Author Archives: kathrynlang

Wildlife, Wiggling, and WordCamp – Wrapped Up with Wonderful Words

Or The Great Time Had at WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Did you give a hoot this weekend? Did you wiggle . . . even just a little bit? Or did you strike out and throw up a turkey or two?

At WordCamp Birmingham 2018, we did all of that and so much more.

The weekend got off to a roaring start – or maybe more of a chirping good time – with the Speakers Dinner at the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park. If you have never taken the time to visit this amazing place, put it on your to-do list right now.

The Speaker Dinner is a chance for the organizers and speakers to connect and set a foundation for WordCamp. The goal for this year was to introduce folks to a unique part of our community because WordCamp is all about growing community and sharing community.

Not only did speakers and organizers learn more about each other but we learned about the local wildlife – and the presentation was fowl.

Saturday Kicks Off

Registrants began arriving almost before the coffee showed up. They gathered some great swag – from WordCamp totes and t-shirts to Wappus pins from WordCamps around the country.

Gold Sponsors, BoldGrid, BlueHost, and KnownHost, were all there sharing helpful tips and more swag!

WordCamp kicked off with a warm welcome from Lead Organizer, Nathan Ingram. Folks then headed off to their first session choices and the learning and sharing began in earnest.

The lunch break spotlighted another of our Gold Sponsors. Taziki’s provided an amazing spread for lunch of chicken, rice, Greek salad, pita chips, and their famous Taziki’s sauce. We were fortunate that table talks with the speakers helped keep the energy level high so nobody had the need for a nap.

And then our keynote speaker, Gordon Seirup, challenged us all to WordPress Wiggle – while reminding us that it’s all about people!

The great food continued with a visit from Frios for our afternoon break. It was the perfect gourmet freshness to get us through the last few sessions.

Saturday Night Strikes

The closing remarks for Day One happened in each track and everyone was encouraged to head over to Oak Mountain Lanes to have a ball at the after party. BoldGrid hosted the event by providing the food and private lounge space where attendees, speakers, and organizers engaged some more and played a little pool.

The excitement went to a new level when the WordCamp folks took to the lanes. There were some strikes, more than a few gutter balls, and lots of fun.

Sunday Amps Up WordCamp

The second day of presentations kicked off bright and early on Sunday morning, with talks on podcasting, business, accessibility tips, and content ideas.

By the end of the day, everyone was making plans to get together at future WordCamps or just getting together. The engagement and connections had led to relationships – and that is what it is all about anyway.

The last part of WordCamp Birmingham 2018 came with a catwalk presentation of the #WPYall hoodies – perfect for staying warm on a fall/spring morning in Alabama (or on an August afternoon in a chilly Civic Complex) and then LOTS of prizes for the attendees still present to win.

If you didn’t make it to WordCamp Birmingham 2018, you were missed. If you did make it this year, but are ready to get more involved in WordCamp and the WordPress community, then you can join us at a MeetUp or sign up to volunteer for WordCamp Birmingham 2019 (the 10 year anniversary edition).

We want to hear from you. Share your links to your stories and images in the comment section below or just take a moment to let us know your favorite parts of #WPYall.

Bluehost Wants to Create a Better Hosting Experience

Building an online presence requires having the right foundation. 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.

WordCamp Birmingham 2018 welcomes Bluehost – as a Gold Sponsor for #WPYall on August 4th and 5th at the Pelham Civic Center, Alabama.

About

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 2018.

Buy My Ticket Now

WooCommmerce Seeks to Empower Users to Create Better Things

When you invest in others you position yourself and your company for success. WooCommerce makes a point to be involved and engaged with users and developers through WordCamps.

When the organizers for WordCamp Birmingham began putting together the experience for 2018, we looked for others to partner with us. Creating a positive experience for attendees starts with the sponsors.

WordCamp Birmingham welcomes WooCommerce – as a Gold Sponsor for #WPYall 2018

About

What started in 2008 as three WordPress enthusiasts from different countries sharing ideas over email is now an international team of designers, developers, support ninjas and marketing people, catering for a passionate and constantly growing community of hundreds of thousands of users.

From humble beginnings selling a handful of commercial WordPress Themes we now offer a range of themes and plugins to extend WordPress experiences, including WooCommerce. Proudly bootstrapped and built around a firm belief in work-life balance we have big ambitions to become the ultimate WordPress toolkit provider.

Thanks to WooCommerce for supporting WordCamp Birmingham 2018.

Buy My Ticket Now

How to Turn WordCamp into Social Media Engagement and Business Growth

Attending WordCamp Birmingham is only the beginning of the experience. It is what you do when you go home – with the information and connections you’ve encountered – that will make the most difference in what you are doing and where you are going.

Aida Correa joins WordCamp Birmingham 2018 with a session focused on how to take all that you get at WordCamp and step by step leads you from the weekend experience to real-life applications.

“As a relative “newbie” to the WordCamp experience, I found it exciting and overwhelming all at once. I wanted to share some of the strategies that have helped me to organize and apply the information I’ve gathered.”

It doesn’t matter where you are in your WordPress journey. You can benefit from WordCamp and you can take your WordCamp experience an put it to practical use.

Get your tickets now!

Sometimes you have to make the decision to move from full-time work to freelance work. Sometimes you want to make that move. No matter what your motives driving the decision, you want to think about a few things first.

Kerry Putman joins the WordCamp Birmingham speaker team with the session, Full-Time to Freelance: Practical and Self-Care Advice for When the 9-To-5 Has to Stop

Putman uses her own experiences to offer practical advice and self-care tips for dealing with the transformation from full-time employee to freelance.

