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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.

Keep the Party Going!

Posted on by Vanessa Smith

Join us at the Tap House Grill on Saturday, Nov. 9th at 6 pm.

After a full day of sessions, unwind with us and your fellow campers at the Tap House Grill for food (hosted), drink (no-host), and maybe a little billiards.

The after-party is a great way to connect with other campers. Hope to see you there!

This year’s after-party is sponsored by WPSeattle.

Location: 1506 SIXTH AVENUE, SEATTLE, WA 98101

Do You Have a Podcast?

Posted on by BobWP

We’re adding something new this year. Bob Dunn has joined the organizing team this year and created our ‘Podcast Corner’.

If you have your own podcast, this is an opportunity to record an episode for your show at WordCamp Seattle.

Imagine the possibilities! Think about the potential guests! WordCamp Seattle brings in some incredible people. Plus, you’d be ‘on location’ at an amazing event.

The details are simple:

The topic is totally up to you. We want this to fit your show. Once you have a topic, find yourself a guest and you are good to go! We’ll do the rest.

There will be two hand-held mics waiting for you and we will take care of the recording. Your job is to have fun.

Ready to sign up?

There are 8 40-minutes slots available. Each slot will include 30 minutes for recording time. We will send you the audio file within one week of #wcsea.

Grab a slot that works for you:

Podcasting Slots for WordCamp Seattle with Bob Dunn

Have questions? Contact us and we’ll get you some answers.

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!


Call for Volunteers

Posted on by Noah Britton

WordCamp Seattle is organized, planned, and run entirely by volunteers (and paid for by our amazing sponsors). We need your help to create an outstanding experience for 2019.

We need volunteers to help with:

  • “Happiness Bar” tech support
  • Registration – Greet attendees at the registration booth and provide them with swag.
  • Presentation rooms (general) – Help speakers set up and make sure everything runs smoothly in the presentation rooms.
  • Speaker Introduction – Help us hype our awesome speakers with a (pre-written for you) introduction.
  • Setup and tear down – Would you like to have the whole day to listen to speakers and chat with fellow attendees? Sign up for setup and tear down! We’d love to have help before and after!
  • Runners/Floating Support – Be an information resource for attendees and know where to route any questions you can’t answer.

We welcome anyone to apply to volunteer, regardless of ability!

Our only requirement is that you are available and can be at the Washington State Conference Center on November 9 and 10, 2019.

Volunteers will be asked for a commitment of four hours of time. (You get bonus points for signing up for even more!) If there are specific talks you want to see, please let us know which ones and we will make that happen.

Interested?

Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.

We’ve extended Our Speaker Application Deadline.

Posted on by mattoperry

We’re excited by the variety and quality of proposals we’ve already received for WordCamp Seattle 2019. In the coming days, we’ll be reaching out to those who have applied to speak — so if you’ve applied, thank you! WordCamp would not exist without the participation, hard work and enthusiasm of all of our speakers.

This year we want to give more people a chance to apply, so we’ve decided to extend the application deadline to midnight on September 3.

Everyone has a story to tell.

Maybe you’ve discovered a particularly cool technique for managing your sites. Did you write or are you working on a particularly cool plugin? Do you know about optimizing WordPress for scale, performance or search? Do you use WordPress to solve problems in your classroom, business or enterprise? How has WordPress changed your life or livelihood?

We all have a story to tell, and we’d like you to speak this year and share yours!

We have extended the deadline for you.

All you need to do now is apply. You don’t have to be an expert. All you need is you story.

Submit your application with the basics about you and your topic, and you’ll hear from us soon.

WordCamp only works because folks like you (yes you!) decide to share your wisdom, ideas and experience with the wider community. So please apply to speak, and see you at WCSEA 2019!

You Don’t Need to be an Expert to Speak at WordCamp Seattle

Posted on by marenc

Maybe you have been mulling over whether or not you want to apply to speak at WordCamp Seattle this November.

