WordCamp Updates – WordCamp Cape Town

November 15, 2017

WordCamp Cape Town 2017 debrief

I’ve said this to a few people already, but if I had known what it takes to lead a WordCamp, I might not have jumped to the opportunity.

(who am I kidding, of course I would have, but that’s another story).

I had originally planned to only be on the organising team for 2017 and had applied lead WordCamp Cape Town 2018, thinking that would be a good way to see what was involved first. However due to some setbacks in the life of the 2017 lead I was asked if I’d be prepared to take over. As with all opportunities that come my way, I grabbed that bull by the horns.

Preparing the team

The first thing I did when I knew I was leading 2017 was put out the call for organisers. I was fortunate that I had a mixed group of experienced and new organisers on my team. I was also blessed with a team who was not only prepared to put in the time needed to get the job done, but on whom I could rely on 100%. I’d like to think I’m fairly good at delegating (although WordCamp has taught me I can do that better) but every team member stepped up and tackled their respective tasks admirably. If you’re part of the WordCamp Cape Town 2017 organising team and you’re reading this, thank you very much for everything you did. I appreciate all your hard work and I hope you’ll be joining me again next year.

Planning

The organsing team met fairly early on in person, mostly in order to get to meet everyone face to face, but also to talk about what we want to achieve with WordCamp. We didn’t really have an overall theme or goal, something that I plan to rectify next year, but we were mostly all on the same page. We met again in person one last time and then all planning moved to digital means.

As a team we agreed to using Slack for real time communication and a WordPress.com hosted p2 for any other form of communication. Initially these forms of communication were private, but after listening to Jenny Wong’s WordCamp Europe talk I decided that we should make the slack channel and p2 blog public. The rest of the team agreed and I’m glad we did so, as we were able to get some feedback from our future attendees before the event.

That’s not to say that things went perfectly. Two of our organising team stepped down during the course of planning and we had to do what we could to either find replacements or share the workload among ourselves. We moved the date of WordCamp out by a month from its usual date, but didn’t factor in the effect this would have on members of our team who would be flying to WooConf. I’m happy to say that we did however manage to get everything arranged in time and eventually the day arrived.

WordCamp

I’m happy to report that the general consensus from folks I have spoken to (and the surveys that went out afterwards) was that WordCamp Cape Town 2017 was a success. I’ve already started assimilating the survey responses with plans to either improve on or rectify some of the mistakes I made. If I’ve learned nothing else from WordCamp it’s that you can have the best venue and speakers in the world, but if you haven’t catered for everyone’s needs when it comes to food, you’d better be prepared to take some flak.

Budget

Managing the budget was probably one of the biggest headaches the team and more specifically myself and our budget wrangler, had to deal with this year. We were only able to raise about half of what we had raised previously in non Global Community sponsorships so it meant we had to make some hard decisions about where to spend our funds. Fortunately we made the correct decisions when it came to trimming the budget and we actually ended up with a profit of about R 11 500, which I paid over to WordCamp central this morning, to be used for other WordCamps around the world.

You can take a look at the final budget here.

Once big risk we took this year was opening a local bank account, to be able to process ticket sales in local currency as opposed to USD. I think at the end of the day this worked out pretty well, but it added the extra headache of having to worry about payment processing and banking fees, which we didn’t even think about.

Wrap up

Since my first in 2015 I always look forward to a WordCamp, its a great place to meet new WordPress folks, catch up with old friends and celebrate the local community. Now that I have first hand experience in making all that happen, I’m excited to improve for next year. However, WordCamp Cape Town 2018 will be taking a slightly different path. A few of the organising team have already discussed an idea to run a more stripped down WordCamp, with more of a focus on learning, sharing and contributing. We’ve had so many great WordCamps in the past that I think it’s a good time to change things up a little.

To all the people who volunteered their time this year, the organising team, speakers, volunteers and anyone else who helped make it happen, I thank you again. If you are reading this and you want to be a part of 2018, please visit and subscribe to updates on the https://wpcapetown.co.za/ site. As soon I publish this post I’ll be completing my application to lead WordCamp Cape Town 2018 and once that’s approved, I’ll be posting a call for organisers on the WP Cape Town site.

Finally, to those of you who may be reading this internationally, if you have the means I cordially invite you down to Cape Town for WordCamp next year. I promise this time I’ll get the food right 😉

October 25, 2017October 25, 2017

What you can expect from your WordCamp.

