Power of the “Fiverr” Gig Platform


A key part of my new web design marketing and pricing strategy for 2024 is to make use of the Fiverr platform. I recently drafted gigs on User Friendly Website Design, Quick Website Checkups, and Smart Online Business Plans, due to launch on Fiverr before the end of January 2024. 

See below my analysis of what Fiverr is all about, why it makes sense for a solopreneur, and the pros and cons of the platform.

What is Fiverr? 

Fiverr is an online platorm designed to connect buyers and sellers of a wide variety of digital services, ranging from web design and digital marketing to accounting and event planning. Fiverr is one of the largest, most secure and well known of the online free-lancing platforms, competing with Upwork that caters to larger, more complex and expensive projects.

Fiverr Sellers fill out a profile and then provide brief information on specific tasks or “gigs” that they can perform, typically over a few days or weeks. All project communication, analytics, ordering and payments are done on the Fiverr platform. It is up to buyers to search for and order gigs, and sellers are only paid upon gig completion and satisfaction of the buyer. Competition is worldwide and fixed pricing tends to be low. Fiverr is free for a seller to join, but the company takes a 20% commision off of each sale.

Here are two Youtube videos from an outside reviewer, Mike Nardi, that give feedback on Fiverr: The Truth About Starting on Fiverr in 2023, and How to Make Money on Fiverr.

My Solopreneur Rationale for Fiverr

My key reasons to start using Fiverr follow:

  • Fiverr opens up a broad new market to both small business and non-profits for my web design services.
  • Filling out the profile and gig forms also disciplines me to sharpen task or gig descriptions, and get realistic about deliverable timing and fulfillment.
  • Researching my web design competition on Fiverr has helped me arrive at new pricing for my entry-level services in 2024, starting as low as $100 for a new WordPress.Com site, $50 for a Website Checkup, and $200 for business planning.
  • While it is common for consultants to use more than one freelancing platform (for example, Fiverr and Upwork), I have chosen to first focus on learning and addressing client demand on Fiverr.
  • Preparing content for Fiverr has also induced me to “up” my marketing by preparing short videos on CapCut, new banner images on Canva, and short, punchy text to promote my gigs.

In general, website design is a highly competitive space, with Wix, GoDaddy, Squarespace and others constantly promoting the low cost, ease and speed for users to launch a website. While web design is not as easy or quick as these ads promise, this is where buyers “are at”, and the Fiverr platform does well is giving me a marketplace to engage many first-time buyers, and a possible entry point for longer term projects and customer relationships.

As a last point, in recent months I have had a favorable experience in using two other, pro bono platforms to carry out half a dozen quick Website Checkups for non-profits: Taproot Plus and CatchaFire. While not generally useful in marketing paid consulting, using these services has shown me the virtues of online platforms in locating and connecting with online clients.

Here are my general Pros and Cons of Using Fiver
Pro:
  • Fiverr has an enormous marketplace (over 4 million total buyers!) for marketing my web design services, and is well worth the commission price.
  • Researching the profiles and gigs of other Web Designers or Business Planners on Fiverr has given me a better idea of my competition, and tips on how I might better market and price my services.
  • I expect that my own use of the platform and experience with Buyers will help reality-check and fine-tune the scope and pricing of my services in future.
  • Fiverr enables and encourages seller links on Social Media, esp Quora, and my hope is that Fiverr will help boost my broader online marketing.
  • Lastly, in preparing text, FAQs and Milestones for my gigs, Fiverr has also inspired my production of other marketing collateral such as a hard copy brochure using a VistaPrint template.
Con:
  • Fiverr has a bias toward low priced, quick delivery of digital services which is not always appropriate for complex, labor-intensive web design. However, it does allow for expanding Gig offerings in differently priced packages of Basic/Standard/Premium, as well as follow-on short projects in the form of “Gig Extras” or “Custom Gigs”.
  • The platform charges a hefty 20% commision on the Seller and a smaller, 5% fee on Buyers. However, membership as a Seller is free.
  • It takes some time to fill out profile and gig content for Fiverr, and accomodate it to the text and size limitations on the platform. Be mindful that all your communications, ordering, payments and customer feedback are confined to Fiverr.
  • Lastly, there is a strong incentive to follow through on Buyer Orders. While a Seller can Cancel an Order, this is not encouraged. Moreover, Sellers are rated at various “levels” on the platform based on customer satisfaction.