Maybe you are concerned the content you want to present isn’t what others want to hear or that the topic has been done before and often. Perhaps it is how well you speak or that you do not consider yourself an expert on the subject matter.

Whatever your doubt, put it to rest. WordCamps aren’t about bring the experts to the stage. They are about community. About the every day user, whether that be a business owner depending on their website performing properly, a content writer, or a seasoned developer, coming together to meet, network, and learn. It doesn’t matter where you feel you fit into the community. You FIT!

Put those concerns to rest.

Concerned about the content of your talk? Speak with our team. We can give you ideas, not only on your topic, but other topics your could choose.

Think the topic has been overdone? We may have heard the topic before, but never from your perspective. It’s not only about what is said. It’s about how it is said. Your voice, your words, your message. That is unique and WILL resonate with someone.

Don’t feel you are great speaker? WordCamps focus on everyone. As organizers we aren’t looking for the best speakers. We are looking for those who have something to share. You do!

Don’t consider yourself an expert? As someone who has started learning from the ground up—whether as a blogger, business owner, or developer—you have experience newbies want to hear. Some people attend WordCamp because they are just getting started and they want a little inspiration or direction to get them on their feet.

Maybe you geek out at parties, your friends’ eyes glazing over, as you pontificate about the technical intricacies you’ve wrestled down. We’ve got the audience for that! There’s a whole cadre of WordCamp attendees who want to take their skillset to the next level. And you can help them get there!

We know this because they’ve told us.

WordCamp feedback surveys show we draw a mixed audience of users with varying degrees of experience in WordPress. Each group hopes to hear speakers that can get on their level—whatever level they happen to be on presently.

Don’t feel limited by trying to appeal to all audiences. Just make note in your pitch paragraph of the audience want to reach—beginner, intermediate, or advanced users. We’ll make sure the right audience finds you.

If you have a talk you’d like to present…

Apply and forget the doubts. You’ve got this and the audience wants to hear from you!

Call for Speakers

Posted on by Ryan Tvenge

NOTE: Call for speakers closes on September 3.

You (yes you!) are invited to apply to speak at WordCamp Seattle 2019!

Perhaps you have a passion for WordPress or you want to share your WordPress-related technological or business insights and expertise.

Maybe you want to tell the story of how WordPress powers your dream, drives your business or transforms your professional or personal life. If so, why not apply to be a speaker?

WordCamp Seattle is a 100% community-driven event, which means an opportunity for everyone to both teach and learn, listen and speak. Everyone has a story to tell and even if you haven’t considered it before, we encourage you to apply.

Successful talks span a range of WordPress-related topics from development and design to open source, business, marketing, and more. We are looking for speakers who can teach, inform, and inspire.

As a speaker, you’ll receive complementary access to the event including lunch. More importantly, you’ll join a community of developers, designers and leaders who come together to make WordCamp Seattle happen.

Speaking and application details

This year, we will be accepting applications for both full (max 45 minute) and lightning (max 10 minute) sessions. In addition, if you would like to lead a more hands-on session, you can apply to lead a 2-hour workshop on any WordPress topic that will introduce participants to a new skill or technique. Please indicate your preferred format when you apply.

Please use the Apply to Speak form to submit your application. The call for speakers closes at midnight PST on September 3rd.

You are welcome to submit multiple proposals, up to a maximum of three. If you submit more than three, we will consider only your first three submissions.

Be sure your talk description/abstract defines the exact topic you want to talk about and what you hope people will learn or gain from attending your session.

How speakers are selected

A committee of volunteer organizers will review submissions beginning on September 4th. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application beginning on or around September 10th. If you don’t hear from us immediately on the 10th, please be patient as it may take some time to inform all applicants of their status. If you submit multiple proposals, you will only receive one response from us.

Apply To Speak

WordCamp Seattle thrives as a result of many talented and inspiring speakers from many backgrounds. Even if you’ve never done anything like this before we invite you to apply to join us as a speaker at WordCamp Seattle this year.