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)

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How My Shortcomings in WordPress Make Me a Better Contributor

  • 1. How My Shortcomings in WordPress Make Me a Better Contributor Lisa Melegari @lmelegari
  • 2. 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.
  • 4. 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.
  • 5. How do you contribute so much to WordPress while barely being able to make a viable site?
  • 6. Ways to Contribute • Support those who can • Channel your talents creatively • ABC (Always Be Connecting) • Be “that guy/gal”
  • 7. 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.
  • 8. 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!
  • 9. 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.
  • 10. 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/
  • 11. 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/
  • 12. 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/
  • 13. 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!
  • 14. Channel Your Talents Creatively For a full list of how to Get Involved visit https://make.wordpress.org/
  • 15. 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.
  • 16. 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
  • 17. 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!
  • 18. 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)