As you concentrate on that, it turns into straightforward to make a convention plan, however you’ll nonetheless have some primary questions concerning the convention.
Questions like:
What ought to I put on to a WordCamp? Observe the tradition of the convention. WordCamps are informal affairs. Shorts, graphic t-shirts, and even flip-flops are going to be acceptable at most WordCamps. Assume open-source or startup software program builders dresscode. Which means gown in a method that makes you snug. So long as you don’t present up in a swimsuit and a tie, you’ll match proper in.
Ought to I convey my laptop computer to the occasion? Sure. Each display you will have that may tweet, e mail, publish blogs, no matter, convey it. You need to have the ability to work together along with your WordPress web site whilst you’re there. For instance, chances are you'll wish to ask questions on the Happiness Bar, and make modifications to your web site on the spot!
What about Twitter? Tweet each likelihood you get. Discover out what the occasion hashtag is, and begin sharing the highlights from every speak you go to, or tweet hello to the individuals you’ve simply met in particular person. Twitter is an incredible approach to communicate with all these individuals long run, and also you’ll achieve some followers alongside the best way.
Can I meet builders and designers at a WordCamp? WordCamps are superb locations to satisfy potential builders for a WordPress web site. If you happen to want a developer for a undertaking, set a aim to satisfy 5 builders (which must be straightforward), get their contact information, after which talk about your undertaking over e mail with them.
How can I be taught to develop a enterprise on WordPress? WordCamps are designed to freely spread information, so it’s an acceptable place to come back and ask questions on easy methods to use WordPress for your small business. This 12 months at WordCamp Austin, I met some entrepreneurs who got here with a set of targets they wished to attain for a brand new web site. They knew among the the targets could possibly be met with plugins, and wished recommendation about which plugins had been optimum. For instance, which plugin ought to they use to gather emails? Or, which plugin will add a social community side?
These people weren’t shy about asking for assist, and also you shouldn’t be both! If you are able to do all of the work your self, superior! If you happen to need assistance implementing an answer, ask them what their charges are!
Ought to I give recommendation to people? Serving to individuals begin one thing by giving them recommendation or perception at a WordCamp is sweet karma, and it will always come back to you in spades. If in case you have experience in one thing, share it with the neighborhood.
What about after events? My rule on after events is to go you probably have the power left. You’ve already invested the money and time to attend the convention, so you need to benefit from all the things provided. You by no means know who you'll meet. I usually manage an impromptu after-after celebration, so long as it doesn’t battle with the official celebration (Examine with the organizers!). Lately, I helped arrange “CigarCamp” after this years WordCamp in Austin.
Ought to I communicate at WordCamp? The reply to this query is all the time sure. If in case you have a subject that you simply’re an professional on, and it pertains to WordPress, or it offers worth to people who find themselves utilizing WordPress to create issues, then you need to all the time submit a subject. Talking is without doubt one of the greatest methods to construct your model and your small business.
Earlier than you begin making excuses, you don’t need to be a WordPress genius to offer a chat at a WordCamp. You simply need to know easy methods to do one thing cool with WordPress. For instance, there are a LOT of people who find themselves higher at creating WordPress than I'm. Nonetheless, I’ve spent the final three years of my life utilizing WordPress to construct communities, and I've spent quite a lot of time testing the precise methods to combine social media into WordPress. I’ve taken that experience and provides a chat at WordCamps known as “Growing Digital Advertising and marketing into your WordPress.” Ask your self, “What do I do know that I can contribute to the neighborhood?”
There you go. That’s an excellent overview of easy methods to take advantage of out of WordCamps. If you happen to suppose I missed one thing, otherwise you’ve acquired one other tip for people, go away it within the feedback! We’ll learn all of them.
Austin Gunter (@austingunter) is the Model Champion and Blogger over at WP Engine. WP Engine gives superfast managed WordPress internet hosting for big fashionable websites, in addition to small enterprise homeowners who prioritize buyer expertise on-line.
