News

Topic: The Basics of Content Marketing

Adam Fout is the lead content writer at Blue Steele Solutions, a full-service marketing company in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with clients all over the U.S. After completing a series of degrees in technical communication, he left the manuals and SOPs behind and made the switch to digital marketing and content creation. He writes regularly on the subject of content marketing and customer retention, is a regular contributor to a variety of publications (including PostFunnel and The Layout), and specializes in the intersection between content marketing and WordPress. To learn more, visit bluesteelesolutions.com and adamfout.com.

How did you get involved in WordPress?

I learned to use WordPress when I went back to college for a technical communication degree. I fell into an internship at a small WordPress shop, Blue Steele Solutions, and I’ve been there ever since.

What do you do with WordPress?

I mostly use WordPress as a content creator, and though I have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, I’m more comfortable using plugins and/or trusting experts for my design/development solutions. If I need to make small changes that are simple to implement, I can, but I prefer to focus on the power of WordPress for creating and disseminating content.

What has your experience with the WordPress community been like?

The WordPress community is amazing. Though I had almost no experience in WordPress, my first WordCamp in San Diego still felt welcoming and inclusive. I was impressed by the range of folks who were involved and the willingness of everyone to join together, teach, and help. I think it’s an awesome community, and I’m grateful to be a part of it!

Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW?

I wanted to speak at DFW WordCamp because I’ve noticed many WordCamps focus heavily on design and development and have little about content creation, especially content marketing, which surprised me given how integral content is to everything we do in the WordPress community — it’s what every website is built for! I just wanted to give the content folks some love and help those who aren’t familiar with content marketing to learn how to implement it on their own site.

Why did you decide to speak on content marketing?

I love content marketing. It’s my passion and something that can make a huge difference to businesses of all sizes, and it has at its heart an altruism that isn’t often found in the world of marketing. Content marketing is the WordPress of marketing, and I love nothing more than being able to show people how they can help others AND market their website at the same time.

What do you hope the audience gets from your talk?

I hope my audience walks away with an immediate understanding of how to implement basic content marketing practices on their website, along with the value of doing so.

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!

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.

How did you get involved in WordPress?

I graduated in 2009 at the beginning of the recession with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and no job. A friend hired me to help him manage a local non-profits websites. The sites weren’t on WordPress at that time but we hired Cory Miller (when he was still building sites) to re-design one of the sites and he recommended WordPress. That was my introduction to WordPress and I’ve been using it ever since.

What do you do with WordPress?

I develop custom sites for my clients and I help them to use their websites strategically to reach their organization’s goals.

What has your experience with the WordPress community been like?

The community has been critical for me getting to where I am today. When I started with WordPress the only experience I had with websites was a one semester class in high school that had me swearing I would never touch another website again. It’s so nice to have people I can reach out to when I get stuck and just need to bounce ideas off of someone. There’s always someone ahead of me willing to stop and help me figure something out. In return, I try very hard to help those who are just starting out. That’s one reason I was very excited to help co-organize the OKC WordPress Users Group this year.

Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW?

I’ve been speaking at smaller events for a couple of years now and I love being able to help people and answer their questions. I’ve been wanting to speak at a WordCamp for a little while, I just finally got the courage to send in an application.

Why did you decide to speak on digital marketing?

When I work with clients many of them don’t realize the planning that needs to go into a website. You don’t want to just throw up a website, there’s no way it’s going to achieve your goals if you do that. You have to be very strategic about who it is the website is for and what you want them to do once they get there. Only when you plan all of this out can you turn a website from an expense to an investment that starts bringing money and customers back into your business or non-profit.

What do you hope the audience gets from your talk?

I hope they stop and think about who their website is for and what they want it to do. I hope it leads them to make at least one small change so they can see more traffic/customers/money.

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!

Topic: Sales 101 – Finding clients and freeing up dollars Sales, Sales Management, Team Builder, Branding, Speaker, Trainer. As the Head of SAP Anywhere, Matt is responsible for working with the broader team to declare product market fit, achieve financial aspirations and maximize customer satisfaction. He currently oversees the Sales, Customer Success, Support, and overall execution of SAP Anywhere’s employees/clientele on a global scale. Matt has spent the majority of his career focused on SMB sales. From door2door sales, selling to fortune 100 companies, or running his own companies, Matt has a diverse sales background which he now uses to manage, teach, and train others. As an international sales leader he travels the globe sharing his insights through keynotes, blogs, and social media, on overcoming the 2 major obstacles in sales; prospecting and freeing up dollars without making major changes to how you work today. Matt currently resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and 6 kids. When he isn’t traveling he spends his time coaching multiple youth sports and building his community. How did you get involved in WordPress? My partner went to a meetup in Utah and met the Blue Host guy, Mike Hansen. He got us looped into the whole scene and we’ve loved this community! What do you do with WordPress? We offer discounted and revenue sharing credit card processing as well as introductions to SMBs needing their sites updated. We also use and work with developers around the world, speaking and giving back to the community. What has your experience with the WordPress community been like? Very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. We have really enjoyed every event we’ve attended. Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW? Because Dallas is my home and I’d like to help in my own backyard and keep helping developers and designers grow their business and the community as a whole. Why did you decide to speak on sales? I have been in sales my entire career it is my specialty as design and development is a strength of the WordCamp attendees…I think that I can add value and hopefully provide useful information and help to the community.   What do you hope the audience gets from your talk? Three things they can do better, and three things they can avoid doing; to better grow their 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!