{"id":1065,"date":"2012-06-11T15:15:42","date_gmt":"2012-06-11T19:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2012.boston.wordcamp.org\/?page_id=1065"},"modified":"2012-11-08T08:14:39","modified_gmt":"2012-11-08T13:14:39","slug":"sessions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/boston.wordcamp.org\/2012\/sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Sessions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShopping for a Shopping Cart Solution\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Reiko Beach •<\/span> Marketing Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

WordPress has come a very long way as a fully integrated shopping cart system, and there are so many options available once you decide that you want to sell something from your website. In this session we will look at the different types of shopping cart solutions from plugins, hybrids, lightweight plugins, to hosted carts. What solution might be best for you\/your customers\/your clients. We will look as some of the more popular plugins, assessing needs, and how we decided on some of the solutions we use on some of our sites.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNetworking for Introverts\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Diane Darling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Do you cringe when you walk into a room of strangers? Wish you felt more confident starting conversations (and ending them)? You aren’t alone. In this session we’ll discuss tips and techniques to overcome natural fears about networking. We’ll also review what networking is (and isn’t). You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to build effective and mutually beneficial relationships.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEverything You Need to Know About Turning Your WordPress Site into a Lead Generation Machine\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by David Wells •<\/span> Marketing Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

WordPress is an extremely powerful content management system, there is no question about that, but are you leveraging your site to it\u2019s fullest potential?<\/p>\n

If you are running your business’s website via WordPress, there are some critical inbound marketing components<\/strong> that need to be incorporated into your site in order for it to drive in more traffic and convert those visitors into leads.<\/p>\n

David is going to run through how to crank up the inbound marketing functionality on your WordPress install, cover which plugins to use, and show you how to have a professional looking website that works for<\/em> your Business.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreating Content With Shortcodes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Jon Bishop •<\/span> Power User\/Intermediate Track<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

WordPress shortcodes are simple but powerful tools in your WordPress toolbox yet they get very little attention. Shortcodes were added in WordPress 2.5 as an easy way to create macros for use in your content. WordPress.com has a wide array of shortcodes available to it\u2019s users right out of the box. WordPress.org users can make use of the Shortcode API and a growing number of plugins to add shortcode support to their site.<\/p>\n

The real beauty of shortcodes is in how they enable WordPress users to take control of their content to produce professional grade sites in a fraction of the time. This session will cover some themes and plugins using shortcodes in both useful and creative ways as well as the pros and cons of using shortcodes in WordPress. We will also go over the new oEmbed functionality in WordPress and how they can be used alongside shortcodes to streamline content creation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWordPress Workflows Expanded\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Gregory Cornelius •<\/span> Multisite Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

WordPress includes a well-defined workflow for running a blog with multiple contributors in various roles. It works great; But what if you are using WordPress to run a 1,000 page hierarchical site? Well\u2026 the workflows available are a bit limited without getting under the hood. For example, WordPress does not define fine-grained capabilities for controlling who can edit published content. As a result, users have to be granted full editing permissions, which increases the chance that a less-experienced user will make an ill-advised change. Drawing from our experience running large Multisite installations, Boston University has developed a couple of plugins to address some of the limitations. And for the first time, we are planning to release our plugins to the broader WordPress community under the GPL.<\/p>\n

This talk will include an overview of the role\/capability system presented from both a user and developer perspective as well as overviews of the BU Versions and BU Section Editing plugins. Along the way, various insights will be shared that provide a window into how BU has built an effective content management system on top of WordPress.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoing Mobile: From 960 to 320\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Chris Cochran •<\/span> Developer Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The world around us is rapidly changing and content that was once only accessible by computers are being accessed more and more by mobile devices. Making sure your site is mobile friendly is more important more than ever. Learn what you can do to make the transition from the desktop to mobile today. We will touch on some mobile stats (who, what and where), and how to make the transition to mobile from idea to finish and no, it doesn’t start in Photoshop.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSEO & WP: Killing it in 2012\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Casie Gillette •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

