January 18, 2019 — I didn’t think I needed a business plan, I only needed clients, tons of clients. Even though my title was web designer, I took every job that was asked of me: web sites, of course, but also graphics, print, social media management, training, basically anything!

January 18, 2019 — How to be a successful WordPress freelancer or agency owner while living a full life. In our fast pace world it can sometimes be difficult to have it all, but unlike popular believe it’s definitely doable.

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January 17, 2019 — This talk will discuss approaches to diversity and inclusion at distributed companies. One potential
of a distributed company is that of global diversity. What is the reality? How are distributed companies
working to increase workforce diversity, grow internal talent, increase internal engagement, and set new standards for cultural leadership?

In this talk I’ll take a deep dive into efforts at Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com) and also look
at efforts at companies such as Github.

January 17, 2019 — “Overview of some processes used at an agency level. Version control, code standards, database migrations, environment aware config files and automated deployments. From local development setup to multiple environments, version control to automated deployments, content migration to modular mentalities. With some how-to talk and some how-not-to talk, we’ll discuss some ways to “soup up” our process to work for us when it comes to web development and WordPress.”

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January 17, 2019 — “True, successful freelancers convert leads into clients by getting to know their prospects’ biggest issues, and proving themselves to be expert problem-solvers. But the real secret to netting new clients?
Following up.
Studies show that 80% of prospective clients say “no” before they say “yes.” 90% of sales are lost when no
second contact is made!
I will teach you to create a client pipeline that pays.
Ensure interested leads are the real-deal (no tire-kickers!)
Tailor your marketing efforts to proven lead sources
Develop a client relationship management (CRM) system that doesn’t let you miss an opportunity to connect.
Win new business and customer loyalty with this workshop.”

January 17, 2019 — “Podcasting – it’s not just for podcasters anymore!

Many podcasts are interview based.

The host is just a curator of knowledge and craves experts. Enter you (or your client) that not only wants a great foundation on the web, but access to the ears, hearts, and minds of ideal consumers.

In this talk, Mark Deal of the Podcast Atlanta group will outline how to be the go to expert in your field. He will cover.

1) How to reach out and get booked on podcasts.
2) The simplest way to deliver high quality audio.
3) Essential elements to craft compelling stories about what you do.
4) WordPress elements to showcase interviews from various shows on your website.

While demonstrating audio engagement incentives that you should use – Mark frequently gives out equipment during his talk.“

January 17, 2019 — WordPress’ new text editor is awesome, but many people are still trying to learn how create their own blocks in Gutenberg. While there is certainly more to creating your own blocks than writing a simple shortcode, there are also some significant benefits. We’ll cover the basics of creating a Gutenberg block, how to use Gutenberg to create predefined page layouts, and how to make your blocks dynamic on the front end of the site!

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January 17, 2019 — Not sure why building an accessible website is important? Beyond the point that is the right thing to do every freelancer should be following the best practices for creating websites that are accessible to the widest audience including those who rely on assistive technology. Accessible websites have the side benefits of faster loading speed and better SEO. Find out how you make website accessibility your new superpower to incorporate in your website projects.

January 17, 2019 — Ever had a project derail when you “farmed it out” to another team or contractor? Come and learn the best practices of working with outside teams so that you can avoid project derailments, find trusted partners to help with excess work, and be able to say “yes” to more projects.

January 17, 2019 — In June 2017, Tara Claeys and Liam Dempsey launched Hallway Chats, a podcast for sharing stories and building belonging within the WordPress community. Liam will share what Tara and Liam have learned about community building. The talk aims to share “how to” insights.