“I hope you get some practical advice to help smooth the transition and also tips on taking care through the process.” Putman wants to help you avoid the pitfalls that can occur when you move from traditional employment to the world of freelance work.

When it comes to attending WordCamp, Putman has some advice as well. “I continue to find great people to know and to get advice from when I attend WordCamps. Break out of your shell and talk to the people next to you.”

Want to see the full schedule for WordCamp Birmingham 2018?

Schedule

Freelancing offers as many opportunities as there are people or events to make the most of the freelancer.

Marc Gratch shares his journey with freelancing and self-employment in the session, Tips to Being an Awesome Freelancer (And Not Failing… Too Hard)

“Working for yourself is hard! Knowing the right answer is fleeting.” Gratch is inviting you to learn from his mistakes. “I hope people will learn to avoid repeating the mistakes many make when starting out. More than anything, I want them to find solace in knowing they aren’t alone making the mistakes.”

Gratch will also be sharing in the session: Using the Command Line: Bash and WP-CLI

When it comes to WordCamp, Gratch says, “Becoming a part of the WordPress community can have incalcuable impact on your career.”

View the Sessions

Elevate Content with Audio, Product Process, and SEO Tweaks

“Podcasting is an amazing way to connect to your audience.” Adam Silver joins WordCamp Birmingham this year to help you grow your business and reach an audience to share your business through audio platforms.

Podcasts continue to be a growing avenue for people to consume content. One study showed that many people – up to 67 million people – received their content through their headphones. The number is expected to be even higher by the end of 2018.

“Podcasting isn’t hard.” According to Silver. “It will take commitment to garner an audience.”

Don’t miss out on this source of engagement and content building. “Do it!” Silver challenges.

Silver will be leading a workshop on Sunday that will provide you with what you need to launch your podcasting success.

Get Your Tickets

You need more than a great idea to make things happen – you need a plan for the process you will follow to bring that idea to life.

AJ Morris will be leading the session, What The West Wing Can Teach Us about Building Products.

The goal of the session is for participants to walk away excited because they have an ‘action plan’ of how to collect, organize, and even implement all of the resources available to them at WordCamp.

“A lot of people have great ideas, but they don’t always know what type of process they should follow. We’ll cover putting together a process for building your process.”

Morris encourages you to join the WordPress community by attending WordCamp Birmingham 2018. “Meet as many people as you can. If a session doesn’t interest you, find people in the hallway track. You’ll always find people that have a willingness and desire to talk with others.”

Want to see the full schedule?

See the Schedule

“Yoast is more than a plugin for WordPress – it is a powerful tool for growing your website.”

Bobby Kircher takes the WordCamp Birmingham stage to share tips for making the most of Yoast to boost your SEO with the session, Use Yoast to Improve the SEO of Your Website.

“I noticed many people would install Yoast but wouldnt do much with it.” Kircher shared his reason for choosing this topic. He wants to help you make the most of this valuable SEO tool.

View the Sessions

Three in a Row Equals a Win with KnownHost

We do more and reach higher levels when we work together. KnownHost finds ways to work with you through community engagement and connections.

WordCamp Birmingham welcomes back KnownHost – our local Gold Sponsor for the third year in a row.

KnownHost has been in business since 2005 and now operates through four data centers across the globe. The innovative technology their team has put in place combines on-demand capabilities with top-of-the-line service. That means that you and your company will have what you need when you need it.

You receive unparalleled uptime, fast professional support, and high-performance hosting.

About

KnownHost is a privately held web hosting company based in the United States. With customers from over 150 countries, we continue to be one of the most recognized hosts in the world with data centers on the East Coast, West Coast, Central (Texas), and in Amsterdam, NL. By using state of the art technology and networks, we’re able to provide a premium hosting service at an affordable price. With unparalleled uptime, fast professional support, and high performance hosting as our core focus we’re confident you’ll feel at home when hosting with us.
Quality hosting matters because on a poor quality server your site can run slow or it can even crash. Your site could be impacted by the other sites on the server. You need a quality hosting company. KnownHost will work for you and with you to help you create the impact you need from your website.

Join us and KnownHost for WordCamp Birmingham 2018.

Buy My Ticket Now

Making Sense of Security, Legal Liabilities, and Saying No – On Tap for WordCamp

Speaker Spotlight

“Are you including website security as part of your project proposal and scope?”

Adam Warner joins WordCamp Birmingham 2018 with the session, Making Security Makes Sense to Clients, to help you find your answers to this question.

“As website owners, we understand the value of putting a strong security plan in place. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes difficult to communicate the value of the security to our clients. My hope is that freelancers and agencies will follow website security best practices for themselves, and their client projects to bring peace of mind to all involved.”

Attendees for this session will learn about including core software, plugins and theme updates as part of your maintenance plans. You will also learn how to educate your clients on website security and increase your value and revenue opportunities.

Warner wants to be sure that you take away this top idea:

My hope is that freelancers will follow simple website security for themselves and their client projects to proved everyone peace of mind.

“The WP Community is where I found myself long ago and I continue to grow because of all the wonderful people I meet.” Warner encourages you to invest in WordCamp, WordPress, and the connections you will make through both.

Get Your Tickets

There is legal liability involved in operating every kind of business – but there are ways to mitigate the risks.”

Anna Blanch Rabe wants to help you educate yourself and seek out advice to prevent problems before they happen with her session, 5 Things WordPress Users Need to Know about Copyright and Intellectual Property.

“You want to protect yourself and your business.” Rabe wants to be sure you come away educated about legal topics including liability risks, intellectual property, and illegal marketing.