SEO is changing everyday but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep up. Learn about the latest Google updates and how a few best practices and awesome plugins can make your website (and life) a lot better.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTom\u2019s Best WordPress Blogging Tips\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Tom Catalini •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Two years ago Tom Catalini launched three properties on the self-hosted version of WordPress\u2014a professional association website, a cycling hobbyists site, and a personal blog\u2014taking him on a journey of trial and error in everything from tweaking the platform to integrating it with other platforms to developing an effective blog writing style.<\/p>\n

Come get a head start on your own blog (or take it to the next level) by learning Tom\u2019s Best Tips, which are specifically geared toward anyone running on or planning to launch a site on the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.<\/p>\n

Topics covered will include specific WordPress settings, the best plug-ins and widgets, and ways to organize posts. Tom will also talk about developing a content strategy and schedule, how to find and use Creative Commons images for your posts (and why images matter), and making your posts easily shareable on other social media platforms. He\u2019ll even share his best tips on coming up with ideas for posts, blog writing style and formatting, and finding your blogging voice.<\/p>\n

The session will be fast-paced and interactive.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImproving Usability in the WordPress Admin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Sean Butze •<\/span> Design Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For years now the tried-and-true pitch when selling WordPress as a CMS has been that it makes updating a website easy for “anyone”. But any developer who has built more than a few sites with the platform knows that despite its robust user interface, WordPress can still be intimidating to a less-than-tech-savvy client.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, with the right amount of adjustments it’s perfectly possible to make the WordPress admin area more manageable for almost any user.<\/p>\n

This talk will outline important principles to follow when planning the admin side of a WordPress site, in addition to covering tips & techniques that will maximize your clients’ experience with the platform.<\/p>\n

During the talk we’ll look at simplifying the admin area by removing unnecessary features, as well as how to empower users through the proper use of Custom Post Types & Custom Meta Boxes.<\/p>\n

Whether you’re just starting to build WordPress themes or simply looking to focus more on customizing the admin side, you’ll come away with some helpful insights for delivering a better WordPress experience to your clients.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetting The Most Out of Open Graph\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Sam Napolitano •<\/span> Marketing Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

During this session we will take a deep dive into Facebook’s Open Graph app creation process. We will review settings, tags, debuggers and basic techniques for implementation. We will also be doing a review of Facebook’s new plugin suite. We’ll talk strategy, technology and metrics for success.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWordPress as a web app framework\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Sam Hotchkiss •<\/span> Developer Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Since its inception, WordPress has been known as a great platform for blogging, and it is, but the power of WordPress goes so far beyond the blog. WordPress is a powerful platform for building all sorts of web applications, and we’ll talk about leveraging its’ power.<\/p>\n

This talk will be 75\/25 theory and code\u2014we’ll talk about why you might want to build your app on WordPress as opposed to other PHP frameworks, we’ll talk about ways to leverage the power of posts and users, we’ll talk about when it’s appropriate to create your own tables versus WordPress meta data, and we’ll talk about using the MVC pattern within WordPress. I hope to see you there!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSelling WordPress: Roping, Scoping and Closing Deals\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Ross Beyeler •<\/span> Project Management\/Freelance Track<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Design and development are just half the battle when it comes to running a WordPress services organization. Understanding how to sell and how to sell WordPress specifically is key to the success of any web design \/ development shop that banks on WordPress. “Selling WordPress” touches on the sales process, how to scope out WordPress projects with clients and sell WordPress as an ideal CMS.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFuture of SEO\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Ramesh Kumar •<\/span> Power User\/Intermediate Track<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

From Panda to Penguin, you may be forgiven to thinking there is an SEO jungle out there. SEO is (fast) changing and contrary to popular belief, I do believe it is for the better. In this complex relationship of content marketing, social media and technical SEO many companies are struggling to keep up with SEO (even if they don’t admit it). There is no wikipedia for SEO, everyone has their own definition, and no, text links are not the answer to SEO. This presentation will cover SEO as a business strategy and how companies can build SEO strategies for future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tManagement Strategies for Successful WordPress Projects\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Matthew Dorman •<\/span> Project Management\/Freelance Track<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Discover a strategy for ensuring successful outcomes of WordPress projects of any size. In addition to being a powerful Blogging Platform and Content Management System, WordPress is an incredible development framework allowing you to use thousands of existing tools (plugins) to speed the development of your projects.<\/p>\n

