Jacob Martella

October 3, 2017

Sponsor Shoutout: SiteGround

thanksgiving square written in mosaic tiles

We’re happy to have SiteGround as one of our Bonfire sponsors for this year’s WordCamp DFW. You can learn more about what SiteGround does here.

What is SiteGround about?

Our mission is to be real craftsmen in what we do. Since 2004 we’ve been mastering the craft of forging complex technologies into simple, usable web hosting solutions. We do not simply follow the latest developments in the hosting field – we always try to deliver more than expected and do things most other companies would consider impossible. We have many examples to back that up: we were among the first hosting providers to introduce secure account isolation on shared hosting back when most companies claimed it couldn’t be done, we started updating WordPress instances automatically in order to secure our WordPress clients long before the term “managed WordPress hosting” even existed, etc. And we try to do everything with people in mind – we genuinely care and take great care just the same as we do for our clients, our team, our partners and the community.

How do y’all use WordPress?

We believe in keeping the web open and independent, that’s why we support open-source solutions and the WordPress ecosystem. We believe in giving clients the freedom to get crafty with their website design, keep control of their content and always have an easy way to build websites and try out different hosting platforms.

Why did you want to sponsor WordCamp DFW?

WordCamps are especially important, because by sharing knowledge and common issues, you’re actually helping move things forward for everyone, not just for yourself. SiteGround has been actively involved with the community speaking, supporting and attending various WordCamps around the world and by sponsoring WordCamp DFW, we want to further contribute to the amazing WordPress community.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

October 2, 2017

WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Erin Flynn

Topic: How to raise your web design rates

Erin has been making websites since 1999, and started her own web design and development company in 2012. After a few years creating websites for clients, Erin shifted her business. Now, her primary business is helping other designers and developers navigate the difficult waters of entrepreneurship by providing courses and guides to teach everything from how to start a web design business to how to deal with nightmare clients. When she’s not teaching designers or working with her own design/development clients, Erin can be found exploring the mountains near her home in Aspen, Colorado. Find out more at erinflynn.com!

How did you get involved in WordPress?

I started using WordPress in 2010 for personal blogging–and quickly started using it for other websites. By 2012 I had a personal blog, comic blog, ecommerce shop, and began taking on client work with WordPress.

What do you do with WordPress?

I currently use WordPress to create websites for my clients (online entrepreneurs) and to run my coaching/consulting business!

What has your experience with the WordPress community been like?

The reason I stuck with WP over other platforms that I tried was that the community was always welcoming. I’ve run into very few bad eggs in the community over the past 7 years, and 99% of those I’ve met who use WP are friendly and willing to help out wherever they can. I’ve not seen that with any other platforms! No matter whether you’re brand new to WP or a seasoned pro, you’re welcomed with open arms and made to feel included.

Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW?

Because y’all are so friendly in Texas! 😉 I’m excited to meet a new group of WordPressers, make new friends, learn new skills, and share what I know.

Why did you decide to speak on how web designers and developers can raise their rates?

Every designer and developer under-charges when they’re starting out. That’s okay! We all start somewhere. But it’s easy to get stuck in a rut charging too little, and your business can become unsustainable as you take on more and more work just to make ends meet. I know, I’ve been there! In order to run a successful freelance business, without burning out, you have to raise your rates.

Unfortunately, raising your rates not as easy as just sticking a new price tag on the same services you’ve been offering. There are steps you need to take in order to raise your rates and actually get clients to pay them. It took me a few years to figure it out, and now I want to share the process with others, so that they can get their prices where they need to be to run a successful and sustainable web design business while delivering real value to their clients.

What do you hope the audience gets from your talk?

I want the audience to leave with actionable steps they can take to start raising their rates immediately!

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

October 2, 2017

WordCamp DFW Speakers: Round Three

With WordCamp DFW just 40 days away, the organizing team is ready to announce the next round of speakers for this year’s event. The schedule for WordCamp DFW 2017 will be released in the near future.