You don’t want to miss out on this session that can serve as a foundation for building up your business success. Rabe also wants you to know the value of the WordPress family. “The WordPress community is a vibrant group of people who are some of the most helpful around.”

See the Schedule

Get Your Tickets

It has been said that ‘n’ and ‘o’ are two of the most powerful letters in the alphabet when you find the courage to put them together.

David Zimmerman has learned how to say ‘no’ to clients and is bring that knowledge and experience to WordCamp with the session, The Most Important Thing You’re Not Telling Your Clients.

“While I often tell my clients ‘no,’ I noticed that some partners don’t. This makes their lives, the clients’ lives, and my life difficult. I’m just trying to make things better for everyone.”

Zimmerman wants you to remember that it is okay to say no to clients because it can even help them in some cases.

Just don’t say no to WordCamp. Come meet the speakers, enjoy these sessions, and begin building the relationships that will help you grow up possibilities.

View the Sessions

5 Reasons Bloggers Should NOT Attend WordCamp Birmingham 2018

By Javacia Harris Bowser

People often ask me why I still bother attending blogging conferences. “You’ve been blogging for a decade,” they say. “Don’t you know what the speakers are going to say before they say it?”

Oftentimes, yes. But not always.

The thing about blogging is it’s always changing. So as a blogger, if you want to keep growing you have to keep learning. And I always learn something new at WordCamp Birmingham.

I was a speaker at last year’s conference but I still attended several sessions, notebook in hand, and I filled the pages of that notebook with blogging strategies for the upcoming year.

This year I’ll be attending WordCamp Birmingham again. WordCamp Birmingham 2018 is set for August 4-5 and will be held at the Pelham Civic Complex. You can learn more and get your tickets at 2018.birmingham.wordcamp.org.

Buy My Ticket Now

If you’re eager to learn more about blogging in 2018 and beyond you should be there. But if you think you already know it all, you shouldn’t bother and here are five other reasons you should NOT attend.

You should NOT attend WordCamp if you enjoy breaking your website.

Because I know how to use WordPress and customize WordPress themes fairly well people think I’m a techie. Fake news! Just last week I broke my website trying to install my SSL certificate. And there was a time when I was intimidated by WordCamp events because I thought it was a conference just for website developers. But WordCamp Birmingham includes tracks of sessions on content (perfect for bloggers like me), business, and development.

This year’s conference will also include a WordPress 101 session for the blogging novice. This hands-on workshop will actually help you get started on building your WordPress site! And, of course, there’s the Happiness Bar where you can go get help from people who actually are techies, people who can keep you from breaking your website (or help you out after you do).

You should not attend WordCamp if you love being stuck in a blogging rut.

Are you having a hard time coming up with enough innovative content to update your blog a few times a week or even once a week? Well, Helen Rittersporn has been blogging every single day since February 26, 2015! Her WordCamp Birmingham session “12 Lessons from Daily Blogging” is sure to get your inspired and cure your blogger’s block. Also, Kathryn Lang will kick off the content track with a session on how to repurpose your content.

You should NOT attend WordCamp Birmingham is you’re perfectly OK with only three people reading your blog.

But if you would like someone other than your aunt, your mom, and your best friend to read your work, you might want to check out Bobby Kircher’s session on how to use Yoast to improve your SEO or Aida Correa’s session on how to leverage your WordCamp experience for better social media engagement or Chris Edwards’ session on Google Analytics or William Jackson’s talk on ways beyond SEO and Google to build your brand.

You should NOT attend WordCamp Birmingham if you have no desire to think outside the box.

If you don’t know what Gutenberg is and have no desire to find out, then attending the Gutenberg 101 session or learning how Gutenberg will empower WordPress users will mean nothing to you. If you’re not willing to think beyond your blog then you probably won’t be interested in Kathryn Lang’s workshop on how to start a podcast or Adam Silver’s session on how to use a podcast to grow your business. And you certainly have no use for Steve Schwartz’s session on video content and vlogging.

You should NOT attend WordCamp Birmingham if you hate meeting other bloggers.

Danielle LaPorte once said, “Find your tribe and love them hard.” But she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, right? Wrong.

Bloggers need community. You need people who get it, people who understand why you bother blogging in the first place. You need a blogging buddy to hold you accountable, to make sure you’re posting consistent content consistently. You need a tribe to help promote your work. You need a group of people to console you when you feel disappointed or discouraged and to break out in dance to help you celebrate your big wins.

In addition to all the great workshops, WordCamp Birmingham is a golden opportunity to meet other bloggers whether you do so during lunch, between sessions, or at the after party. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work.

See the Full Schedule

Hope to see you at WordCamp Birmingham 2018!

Javacia Harris Bowser is the founder and editor of See Jane Write, a website and community for women who write and blog.

Get Your Exclusive WordCamp Tshirt Before It Is Too Late

Nothing says cool fashion guru quite like a #WPYall t-shirt.

You read that right.

#WPYall t-shirts are not something you can pick up at the local shop. They are designed exclusively for use by WordCamp Birmingham – and each year touts a new design.

This year’s t-shirt is a must have – and you CAN have – just by getting your ticket.

But there is a catch.

T-shirts are only guaranteed to those who purchase their tickets by July 15th. That means you have a week (from today) to get your tickets and secure your t-shirt.

What are you waiting for?

Buy My Ticket Now

If you don’t come just for the amazing fashion fix, come for the fun, engagement, and learning.

The WordCamp Birmingham Organization Team gathered together some of the top speakers from the community to share ideas for content creation, developing, and business.

Do you want to learn WordPress basics? There is a workshop on Saturday targeted to you.