In sum, my hope is that Fiverr will prove to be a worthwhile online component in my new promotional approach for 2024, in addition to my continued local marketing and referrals through membership in the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC), and my outside WordPress website Demos and Presentations in the DC area and beyond for the New Year (see my updated Presentations list for 2024).

Others’ comments or questions about this article on Fiverr, or your experience with other online gig platforms such as Upwork are very welcome!

Register for PMDOS DC 2024!

What is “PMDOS DC”?

The “Project Management Day of Service” in DC is a free, annual, day-long event where volunteer teams of Project Managers work with DC area non-profits to crystallize problems and specify next steps in a variety of business planning areas, ranging from fund-raising and mission goals to human resource and technology issues. This year the 10th Annual event will take place “in person” at the Adele Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland in College Park from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2023 – see Program Announcement.

PMDOS is a wonderful program, sponsored by the non-profit PM4Change, and benefiting volunteer PMs and non-profits alike. See my past 2023 Post with a fuller description of the program.

Non-Profits Register Now!

Registration is now open for non-profits who will need to fill out and submit a short form with background information on their organization and business planning need to be explored and addressed at PMDOS. Non-profits, get in your application before the deadline of January 31, 2023!

PMs to Volunteer January 8!

Registration for volunteer Project Managers opens on January 8 and also closes at the end of that month. I plan to volunteer again at the event with either a regular Project Manager team or as a roving expert on websites and social media. Look out for future posts with updates on the PMDOS-DC program and my and others’ participation!

New “Snap” Website Offer for 2024

Get a Basic Website Setup for $100!

  • Perfect for small business or non-profit
  • Site Design and Setup on WordPress.Com (WP.COM)
  • Google Meet to refine site, learn WP, sustain site
  • 2 Weeks support/feedback for new site
Basic Website Features

Functionality:

  • Responsive website on WordPress.Com
  • Built-in free security, analytics, templates

Design

  • Professional landing page and navigation
  • Stock photos and default logo
  • Key Pages:  About, Business, Contact
  • Demo Blog Posts and Categories
  • Social Media Links
  • Simple Ecommerce (PayPal)
My Work Process
  • Get key content information in a short online form
  • Ask you to set up a free WP.COM account, 
  • Hold a 90 minute Google Meet to review/edit my basic site design, and coach you on how to update WordPress
  • Next Steps: my meeting notes, online resource tips, and 2 weeks email support
Please discuss requirements and scheduling before paying for your 2024 “Snap” Website order by contacting me at gary@dcwebrevolution.com

GGCC Chamber Benefits for 2024

As I recently renewed my Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce annual membership, below is an assessment of what I have gained from the Chamber over the past year. In sum, I have found GGCC membership to be of great benefit in supporting my new solopreneur web design business, dcwebrevolution, for the following reasons:

Business Referrals: as I continue to grow and define my web design business, Chamber members have been helpful in passing on client referrals, some resulting in new business with area entrepreneurs, and others in contributing to my market awareness and possible partnerships. As referrals are a two-way street, I have also passed on legal and accounting referrals of Chamber members to my own business and personal contacts. Frequent GGCC networking or ribbon cutting events are an important means of making or receiving referrals – see a calendar of upcoming GGCC events.

Business Credibility: my sense is that Chamber membership is a valuable geographic identifier of your small business. I tout GGCC affiliation on my business card, dcwebrevolution website, and outside networking.

Local Awareness: in my prior careers as an IT contractor with the State Department and Project Manager with USAID in downtown DC, I tended to overlook resources and connections where I lived in suburban MD. Involvement in Chamber activities and events is a continual refresher on both business and non-profit organizations in Upper Montgomery County.

My other key benefits follow:

Peer Engagement: the Chamber also hosts a variety of “Direct Connect” subgroups in various business sectors and non-profit areas. As a member of one of these groups, its meetings offer biweekly opportunities to get to know other colleagues and obtain personal feedback and support.

Some other GGCC activities include:

Governance & Advocacy: various Chamber committees help promote small business issues and interests before local government. Members can also become active in Chamber governance through economic development, events, membership, young entrepreneur and other committees.

Complementary Networks: GGCC is also a connector to other regional business and non-profit networks such as the Hispanic Chamber, the Frederick Chamber, and a variety of local public service and charitable organizations.

Consider GGCC Chamber membership, and check out more info about the Chamber, the current membership directory (with search filters by category), and the specific cost and benefits of membership.

