Rebecca will be joining us as a speaker for WordCamp DFW with her talk entitled “What Really Matters in WordPress SEO” on our Community track.
Why do you use WordPress?
I originally starting using WordPress as a blogging tool. I then realized it was an excellent CMS package to use with my SEO clients. That was back in 2009. Since then our agency has grown and we now use it to build custom websites for everyone from bloggers to enterprise level clients. It’s SEO friendly and can accommodate a wide range of users, functionality, and design requirements. That is pretty special in my opinion.
And did I mention the amazing community?
When and how did you get started using WordPress?
I met WordPress and Joomla the same day back in 2008. My former employer was using Joomla for the website and WordPress for the blog. While both had a purpose, I could see Joomla lacked the SEO and usability features I wanted and this only grew over time. I left Joomla in 2009 and haven’t once questioned the decision to stay with WordPress. It is probably the best business decision I’ve made to date.
How do you stay informed about WordPress news, tips, etc.?
Facebook and Twitter are my go-to social networks. I’m also subscribed to Post Status, which provides a wonderful newsletter directly into my inbox. My internal team at WSM is also great at pointing out anything I need to know about code and upcoming technical changes.
Between those data points and my own network of WordPress friends, I feel fairly well informed and yet not overwhelmed with information.
What do you like most about WordCamps? (and which have you attended?)
Without question the people. WordPress is full of dear friends and these relationships grow with each WordCamp I attend. I feel blessed for this circle of goodness and look forward to each new encounter.
I also like WordCamps, because they give me a chance to give back to the community that has given me so much. When you are a speaker you have an opportunity to help others and provide free education for community members. This is how I learned WordPress and I need to give back all of the free assistance I given at my start.
I’ve attended and spoken at camps from Las Vegas and San Diego to Miami and Chicago. Each one is unique and each one is an experience that revives me and enriches me.