Do you want to add audio to your content catalog? There is a Podcasting 101 workshop on Sunday followed by a workshop on how to grow your business with podcasting.

Do you want to put surveys to work for you? Be sure to check out the session on how surveys can help you understand your users.

Do you need help with a specific task? The Happiness Bar will be opened all during the conference and staffed with folks that can help you with your task.

There is more to experience at WordCamp Birmingham than you can shake a stick at (or wave a t-shirt).

Check out the full schedule for more information and to plan out how you will spend your two days of WordCamp.

See the Full Schedule

No matter what topic you need help with, there will be someone at WordCamp Birmingham 2018 to help.

Unlock Your Content Creation Tips, Tricks, and Secrets

Announcing the Content Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

The Content Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018 will be packed full of unique ideas and tricks for creating the content you need for your website.

This year’s sessions will include podcasting, video, photography, books, and so much more.

Get your tickets now!

Repurpose Your Words (Kathryn Lang)
12 Lessons from Daily Blogging for over 1200 Days & Still Counting (Helen Ritterspoon)
Gutenberg 101 (Jacob McKinney)
Video For WordPress – The Engagement, Search, and Vlogging Trifecta! (Steve Schwartz)
Improve the SEO of your website with the Yoast plugin WordPress (Bobby Kircher)
So you’ve “WordCamped” – Now What? Leveraging Your WordCamp Experience for Better Social Media Engagement (Aida Correa)
Strategies Beyond SEO and Google to Build Your Brand and Market Your Social Media Awesomeness (William Jackson)
5 Things WordPress Users need to know about Copyright and Intellectual Property (Anna Rabe)
How to grow your business (ONLINE PRESENCE) with Podcasting (Adam Silver) – two part workshop
Photography for WordPress – Create Beautiful Images for your Websites (Steve Schwartz)
Tracking Your Website with Google Analytics (Chris Edwards)

You will also have the opportunity to attend a WordPress 101 workshop in the Happiness Bar on Saturday AND a Podcasting 101 Workshop in the Happiness Bar on Sunday.

There will be plenty of information for creating the content you need to build your online success. Don’t wait. Get your tickets today!

Get your tickets now!

Want to see the full schedule?

Schedule

Business Takes Center Stage at WordCamp Birmingham

Announcing the Business Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Business matters! No matter what you are doing or where your focus, if you want to build success then you need to treat what you are doing like a business. The Business Track of WordCamp Birmingham 2018 was designed to help you find the tools you need and put those tools to work so you can create the online success you desire.

Get your tickets now!

So you want to start a web design business? Advice, Tips, and Tricks that I have learned! (Mickey Trivett)
Overcoming Your Fear of Sales (April Weir)
The New WordPress Paradigm – How Gutenberg Will (Eventually) Empower WordPress End-Users AND Professionals (Alonso Indacochea)
The Top 5 Legal Liability Risks of Building a Website (Anna Rabe)
Biz Panel (Weir, Seirup, Trivett, Adcock – Nathan moderate?)
The most important thing you’re not telling your clients (David Zimmerman)
Crafting the Perfect Proposal (Melanie Adcock)
Tips to being an awesome freelancer (and not failing… too hard) (Marc Gratch)
How to improve any web project with communication (Laura Bosco)
Picking your Project Management Software for Success (Sandy Edwards)
Full-Time to Freelance: Practical and Self-Care Advice for When the 9-To-5 Has to Stop (Kerry Putman)
Code on the Road: Freelancing WordPress from an RV (Cindy Cullen)

Come prepared to learn. Bring your questions and your concerns about your business or the next step for your business. Look for ways to connect, engage, and develop the relationships that will provide you with the answers you need.

Want to see the full schedule?

Schedule

Experienced Developers and Beginners Will Find What They Need at WordCamp

Announcing the Developer Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Do you know code or are you more of a “no code” type person? No matter where you are in your developer’s path, you can gain insight, wisdom, and even a little fun from the sessions and workshops we put together for the Developers Track this year.

Using the Command Line Bash & WP-CLI (Marc Gratch)
Google Data Studio (Chris Edwards)
Gutenberg Developers Workshop (Micah Wood)
Continuously Delivering Value as a Developer (Kyle B. Johnson)
Speeding Up WordPress (Frank Corso)
How to Create Accessible Websites Workshop (Rachel Cherry)
Using Surveys To Better Understand Your Users (Frank Corso)
Making Security Makes Sense to Clients (Adam Warner)
A/B Testing – Which Way Does your Duck Face? (Mike Demo)
What The West Wing can teach us about building products (AJ Morris)

Look beyond the code and find ways to connect with your customers and clients. Learn the tips you need for building better products. Discover communication ideas that can help make the difference. And code if you want!

Buy Tickets

Want to see the full schedule?

Schedule

Content, Business, and Developers – Oh My! WordCamp Birmingham Is Packed with Goodies

The schedule is posted. The speakers are prepping. And visions of WordCamp Birmingham 2018 are dancing in our heads.

Purchase Tickets

Are you ready?

WordCamp Birmingham has it all – content, business, developer ideas, great food, amazing engagement, and cool surprises (literally)!

Buy Your Tickets

These 4 Gutenberg Hacks Will Change the Way You Blog

Be sure to check out the Gutenberg block available on Saturday (see schedule link at the bottom of the page) to learn all you need to know about the upcoming Gutenberg changes. There will be a workshop for beginners, a workshop for developers, and a session focused on end users and professionals. Our goal in scheduling the three Gutenberg talks at the same time was to give you one of three different perspectives: as a content producer, as a business owner, and as a developer. No matter what your level of use, we have a session or workshop to help you find your way to make the most of Gutenberg.