WordCampUS 23: Notes

I had a great time participating in the big (perhaps best attended ever!) national WordCamp (WC) conference in DC last August. However it has taken me several weeks to review my notes, refresh my memory from WC videos, plus find the time to boil down my experience and write this article. If you would like to do your own research on the conference, here are links to the WCUS23 site, the WC Schedule, and the YouTube link with all Session videos.

While a Google Search will unearth lots of ex post WCUS 23 reviews and feedback from Exhibitors and Attendees, here is a good WCUS Recap article by GoDaddy, including both narrative and video tips on why you should go to future WordCamps (see also WordCamp Central – a rolling schedule of future WordCamps around the US and overseas).

My article will break down as follows:

  • Takeaways from key conference sessions
  • Learning at the Exhibitor Expo
  • Benefits on going to WordCamp
  • Future WCs that I hope to attend.
Session Takeaways

How to Use WordPress to Make a Difference in the World, by Shambi Broome

  • Apart from her own WP development business, Shambi started teaching WP to High School students in SC for a community project: build a website to address local food insecurity: Cancel Hunger Project SC
  • student driven research, website and marketing teams, with girls as the most dynamic contributors
  • key lessons: Kids like adults like to work independently, don’t micromanage, and define a minimal viable product
  • how to generate income from teaching WP to school students: get Grants, Contracts with schools, do your own Camps/Classes
  • a big need by Schools for help in computer science; try to get on school advisory board; schools may need vendors to flesh out grant requests
  • benefit in organizing your own non-profit to better attract and manage donated funds
  • Note: her other non-profit project: Web Girls Who Code, offering camps, classes and training to girls as young as elementary age

Make it Real: Use AI to Successfully Deliver an Authentic Content Creation Process, by Femi Lewis

  • used Pillars to Prompts content process and tool, plus AI tool, Chat GBT
  • Her goal in using AI: save time and boost productivity
  • Her method for content creation with clients: Strategy, Plan, Produce, Promote, Analyze…where AI can best help – with Content Planning and Production
  • Key to define who you are – your uniqueness, need to create stories
  • AI is a tool, not a strategy; it cannot replace who you are or your brand
  • she shared a real small business case study: an entrepreneur with a de-cluttering, cleaning business
  • her initial diagnosis with client: who is she, why start business, target audience, direct and indirect competition, and what’s her unique story
  • determination of 3 content pillars, where audience and brand intersect: Mindset, De-cluttering and Organizing, Cleaning
  • also generation of evergreen content; apply weekly themes; plan and time your content (use a spreadsheet, and a tool: content cucumber.com.juno)
  • need to be specific in using ChatGBT, avoid its stock answers, remember your unique story for content context

Recipe for Accessibility: Limiting Ingredients for Faster Design, by Gen Herres

  • Goal: if use accessibility principles applied early in design process, this will save time and money for wide range of clients
  • Her broader notion of user disability: for example, large segments of population needing vision correction, having dyslexia, challenginlife situations, etc…”best to design for imperfect people in an imperfect world”
  • Tools to speed things up: color contrast checker, font selection, or process to guide designers on accessibility sensitive design: for example, for Form design, do have clear input labels, don’t apply decorative styling, nor text over image, sliders etc.
  • use checklist to review designers work

Gutenberg Next: WordPress 2023 and Beyond, by Matt Mullenweg

  • WP 6.3 release just a few weeks ago, with such new features as a command palette; goal to have 3 releases a year
  • 6.4 release scheduled for November 7, with features so far of fonts management, image lightbox
  • we are nearing end of second Gutenberg phase. Four phases are P1 Editing, P2 Customization, P3 Collaboration, P4 Multilingual
  • Update on Learning Management System where some plug-in developers have collaborated to apply common data models/interoperability to their products
Exhibitor Expo

As this Expo link indicates, there was a wide variety of WordPress vendors exhibiting at the Expo. One practical benefit in attending is to pick up lots of free Swag, especially T-Shirts and handy items such as a portable cell phone charger. It was also an opportunity to check out exhibitor WP hardware, software and services. And let’s not forget the impromptu entertainment from trying my hand at tossing a beanbags at one stand or watching other attendees time their rapid changing of a tire as a demo of one vendor’s rapid WP hosting service!

Finally, it was an opportunity to get vendor feedback or referrals on specific WP questions – in my case, what opportunities might exist to extend my WordPress.Com expertise and self-help resources to DC area High School students, following such models as WP.ORG-sponsored KidsCamps.

