Finally attended my first WordCamp last weekend, Las Vegas WordCamp. An event for WordPress users and developers. Let me tell you it was the best $30 I ever spent for business!!
I went with some hesitation. After all, I was missing round four of the PBR World Finals to attend this event that I thought would be filled with just WordPress junkies, programmers and geeks. It wasn’t. It was so much more!
I met everybody from small business owners to the geeky developers and business marketing people. All there to learn more about the awesome power of WordPress.
Learn we did. They set it up in two tracks. One leaning to the developers and programmers and one leaning to the practical, common users of WordPress. That is where I hung out at. The practical side of it all. I’m still going through all my notes and recounting the little tidbits of wisdom I learned and can implement.
WordPress (WP) keeps growing and becoming more flexible, more powerful as a website builder and business tool. Topics covered new eCommerce plugins (killer notes), blogging tools and content management software. It’s just not for blogging anymore! Workshop on Podcasting, lessons from a full time blogger and ideas on better ways to make the website humm along. All great workshops with lessons for anyone and everyone.
When evaluating an event like WordCamp, its about those little things you learn. One new lesson learned in a workshop, can save me hours of time and future frustration. Like how to simply install a YouTube video in the post and have it self configure the dimensions. Or to hear personal thoughts on what plugin works best to solve a particular problem.
More importantly, I met other people who use WordPress. I got to network and find out how others are using WP. Hear their tips and tricks for building a better blog or a better website. The great thing about WP is its flexibility. Being open source software, people can take what is out there and make it do more with a few simple tweaks.
It was like sitting at a large table with a team of experienced programmers and marketers ready to answer any question you had. Each question was answered in a different way by a different person. As well as my chance to give my thoughts, ideas and tips to others. The WordPress community is one large and open family of supporters. No egos or “I am better than you” mentality.
I even have two possible gigs from the event!
WordCamp – Awesome Adventure, can’t wait for next year. I will post some of my notes and news in future posts. Along with what I learned about WordPress that can help build your business.
If you have any questions about what WordPress can do for your business or want help starting/improving your website, Contact Me
Hope This Helped
Mark Anthony
About Mark Anthony
