Submitting and Presenting at WordCamps Suzette Franck SoCal WordPress Meetup Group Chinatown, CA Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Suzette Franck with a “ck” @mt_Suzette ★WordPress Evangelist @ (mt) Media Temple ★First WordCamp talk in 2011 on BuddyPress ★Never spoke previously, self-taught ★Spoke at 18 WordCamps to date ★WordPress Podcast WPUnicornProject.com https://www.youtube.com/user/mediatemple ★Reg. Contributor on WPwatercooler.com ★Blogs at: suzettefranck.com ★Slides: speakerdeck.com/suzettefranck

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple ★What is and Why speak at WordCamps? ★Formulating Topic Ideas ★Submitting an Application ★Slide Preparation ★Performing Your Presentation ★Summary What We Will Cover

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple What is WordCamp?

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple WordCamps ★WordCamps are multi-day conferences held annually in popular cities around the country ★Topics for all WordPress skill levels are presented to the Community by normal people ★Recorded by the WordPress Foundation for posting on WordPress.tv

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Things You Should know about WordCamp ★Speakers are not paid for their talks ★Speakers pay their own travel expenses ★Usually special speaker dinner or gifts ★Presentation preparation is key ★Submissions accepted 6-3 months prior ★Speakers must follow Foundation Guidelines

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Why Speak at WordCamp? ★Share your knowledge with the Community ★Great experience/resume builder ★Helps to establish you as an expert in an area ★Work with and meet talented smart people ★Speaker icon on your WordPress.com profile ★Speaking experience not necessary

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple subscribe for email updates WordCamp.org

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple 2014.la.wordcamp.org September 2014 Subscribe to find out when speaker submissions will be open

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple http://www.visualistan.com/2014/05/ wordcamp-events-around-world-may-july.html WordCamps May - July

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple What Should I Talk On?

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Finding a WordCamp Topic ★What was helpful to you while learning WordPress? ★What do you wish more people understood about WordPress? ★What is something you know or want to know more about WordPress?

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Submitting Your Speaker Application

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Writing a WordCamp Submission ★Pick a good topic title that is not cryptic ★Paragraph about your topic: summary, what skill level it is for, what can be learned ★Have a good self bio about a paragraph long ★Fill out your WordPress.org Profile ★Previous experience good but not necessary ★List any articles, blog posts, or relevant classes

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Fill out your WordPress.org Profile http://profiles.wordpress.org/mt_Suzette

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Include a Bio, Nice Headshot, Social Media Links http://profiles.wordpress.org/mt_Suzette

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple More Tips on WordCamp Submissions ★Submit more than one topic ★I typically submit minimum of 3 different talks ★Be brief but concise in your application ★Fill out all fields ★Use proper English ★Bonus: submit a video intro about your topic

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Good Example: 2014.maine.wordcamp.org

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple You’ve Been Accepted... Now What?

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Creating Slides for Your Presentation ★Discovery and Research Phase (40-60%) ★Information and Organization Phase ★Finish slides 1 or 2 weeks before talk ★Publish PDF of slides to SpeakerDeck.com or SlideShare.net ★Send slide url to WordCamp organizer ★Tweet url day of and/or after your talk

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Slides Guidelines ★1-2 slides per minute ★60 minutes prep per minute ★Keynote or PowerPoint to make slides ★Focus on content not look of slides ★Focus on look when content is done ★Screen shots/images where appropriate

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Slides Guidelines ★Text should be no smaller than 48px ★Keep text as minimal as possible ★Do not read paragraphs from slides ★Do not show code without reading through it ★Always use high contrast for text ★Text/images should highlight key points

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Presenting Your Talk

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Coming Prepared ★Bring/borrow any special display adapters ★Bring/borrow a presentation clicker ★Upload your presentation before you talk ★Check with room monitor for mikes/camera 30-15 minutes prior ★Have a full water bottle with you

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Presentation Tips ★Do rehearse your introduction and bio (record) ★Humor is good in intros, if you can swing it ★Focus on smooth transitions between subjects ★Rely on slides for format/structure ★Ask audience questions to keep them engaged ★When taking questions, repeat the question

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Performing Your Talk ★Stand up straight, hands to side unless gesturing ★Use a microphone or project and annunciate ★Make eye contact with the room occasionally ★Try not to wander out of camera view ★Deliver your first words how you would like your presentation to go. Opening energy is important!

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple Closing and After Your Talk ★Last slide should include slide url/contact info ★Be available for private questions/discussions ★Hand out your business card ★Tweet out your presentation url ★Write a blog post about your talk and promote ★Check WordPress.tv for publishing of your talk ★If there is a recording, watch it and critique it

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple In Summary

Media Temple // 8520 National Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 / 877-578-4000 / mediatemple.net / @mt_Suzette © 2013 (mt) Media Temple WordCamp Presentations ★Anyone can give a talk at WordCamp ★Adhere to WordCamp GPLv2 and guidelines ★WordCamps love first time speakers ★Keep Code of Conduct in mind, no racism, no offensive jokes, no inappropriate images in slides ★Have fun but be professional, don’t cuss!

Questions? Suzette Franck suzette@mediatemple.net https://speakerdeck.com/suzettefranck Have Fun and Learn! @mt_Suzette Follow Me On Twitter!