WordCamp has always been the highlight of my WordPress year. While its great to meet, greet and work with fellow WordPressers (that’s what I call ya’ll) WordCamp is always that little something special. This year was my first as both part of the organising team and lead organiser and it was fun to see how it all gets put together. I hope that you have as much fun attending it as I did at my first WordCamp in 2015. As such, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at what you can expect from your 2 day WordPress conference.

Still haven’t bought your ticket? What are you waiting for?!

1) The simplest registration process

As soon as you enter the River Club, our registration team will be on hand to get you registered and give you your attendee card. Thanks to some updates to the process this will be as simple as giving our volunteers your name and them marking you as attended. If you booked your tickets after 3pm on Tuesday we may have to write your name on your attendee card, but once that’s done you are in and you can start enjoying the conference. Keep an eye out for the venue maps and schedules which will be up downstairs and upstairs, to indicate where everything is happening. Food is upstairs, so go and grab some coffee, a morning snack and chat with fellow attendees, or find the Swag room and stock up on your free stuff.

2) Amazing workshops and talks

I looked at the full schedule earlier today and I have to say, we have some amazing talks this year. I wish I could split myself in three and attend all three tracks on Thursday. From automated marketing funnels all the way to WordPress APIs, I think you would find it hard to not find something to attend. Friday’s sessions are an exciting mix of stories from both new WordPress users to people who have built their livelihood on WordPress. We even have a great international mix from not only other continents but speakers vising from other African nations. I’m really looking forward to hearing how WordPress changes peoples lives across our world.

3) Great food

If you have attended the River Club for any conference before you know that their food is always amazing and plentiful. What I also like is that the food is served buffet style, so there is ample opportunity to grab a plate and have an awesome chat with a fellow conference attendee.

4) Awesome coffee

We know how much you like good coffee and this year we have a dedicated barista available for your coffee requirements. If you’ve never tasted a Truth cappuccino, you are in for a treat. I just hope our barista is up to the challenge of serving 200+ coffee connoisseurs.

5) Enjoy the relaxing and well equipped venue

The River Club is an awesome conference venue. If the weather is good you can enjoy a seat outside next to the pool, knock a few golf balls around and just generally relax in true Cape Town style. We even have a dedicated ‘chill’ area for those who need a little quite time to check up on their emails. The River Club has also upgraded it’s wifi network recently, so we should have no connectivity interruptions. (A reminder, torrents are still not allowed) and we’re making sure there should be ample plugs and extensions for those who need power.

6) Free stuff

Who doesn’t like free stuff. While our sponsor swag is slightly down from previous years, I am sure there will be something you can enjoy from the swag selection. The official WordCamp t-shirt returns this year and we’ve decided to try something different out design wise. We hope you like it.

7) Capture the moment

We’ve managed to secure a photographer for both days to capture the spirit of WordCamp as well as a videographer for the second day’s talks. On day 2 (Friday) we will also have a BrandRocket kiosk in the swag room, allowing you to use the #wcct2017 #hashtag to Instagram, Tweet or WhatsApp a photo from your mobile with the WordCamp branding. (Please, no photos of your cats or children!)

9) Mid conference meetup.

For those who don’t have to go straight home, or who want to wait out the traffic for a while, we’ll be having an informal meetup at the Slug n Lettuce after the workshops on day 1. Grab a coffee, drink or beer at the bar and join us for a nice post day 1 chat.

8) After Party

What would a conference be without a bit of an after party. If you can stay we’ll be having drinks and snacks (and some music) at the venue from about 5:15 on Friday. It’s a great way to unwind and relax after the conference.

See you all there!

October 17, 2017October 16, 2017

Meet the Sponsors

With only 16 days to go, anticipation and excitement are building for WordCamp Cape Town 2017. The buzz in the WordPress community is tangible!

As with most events, it’s difficult to measure ROI for a sponsorship and with WordCamps – it can be even more complicated. By sponsoring this community event, sponsors are investing into the success and forward momentum of the WordPress community. Indirectly sponsors are investing into the future of the WordPress platform which is currently powering 28.7% of all websites on the internet. Ultimately sponsors are not only pouring out finance for this event but primarily a heart for WordPress – which collectively makes the substance of our healthy, empowering and growing community.

The return on this type of investment is difficult to equate or predict but it is significant in every sense of the word. Without you, dear sponsor, we could never put together an event that boasts such a collaborative effort to see our community grown and propelled into the future of WordPress. Thank you! Thank you for believing in WordPress and for believing in the community.

If you are interested in investing in the WordPress community like our awesome sponsors have, please get in touch!

