How My Shortcomings in WordPress Make Me a Better Contributor

Lisa Melegari@lmelegari

A Quick History

• Started learning WordPress in 2008.• Got involved with the WordPress Orlando

Meetup in 2012.• Became an organizer of the WPORL Meetup

and WordCamp Orlando in 2013.• Advised WordCamp Tampa during one of their

first organizer meetings.• Now lead organizer of WCORL.

My Technical WordPress Experience

Why Non-Technical Contributors Matter

• We bring a ton of unique talents to the mix.• At the end of the day, most WordPress

projects are used by non-technical people.• The technical people are often busy with that

“technical” stuff to take care of other important “non-technical” matters.

How do you contribute so much to WordPress while barely being able

to make a viable site?

Ways to Contribute

• Support those who can• Channel your talents creatively• ABC (Always Be Connecting)• Be “that guy/gal”

Supporting Those Who Can

• Help test new plugins.• Provide feedback on WIP designs.• Offer your devices for live testing.• Write constructive reviews on plugins.– Don’t miss “Plugin Reviews Demystified” at 2PM!

• Submit bugs.

Supporting Those Who Can

• Take care of each other.– Feed your fellow WordPressers.– Offer lodging to your traveling WP buddies.– Collaborate on WordCamp travel plans.– Always have time to lend an ear.

Don’t miss “Invest in WordPress by Investing in Yourself” at 3PM!

Channel Your Talents Creatively

• The WordPress Community is built on more than just technical know-how.

• Instead of focusing on your WordPress shortcomings, identify your strengths.

• Practically any interest/talent can be put to use to improve WordPress.

Channel Your Talents Creatively

• Do you speak more than one language? You’re a Polyglot and we need you!– Translate WordPress core• https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/

– Subtitle videos on WordPress.tv• https://make.wordpress.org/tv/

Channel Your Talents Creatively

• Speaking of WordPress.tv they need people to subtitle videos in English as well!

• Can you edit video? There are tons of videos that could use your help!

https://make.wordpress.org/tv/

Channel Your Talents Creatively

• Do you like to travel? Are you good at planning events? Fundraising? Networking?

• The Community Team is always looking for people to help grow the WordPress community and help establish new Meetup groups and WordCamps!

https://make.wordpress.org/community/

Channel Your Talents Creatively

• Do you like to troubleshoot and investigate things? Have a good attention to detail? WordPress core needs testers!

Visit https://codex.wordpress.org/Mailing_Lists#Testers

to join the WP testers mailing list. No developer knowledge needed!

Channel Your Talents Creatively

For a full list of how to Get Involved visit

https://make.wordpress.org/

Always Be Connecting

• Spread the Word(Press).• Get to know your neighboring Meetup groups

and WordCamps.• Join other local tech groups.• Collaborate with your local tech scene.• Invite speakers outside of the WordPress

realm.

Be “That Guy/Gal”

• Find your niche and stick with it.• Make a name for yourself by providing your

help however you can.• Be the one people turn to when they need...– Venue ideas for Meetups– Help transporting/storing equipment– Volunteers at conferences

Final Thoughts

• Give generously of your time but not to the point where it impacts your life negatively.

• Do not contribute with the expectation of getting something, contribute because you love WordPress!

• Still feeling lost? Ask your local Meetup/WordCamp organizers where they need help!

Wapuu design by Michelle Schulp. Get more here!

Questions?@lmelegari

Get the slides here:http://goo.gl/aEFIsA

(that’s an uppercase ‘i’ after the ‘EF’ and yes it’s case-sensitive)