By Jacob Crawford

Gutenberg and WordPress 5.0 are coming whether we like it or not. Are you ready to make the switch? If not, come see us at Gutenberg 101. We’re looking forward to answering all your questions.

For now, here are some basic hacks to help you make the most of your Gutenberg experience on day one.

Drag and Drop Images Directly Into Blocks

As of Gutenberg 1.0, users can now drag and drop images directly into posts–either between blocks or into the image block placeholder. This removes the old, clunky insert media function, which required users to select the “add media” button, upload a file, format, and insert.

Simply open the file on your computer and drag it where you need it, just like a Medium post. Simple, right?

Use Slash Autocomplete to Add Blocks More Quickly

Does clicking “Insert” and selecting blocks sound like too much work? We think so. As of patch 1.1, users can use the “slash autocomplete” feature to add content more quickly. Simply write a backslash (the “/” key) and start typing the block type you need.

Need a headline? /headline

Want to add an image gallery? /gallery

It’s as easy as adding a Giphy in Slack.

Preview Your Custom Code With Live HTML Blocks

In the past, editing custom HTML in posts was a chore. Bloggers essentially had to juggle tabs to test their HTML functionality. That meant switching between the editor and a page preview every time they made a change.

Now, you can toggle directly from the editor: with the “live HTML editor” block, you can write and view your code in real-time.

Find Your Favorite Blocks Faster With Recent Blocks

You shouldn’t have to sift through all the blocks you don’t use, right? Automatic doesn’t think so, either. Now, when you insert a new block, you can select the “Recent” tab to see all your most-used elements in one place. That way, you can focus more on content and less on formatting–even if you aren’t tech-savvy enough for “slash autocomplete.”

Interested in learning more Gutenberg hacks? Snag your tickets to WordCamp Birmingham today!

Get your tickets now!

Check out the Gutenberg Workshop that will be available on Saturday

Schedule

Word count: 361

Create Connections and Learn More During Lunchtime Table Talks

Creating lasting connections with people and investing in being helpful with and for those people will create a solid foundation for your unique success.

WordCamp Birmingham does more than talk about WordPress and all the amazing plugins, widgets, themes, and uses that are available through and for WordPress. The organizers, speakers, and attendees come together in a community of inspiration and encouragement.

One of the best parts of the new WordCamp Birmingham is the table talks. Attendees can choose to sit at any table with any speaker to discuss a topic of interest from the conference or from the speaker’s expertise.

This year’s table talks offer some continued discussion from sessions earlier in the day. They also provide a taste of sessions yet to come. Some take you down a path you may not have thought about before.

I want to buy WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

All the talks offered will be great opportunities for creating lasting connections and investing in being helpful.

Lunchtime Table Talks

Adam Silver: Podcasting
Adam Warner: Website security
Aida Correa: Unique voice
Alonso Indacoshea: Gutenberg
Anna Blanch Rabe: Copyright
April Wier: Sales
Bobby Kircher: SEO
Chris Edwards: Analytics, Conversation Rates Optimization
Cindy Cullen: Working with WordPress Remotely
David Zimmerman: SEO, web analytics, client management
Helen Rittersporn: Brainstorming Blogging Topics
Jacob McKinney: WP-CLI
Kathryn Lang: Write and Publish Your Book
Kerry Putman: Setting up a podcast Website
Kyle B. Johnson: Product Development, mentoring developers
Marc Gratch: Freelancing, community development
Melanie G Adcock: Hiring a VA
Micah Wood: WordPress development, business
Mickey Trivett: Web Business, Outsourcing, standing out
Mike Demo: Open source, Traveling Full Time for Work
Rachel Cherry: Higher Ed, Accessibility
Sandy Edwards: Project Management Tools/Organization
Steve Schwartz: Video, Photography, WP Security
William Jackson: Community, content creator

Don’t forget to check out the full schedule for all the amazing talks, sessions, and workshops that will be presented during the two days of WordCamp Birmingham.

I want to buy WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

WP 101: 4 Things Every WordPress Beginner Gets Wrong

By Jacob Crawford

Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know – but what you don’t know could be hurting your website or your engagement. Basic WordPress points will be covered in the WordPress 101 Workshop. For now, here are a few points to help you make the most of your WordPress site.

Overloading your site with too many plugins

Studies show that users spend fewer than three seconds waiting for web pages to load. And while it’s tempting to load your site with forms, trackers, extra styles, and integrations, each of those programs and sheets cost valuable load time.

Jetpack, WooCommerce, and Yoast are maybe the best plugins for a beginner. WooCommerce manages your e-business, Yoast checks your SEO, and Jetpack takes care of pretty much everything else from social media to comments.

Paying for premium services you don’t need (yet)

Grow organically with your site. While it’s easy to upscale, it’s difficult to downscale. There’s no need to drop money on an expensive theme when you don’t have the content or infrastructure to support it.

If you’re hosting through WordPress.com, seriously consider your goals and scope before investing in a Premium or Business plan. If you’re building a portfolio site, the Personal plan is probably best. If you’re a t-shirt company with a couple dozen employees, a Business plan is probably more your speed.

Picking a theme that doesn’t reflect your content

This seems self-evident, but you’d be surprised how many WordPress beginners choose themes based on previews. Instead, consider how the theme will highlight your content. If you’re a photoblogger, consider a theme with plenty of thumbnails and galleries. If you’re a writer, pick a theme that highlights your words.

Don’t waste your time trying to match your content to your theme: match your theme to your content.