WordCamp Benefits
  • Session Presentations: while I did not find a a lot of sessions on WP use cases or business practice, the Agenda was rich enough to offer Sessions to help update my WP skills and connections as my key session summaries attest.
  • Expo Interactions: while over 50 large and small vendor exhibits can be overwhelming, I always find WC Expos to be informative: in asking questions about products, networking with experts, and in helping refine my “elevator pitch” as I introduce myself. I made several passes at the Expo: first to prioritize stands of most interest (and pick up Swag!) and later for more in-depth conversation and connections.
  • Corridor Networking: I enjoyed to meet and network with other attendees at coffee breaks or over lunch. I was unable to attend the WCUS After Party, but that is yet another fun way to connect with the WP community.
  • Active Participation: While I just attended two days of the conference, anyone can apply to present at a future WC event. Another opportunity is to attend the free added Contributor Day where volunteers share a variety of tech and non tech skills to help advance the evolving open source WP project.
  • Professional Reference: I took advantage of WC to deepen existing professional contacts – for example, sidebar conversations with an overseas software developer and the leader of our local DC WP Meetup. In addition, just the prospect of attending such an event compels one to update your website and ready any specific WP software questions or resources to share with peers.
  • Cost-Benefit: at a $50 cost for a General Attendee, I found WCUS to be a real bargain! The real costs are your time investment in attending, plus hotel and per diem expenses if you come in from out of town. Yet major WC events are typically held in a city with other tourist attractions and/or opportunities to personally follow up with current or prospective clients or WP resources in the área.
Future WordCamps

While WordCamp Central has updates on a running list of planned WordCamps around the world, see below my own list of WCs that I hope to attend either virtually or in-person over the next several months – see their ref links for info and evolving program details (note that this is a very abbreviated list, with other big WCs planned in Asia and the US – and that several WCs are either not yet listed on WCCentral or have yet to finalize their planning and publicize venue, program and registration.

2023
2024
  • June 13-15, WC Europe in Torino, Italy
  • And keep your eye out for the next annual WCUS event…with its venue, program and call for speakers and volunteers to be finalized later in 2024!

Non-Profit Help Platforms

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In recent weeks I have been using two online platforms, Taproot and CatchaFire, to connect and provide pro bono online assistance to non-profits in DC, the US and around the world. Both platforms are similar in allowing non-profits to request help online in a variety of areas, either via short, one hour consultations (my preference) or longer pro bono projects over several weeks. The organizations are free to accept or reject volunteer consultants’ interest in “bidding” on their help requests. Once the nonprofit selects a volunteer consultant, he/she is advised by email, and then proceeds to offer possible call dates.

My goals in using these platforms are two-fold: to provide volunteer help to worthy causes, and to use initial pro bono sessions as a segue to possible follow-on paid web design consulting assignments. To date I have completed two one hour consultations, one with a military benefits site and another with a website to support pre-flight training camps for girls. I have pending one hour assessments with two other non-profits via these platforms for later this month.

My methodology for these pro bono sessions is similar to that used for my complementary assessments for any client:

—First, based on the brief help request and background info on the platform, I carry out a quick review of the non-profit’s website and use of social media, noting areas for improvement;

—Second, I send the nonprofit a Google Meet invite and agenda based on my prior analysis;

—Third, we hold our one hour free consulting meeting during which I take notes;

—Fourth, I send a follow-up email to the nonprofit to document the tips discussed in the call, and to share relevant resource links, as well as a link to my consulting website if any interest in paid followup.

Conclusion: my impression so far is that these one hour pro bono sessions are beneficial to both non-profit and volunteer consultant. The former gets free quick tips on improving their organization’s website or social media outreach, as well as ideas on how best to plan longer pro bono projects via these platforms. The latter have an opportunity to “do good” for deserving nonprofits, plus avail of another marketing outlet for possible paid follow-on consulting work. I would welcome any comments here of any subscribers’ own experience with these platforms, either as a non-profit or consultant!

Upcoming Tech Help Events

Following are some worthwhile, free tech help events for small business or nonprofits coming up this Fall. All are online Zoom sessions.

The Baltimore WordPress Group

Here are two events sponsored by this Meetup, led by a knowledgeable DC area WordPress developer, Gen Herres. Unfortunately I cannot attend either event due to vacation travel, but I have participated in past such Meetups, and the discussions can be very helpful.

