Author: Robert Nissenbaum

Introducing Our Keynote Speaker

Posted on by Robert Nissenbaum

I first met Jocelyn Mozak at WordCamp Portland in 2017. I was there primarily to network and connect with others I had only previously met online, but there were a couple of sessions which intrigued me.

One of those was Jocelyn’s Building a Profitable WP Agency. It wouldn’t normally be a topic of interest as my brand is all about content and social media marketing, but I was exploring possibilities which would allow me to focus more on my personal passions. It couldn’t hurt to listen.

By the time her talk was finished, I was impressed. I was impressed with the material presented. It was comprehensive and understandable. I was impressed with her speaking. As a speaker myself, that spoke volumes. She was comfortable, confident, and clearly passionate. She spoke to us, not at us. Her delivery was fun and she was relatable.

I had a chance to introduce myself later that afternoon. We had a great conversation and have been friends since. Over the past 2 years I have attended other talks she has given. Early this year we talked about her career, how WordPress has given so much to her, and her desire to help others in a more profound way.

When the opportunity arose this year for a keynote speaker, Jocelyn immediately came to mind.

Who is Jocelyn Mozak?

Jocelyn has over a decade of experience building, running and wrangling a 6-Figure WordPress Website Design Agency all while having two boys at home.

While her education in engineering certainly refined her technical and analytical skills, it is her passion for what she does that makes her an outstanding WordPress web designer. She is an expert in thinking outside the box and filtering out the key points amidst all the noise.

In addition to running her Agency, Jocelyn is a mentor & coach to other WordPress professionals helping them to build businesses that support the life they desire.

Her Keynote: The Gift of WordPress

In her own words:

“WordPress has come a long way from its humble beginning.

My own journey with WordPress began over 10 years ago. Seated at a park, reading the iThemes php code while my 2 boys played. Little did I know where my WordPress adventure would take me.

Maybe your experience with WordPress was similar.

You sat down at your computer one day with a dream, a vision and you installed this software called WordPress that everyone kept talking to you about. And off you went.

That is the gift of WordPress.

WordPress enters our life and we never look back.  

Whether you be a blogger, freelancer, or small business owner you will discover opportunities connect and grow within the WordPress community on a global and local level and how to get the most out of your WordCamp Seattle 2019 experience.” 

Please join us as we kick off #wcsea with Jocelyn Mozak!


Our Best Advice for an Amazing WordCamp Experience

Posted on by Robert Nissenbaum

Each year WordCamp Seattle draws more and more first time campers. We know attending an event for the first time can be daunting or even a bit overwhelming. Since the benefits of attending a WordCamp extend well beyond the event itself, we wanted to compile a list of the best tips we could find to make your experience amazing.

Before you head out the door…

Stay close to the venue if you can. This means less ‘commuting’ time to WordCamp itself. This can be especially helpful with our weather.

…there are a few tips to consider. 

Pack light (thank you WordCamp Jacksonville) but remember to bring the essentials:

  • Pack layers. It’s Seattle. It can be unseasonably warm, cold, windy, rainy – or any combination over the 2 days!
  • Bring your phone and computers – and don’t forget the chargers!! Nile Flores had a great tip to have a notepad and pen too. Sometimes ‘old school’ is best.
  • Bring your list of questions (and business cards) – Great advice from Sheila Hoffman, a former WordCamp Seattle organizer.

Maybe the best piece of advice we’ve heard when it comes to being prepared comes from Bridget Willard: Wear comfortable shoes!!  

When you get to Seattle

We recommend you take some time to see the sights. Seattle is an amazing city with a culture all its own from the people who live here to the places they frequent.

When it comes to WordCamp…

We compiled some great tips from sponsors, speakers, and attendees from years past.

We love this piece of advice from Mike Lyons :

“Go in with an open mind. Don’t feel like you’re too new or don’t know enough to attend a particular session. If it interests you, there will inevitably be something you can take from it.” 

That sentiment was echoed by Kimberly Morris Gauthier:

“If you’re a blogger, don’t allow the designer/developer content keep you away. As a professional blogger, I’ve learned the most in sessions that I originally thought weren’t for me. Try and attend as many sessions as possible because you never know when you’ll come across a gem that is just the information you need to take your blog to the next level.” 

The big theme we found was summed up perfectly by PressCaptain:

Talk to people!

  • Use this experience to meet as many new people as you can, especially if it’s your first time. `~GiveWP
  • Talk with the sponsors. Even if you don’t need what they provide, this is an often overlooked networking opportunity and those at the booth are always willing to provide advice. ~ Robert Nissenbaum
  • Enjoy the talks but also enjoy the hallway track where you can sit down and mingle. ~ Jocelyn Mozak
  • Leave time for networking and be open to attending a talk that expands your knowledge base. ~ Mitch Britt

Have a tough time meeting and talking to new people? Try these tips:

  • To break the ice and meet someone new, I just say “Hi I’m {name}, what do you do with WordPress?” with everyone I sit next to, or bump into in the hallway. Everyone I’ve met has been happy to share. ~ C Michael Nelson
  • If you’re an introvert scout out a recharge spot before you need one. I always look for one place I can hide out and just breathe ~ Chris Ford

Take breaks. Recharge yourself. 

“Don’t feel like you have to attend a talk in every single time slot. It’s good to take a break if you feel overwhelmed, and sometimes it’s a great opportunity for a chat or “hallway track” ~ Rachelle Wise

Personally we think WooCommerce nailed it with this advice:

“☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕ and then ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕” 

Maybe the best unifying thought we received when we asked for this tips:

“Just keep this in mind. We are all being brought together through the shared experience of using #WordPress. Yet, no one utilizes the software the same. Learn from others and teach them what you know.”

Adam Warner

A final tip before we go:

(and you get your tickets if you haven’t already)

Don’t just attend WordCamp! Attend a Meet Up prior to meet others in your community first. My experience attending WordCamp was enhanced when I became more involved in the greater WP community. ~ Cami MacNamara

And from Rob Taylor:

I always recommend that attendees review who’s speaking and get familiar with the websites/businesses of those whose presentations they are attending. It really helps to give context to a lot of examples and scenarios speakers may include in their talks.

Also, be ready with to LOOK FOR SOMETHING ACTIONABLE with each session you attend. And if it’s nearing the end of a talk and you haven’t found at least one actionable thing ASK FOR ONE.