So, here is the next round of confirmed speakers for WordCamp DFW 2017:

Adam W. Warner

Topic: 360 Degrees of Security – Setting Standards for Your Websites and Yourself

Adam W. Warner first discovered WordPress in 2005 and has since founded several WordPress-focused businesses that provide education, plugins and consulting services for online business owners. In 2016 he brought his passion for WordPress to SiteLock as a Product Evangelist. Adam has since delivered his zeal for WordPress by speaking at several WordCamps and other events. In addition to WordPress, Adam is passionate about his family, robots and of course, life, the universe, and everything.

John Peterson

Topic: Optimize Your WordPress Website

John Peterson’s first taste of the power of the web came during college. He wrote an innovative grade distribution search engine that peaked at around 21,000 hits a day. Innovation earned John a scary call from the Dean, and later a Distinguished Student Award and a Services in Engineering Award. Don’t ever underestimate the power of crude Perl scripts and HTML! Today, John is the President at Develare and manages a team of five. John and his team love making the web work for small business, and his latest crusade is battling slow websites. In doing so, clients have had dramatic reductions in Cost per Lead (CPL) and big bumps in traffic. Whether you have 300 or 300,000 sessions per month John is happy to share tips to help you succeed. John is one of the Lead Organizers for the Houston WordPress Meetup Group and an Officer with SearchHOU. He enjoys sharing his WordPress knowledge and giving back to the community. He has spoken at the DFW WordPress Meetup Group, the Fort Worth WordPress Users Group, Houston WordPress Meetup Group, and SearchHOU.

Lindsay Halsey

Topic: SEO in an Hour for WordPress

Lindsay Halsey is a co-founder and partner of webShine, a search engine marketing agency in Basalt, Colorado. She is also co-founder and partner in WP SEO Hub with a scheduled launch in late October. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Economics and spent several years as a mountain guide and ski patroller. In 2008 Lindsay made the leap into search engine marketing. Her primary interest is search engine optimization for WordPress websites.

Sara Graybill

Topic: Creating A Digital Marketing Strategy That Works

Sara is the owner of Graybill Creative, a web design and digital marketing agency. She has been helping business owners and non-profits with their digital marketing since 2009. She does that through website design and development, technical services, and online marketing consulting. Find out more at graybillcreative.com.

Todd McKee

Topic: Centralizing News through WordPress REST API

S. Todd McKee, MEd is the Senior Web Developer for the Office of Communications & Marketing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, AR. Todd and his team are responsible for UAMS’s online visual identity, determining the vision and strategic goals of UAMS’s web presence, providing web and application development services, and supporting their content management systems. Todd has served on the Teaching with Technology committee and given numerous talks on technology in education. He spends most of his day looking at code and solving everyone’s problems. Todd lives in Little Rock, AR with his wife and two of his four daughters.

Elisha and Elyssa Fernandez

Topic: How to Turn Your Blog into a Book in 60 Days or Less

WhollyART.com is dedicated to teaching kids and teens positive principles through art and blog posts so they can be happier, improve their self-esteem, and make a difference in their communities!

Sean Jackson

Topic: Beyond the basics of WordPress SEO

Sean Jackson is a founding partner of Rainmaker Digital (formerly Copyblogger) – creators of Copyblogger.com, StudioPress/Genesis, Rainmaker Platform and other online products/services. Often referred to as the “Geek that Speaks,” Sean has a true passion for technology and how it is applied to the needs of marketing. Sean is an active member of the Dallas business community in leadership roles with DFW Search Marketing Association and is a Past President of the Dallas Ad League.