Friends don’t let friends blog alone

WordPress is a community. And it’s full of people who love helping beginners. Get involved with local MeetUps and other events. It always helps to have a second set of eyes look over what you are doing.

At WordCamp Birmingham, we’re dedicated to helping people like you get started. Attend our WordPress 101 course, where we walk you through the basics one step at a time. Or stop by and see us at the Happiness Bar, where specialists and enthusiasts like you congregate help others get the most from their WordPress sites.

Interested in learning more? Snag your tickets to WordCamp Birmingham today!

Tickets

Want to see the full schedule?

Schedule

Word count: 340

Simple Thought to Grow Your Small Business Quickly

“Plan for capacity (where you are) and work for what’s coming next.” @jakemgold
This Twitter moment was shared by @ChandaTemple

You can’t get anywhere if you don’t know where you want to go and you can’t know where you want to go if you don’t have a plan in place to help you see.

WordCamp Birmingham sessions cover more than how to run a great WordPress website. The speakers share personal experience on how to make the website part of your business growth plan.

Jake Goldman shared some insights when he took the stage at WordCamp Birmingham 2014. He reminded listeners it is about the vision and not the tools. If you can dream it (and if you dare to dream it) then there is a way to create it.

Tips for Planning for What Comes Next

Dare to dream – brainstorming allows the creative juices to flow. Think of all the possibilities (and ignore all the limitations). Dreaming escapes the confines and walls of limitations. Remember somewhere someone once suggest that a large spring would make a great children’s toy.

Determine to invest – once you have the dream you have to measure the cost. There is a way to make the dream a reality, but you have to determine if you are willing to invest the resources (energy, time, space, or finances) to make it happen.

Bring others on board – we are stronger when we work together. When it comes to growing up dreams and opportunities for our businesses then collaboration makes the journey not only better but easier.

Refuse to be limited by tools – find a way to make the tools work for you and for your needs or maybe to make the tools work in an unexpected way.

The key to growing your small business quickly is in being willing to dare to take the next step.

“Masters of their craft focus on a vision and bend the tools to their will.” – Jake Goldman

Don’t wait another minute. Join us at WordCamp Birmingham 2018 to begin finding your next step to grow your business and website.

I want to buy WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

Want to see the full schedule?

Schedule

The Power of Sponsoring WordCamp – Tips from Around the Globe

Header image captured by Wanda Raina Evans of RAW Images Photography
Wall Art

No matter what you are doing or where you are heading, it all comes back around to relationships. From the beginning, marketing, sales, and businesses have been founded in the understanding that we need to be invested in creating lasting connections with people.

Although the technology has changed over the years, the basic understandings have remained solid. When you team up with WordCamp Birmingham through sponsorship of the conference, you create an opportunity for growing up the lasting connections that lead to a stronger community, a better business, and a broader future.

What Others Say about Sponsorship

WordCamp Philly
WordPress Community
We’re a large group, diverse in every way.
WordPress users here include:

Freelancers
Web development companies
Advertising and marketing firms
News outlets and bloggers
Small-business owners
Universities and schools
Government and non-profits

WordCamp Birmingham is the perfect opportunity to introduce your services and products to as many as 200 people interested in businesses that can meet their needs.

Sponsor WordCamp Birmingham 2018

WordCamp Halifax:
It’s an affordable marketing tactic
As a non-profit event, we understand the need to make every dollar count. Especially for smaller businesses. By being present at the event itself, you’ll be able to qualify leads more easily.

WordCamp Birmingham seeks to build engagement between WordPress users, developers, and business to strengthen the community of Birmingham as well as create a foundation for growing up the WordPress community as a whole.

WordCampDetroit:
Get Noticed
By becoming a sponsor, your company’s name is on the top of everyone’s mind before, during and after the conference.

In the weeks leading up to the event your business will be featured on the WordCamp website, blog posts and on social media. (Ask your SEO pro about the benefits of these mentions. You might be surprised.)
Gold sponsor tables will be prominent and visible by all attendees.
And lastly, you’ll have a chance to be remembered far into the future with your company’s branded product included in the swag bags that everyone loves to take back to the office.

WordCamp Birmingham wants to connect with your business or organization and also share your uniquenesses with attendees, readers, and other WordCamp communities.

Still not convinced?

Free Logo Services Business Blog has 10 more reasons your business needs to be involved in local conferences and events. Here is just one.
Community Goodwill
Strengthening your business image is one of the most valuable benefits of event sponsorship. Customers love brands that care about spreading positive messages and helping the community. Linking your business to a worthy cause can draw lasting support and media attention.

Community involvement also sets you apart from larger brands. People have more incentive to support your business if you’re invested in the local community. Find out what matters to customers, and pick causes that align with their values to boost loyalty.

WordCamp Birmingham is one of the oldest WordCamps in the Southern United States. Each year we work to reach out to more in the community and to do more for the community. Your involvement helps make that a reality.

Invest with WordCamp Birmingham 2018 – invest IN the WordPress and Birmingham Communities – and begin creating the lasting connections with people that will lead you down the path to your desired goals.

Sponsor WordCamp Birmingham 2018

4 Ways to Engage the Listener with Your Content

Header image captured by Wanda Raina Evans of RAW Images Photography

There was a young preacher who invested all his week preparing to impress his new congregation with the first sermon. When the preacher arrived at the church, only one old farmer sat in the pews. The preacher waited for several minutes and then asked the farmer what he should do.

The farmer replied. “Well, Preacher, I’m just a simple farmer, but every morning I get up and I go out to feed my cows. And every morning I feed my cows no matter if one shows up or if the whole herd shows up. It’s my job to feed the cows.”

