Tag: WordCamp Birmingham

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Make Your Website Run Faster with George Childs at WordCamp Birmingham

George Childs wants to share some tips on security and speed to help you make the most of your WordPress website.

Session

Usability Testing Workshop
You don’t really know your own website until you’ve watched over someone’s shoulder as they use it. One quick usability test can give you a world of information about how people respond to your website, especially by showing you what confuses them. I’ll teach people how to do this test, and then we will split up into groups and test on each other.

Why This Topic?

I like being liked, and most people really enjoy this seminar. I enjoy watching lightbulbs go on above people’s heads, and also the moment when people smack their forehead as something that should have been so obvious jumps out at them while they’re testing their own website.

There is also a really fun moment in most usability tests when the test user says, “I’m so lost! I can’t find the button!” and you as the test facilitator have to sit on your hands and bite your tongue because the button is so obviously there, but you’re not supposed to help the user until the test is over. That always gets me.

What Will You Take Away?

I hope participants will know how to make their websites easier to use, so that their visitors will be happy.

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

You should try Drupal and Joomla. When you come back, you will be a WordPress fan for life.

Don’t waste another second!

Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule HERE

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Kathy Drewien Reveals the Truths Clients Aren’t Telling at WordCamp Birmingham

Kathy Drewien will provide some of the secrets your clients aren’t telling you – and share tips for getting to the truth.

Session

Psst! Clients Aren’t Telling You the Truth

Maybe it’s about a project that’s gone off track or a website workflow that’s confusing. Or maybe they’re not sharing their thoughts on ways their business could grow its sales or improve operations.

By demonstrating your ability to be truly authentic at each step in the process, you can aim toward creating projects that are more collaborative and ultimately more successful.

Why This Topic?

Sometimes being a master at our craft just ain’t enough when it comes to serving clients. I believe it’s time to move beyond our “war story” projects, learn consulting methods and techniques, and trust ourselves.

What Will You Take Away?

The belief (or glimmer of hope) that it’s possible to:

  • have your expertise better used
  • avoid no-win project situations
  • establish more trusting relationships with clients

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

The WordPress community changed my life. At the simplest level I learned a new skill set for building websites using the WordPress software. As a result, I profit financially. The real power of Community is the people committed to the WordPress Project.

The power is in giving back through participation in Meetups and WordCamps, helping translate WordPress in your language, reporting bugs, testing releases, answering support questions, working with videos for WordPress.tv, writing code, developing plugins, answering questions on support forums, teaching a friend how to use WordPress, and so much more.

Learn More

Website: Kathy Drewien & Company
Twitter: @kdrewien

Don’t waste another second!

Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule HERE

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WordCamp Birmingham 2017 Speaker Spotlight – Micah Wood

Micah Wood will cover conceptually what the REST API is, the business and architectural advantages and the basics of how to use the REST API as a developer.

Micah Wood - WordCamp Birmingham - Speaker

Session

Introduction to the WordPress REST API

Why This Topic?

Now that the WordPress REST API is in core, many people have one of two responses: “So what?” and “This changes everything!”. I want to inspire people who don’t quite grasp the REST API to recognize why it is awesome and encourage them to build cool stuff.

What Will You Take Away?

I’d like people to have a better understanding of the WordPress REST API; what it is, why you would use it, and how to use it.

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

The WordPress community is an incredibly welcoming and friendly crowd. Jump in, make friends and do awesome things!

Learn More

Website: WP Scholar
Twitter: @wpscholar

There’s still time!

Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule HERE/a>

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Doug Cone Provides Docker Tips at WordCamp Birmingham

Doug Cone will be sharing with you his tips and advice for how to use Docker in day to day development.

Session

Multidev Multi Platform Development with Docker

Why This Topic?

There are a lot of different ways to approach local development, some are much harder than others. I wanted to share what I’ve found works for me after much trial and error.

What Will You Take Away?

You will have a better understanding of Docker and some of the ways that it could be used in your workflow, or why it might not be a good fit for you.

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

Just get started! There’s no best or perfect way to contribute but we can’t use your contributions if you’re still hanging on to them waiting for the perfect time!

Learn More

Website: Doug Cone
Twitter: @nullvariable

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Speaker Spotlight for WordCamp Birmingham 2017 – Bill Robbins

Bill Robbins shares the most significant endpoints in WordPress REST API.