This session will quickly review common Project Management strategies, as well as go more in depth into how expanding your knowledge of WordPress will require you to change some of those existing practices. I will not be promoting any specific methodology (Waterfall, Agile etc), however there are of course vital components of each that are necessary for completing a project.<\/p>\n

The most important step in ensuring a successful project is defining what success actually means to the stakeholders. This session will be successful if everyone leaves with the understanding of how outcomes of past projects could have been changed, or at least one thing they’ll change in future projects.<\/p>\n

Intended audience:
\nThis session is geared towards anyone who is ready to start a WordPress project or towards those coming off a not-so-successful one. Project Leads, Project Managers, WordPress business owners, Business Analysts, or anyone involved in managing or constructing WordPress project teams.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJavaScript Actions and Filters in Core: Hooked on JavaScript works for me!\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Luke Gedeon •<\/span> Developer Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Did you know that some JavaScript files in WordPress core have actions and filters in them? They do! As a theme or plugin developer, you can hook into them just like the familiar hooks in the core PHP files.<\/p>\n

As JavaScript becomes an ever more important part of the WordPress admin, knowing how to use JavaScript hooks will be as essential as knowing PHP hooks. As a core contributor or the developer of a plugin, adding hooks in appropriate places will make your code more extensible and exponentially increase value to the community.<\/p>\n

I will be covering how the WordPress hook system works in JavaScript, how to use existing hooks, how to add your own, and how to address performance and security concerns when adding hooks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy Favorite Twenty Eleven Display Hacks\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Liz Manicatide •<\/span> Power User\/Intermediate Track<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Make it yours! This talk is about my favorite display hacks to make a great-looking custom business website in a child theme. Image logo, better page layout, change placement of menus, add extra menus and homepage widget areas… things can get quite nifty, if you’re willing to play with it a bit.<\/p>\n

Twenty Eleven is a great starting point. Rather than create a new theme from scratch, you can take advantage of the built-in functionality by creating a child theme of Twenty Eleven. BUT it’s characteristic look, header and wide open spaces are not great for, well, most applications. We’ll step through some useful techniques to transform it into a great business site. Mobile-friendly and browser testing issues will also be addressed.<\/p>\n

Beginner to intermediate, basic HTML\/CSS knowledge suggested.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuerrilla Podcasting, Soup to Nuts: Using WordPress and Awesome!\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Presented by Lanna Lee Maheux •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Want to do a podcast but have no idea where to begin? This talk is for the podcast newbie who needs help figuring out just how to get started. We will start from the begining, because it’s a very good place to start, and many of your decisions about your podcast will determine what you need to do to make it a success. How will you record your podcast? What will your podcast be about? Who will appear on your podcast? Which plugins should you use? How will you promote your podcast?<\/p>\n

Along with options for plugins, we will discuss pros and cons of hosting options such as Libsyn, Buzzsprout, and Blubrry and how they integrate (or not) with your WordPress installation.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Plan your podcast<\/li>\n
  2. Record your podcast<\/li>\n
  3. Choose your podcast hosting solution<\/li>\n
  4. Add the right Plugins<\/li>\n
  5. Publish your podcast<\/li>\n
  6. Create blog post<\/li>\n
  7. Submit to iTunes<\/li>\n
  8. Use social tools to promote<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Lanna Lee Maheux has podcasted since 2010. Her shows, Lounging with Lanna Lee and the co-hosted The Lex and Lanna Show (with Alexis Lyon) and The Bureau of Awesome (with Edmund Davis-Quinn), are all hosted on WordPress and use different podcast hosting plans, all with their own quirks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy we CAN have nice things: The future of Front-End Development and WordPress\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by K. Adam White •<\/span> Developer Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    HTML5, NodeJS, responsive design, style pre-processors, CoffeeScript: we work in an industry that loves its buzzwords. Front-end technology is evolving faster than ever before\u2014just as we’re finally getting comfortable building responsive, standards-compliant websites, a whole new set of tools and techniques are springing up around us. But what does any of that have to do with WordPress?<\/p>\n

