Lydia

July 31, 2017July 21, 2017

Today’s the deadline! Apply to speak!

The time has come. Today is the last day to apply to speak at Word Camp RI. Do you have a special area of expertise? A topic that will appeal to beginners? coders? small business? non-profits? those who need help bringing traffic to their website? anyone who has struggled with writer’s block as they try to write for the web?

We want to hear from you! Apply on our Call for Speakers page.

WordCamp RI will be held September 22 and 23 at New England Tech’s East Greenwich campus.
We encourage you to submit talks on any topic related to WordPress and/or the Internet!

With that in mind, it might be helpful for you to know what past attendees have told us they would like to have as session topics:

- Theme development
- Custom themes
- Commercial themes
- Child themes
- Plugin development
- Getting the most out of Yoast SEO Plug-In
- WordPress SEO
- Using WordPress in Education
- Putting an academic or business portfolio on WordPress
- Creating quality content for the website
- Finding the time to have a good online strategy/ Online Time Management
- Project Management
- Mobile delivery
- Working locally
- Installing and managing multisites
- eCommerce
- WP Automatic Upgrades

July 29, 2017July 21, 2017

#Small Business Saturday

Small businesses often struggle with finding the time and expertise to keep their WordPress website updated.

The WordPress blog can help with tips and tricks.

Write your blog posts when it’s best for you and then schedule them to be released at a strategic time https://en.blog.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/you-can-now-schedule-your-social-media-posts-from-wordpress-com/
Share advice with other website owners https://en.blog.wordpress.com/2017/07/10/best-of-wordpress-com-summer-edition/
Connect with your fans on social media https://en.blog.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/social-icons-widget/
Five tricks to make your blogging easier https://en.blog.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/five-tricks/

Check out all the blog posts at https://en.blog.wordpress.com/

Information about business websites on WordPress is found at https://en.wordpress.com/features/

If you want in-person help, come to WordCamp RI 2017. The organizers are Rhode Island WordPress users who volunteer to put on this once a year educational conference.

We’ll be at New England Tech in East Greenwich on September 22 and 23. Admission includes two days of sessions, one-on-one help at the Happiness Bar (aka the Help Desk), lunch each day, and a Friday night reception. https://2017.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/tickets/

Come network with other local WordPress users.

July 27, 2017July 21, 2017

Throw Back Thursday for @3amwriter

Today’s a good day for a memory. Last year, at WordCamp RI, Aileen McDonough (aka @3amwriter) gave the talk “Blog Like a Boss.”

Ever wondered what to put on your WordPress website? Aileen feels your pain. (Why do you think her Twitter handle is @3amwriter?) Or rather, used to feel it. She has some tips and tricks on how to keep your website constantly updated with less stress.

Watch her video and then make plans to come to WordCamp RI 2017. Once again we’ll be at the East Greenwich campus of New England Tech. The dates are September 22 and 23.

Tickets are currently available.

July 24, 2017July 22, 2017

Jesse Friedman “We’ve built something pretty amazing here in Rhode Island”

Jesse Friedman has been part of the WordCamp RI organizing team since the beginning, even stepping up as the Lead Organizer in the past. This year Jesse is our Speaker and Sponsor Wrangler.
He reflects on the annual WordCamp RI.

Q-
Jesse you’ve been active in helping with the Rhode Island WordCamp from the beginning. This is our 6th WordCamp. What keeps you coming back?
A-
We’ve built something pretty amazing here in Rhode Island, and I love watching it continue to grow and change every year. WordCamp Rhode Island helps people reach their online goals through education, and advisement, and it’s amazing to be a part of that.

Q-
What are you hoping to achieve this year in organizing the speaker roster?
A-
I have two goals. The first is to help those who have something really important to share but may be a little nervous or apprehensive about speaking. WordCamps are a great floor for those experienced individuals who want to get their start speaking. My second goal is to find some really experienced speakers from outside the WordPress industry to come and talk about the Internet as a whole.

Q-
When someone applies to speak, what are you looking for?
A-
Passion to share what they know!

Q-
You’ve been a speaker yourself at WordCamps around the world. What tips and tricks have you picked up from attending so many WordCamps in so many places?
A-
WordCamps are usually held in Universities or public spaces so you don’t always have the glamour of stage, and a spotlight. This sometimes makes speakers a bit nervous that they have to out perform the best talks to make up for standing in a class room. The truth is, if you leave attendees with 3 really good “a ha moments!” while sprinkling in some humor and good stories you’ll have given an amazing talk.

Q-
Where have you attended WordCamps?
A-
New York, London, Chicago, Orlando, Boston, Portland, Connecticut, Minneapolis, DC, and of course Rhode Island.

Q-
What advice would you give someone to get the most out of WordCamp RI?
A-
Don’t try to do it all, set some goals before you come and focus on reaching those. There are a lot of opportunities to network, learn, get hired, but if you try to do everything you might miss out on just enjoying the conference.

Q-
Is someone too advanced or too much a beginner to attend WCRI?
A-
We have tailored our tracks to cater to everyone of every skill level.

Follow Jesse on Twitter: @professor