Bill Robbins Speaks at WordCamp Birmingham

Session

Build Your Own Web App With The WordPress REST API

We will introduce the most significant endpoints in the WordPress REST API and have a simple way for you to interact with the API of an actual WordPress website. You will come away with a clear understanding of how to interact with the WordPress REST API and will be given access to a complete mapping of all WordPress REST API endpoints for PostMan.

Why This Topic?

While a lot has been talked about the REST API, finding a complete solution to roll WordPress and a javascript framework into an app is still limited. I’d like to help change that.

What Will You Take Away?

The curiosity, tools and courage to try using an app for their next website.

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

Even when I didn’t know a soul at my first WordCamp, I found lots of approachable and easy going people who are excited about the same things I am. I’ve never wished I had done something else instead of attending a WordCamp or MeetUp.

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Bluehost to Sponsor WordCamp Birmingham 2017

WordCamp Birmingham welcomes Bluehost – as a Gold Sponsor for #WPYall 2017.

Bluehost wants to help you get online, but it also wants to create a better, safer web for everyone in the process. Bluehost provides solutions to meet your needs from the novice user to the pro.

About Bluehost

Bluehost was founded in 2003 with one goal in mind: to create a better hosting company. Our founders aimed to deliver comprehensive web solutions by crafting a custom platform that paired advanced features with a simple, no-nonsense experience. Since then, Bluehost’s dedication to quality has earned the respect of customers and partners all over the world.

    We believe in WordPress and our partnership has allowed us to support it for over 10 years. Our in-house team consists of dedicated WordPress experts to provide the best support whenever you need answers. We even dedicate engineers on our development staff to full-time WordPress CORE development. No one powers WordPress better or understands it more than we do.

    Thanks to Bluehost for supporting WordCamp Birmingham 2017.

    Don’t waste another second. Get your ticket now for #WPYall this Saturday and Sunday, October 21st and 22nd, for only $40.

    WordCamp Bimringham is Waiting for You

    Get your tickets HERE

    Learn more about the speakers HERE

    Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule Here

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Mickey Mellen Takes the Stage to Share Blogging Strategies

Mickey Mellen wants to help you get the “more money” mojo going with your business and website.

Mickey Mellen for WordCamp Birmingham

Session

Blogging strategies for 2018

Finding the time and desire to blog can be tough, so we’ll be talking about blogging and how it can help your business.

Why This Topic?

I’ve learned a lot from other sessions at WordCamp over the years, and this is an area where I see a lot of people struggle.

What Will You Take Away?

The desire to get their blog rolling

Top Advice for Attending WordCamp Birmingham

The WordPress community is absolutely amazing, in that everyone is willing to share every secret they have so that the entire group can grow. Find a local Meetup and stay plugged in throughout the year.

Learn More

Website: Green Mellen Media

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JetPack Helps to Make WordCamp Birmingham 2017 Great

WordCamp Birmingham welcomes Jetpack – as a Gold Sponsor for #WPYall 2017.

Jetpack is always working for you as well. It enhances millions of sites worldwide – for free!

About Jetpack

Jetpack is the ultimate toolkit for WordPress. It gives you everything you need to design, secure, and grow your site in one bundle.
With Jetpack, you can:

  • Fully customize your site with free themes, image tools, and rich content.
  • Increase your traffic through automatic social sharing, related content, and faster load times.
  • Get a safer, stronger site via secure logins and protection from brute force attacks.

All these core features are free. Advanced features like daily backups, spam protection, and SEO tools can be added with one of three simple and affordable plans.
Best of all, Jetpack’s features are provided and hosted by WordPress.com — so there’s never any extra strain on your server when you activate or use a new tool.

Thanks to Jetpack for supporting WordCamp Birmingham 2017.

Time is running out for you to be a part of #WPYall this Saturday and Sunday, October 21st and 22nd, for only $40.

WordCamp Bimringham is Waiting for You

Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule Here

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Dynamite Developers Track for WordCamp Bimingham

Developers help to build the foundation of the WordPress platform and create the tools to keep sites running smooth. Even developers need some encouragement and guidance to find the ideas for the next great functionality leap.

The support you need may be found right in your back yard. WordCamp Birmingham 2017 has gathered some informative and exciting sessions for the Developer Track.

