Getting the Most out of WordCamp in 2015

If you use WordPress and you’ve never attended a WordCamp, what the heck are you waiting for?

According to WordCamp Central, “WordCamps are informal, community-organized events that are put together by WordPress users like you. Everyone from casual users to core developers participate, share ideas, and get to know each other.”

According to me, WordCamp is a conference all about WordPress, blogging, and coding. It is where bloggers meet developers and geek out about their favorite platform. It is a perfect place to get your WordPress questions answered.

WordCamp is probably the best deal you can get in a tech conference.

There are two tracks – Users and Developers – and you can float between them as desired. You also get swag and you get lunch, and the cost is about $25 for one day or about $40 for two days. What a bargain!

Vancouver WordCamp is scheduled for August 15. I can’t make it, but I encourage all Vancouverites to attend.

WordCamp Survival

I’ve been to a few WordCamps and spoken at a few, and at each one I’ve learned a bunch and met lots of cool people.

Here are a few suggestions about making the most of the WordCamp you attend.

  • Record sessions. You might want to listen later or even transcribe sessions to blog about them.
  • Stay alert! Drink enough coffee or tea for the morning and bring gum for afternoon sessions.
  • Ask questions. Have one or two good questions ready when Q & A starts.
  • Bring business cards. This may be a digital crowd, but little pieces of paper are still effective.
  • Approach speakers. If you want to make connections with experts, this is the place to do it.
  • Use the Happiness Bars. These are drop-in clinics where users and developers can get help with their sites.
  • Plan your attack, but be flexible. If the session you chose is not doing it for you, have a back up session to roam to.
  • Hang out and party. Sometimes, it’s hard when you’re exhausted from a long day of information absorption, but try to go to the after party to connect with people when they’re looser.

Where are WordCamps happening? Here’s the schedule of events.

Have fun at WordCamp!

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