1. Mini Website Audits

Thursday, September 21, 2023

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET

This sounds like a great resource, where attendees can get snap feedback and tips on their websites. It is a cross-post with the West Orlando WordPress meetup group.

2. All Levels: Online Ask Me Anything WordPress!

Thursday, November 9, 2023, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET

Bring your WP website questions and get Gen Herres or attending techies to answer them on the spot!

Baltimore Techies for Good

Virtual Workshop/Working Meeting: Help Nonprofits with Data & Websites!

Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET

This Meetup brings together techies to help non-profits with their general IT questions. It is not limited to WordPress or websites. I do plan to attend and join in on the discussion!

Attendance Tips for WordCampUS

Many of us in DC are excited about the national WordPress conference (WCUS2023) starting here tomorrow, August 24 through 26. For those of you who are new to WordCamps, or who may be traveling in from out of town, here are a few tips that might be helpful. Over the years I have learned a lot in attending regional WordCamps in the DC area, plus national events in Philadelphia and St. Louis. My thanks also to Tiffany Bridge and her WordPress DC Meetup discussion yesterday (“August Bonus Edition: Gearing up for WordCamp US!”) for sparking some additional ideas for this weeks DC event.

WordCamp’s Value?

This WordCamp is a special opportunity to meet WordPress developers, designers and users from around the world. It has a unique format: part trade fair (see exhibiting Sponsors), part conference (scan the Agenda), and lots of informal networking over coffee, lunch, and at the Social on the last evening. You can learn from a variety of WP experts, although my understanding is that, unlike smaller WordCamps, there appears not to be a “Happiness Bar”, or a Help Desk panel to answer User WP questions. There is also a “Contributors Day” tomorrow, the first day of the event, where volunteers from a variety of technical and non-tech backgrounds gather to contribute to the WordPress open source project.

Agenda

Check out the Agenda (or Schedule) and Speakers and choose those topics of most interest. Of particular note are the opening plenary session on the NASA Web Modernization and WordPress, and the AI Workshop on “Make it Real: Use AI to Successfully Deliver an Authentic Content Creative Process” by Femi Lewis Friday at 10:00 AM. Other talks range from the technical to more design or end user interest, addressing such areas as enterprise multi-sites, theme and plugin development, accessibility, and WP community-building and education. Beginning Friday at 3:45 PM take in a variety of topics through 15 minute Lighting sessions. And the conference will close Saturday at 4:30 PM with WP co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s look ahead for WP in his session entitled “Gutenberg: Next”.

Logistical Tips

National Harbor is located in MD outside of Washington DC and all the museums on the Mall, so plan on extra time to get from the conference venue to the Social at the Museum of Natural History. While the WordCamp site lists a variety of restaurants and entertainment at National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria is just across the Potomac River and has lot of attractions, walkable parks, and places to eat. To get there, either take the ferry (Water Taxi) which docks near the small park and plaza with the embedded Giant statue, or catch a nearby National Harbor bus to Old Town. My favorite is the Potomac Water Taxi, which is about a 30 min ride and costs (round trip) around $37. Toward DC, some closer in, redeveloped areas along the DC shore of the Potomac with good restaurants and entertainment include The Wharf, and the Navy Yard. Both are readily accessed by the DC Metro from downtown – but, alas, the Metro does not have a station at National Harbor, although there is a Metro Stop in Virginia (“King Street”) accessible by a short free trolley ride from the Old Town riverfront.

Things to Bring

Here is a list of handy things to bring with you the first day of WordCamp:

  • a notebook – I admit I still take notes “analogue style”!
  • a laptop, esp if you plan to attend workshops
  • a tote bag for SWAG (although lots of bags likely given away at the Sponsor Exhibits)
  • a stock of business cards and maybe other info on your business/organization
  • while the weather will be warm (from 70-90 degrees), it looks like some rain expected Thursday and Friday, so perhaps take a cap, light jacket or umbrella.
  • an optional facemask, given COVID, which I plan to wear – but this is entirely up to you!

Hope many of you are able to attend, enjoy (and report on your experience!) at WordCampUS 2023!

If any further questions, feel free to comment to me below, or email gary@dcwebrevolution.com, or text my cell at 703-899-9940… or even look for me at the event – I plan to attend all day Friday and Saturday!

My Summer Social Media Outreach

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Following are my lessons learned from reenergizing my social media outreach on Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Facebook and relevant expert blogs for my web design site, DCWebRevolution, over the past couple months.