The young preacher nodded, took to the pulpit, and went to it. He poured out his heart over the words he had invested his week into. An hour later, he stepped down from the pulpit, wiped his brow, and smiled at the old farmer. “So, how was it?”

The farmer replied. “Well, Preacher, I’m just a simple farmer, and every morning I go out to feed my cows no matter if one shows up or if the whole heard shows up. But if only one shows up, I don’t pour out all the feed I would have given the whole herd.”

Sometimes it is better to say little or say nothing at all than to pour out all the feed when there is nobody listening.

Engage the Listeners

Watch for the response. In person, it can be easier to tell than online – but engagement can be a big clue to whether people are listening or tuning out. Watch your analytics to see how long people are hanging around. Check your video stats to see when people drop off from watching. Either way, say what you have to say and then stop talking!

Lower your voice. It is not just about stopping the words, but also about lowering the volume. When you change the tone of what you are saying you encourage the listener to lean into your words.

Keep is simple. We invest too much energy trying to make things complicated when it is really simple. Make what you have to say important to the listener by making it valuable to the listener.

Avoid information overload. You may want to tell the listener everything about your topic, but try to keep it to three to five main points in a presentation or a post. Anything more than that and you risk losing the reader.

Make the content you share more engaging by making about a conversation with one person – and remember that when it is one person you don’t have to feed the whole herd.

Get your WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

We want YOU to Volunteer at WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Header image captured by Wanda Raina Evans of RAW Images Photography
Coosa Landing – Gadsden, Alabama

We want you at this conference . . . we NEED you at this conference. And we CAN handle the truth – because the truth is you make us better and you make us stronger.

When you volunteer for WordCamp, you help us grow the experience for the entire WordPress community.

WordCamp Birmingham volunteers come from all walks of life. We have business owners, content developers, designers, and spouses of all the above. The key to being a successful volunteer is simply having the willingness to help.

What Can You Do?

Set up before it begins. We always can use an extra set of hands to make sure everything has a place and everything is in its place (and the batteries are actually working).

Clean up after it is all over. Every day after the close of the last session, we need to make certain that our spaces are cleaned up (and set up for the following day on Saturday).

Welcome the guests and speakers. Registration starts early, and we want to make certain that attendees and speakers encounter bright and smiling faces. The more help we have with keeping the registration running smooth the more bright and smiling we can be.

Keep the rooms moving along. Do you know what it means when a speaker puts their watch on the podium? Answer: About the same thing as it means when a preacher does it (ask Nathan Ingram if you aren’t sure of the answer). We need a Room Emcee for each track that can help keep an eye on the clog, give speakers prompts, and also introduce each speaker when requested.

Be a problem fixer in the Happiness Bar. Volunteers do not serve up drinks in this bar, but they do help users with their sites or other WordPress issues. You do need level of WordPress expertise to take on this task.

There will always be a need for more help. Sometimes we know ahead of time where we need volunteers. Sometimes the need rears its head once things get moving. We always are grateful for the folks that are willing to be available as the need arises.

No matter what your level of expertise or experience when it comes to WordPress, WordCamp Birmingham 2018 would love to have you come out and volunteer with us.

Why Should You Attend WordCamp Birmingham?

“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

You might be thinking to yourself right now, what does Shakespeare have to do with WordPress? Or even WordCamp? Well, the first time I heard the term WordCamp, I ignored it. I had launched a full-time writing career, and I had little left to invest in a conference that wouldn’t move me forward in that purpose.

The next time I heard the term WordCamp, it was from someone I had met through a local blogging group. He made it sound like something I should at least take time to look over – besides, the ticket came with lunch.

After attending my first WordCamp, I began an advocate. The people attending the event – those speaking and those that bought tickets – all wanted to be a help to each other. The engagement and connections went beyond any other conference I had attended.

I had to be more involved so that I could position myself to be more of a help to the others that had helped me so much.

Why WordCamp

WordCamp Birmingham provides something for everyone – no matter if you are about to launch your first website, you just love to write, or coding is your second language. The options go beyond the different tracks of sessions and move right into the community.

If you are new to WordPress or if you have only been USING WordPress, you might not realize the amazing community that drives the WordPress platform. WordCamp was born from this engaging community.

Everyone that is involved with the development of a WordCamp does it because he or she loves the platform and loves the people. Nobody gets paid. Nobody gets travel expenses. Each and every person has a deep passion for WordPress, for the community, and for you.

Anytime you can be involved with a group of people passionate about the community, it is an investment worth making.

Top Benefits from WordCamp

WordCamp will be the least expensive conference you will attend this year. Because WordPress believes in the community as much as the people in the community believe in the community, WordPress helps support the WordCamps which allows organizers to keep down the costs.

WordCamp offers valuable help and support. The Happiness Bar opens when the conference kicks off and provides the perfect place for you to get your questions answered or to get help with a WordPress issue. Be sure to bring your laptop with you so the volunteers will be able to guide you to your fix.

WordCamp offers some great food. Not only will there be snacks and a great lunch, but usually a fun surprise will show up. Last year at #WPYall, we all enjoyed a flavorful Frios pop!

WordCamp offers a chance to create lasting connections with other WordPress fans from all walks of life. Developers, content creators, business owners, and designers meet up to talk words, WordPress, and so much more.

You need to get your ticket today. WordCamp Birmingham is the one conference you don’t want to miss.

I want to buy WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

Determine the Best Post Length – a #WPYall Quote

One of the top asked questions about content concerns the length of posts. The great news for those not happy with the current trend is that it’s a lot like Alabama weather. It’s going to change if not by this afternoon then by tomorrow.