WooCommerce – Diamond Sponsor

Jetpack – Diamond Sponsor

GoDaddy Pro – Platinum Sponsor

Bluehost -Platinum Sponsor

WPML.org – Gold Sponsor

PayFast – Gold Sponsor

Code Cabin -Gold Sponsor

Hetzner – Bronze Sponsor & Coffee Sponsor

Yoast – Bronze Sponsor

Paid Memberships Pro – Bronze Sponsor

October 10, 2017October 9, 2017

Fresh Air, golf and kid-friendly facilities – welcome to the River Club!

While we’re sure you’re ready for this year’s WordCamp, we know there are always those niggly little questions about logistics. Aside from a smorgasbord of awesome presentations and workshop sessions, opportunities to learn, network and make new contacts, there are those awkward conference things to consider.

Like where to park – and how much will it cost? What to do with the kids for the day? And how about some fun and fresh air, too?

Relax – we’ve got you covered.

WordCamp 2017 returns to our favourite venue, the River Club. We love the relaxed-yet-luxurious feel of the conference facilities. Previous attendees agree: It’s like being in the country – although only minutes away from, well, everywhere in Cape Town!

Situated just outside the CBD traffic congestion zone, there’s plenty of free, secure parking for all.

Spacious, with lawns stretching towards Table Mountain, there’s a suite of fully stocked bars, restaurants and outdoor seating for private, small group discussions or one-on-ones with fellow WordPressers and speakers.

River Rascals Kids Club

Worried about the kids? Bring them along! They’ll have fun at the River Rascals Kids Club – a secure, supervised play area with jungle gyms, caregivers and indoor games. It’ll be a fabulous adventure for children aged one to 12 years (remember, kids under three should be accompanied by a caregiver).

Need to do something healthy and fun during breaks? Then the driving range is the place for you – no previous experience needed. There will be plenty of balls and clubs at hand for you to bring out your inner Tiger. Remember the hat and sunscreen, or play under the floodlights at night.

Rock on at the after party on Friday night – we’ll be bringing you news about this and much, much more, (if you haven’t already) so be sure to subscribe to our blog for updates.

October 3, 2017October 2, 2017

Convince your boss to let you attend WordCamp Cape Town

With WordCamp Cape Town being run over two days, there can be some consternation from members of upper-management that their employees will be spending two full working days at a conference. If you’re in this position then we’ve got your back – simply present this letter to your manager and they will be utterly convinced that allowing you to attend WordCamp is the best decision that they will ever make. Guaranteed.

To [MANAGER’S NAME],

RE: Attending WordCamp Cape Town 2017

In the interest of employee education, networking and increasing my skill set, I would like to attend WordCamp Cape Town on 26 & 27 October 2017.

WordCamps are conferences that focus on everything WordPress – there are over 150 held all over the world throughout the year, and they are informal, community-organised events that are put together by average WordPress users. Everyone from casual users to core WordPress developers participate in them to share ideas and get to know each other.

Cape Town’s WordCamp has been an annual event on the local community’s calendar for the past seven years, making this the eighth in a string of incredibly successful events that offer immeasurable benefits to those who attend.

The conference itself will run over two days, with the first day being a series of practical workshops that will teach essential skills such as working with SASS, generating SEO-friendly content, designing websites to be more inclusive, and creating effective marketing strategies across social media.

And that’s just day one…

The second day will include sessions covering broader, industry-focussed matters such as transitioning from consulting to products, understanding how to leverage new WordPress technologies more effectively, turning users into customers, and a host of other fascinating and inspiring topics.

During all of this I will have the chance to get to know a huge amount of individuals from both the local and international WordPress communities. With an expected attendance of around 300 people there will be plenty of opportunity to connect with influential people with whom we can collaborate and leverage our skill sets to mutually benefit each other.

The incredible thing is that all of this costs a mere R500 for both days! At that price I can guarantee you that the things I learn and the connections I make at WordCamp will more than pay for themselves as our business continues to expand.

If we send 5 or more of our staff, then we can get a R100 discount on each ticket – you just need to contact the conference organisers on capetown@wordcamp.org to get the coupon code.

You can read more about the conference at capetown.wordcamp.org and I’d be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,
[YOUR NAME]

September 19, 2017September 29, 2017

Not just for developers: Why businesses owners and employees should attend WordCamp

It seems like most people who’ve heard of WordCamp automatically assume that it’s a conference only for WordPress developers. In reality, it’s a conference that focuses on EVERYTHING WordPress. It appeals to a wide audience from casual users to freelancers, project managers to designers, and even business owners. It’s a great environment to learn, share ideas, network, and get to know the movers and shakers in our amazing WordPress community.