Amanda Giles

Topic: The Way to Theme Enlightenment

Amanda Giles is WordPress Evangelist and Enthusiast who loves converting people to WordPress. She’s been developing websites since 1994 and has been building WordPress themes since 2009. She hails from New Hampshire where she founded the Seacoast NH WordPress meetup in 2011. She works as an independent consultant and also as part of Spark Development, a small agency focusing on WordPress web development. You can often locate Amanda by her loud sneezes and it’s likely because of these sneezes that she leads such a blessed life. Find her on Twitter: @AmandaGilesNH

Elayna Fernandez

Topic: WordPress 101 Workshop

Elayna Fernández, known worldwide as The Positive MOM, is an award-winning storyteller, a master digital strategist, and an avid student of pain. Elayna helps moms transform their pain story into positive growth, step into balance, and create joy and success on their own terms – in all areas of life. Elayna travels the world as an International keynote speaker and panelist in the topics of motherhood, mindset, and mompreneurship. Her guidance encourages, empowers, and equips millions of moms in 134 countries to increase their impact, income, and influence, without guilt, shame, or regrets in motherhood. Elayna is Certified Guerrilla Marketing Master Trainer, Certified Passion Test Facilitator, Certified Success Principles Trainer, a graduate of the Steve Harvey School for Business Acceleration, and a web designer for over 20 years. She has been awarded as Best Marketer, Mom Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Latina Lifestyle Blogger of both 2015 and 2016, and the 2017 Best Family and Parenting Creator at the TECLA Awards, and she has been named one of the Top Latina Influencers in the USA two consecutive years. ThePositiveMOM.com, has been ranked one of 100 Top Moms Blogs Worldwide both in 2016 and 2017. Born and raised in a slum in the Dominican Republic, Elayna now lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her loving husband and 3 homeschooled daughters. Her philosophy is “BE Positive and You’ll BE Powerful!”

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

September 29, 2017September 30, 2017

WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Brennen Bliss

Topic: Starting Your Digital Agency With WordPress

Brennen is the CEO and founder of the North Texas digital marketing agency, PixelCutLabs. At 18 years old, he is a member of the American Marketing Association and an expert on the subject. His marketing agency provides services to local and multinational companies, with clients including The College Football Playoffs, Retreat Central, and MyClouset.com. Brennen is recognized for crafting results-oriented strategies to brand high-profile businesses, helping them stand out among the established competition. With Brennen, you get the best of both worlds, a young man able to keep up with the fast changing times of the digital marketing world, and an experienced professional with the track record and acclaim to take your brand and digital reputation to the next level. Every venture Brennen partakes in serves as a conversation starter, as Brennen makes an effort to disassociate himself with the status quo.

How did you get involved in WordPress?

I got involved in WordPress when my mom, a small business owner, needed a website for her company. Naturally, she brought it up to the 15-year-old me (as she does with anything tech-related, no matter how much it makes me cringe haha) and I was ready to capitalize! Regardless of the fact that I probably made about a dollar an hour, that was the beginning of my relationship with WordPress. I used a pre-built theme, a concoction of (probably super cruddy) plugins, and her new website was and remains online haha. It took me about 3 months to get that online, a time during which I became very familiar with the WP environment, on the frontend at least.

What do you do with WordPress?

Today, I run a marketing agency that has made a website for roughly 30% of its clients. Of those websites, all but one run on WordPress (for technical reasons). This month, we launched a website for the College Football Playoff Foundation (cfp-foundation.org) which, to no surprise, runs on WordPress! It makes development streamlined and content management easily achieved for our clients, especially after we make modifications to the CMS to suit every scenario.

What has your experience with the WordPress community been like?

For me, WordPress has acted as a community builder. I can’t even begin to name all of the people (contractors, business owners, freelancers, coworkers) I have met because of WordPress. It’s an incredible feeling to know that there are always people available to answer my questions, many times for no cost. It’s also wonderful to be able to grow my network at events like WordCamp, which I’ve attended once in the past.

Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW?

I want to speak at WordCamp DFW because I am working on building my personal brand and growing my business network.

Why did you decide to speak on starting a digital agency?

I decided to speak on my topic because it’s something I know like the back of my hand (terrible figure of speech, lol). There are so many directions one can take with WordPress, and I’m very happy with the one I’ve followed. I hope that sharing my experience will provide some inspiration for others with similar entrepreneurial spirits and get them started or propel them forward down the path to building a business.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!