{"id":3767,"date":"2012-08-05T15:07:28","date_gmt":"2012-08-05T13:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2012.capetown.wordcamp.org\/?p=3767"},"modified":"2013-01-21T20:16:53","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T18:16:53","slug":"how-to-make-the-most-out-of-wordcamp-cape-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-wordcamp-cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make the most out of WordCamp Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve spent enough time working with WordPress, you\u2019ve heard about the ubiquitous \u201cWordCamps\u201d and probably asked the question, \u201c<a title=\"What the heck is a WordCamp\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/beginners-guide\/what-is-a-wordcamp-and-why-you-should-attend-infographic\/?display=wide\">What the heck is a WordCamp?<\/a>\u201d Hopefully at this point you\u2019re considering attending a local one, and you want to know,\u00a0<strong>\u201cHow can I make the most out of my WordCamp?\u201d<\/strong> This is a good post to read before you go. It will help you make a conference plan to maximize your attendance. There\u2019s a lot you can get out of a WordCamp, so let\u2019s help you decide what that is!<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><!--more--><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Before leaving for a conference, you should start by understanding what sorts of people will attend. Depending on the city, a WordCamp will have 200 to ~500 campers attending. WordCamp Cape Town 2011 had 200 attendees and this year we are extending the capacity to 300 attendees. This will include expert local and international WordPress developers and designers, trainers, site owners, marketers, sponsors, and complete and total noobs. <strong>A common misconception is that WordCamps are for expert users, but that\u2019s not true!<\/strong> WordCamps are perfect for both newbies just getting started and WordPress rockstars alike.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Everyone attending WordCamps have the same four goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To learn more about WordPress<\/li>\n<li>Share their knowledge with others<\/li>\n<li>Connect with more people in the community<\/li>\n<li>Grow their WordPress-based business<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Which of those four goals fits your current goals? As you think about that, it becomes easy to make a conference plan, but you\u2019ll still have some basic questions about the conference.<\/p>\n<h2>Here are some top tips to make the most out of WordCamp:<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>1. Get out of your personal boundaries<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a designer.\u201d Or, \u201cI\u2019m a developer.\u201d Or, \u201cI\u2019m a marketer.\u201d So what! Check out a couple of sessions that make your head spin.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re probably pretty good at what you do, and a lot of good subject matter on that is likely at WordCamp. WordCamp Cape Town has two tracks , the Developer and Publisher tracks, served up in the morning and the afternoon respectively. Stick around for both tracks and\u00a0see what\u2019s important to other types of people. This will open your eyes to how you can do your own job better.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Don\u2019t be afraid<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Introduce yourself to people around you. There\u2019s a chance you use one of their themes or plugins. Maybe the person next to you wrote the code for your favorite WordPress feature. They\u2019re right next to you! Talk to them.<\/p>\n<p>Do you know someone you admire in the community will be at WordCamp? Track them down! Let them know you use their stuff. I bet it\u2019s hard for anyone to get sick of hearing that. Don\u2019t be intimidated!<\/p>\n<p>Click<a title=\"Speakers\" href=\"https:\/\/2012.capetown.wordcamp.org\/speakers\/\"> here<\/a>, to find out who is speaking at WordCamp Cape Town 2012!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Share your knowledge and give advice<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Helping people start something by giving them advice or insight at a WordCamp is good karma, and\u00a0<a title=\"WordCamp Experiences that everyone wish they had\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/events\/wordcamp-experience-like-this-makes-us-attend-more-wordcamps\/\">it will always come back to you in spades<\/a>. If you have expertise in something, share it with the community.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Got something to say? Speak at WordCamp<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you have a topic that you\u2019re an expert on, and it relates to WordPress, or it provides value to people who are using WordPress to create things, then you should always submit a topic. <strong>Speaking is one of the best ways to build your brand and your business.<\/strong> We want you to share your experience with us.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to speak at WordCamp CapeTown 2012, we are <a title=\"Call for Speakers\" href=\"https:\/\/2012.capetown.wordcamp.org\/call-for-speakers\/\">calling for speakers<\/a>. Applications are being excepted up until the 3rd of September.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Use Twitter<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Tweet every chance you get. The event hashtag is #WCCT. Share the highlights from each talk you go to, or tweet hi to the people you\u2019ve just met in person. Has someone you&#8217;ve just met blown you away? Follow them and keep in touch long term &#8211; you\u2019ll gain some followers along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Start following the #WCCT hashtag a couple days before WordCamp and save the search term. Get the scoop on what&#8217;s going on, who&#8217;s attending and what&#8217;s on offer before, during and after the official day.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. Know the schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>WordCamp Cape Town&#8217;s schedule will be available within a few days of the event. Be sure to check it out before you get there. You may want to prepare specific questions for a speaker, and it\u2019s good to know what you plan to do ahead of time.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Take Notes!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You will forget if you don\u2019t. People are going to say awesomely informative things left and right. You\u2019ll think you\u2019ll remember. You won\u2019t. Take notes on your laptop or notebook. Write down urls, names, etc. so you can go back after WordCamp and lookup what you\u2019ve inevitably forgotten.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>8. Get the slides and video!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Most speakers offer up their slides and we record all session at the event.\u00a0I\u2019ve learned a great deal from some people\u2019s past slides, months after an event.