As a business owner I am constantly looking at new ways to produce the best possible product or deliver the best possible service, for the least amount of effort, and the most amount of profit. That’s why we started experimenting with WordPress back in 2014 – from a business perspective, it just made sense.

However, we had a problem. We didn’t know all that much about WordPress, or how we could use it to grow our business. It’s for these exact reasons I attended my first WordCamp in Cape Town back in 2014, and I’ve attended, spoken at, volunteered or co-organized every WordCamp since.

What kept me coming back? The benefits to me, my business, and my staff are endless.

It covers so many diverse topics.

Yes, there are developer-focused Workshops and Talks, but there are also amazing Workshops and Talks about Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Design, Remote Working, Managing Clients and Projects, and so much more. Whether you’re a freelancer, an employee or the boss, I can almost guarantee that there will be a topic from which you can learn from and/or discuss with other likeminded people dealing with the same issues you are.

It’s the best event to networking with likeminded people and grow your business.

Whether you’re looking to have a product developed, for new developers to hire, for partners to outsource to, or if you’re just looking to meet some of the most influential people and companies in the WordPress community – both locally and abroad – then WordCamp is the conference for you!

It’s cheap! The rewards far outweigh the costs.

At only R500 per ticket, WordCamp is by far one of the least expensive conferences out there. Nowhere else will you find so many amazing Workshops, Talks, Individuals and Companies coming together for two full days for such a low price. Not only is the conference inexpensive, there’s a driving range and food and drinks are included.

August 21, 2017

WordCamp Sessions

Every year WordCamp Cape Town hosts some of the most interesting and informative workshops and talks from WordPress users both locally and internationally. We do this by inviting speakers from around the world to join us in celebrating WordPress.

The process of taking all the session submissions and filtering them into the final list for the event has always been handled purely by the organising team. However this is quite a subjective process and so this year, in the overall spirit of open sourcing WordCamp, we want to put more power into the hands of our users, those of you who will be attending WordCamp.

So, if you follow the link to the list of proposed sessions, you will see a list of all session submissions as well as a poll to vote for your favourites. We would love to get your feedback in choosing the sessions you want featured at WordCamp.

While we will do everything in our power to include the sessions you have voted for, please be aware that the final selection is the responsibility of the WordCamp Organising Team.

So head on over to the proposed session list and make your choices.

August 14, 2017August 14, 2017

WordPress Women: let’s hear your voices at #wcct2017

Jenny Wong speaking at WordCamp Cape Town 2015

WordCamp Cape Town loves women! And we want your voices heard at our #wcct2017 event.

We’re inviting engaging, innovative and tech-savvy WordPress women to join our impressive list of speakers. Share your innovations, insights and challenges with your WordPress community.

Help us build a show-stopping, gender-balanced line-up for our two days of workshops and talks, set to take place on 26 and 27 October 2017 at the River Club.

We invite you to submit your Speaker application today – entries close on 20 August 2017. To apply as a speaker simply follow this link to the submission form. We’re open to any topic that you have expertise in and are looking for workshops as well as regular 35-minute talks.

June 22, 2017

Open sourcing WordCamp

If you were like me, you spent quite a bit of your weekend watching the WordCamp Europe live stream. Not being able to easily visit other WordCamp’s outside of South Africa, I really appreciate the Europe and US live streams as I get to catch a glimpse of what the rest of the world is up to.

One of the talks that stood out to me was Jenny Wong’s lighting talk on her experiences in planning WordCamp London and how they handled diversity by focusing on accessibility. What struck me was that the organising team found that by making their planning and descion making process publicly accessible they were able to understand the needs and requirements of their attendees better. They also found that they were able to make use of the community’s individual strengths and skills to help plan and execute a successful event.

The WordCamp Cape Town organising team has been meeting and planning WordCamp since around March this year, but it has all been mostly privately in Slack or on a P2. We’ve decided that in order to make the next WordCamp more inclusive, diverse and accessible we are going to open up the planning process to anyone who would like to offer their suggestions or support.

So, if you would like to take part in planning a bigger, better WordCamp Cape Town this year, please consider joining the discussion.

We meet every Friday at 10am in the WPSA Slack in the #wcct2017 channel (lurkers are welcome) and all our agendas and meeting discussions are posted on the WCCT2017 P2.