In other words, the length of your post should not be determined by the going trend.

“If nobody is listening then stop talking!”

Words can be tough enough to come by. Avoid wasting your words just creating filler.

Just Tell the Story

- Write to the end. Write the story until you have told the whole story. It will not be perfect and it is not supposed to be perfect. Just write it.

- Read what you wrote. Read over the whole story to read it. This is a chance for you to take it all in full.

- Read what you wrote with a red pen in your hand. (It’s probably a good idea to print out a copy if you are doing your first drafts on the computer or else use a red editor shortcut in your software.) Make notes about places where you need to add, remove, or maybe even break up the content.

- Write a new draft around the notes you made. Again, write until you get to the end.

- Now let the fun begin. Remove filler words. Replace weak words. Tighten up the fluff. Download your free download of editing tips at the Successful Freelance Writer.

Take time for one more read through. Read it aloud this time. Reading it aloud makes it easier to spot any flow issues.

Walking through these steps will help you create the best content you can – no matter what length is currently the flavor of the month.

Join Us

WordCamp Birmingham offers even more ways to learn about the right length for your content.

Join us for an amazing weekend of Words, WordPress, and Fun!

I want to buy WordCamp Birmingham tickets!

The Best Conference for Writers You May Never Have Heard Of

Writers and authors stay on the lookout for ways to get the word out about how to get their words out. Finding platform-building solutions and writing encouragement are just some of the needs they seek. If you are a writer or an author and you are searching for word support, do we have some news for you.

WordCamp Birmingham offers a plethora of writing inspiration and business growing sessions – perfect for the wordsmith seeking to build up writing success.

Past Sessions Focused on Writers

WordCamp Birmingham has had some fantastic sessions for writers. And they’re only going to get better this year. Take a look at the kinds of topics you can expect:

Who, What, Why, and When of Blogging – the basics you need to know to get your blog going.
People Not Pageviews – the tips you need to build relationships with your readers
Pitfalls of Working from Home – and how to get around them
Write 30 Posts in 30 Days – the secrets you need to get the words down

In other words, the organizers of WordCamp understand the first part of the name matters. It takes words to build a website. They are dedicated to finding speakers to help promote word development as much as they are to promoting design development. There will be plenty of great sessions that writers can use to grow their writing skills, expand their business, or just figure out how to surf the noise of the web.

Growing a writing life can be a challenge. Finding new or unique tools to build that life can be vital to creating flexibility for the writing life as you pursue success.

Why WordCamp Matters to Writers

You get better at writing when you write. It is as simple as this. Creating posts for a blog, writing for social media, and even developing content for other sites not only pushes you to write but often pushes you to write outside your normal niche or comfort zone as well.

Attending WordCamp Birmingham will provide you will tips for taking your writing to the next level and building your online presence. Even more important, you will build connections with others that have a passion for words (even if the words are used in a different form than you may be used to).

Dare to look beyond the box. See the possibilities of a conference focused on WordPress but really about so much more. Make an investment into WordCamp Birmingham and make an investment into your writing journey.

How to Keep Your Reader’s Attention by Speeding Up WordPress

We are NOT a patient society. That means if you delay someone from using your website, then they probably will give up and go somewhere else. If they do stick around on a slow loading website, then you only have a few seconds to get their attention.

Kissmetrics did a case study and determined that even a one-second delay in loading speed could result in an annual loss of $2.5 million. The conversion rate drops that much.

Over at Torquemag.io, Janna Hilferty shared some thoughts on the patience level of readers. Her article, 13 Performance-boosting Site Speed Tips for WordPress, shares some thoughts on how to speed up your site so that you can keep the readers hanging around.

The one thing that jumped out at me is the need to cache the pages. I am far from the most technical WordPress user (I fall under the content creator and code BREAKER column), the idea that something as simple as a caching system could speed up my website caught me off guard.

Nathan Ingram, one of the WPYall WordCamp Birmingham organizers, shared more tips in a webinar, Optimizing Images for Your WordPress Website, focused on not only creating great images but great images that load fast.

If you do nothing else to speed up your WordPress sites, making sure that you set up caching (which can be done through plugins like W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, and WP Super Cache). You can also use Smush, Imagify, or TinyPNG to keep your images under control.

The Takeaway

SPEED MATTERS, Y’ALL!

What really caught me off guard is that a one-second slowdown would make as much of a difference as it does. Keeping your readers on your website can LITERALLY be the difference in seconds (or even less).

What are your top tips for keeping your website loading fast?

*Or The Great Time Had at WordCamp Birmingham 2018*

Saturday Kicks Off

Saturday Night Strikes

Sunday Amps Up WordCamp

About

About

About

About

About Jetpack

Want to see the full schedule?

About

Speaker Spotlight

Announcing the Content Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Announcing the Business Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Announcing the Developer Track for WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Drag and Drop Images Directly Into Blocks

Use Slash Autocomplete to Add Blocks More Quickly

Preview Your Custom Code With Live HTML Blocks

Find Your Favorite Blocks Faster With Recent Blocks

Lunchtime Table Talks

Overloading your site with too many plugins

Paying for premium services you don’t need (yet)

Picking a theme that doesn’t reflect your content

Friends don’t let friends blog alone

Tips for Planning for What Comes Next

What Others Say about Sponsorship

Still not convinced?

Engage the Listeners

What Can You Do?

Why WordCamp

Top Benefits from WordCamp

Just Tell the Story

Join Us

Past Sessions Focused on Writers

Why WordCamp Matters to Writers

The Takeaway

Or The Great Time Had at WordCamp Birmingham 2018