    As theme and plugin developers we can leverage some of these new tools to make our WordPress sites and web apps even better. I will give a brief overview of stylesheet pre-processors like LESS, JavaScript code quality tools and testing frameworks, and command-line build tools for scripts and styles that you can use to make your sites faster, easier to maintain, and more fun to develop. Think outside the blog<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEasy Peasy e-Commerce with WordPress\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Jonathan May •<\/span> Marketing Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Does adding an e-Commerce storefront to your site sound intimidating? Too technical? Too time consuming? Too hard to integrate nicely with the rest of your site? It’s not, if you use the right tools.<\/p>\n

    This talk will show how anyone with a basic understanding of WordPress can add an attractive, fully-functioning online store to the Web site for their business or not-for-profit organization, with “”no muss, no fuss””! The store will integrate seamlessly with your site, provide a beautiful, user-friendly shopping experience — with all the textual and multimedia content you want — process payment transactions (e.g., using PayPal and similar services), automatically deliver any digital content purchased by the customer, track inventory availability, and more.<\/p>\n

    You would have never dreamed that e-Commerce could be this easy or effective — and your customers will thank you for it!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaking WordPress Child’s Play: Using WP to create class websites for PreK-12 Classrooms\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Jon Moss •<\/span> Education & Government Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    You don’t need to be an advanced WordPress user to create a powerful, interactive, and informative classroom or school website. This no-coding workshop will teach teachers and educational technology specialists how to use free WP themes, plug-ins, and features to built websites to suit a variety of goals and interests, such as discussion groups, online homework assignments, creating secure sections of the site, and much more. Sample sites will focus on elementary classrooms, but the concepts are applicable for the whole PreK-12 range.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy the @#@#$ Isn’t WordPress a CMS?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by John Eckman •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    The traditional CMS world still looks down at WordPress as “just a blogging platform.” After the merge of multiuser with core, custom post types, BuddyPress, and all the fabulous plugins that build on core, why are some folks still not able to see WordPress as a content management system? I’ll explore some of the reasons both technical and cultural.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsive WordPress Theming\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Jesse Friedman •<\/span> Design Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    You’ve built a Responsive website now let’s make it a WordPress theme. We’ll cover techniques to maintain the responsive integrity of your theme while empowering your User Admins to take control of the site.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWordPress Can Do That\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Jess Jurick •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    All too often we hear from our colleagues, bosses, and clients that WordPress “can\u2019t do that.” Many of these opinions are ill-informed, as with the introduction of custom post types in version 3.0, WordPress can in fact do all sorts of neat things. This session will showcase some of the amazing sites that run on WordPress from blogs on steroids like TechCrunch to online entertainment destinations like UniversalSports.com to full fledged e-commerce stores. In addition to showcasing the unique user experiences and functionality that can be crafted using WordPress, we\u2019ll also explore the administrative user interfaces that make publishing on these websites a breeze. This session will be of interest mostly to end users, but to aspiring, novice developers as well who are interested in learning about the power of WordPress beyond the blogging capacity it\u2019s already known for.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContent that Captivates\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Jeff Cutler •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Too often, we focus on the technology and not the message. Join this session where content specialist and professional writer Jeff Cutler takes you through the ABCs of crafting great content for whatever WordPress vehicle you’re using. Is video your favored medium? Make sure the video content you’re sharing is right for your audience. Are words your vehicle? Here you’ll learn how to bang on the keyboard to craft the best message. While creativity can’t be taught, it can be nurtured. Join Jeff for this session that will spark your imagination and leave you with a few tips for creating better content on your sites.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Psychology of Social Media: Harnessing Psychological and Behavioral Connections to Develop Content Strategies\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    Presented by Michelle Goodwin •<\/span> Beginner Track<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Once considered a fad, social media has become the epicenter of most consumers\u2019 online experience. Analysts, marketers and reporters and consumers all express a profound fascination with social media and want to learn to harness its power and reach to build relationships \u2013 whether personally or professionally. In the world of business, marketers are quickly trying to understand what it takes to build relationships with consumers and help develop brands through the use of social media. In order to understand those relationships, it is important to understand the psychological and sociological principles that surround consumers\u2019 social media use. Exploring why social media has such strong behavioral and psychological connections with users can help marketers better identify strategies for outreach, interaction and content creation. This presentation digs into which principles and theories connect consumers to social media on a psychological and behavioral level in order to inform marketers how to devise social media strategies that resonate with consumers\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n

    Key takeaways<\/p>\n