<\/p>\n<p>All slides and videos of WordCamp Cape Town 2011 are available from our <a title=\"WordCamp Cape Town on Slideshare\" href=\"http:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/wordcampct\" target=\"_blank\">Slideshare<\/a> and <a title=\"WordCamp Cape Town on YouTube\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/WordCampCT\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a> accounts, and soon 2012&#8217;s content will join them.<\/p>\n<p>But still take notes, because sometimes slides tell you just enough to say, \u201cYES!\u201d and just little enough to say, \u201cBUT, NOW WHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a09.\u00a0Happiness Bars<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Happiness Bar is a special activity, in and of itself, a microcosm of what WordCamps are all about. The\u00a0<a title=\"Happiness Bar &amp; Happiness Ambassadors\" href=\"https:\/\/2012.capetown.wordcamp.org\/happiness-bar-happiness-ambassadors\/\">Happiness Bar will be in full swing at WordCamp Cape Town 2012<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Happiness Bar is a dedicated space at WordCamp where industry experts will be hanging out, ready to field your questions. You can talk to them about anything. So between sessions and during tea and lunch breaks, hit up the bar and talk to some really smart people.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>10. Follow a liveblog<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Some WordCamps have their own live blogs so you can stay in tune while you are there, or maybe just check it out later to see stuff from sessions you missed.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a good idea to join event pages on social media sites even before the event begins, just to make sure you&#8217;re in the loop when things are in full swing. Here are the event pages for WordCamp Cape Town this year.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/u\/0\/events\/cogdusoqm1vhq7irt6sangrk590\/110740705160285664998\" target=\"_blank\">Google+ Event<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/osview\/canvas?_ch_page_id=1&amp;_ch_panel_id=1&amp;_ch_app_id=2000&amp;_applicationId=2000&amp;_ownerId=0&amp;appParams=%7B%22event%22%3A%221038836%22%2C%22page%22%3A%22event%22%7D&amp;trk=link-events-detail-detail%20\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn Event<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/390919390955413\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook Event<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.siliconcape.com\/events\/wordcamp-cape-town-2012%20\" target=\"_blank\">Silicon Cape Event<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also, stay up to date with this blog before and during the event by subscribing, the widget is in the sidebar to your right, or show some luv by commenting below, do that and subscribe in one swoop.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>11. Attend the pre\/after parties!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>WordCamps aren\u2019t just about sessions. One of the greatest parts of WordCamps is the opportunity to just talk to people. The pre-parties and after-parties that are both official and unofficial become the best place to do that.<\/p>\n<h2>Answered:\u00a0Some common questions on WordCamp Cape Town<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>1. What should I wear to a WordCamp?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t stress it. WordCamps are casual affairs, and this is Cape Town. Shorts, graphic t-shirts, and even flip-flops are acceptable. Think open-source or startup software developers dresscode. That means dress in a way that makes you comfortable. As long as you don\u2019t show up in a suit and a tie, you\u2019ll fit right in.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. How can I learn to develop a business on WordPress?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a title=\"Interview of Matt Mullenweg about WordCamps\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/events\/interview-why-matt-mullenweg-created-love-wordcamps\/\">WordCamps are designed to freely spread information<\/a>, so it\u2019s an appropriate place to come and ask questions about how to use WordPress for your business. Come with a set of objectives you want to achieve for a site. Those objectives could be met with plugins, and someone will be able to advise about the optimal plugin solution. For example, which plugin should you use to collect emails? Or, which plugin will add a social network aspect? Dont be shy about asking for help! If you can do all the work yourself, awesome! If you need help implementing a solution, ask some developers about their rates!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Should I bring my laptop to the event?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Every screen you have that can tweet, email, post blogs, whatever, bring it. You want to be able to interact with your WordPress site while you\u2019re there. For example, you may want to ask questions at the Happiness Bar, and make changes to your site on the spot!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Can I meet developers and designers at a WordCamp?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/strong>WordCamps are amazing places to meet potential developers for a WordPress site. If you need a developer for a project, set a goal to meet 5 developers (which should be easy), get their contact info, and then discuss your project over email with them.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Remember to Have fun!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you need any more convincing on how awesome a WordCamp can be, talk to other people that have gone. And definitely read this excellent\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/wp.smashingmagazine.com\/2012\/05\/11\/diary-of-a-wordcamp\/\">diary of a WordCamp<\/a>, by Siobhan McKeown, on her trip to WordCamp Netherlands earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>WordCamps are supposed to be fun. Some of us make our living off of WordPress. But the odds are we got there because it was our hobby first. WordCamps should be fun. They\u2019re not just a work conference. So make sure to relax, listen, absorb, and just have a good time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve spent enough time working with WordPress, you\u2019ve heard about the ubiquitous \u201cWordCamps\u201d and probably asked the question, \u201cWhat the heck is a WordCamp?\u201d Hopefully at this point you\u2019re considering attending a local one, and you want to know,\u00a0\u201cHow &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-wordcamp-cape-town\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to make the most out of WordCamp Cape Town<\/span>  <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":368025,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[53],"tags":[11156,11155],"class_list":["post-3767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-advice","tag-campaigns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2qrmL-YL","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/368025"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3767"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7101,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3767\/revisions\/7101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capetown.wordcamp.org\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}