Rafiq Phillips is a Cape Town based SEO Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Innovator. He will be presenting a session on the Importance of SEO as a part of the Publisher Track.
Tell us a bit about yourself
SEO at MIH SWAT by day Web AddiCT all the time
Why WordPress?
I have been publishing content online since 1999 in the style of what today is known as blogging and have been using WordPress since 2005.
What are your thoughts on the WordPress community as a whole? And the South African WP community?
The free support and valuable resources available with WordPress is unlike any other publishing platform available today. This would not be possible without the open source WordPress community.
In South Africa I have to tip my hat to the WooTeam who have contributed some code to the open source community and the various projects they have helped found which educates many South Africans about WordPress’ endless possibilities.
Why did you decide to speak at WordCamp Cape Town?
I participated in the last WordCamp Cape Town, and it changed my life. I hope my contribution this time round will positively impact the attendees who will learn and share the tips I’ll disseminate.
What is your talk going to be about?
SEO Fundamental…ism
What are you most looking forward to at WordCamp Cape Town?
An event free of arrogance, pride and company pitches 🙂
What is the one thing you want people to walk away with from your talk?
The importance of SEO for WordPress.
What is your favourite WordPress theme and/or plugin, and why?
The theme on Web AddiCT(s); designed by Foxinni. Before the theme my bounce rate was 70%, after it has remained below 20%
Share one WP tip
WordPress is only a tool.
Who in the WordPress community inspires you? Who do you follow?
Everyone who contributes to the core, themes and plugins without a hidden agenda (usually financial gain).
What is the most exciting feature/addition/improvement to WordPress that you have noticed in the last year?
I’m not sure how long it’s been around but the one-click theme & plugin installation has been, I believe, the most exciting improvement in the past 5 years. In the last year it has been working much better without leaving maintenance behind.
Where do you see WordPress 2 years from now?
Start-up publishers who use WordPress as a CMS will be eating the cake of those well-established publishers who rely on a legacy, buggy and bespoke CMS.
