¿En breve? Si. Pero esa no es una publicación muy emocionante, ¿verdad? A pesar de ello, es la verdad y si te tomas en serio WordPress, puedes beneficiarte enormemente de asistir a eventos locales. Hoy voy a dedicar un tiempo a repasar los beneficios de asistir y lo que puede esperar obtener de la experiencia en su conjunto.
General benefits
En primer lugar, es viable que se sorprenda de la cantidad de persons influyentes que podrá conocer en conferencias como estas. How WordCamp boasts, «No es raro encontrarse con … oradores que se presentan en costosas conferencias de la industria Web como South by Southwest».
And while many conferences don't attract big names, sometimes what you get is even better. You can meet all kinds of web designers and developers who work on all kinds of projects, many of whom live in your city.
And even at events without the power of the stars, it is worth noting to go experience your local WordPress community in its most “real” and passionate way. These events are mostly run and attended by local people who really care about WordPress, and there is no way to quantify the benefit of immersing yourself in an environment full of people who have come together for a purpose that interests you.
Regardless, don't panic if you don't have enough experience. Most of these events strive to welcome people of all skill levels. In fact, if you're new to WordPress, attending a meeting with people who make a living from it may be the motivation you need to take your work to the next level.
Y no los confunda con uno de los típicos eventos comerciales corporativos pesados. La mayoría de las conferencias incluyen fiestas posteriores y eventos de networking que le permitirán conocer a sus compañeros asistentes en un entorno aún más informal. ¿Necesitas más razones? ¡Lo tienes!
Networking
Not only will you get information from other people, but at the same time you will be able to give it yourself. If you're a website developer or builder, what better way to advertise your services than one-on-one interaction with people you know are interested? It is a sure way to promote business.
Si planeas establecer contactos, asegúrate de tener tus patos en fila, primero. Eso significa tener tu briefcase con tus mejores trabajos ordenados de antemano y publicados en algún lugar con una Url fácil de recordar sobre la que puedas contarle a la gente. Eso significa imprimir tarjetas de presentación si aún no lo ha hecho. Y al mismo tiempo significa trabajar en su presentación y discurso de ascensor con anticipación para que no se tropiece con sus palabras cuando be el momento de vender sus servicios.
To find a job
This relates to networking, but it deserves its own section anyway. Most of the job opportunities you will find at conventions will be through personal conversations with people who need help with their projects. It is through this real, face-to-face interaction that you have the opportunity to really attract potential customers and use your personality to win them over.
Pero incluso si este tipo de interacción no es lo suyo, muchas conferencias publican bolsas de trabajo, lo que le brinda una mejor descripción general del desarrollo de WordPress y las oportunidades de Web design en su área de la que podría obtener incluso navegando por la variedad en línea de la misma. Es especializado, enfocado y hecho a medida para los asistentes.
Conferences
Conferences, like most trade shows, feature leading experts in both WordPress development and use. These experts give lectures on how they have built their careers and how they do what they do. The ability to see how they persevere through certain challenges, or how they go through their work process, is invaluable.
You might even end up learning about aspects of web design that you never thought to study before. Someone who is an expert in the entire process may end up revealing that the key to a problem you've had is in a place you never would have thought to look. As an example, if you've always focused more on the technical side of web development, it can be helpful to attend presentations on how more traditional graphic design methods can be applied to WordPress. And that is only an example. There are many others!
Gathering
But don't think you only come to the featured performances; You can learn a lot about your craft just by talking to your fellow assistants. Many of them may end up having as much knowledge as the people behind the podiums, and if you're lucky, you may find a new mentor or collaborator.
There is no better way to learn a skill than one-on-one interaction. Working in isolation can be much more difficult than when you have someone available to help you. Events like these will usually help you make friends who can be those sources of support in the future.
Information about new features
At the same time you can get live demos of the latest WordPress updates and plugins at local events. At the same time you will be exposed to WordPress aspects and features that you may never have thought to use, or third-party frameworks that you would never have seen explained.
How do I find these events?
WordCamp, the biggest name when it comes to WordPress conventions, holds dozens of events around the world, negating the need to justify spending hundreds to travel across the country to attend one. the full WordCamp schedule it can be found on their website.
Una de las características más interesantes de los eventos de WordCamp es la barra Genius, sí, como la de Apple Store, que funciona durante la conference y proporciona una ventanilla única para todas sus preguntas asociadas con WP.
WordCamp events are generally quite affordable, generally in the range of $ 40 to $ 60 throughout the weekend, and at that price, I can almost assure you that you will see a massive return on your investment.
If you want to start small, you can attend a local meeting instead of a conference. They definitely occur much more frequently and regularly, so you may want to start with just one for that reason. At the same time, they are generally free - the WordPress Foundation pays the organizer's fees for many of them, which means they don't have to pass the costs on to you. So if you want to preview your local WordPress scene without shelling out money for it, you can check out one of them.
There are more than 1,500 WordPress Meetup groups all over the world at the same time. Most likely, there is one in the population center closest to your home. At the same time, one of the most interesting features of the Meetup is that they can be thematic. As an example, many Meetup groups will hold events specifically to preview particularly exciting new features or to develop certain types of apps. So if there is a specific topic that interests you, be sure to monitor meeting times to see if it will be featured soon.
Really, if you have any interest in WordPress beyond the hobbyist stage, there is no reason not to attend at least one meeting. And really, at the same time you should attend WordCamp events. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Any information related to a WordPress meeting or convention that you want to share? Did I miss something? Or maybe you have a fun WordCamp memory or tip you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments!
WordCamp Images: Morten Rand-Hendriksen, Eva Blue, Josh hallett