WordCamp Birmingham Developer Track

  • Dwayne McDaniel – WP-CLI: Don’t Fear the Command Line

  • Joshua Gilmer – Task Runners + Theming: Automating Your Workflow

  • Doug Cone – Multidev, Multi-Platform Development with Docker

  • Bill Robbins, Micah Wood – Introduction to the WordPress REST API

  • Micah Wood – A Developer’s Guide to WordPress REST API

  • Bill Robbins – Build Your Own Web App with the WordPress REST API

Get ready to take developing to the next level.

Your Ticket is Waiting

Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule Here

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10 Ways WordCamp Birmingham Creates New Opportunities for Blogging

10 Things learned at WordCamp Birmingham

This article comes from one of our speakers, Kathryn Lang. She shared her WordCamp experience with her readers on her website in 2016. Do you have WordCamp experiences you would like to share? We would love to hear from you. Let’s get the WORD out about how amazing these events are!

Are you looking to learn how to grow your website and build your content? WordCamp provides a number of ways to learn, to grow, and to share!

WordCamp offers more than tips on using WordPress – although those are abundant as well. WordCamp brings together a community of sharing individuals that love words and are working together to find better ways of getting the words before readers.

My experience with WordCamp began in 2013, and each year I have gained more from attending and then volunteering. Wordcamp Birmingham 2016 was no exception.

10 Things I Learned from WordCamp Birmingham 2016

  1. I learned that the key to everything- in business and in life – is to know your purpose. Unless you know why you are doing what you are doing you will struggle in the doing. Cory Miller was the keynote speaker and he kicked off the event by reminding us that the two keys to future success are having the ability to pivot and the focus of purpose.


  2. I learned that one of the biggest challenges I face is a crisis in confidence. Nathan Ingram shares ideas to help me see past what I deem my limitations (by only focusing on those ahead of me) and to see my proficiencies by looking around at those that are behind (and those that are beside me as well.

    “Crisis of confidence will steal joy and satisfaction” @nathaningram #wcbham

  3. I learned that the way to know what I am good at doing is to take the time to look at what I am doing. Nathan Ingram again opened my eyes to the understanding that where I stand out from the crowd is usually the place that is most natural to me so that leaves me wondering why anyone would ever pay me to do it. He suggested that if I take time to look at what I am doing and be alert and aware of what I am doing then I will be in a position to discover my greatest proficiency.

  4. I learned that time doesn’t necessarily equal money – which made sense but was still a challenge to understand. Kyle Johnson shared thoughts on ways to separate the time aspect out of the income equation. He recommended focusing more on things that didn’t require additional time to help increase income potential.

  5. I learned that my brand is an experience – and if I want people to be brand ambassadors then I better make sure that the experience is a positive one. Kristi Oliver at FlySoloMedia.com shared some amazing tips on how to define a brand and create that experience. She said that when people understand what you are about then they are drawn to you and they have an experience with your business that meets their expectations.

  6. I learned that I need to keep learning. Kristi Oliver kept pushing me to be more than I am right now. She challenged me to perfect where I am but to keep investing in learning – even within the craft that I had perfected.

  7. I learned that not all learning goes on in a classroom – or session. Amazing lunch conversations with the dynamic duo from Junior Davis & Associates, Inc. provided me with some information to chew on and also some challenges for moving forward.

  8. I learned that the after party is not just about having a party. I had the chance to visit and engage in a way that doesn’t always get to happen in a rush between sessions during the meat of the conference. These engagements reminded me that when I laugh and share I connect in a way that will build foundational relationships that allow me to continue to build and grow on this journey.

  9. I learned that we are all struggling in something. A developer may not understand (or want to understand) the content side, and vice versa. And not only are we all struggling but we all have something to offer each other – so if I am willing to learn then there is always something to learn from everyone that I encounter.

  10. I learned that I am not always as funny as I think I am – at least others may not think I am as funny as I think I am – but I also recognized that it’s okay because that just makes me want to laugh more and try more because it all is better with a little laughter thrown in.

WordCamp Birmingham provides more than conference information. It creates a platform for engaging and connecting with others. If you have never attended a WordCamp, now is your chance. Tickets are on sale for WordCamp Birmingham 2017, and this year has all the makings of the best WordCamp ever.

See you there.

Kathryn

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Get your tickets HERE

Learn more about the speakers HERE

Check out the Birmingham WordCamp 2017 schedule HERE

WordCamp Birmingham 2017 is over. Check out the next edition!