December 25, 2019 — Few topics make people nervous like asking to get paid and discussions of money. Maintaining clients can be one of the most intimidating aspects of working in the WordPress community, especially among freelancers and small businesses. This talk will discuss approaches to charging clients, how to filter out the clients you don’t want while attracting better ones, how to get them to agree to more money, and the idea of a more balanced lifestyle and how it relates to payment.

December 28, 2018 — The basics behind search engine optimization (SEO) and high rankings in Google haven’t changed much in the last decade. While both on-site SEO and off-site SEO tactics remain important, newer areas of focus have come into play. Topics such as content quality, website speed, security, design, the Knowledge Graph, artificial intelligence, algorithm updates and Google mandated changes should be considered by anyone looking to stay up to date with SEO. This session will discuss some of the latest trends that site owners and managers should be aware of.

December 1, 2017

October 12, 2017 — WordPress is software like no other. Businesses harness its versatility. Creative skills are mastered with it. It unifies individuals from diverse backgrounds. Yet to so many, it remains “just” software. As a blogger, web designer, marketer, educator, and entrepreneur since long before its existence, I’ve watched it grow into a worldwide phenomenon. My own path to success is intertwined with a decade of WordPress use. Clearly, there’s more to this software than just a free install. Discover how WordPress will completely change your personal and business life for the better, if you let it! This is an introduction to my concept of The WordPress Lifestyle (#wplife) which is all about community. It goes far beyond merely using WordPress to support one’s livelihood. It includes education, inspiration, art, experiences, relationships, and so much more.

October 2, 2017 — This is a panel discussion meant to help anyone (such as freelancers, content creators, and small business owners) with questions about WordPress-related business issues.

August 5, 2017 — This is meant to be a blunt and straight-forward talk on the challenges of entering the WordPress space. This space is not all unicorns and rainbows – at least not anymore. Business and ideas fail in this space just like any other. Panelists should come with pros and cons of being in the WordPress space, and what they would do if WordPress’s dominance in the CMS/etc. space decreases. This is not mean to be a negative subject but a realistic one, and panelists represent different viewpoints (freelancer, small, large businesses, plugin/theme shops).

August 5, 2017 — This panel helps to convey what it takes to build an agency from scratch or a few freelancers. How does one get an agency started? What are the things you need before or as you start? What are the biggest keys to success and the toughest lessons to remember?

March 24, 2017 — WordPress is software like no other. Businesses harness its versatility. Creative skills are mastered with it. It unifies individuals from diverse backgrounds. Yet to so many, it remains “just” software. As a blogger, web designer, marketer, educator, and entrepreneur since long before its existence, I’ve watched it grow into a worldwide phenomenon. My own path to success is intertwined with a decade of WordPress use. Clearly, there’s more to this software than just a free install. Discover how WordPress will completely change your personal and business life for the better, if you let it!

January 21, 2017 — The Path to Success with WordPress: Business, Blogging and Community

WordPress is software like no other. Every fourth website you encounter was built using it. Creative skills are mastered with it. Businesses harness its versatility. It has the power to bring together people from diverse backgrounds. Yet to so many, it’s “just” software. As a blogger, web designer, marketer, educator, and entrepreneur since long before its existence, I’ve watched it grow into a worldwide phenomenon. My own path to success is intertwined with a decade of WordPress use. Clearly, there’s more to this software than just a free install.

December 16, 2016 — Independent bloggers have become multi-platform influencers with success being much more broadly defined. Getting people to pay attention, being influential on social media networks, obtaining financial rewards and non-monetary incentives, and acquiring self-branding skills are being tied to the creation of valuable content. All of these are associated with a more recent, evolved view of blogging and success. In this session, attendees will learn what it means to be a successful blogger, discover some of the latest trends in blogging, gain insight into becoming an influencer, get advice on how to view success, get tips for finding success-generating topics to write about (e.g., products, services, people, events,…), learn about maintaining a balanced work-life lifestyle as an independent blogger, and find out about emerging trends in generating revenue from their blog and social network.