Twitter (X)

I have under 500 follower or following stats on Twitter, now called X. In recent months it has also not become possible to automatically link my website posts on WordPress.Com to my Twitter feed. This disadvantage coupled with uncertainties over X’s future vs other short-form social media platforms may lead me to reassess how actively to use X in future.

Value: quickly scannable “snap” news feed, spotting of key trends, occasional tweeted “quizzes” or surveys (and user reactions) that offer quick tips, ease to quickly expand individuals or organizations within my network

LinkedIn

Linkedin is my largest, personal social media presence, with over 1,000 connections. As a consequence it is also registering the most activity in terms of profile views, messaging, and comments to my website.

Value: updates on whereabouts of colleagues, sample videos to follow or emulate, and ease to expand my network with individuals, enterprises or group discussions.

Facebook

While I have long held a personal Facebook account, my DCWebRevolution business page is my newest social media addition, and the one with the smallest number of followers. I have also started to explore joining FB groups in such areas as small business, WordPress and website design.

Value: presence on a large platform, with my FB Business page providing key basic business data…but need to promote FB to my array of personal connections

Expert Blogs

Below is my recent compilation of relevant blog articles (plus a few podcasts or videos) on the subjects of WordPress software news and tips, and Website design ideas and resources. Each article also notes in parenthesis the name of the Blog cited. While I have started to skim or read through these articles, I am still in the process of absorbing their full content – pointing to the challenging “level of effort” to keep on top of one’s field as shown in just this one sampling from an ongoing, dynamic news feed on the Web!

WordPress Blog Articles

Website Design Blog Articles

Conclusion: Key Social Media (SM) Lessons Learned to Date
  • WP Site Posts are not enough – you need to also be interactive on social media
  • Need for a personal schedule to check and engage with social media: early each day, less than an hour, and with a set a goal – say up to 12 hours-old postings per channel
  • Similarly, a need to realistically budget time to research and read longer blog articles, videos and podcasts in my field – perhaps on a monthly basis. In turn, such articles may provide content for my own future WP website blog posts and Comments/Likes on other blogs.
  • In future, consider adding and monitoring other SM platforms: Threads, Instagram, TikTok…and activate a Google Business profile on the Web
  • Design and produce more engaging video and audio content more likely to engage audience feedback. Consider doing a FB Live series of short videos on WordPress.Com
  • Value to set up a schedule (content calendar) to help prioritize and organize future SM (and related WP website) posts this Fall

New DC WordCamp Tickets!

See this WCUSA23 news link announcing the availability of a final batch of low cost General Admission tickets tomorrow, Tuesday, 7/25 at 12:00 Noon ET. Plan to login soon as the tickets tend to go quickly!

I am registered to attend and hope to see some of you there! The conference takes place August 24-26 in the Washington DC area, National Harbor, MD.

Here is a recap of reasons why you might attend this 2-3 day WP conference in DC, whether you are a WordPress Designer, Developer or End user…or just anyone interested in updating their old website and open to moving to WordPress as the most popular and powerful site-builder on the Web:

—Price: the tickets to go on sale Tuesday are only about $50. The effective registration cost is negative given the free food and SWAG. For those coming in from out of town, there are lots of hotel options around the DC area, as well as other tourist things to do on the DC Mall and elsewhere.

—Seminars: while the conference Schedule is still being assembled, it will likely have excellent topics and speakers from across the country and around the world, and organized in a series of tech and non technical tracks. WP founder Matt Mullenweg is also expected to give his annual WP tech update in his “State of the Word” address to open the conference.

—Exhibits: take advantage of a variety of exhibits from Sponsors of WP goods and services. Learn about the latest WP technologies from these experts and companies, including free Demos and give-aways.

—Networking: meet attendees from around the world – both techies and end users! This National conference is a unique networking opportunity to meet people at seminars, exhibits, or over breakfast, coffee, lunch or other social events.

—Support: the WordCamp offers an opportunity to learn about new use cases and technical hacks for your WP site from experienced presenters, as well as address your individual questions at the traditional Happiness Bar manned by volunteer WP engineers and experts throughout the event.

Hope to see some of you there! If you plan to attend, and have an interest in connecting with me about simple, sustainable website design, please let me know by…

  • a Comment to this Post,
  • by emailing me at gary@dcwebrevolution.com,
  • or by sending a Twitter Direct message to @glvaughan.