{"id":1877,"date":"2015-09-23T10:48:03","date_gmt":"2015-09-23T17:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2015.la.wordcamp.org\/?p=1877"},"modified":"2015-09-23T10:48:03","modified_gmt":"2015-09-23T17:48:03","slug":"getting-the-most-out-of-your-wordcamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/la.wordcamp.org\/2015\/getting-the-most-out-of-your-wordcamp\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting the Most Out of Your WordCamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We like to post articles on how to get the most out of a WordCamp before the event actually happens. I’ve written these up the past couple of years. However, for the sake of time, I found a post by\u00a0Anil Gupta<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>Frankly, his article is a lot better than what I would have come up with myself. =)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Originally posted here:<\/em> https:\/\/pune.wordcamp.org\/2015\/2015\/07\/24\/20-things-you-should-do-to-get-the-most-out-of-wordcamp-pune\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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WordCamps are all about meeting interesting people, listening to enlightening talks from WordPress Gurus and of course, countless cups of coffee! \u263a<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are a WordPress Developer or have something to do with WordPress, I reckon, it\u2019s absolutely worth attending one. I happened to attend one of these camps in San Francisco last year and thoroughly relished the event. (BTW, there were 81 WordCamps held alone in 2014.)<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

I was able to get a whole new perspective on WordPress Development, see how WordPress is saving lives and moving Governments (an interesting session by Paul Clark)<\/em><\/span><\/a> and develop long-term partnerships.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you attend any WordCamp, I suggest, you do some pre-planning to get more bang for your buck.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have compiled a list of such things which you can do before, during and after the camp.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

PRE-CAMP<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Set your goals <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Before you buy a ticket, think why you are attending a WordCamp. Is it to network, make a sale, learn new stuff, have fun or build partnerships? This will help you decide the course of action to take while attending the event. Have a clear goal<\/span><\/a> in your mind before heading to the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Review the website –\u00a0https:\/\/2015.la.wordcamp.org<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Check the previously held Camp\u2019s website and the current one too. See what topics have been covered in the past. Also, don\u2019t forget to look at the agenda. This will help you decide (depending on your goals) what sessions you must attend. See who the speaker\u2019s are, what\u2019s their background etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Be Proactive\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that you have the agenda and list of speakers, connect with them via Twitter. Twitter is an awesome platform for connecting with fellow attendees and speakers. Conference hashtags often seem to be trending before the actual day arrives. Make sure you follow the speakers and other influential people attending the camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Here\u2019s an example what you can do:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo excited to attend #wclax in September! Tweet at me if you\u2019ll be there too.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

4. Videos are cool<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Plan to shoot a short 1-2 minutes video featuring you attending the event. You can even use professional help. Here are links to the videos <\/a>I<\/span><\/a> and my partner Aslam got created. Make sure you speak relevant stuff in your video.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Stash up your cards\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Make sure you stock plenty of business cards. If you don\u2019t have one, you would want to order a pack to make your brand look professional at the event. You never know how many people you will meet at the camp. Furthermore, you can install apps like CardMunch<\/span><\/a> (free) on your iPhone to convert business cards (you will collect at the conference) into contacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Be an early bird <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Register early for the camp. WordCamp tickets are known to sell out quickly. However, don\u2019t lose your heart if you don\u2019t get one. WordCamps are known for creating a sense of urgency in the beginning to sell more tickets. They do offer tickets later too. But, it\u2019s advisable to get your hands on a ticket early.Few camps offer the live streaming so for those, who can\u2019t travel can pay few bucks to watch the live streaming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a07.\u00a0Consider sponsoring<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"If you are a WordPress Development Agency<\/a>, consider sponsoring the event. It helps events like WordCamp run smoothly, plus, it gives your company sufficient exposure. There are several types of sponsorships. You can choose the one that fits in your budget and purpose.<\/p>\n

8. Keep your questions ready<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After reviewing the agenda and speakers, you might also want to prepare a list of relevant questions<\/span><\/a> pertaining to the sessions you are attending. This will help you noticed too \u263a. Here\u2019s a good article<\/span><\/a> on how to ask questions that make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

DURING THE CAMP<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. Sit strategically <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The location of your seat has a big impact. Think about it! Most WordCamps that you will attend have a classroom setup. However, depending on the size of the audience, the room can become extremely crowded, so sitting towards the front makes complete sense.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If the camps are bigger in size, they follow the assembly set up like this. The ideal position to sit in such case is highlighted in blue color.<\/p>\n

\"\"Try avoiding sitting at last because it sends a signal that you are not so serious about the session. Plus, sitting strategically also gets you noticed and is extremely helpful in QA round. However, once a session gets over, you should rotate your seating to get to know other people.<\/p>\n

\u00a010.\u00a0Ask Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Studies suggest<\/span><\/a><\/span>, we tend to ask fewer questions as we get older.\u00a0<\/span>However, posing relevant, thoughtful questions at WordCamp can lead to engaging discussions which make you appear well-informed. A More Beautiful Question<\/span><\/a> by Warren Berger is an interesting read on how asking questions has the power to spark game-changing ideas.<\/p>\n

You can learn the art of proper questioning before you attend the event. For instance, there are four types of questions you can ask. Each of these has a different goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a011.\u00a0Interact & Network<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting off conversations at events can be intimidating, especially for introverts. However, with the right technique and approach, you can easily start interacting and networking with people around. Remember, it\u2019s the individual conversations that you will have with people are more enlightening than sessions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start by introducing yourself to an individual who\u2019s also attending solo. Gradually start mingling with people in groups. You should ideally also plan to introduce yourself to some big people who are attending the conference (in this case people from the core WordPress team).<\/p>\n

You can approach them with confidence and introduce yourself by saying something that\u2019s thought-provoking. Check out Conference Crushing<\/span><\/a> by Tyler Wagner for more pro tips.<\/p>\n

Use apps like Evernote Hello<\/span><\/a> to keep a track of your connections. It\u2019s an awesome networking app. Its Hello Connect feature allows you to get in touch with a group of people.<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0Be Social<\/strong><\/p>\n

Use the social media cleverly while attending a WordCamp. Keep monitoring which hashtags are trending and keep posting relevant tweets. Comment, share, retweet and engage in live social media conversations to connect with your fellow attendees and WordPress enthusiasts across the globe. Tweeting back and forth useful information can, sometimes, lead you to meeting people and establishing long term relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

What should you tweet and share?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n