Can't Speak Geek

Translating the Geek Speak in simpler terms

Michele Butcher-Jones

WP Weekly Spotlight – Katie Richards

Katie Richards is a Community Coordinator at Pantheon who spends her time working with and advocating for the amazing folk of the Pantheon Heroes project. She admits she is a type-A person who enjoys creating systems and structure and has decided to use those skills for the good of the open web, first at PostStatus.com and now with Pantheon. Katie can be found procrasti-cleaning when she needs a moment to get her thoughts in order. 
When not working, Katie is wrangling three wild boys, hanging out with her husband (and favorite person of all time), Brian, evangelizing on behalf of cheese, and reading (nothing self-improving).

Michele: What do you do in the WordPress ecosystem?

Katie: Managing Pantheon’s advocacy program, Pantheon Heroes!

Michele: How did you get involved with WordPress?

Katie: I got roped into WordPress through my husband Brian. I left my full time job after our oldest son was born and we realized I had the freedom to travel to WordCamps with the baby, so I did. 
I started to meet people and joined Twitter through Brian’s encouragement. Every week got an email from Twitter telling me of accounts I should be following and every week it was a list of 5 or 6 WP people. We thought that was really funny since I did almost nothing with WP at the time but we’d ping the list and tell them to follow me anyway. I eventually met a TON of amazing people who’ve become my good friends since then.
Now I work at Pantheon on the community team and spend my working hours talking to and helping out the amazing folks of the WP (and Drupal) communities.

Michele: What does the Open Source Community mean to you?

Katie: Being part of an open source community means we have a goal that we’re work toward together: improving our project to make the web more reliable, safer, and accessible to everyone across the globe. We don’t always agree on _how_ to get there and which parts of the project should be prioritized, but for the most part, having a common goal gives the community a solid basis to build those relationships that further the project, our relationships, and our businesses.

Michele: Please name some of your favorite plugins. 

Katie: Not being a developer, I don’t have particular favorite plugins but as a user, and huge data nerd, I love Metorik for WooCommerce

Michele: What is your most memorable WordPress moment?

Katie: It isn’t just one moment but every time I log into one of my favorite Slack instances, the Ladies of WP, and realize that I have an incredible support network of talented, passionate, and caring women who have my back. So many warm fuzzies 🙂

Michele: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started with WordPress?

Katie: Get to know people in your local WordPress community. Get to know people online. I cannot tell you of how many times a connection with another person in the WP ecosystem has solved a problem I’ve encountered.

Michele: Just for fun, share one memory that makes you proud to be a part of the WordPress Community.

Back in 2017, our house was broken into and our family’s life-long Lego collection was stolen (yes, it’s weird). The emotional support from our online family was incredible and unexpectedly, several of our internet friends mailed us replacement Lego, cards from their kids, and generally gave us hope in humanity. We’ll never forget that!

You can find Katie Richards online at the Pantheon Community.

If you find these interesting and would like to be spotlighted yourself, please see our interview form.

What All Businesses Should Focus On With Their Website Right Now

Colorful clock on clock tower

Right now everyone is home and the world has changed in so many ways. Many businesses main focus is to simply stay afloat during this crazy time. There are even many businesses who have been put “on hold” until things go back to what we think is normal while other businesses are adjusting and making this their new normal.

Wherever you are in this crazy adventure called 2020, there are a few things you can do right now that will better the chances of your business making it though this rough patch.

The first, and most important thing, is to announce the status of your business.

If you are open, semi-open, only available for delivery or shipping, or paused during this time, make sure your customers and your potential customers know it. Many business sites have a notification bar or a pop up on their site stating the status of their business. Post your status on social media as well. Plus it would be a good idea to send out an email to all current customers of your status. As long as people know your status, the chances of them continuing or becoming a customer are greater.

Ensure all of your information is correct online.

This is so important! There was a local grocery store to me that I checked its time on both its website and Facebook and it said to be open. I rushed over the 10 miles to the store to shop only to find out that the store closed about 15 minutes before I arrived. As a customer, I was aggravated that I wasted gas, time, and money due to incorrect information.

When you have incorrect information on a site, it can cost you. It can cost you the current customers you have and potential ones that are looking to establish a relationship.

This information includes your hours, contact information, location information, and even the people who work for the business and their roles.

Refresh the content on your site.

Re-read through your most visited pages and ensure everything is up to date, relevant, and in the proper voice of your business. Review for proper grammar as well. You may find that since you have not looked at your history of the business page, you may have a lot more information to add. Your services page may need to have some of your new services added to it. The review of your site may even lead to new ideas for your business.

Write a couple of blog posts.

If you do not have a blog on your site, now would be the time to add one. A blog connects your prospective, current, and old customers to your business. It shares the human element to your business.

Write about what is going on in the company. Write about what the future may hold. Write about the ups and downs of the business. Write about the journey. Write about why the business is what it is. Write about anything and everything.

Reach out to your current customers.

Now is the time to reach out to your current customers as they are in this wild ride as well. Let them know that you are thinking about them and here for them now and when things change. Make sure that if there is some way you can help them or they can help you, that you are only a call or message away.

Ask your current clients for reviews.

Reviews for your business are free advertising. They show your authentic reputation on your product or service. With life becoming more digital every day, the need to have customer feedback online is almost a necessity.

Customers can leave reviews for you to put on your website, Google, Facebook, and then there is websites dedicated to sharing reviews.

Make it easy for your customers. Send out an email to your that directly links to places you would like to see more reviews added. That way all the customer has to do is click the link, write the testimonial, and share the love.

These six simple steps can generate a great deal of positive for your business during this time of social distancing. It is also a great reminder that every so often, we do need to ensure that all of our information is up to date and that we are thinking about our customers.

WP Weekly Spotlight – Sandy Edwards

Sandy is a WordPress developer that enjoys spending her time teaching others (including kids) about WordPress and also at the theme parks. You will find her working hard to help bolster small businesses online for her day job, traveling to WordPress conferences and frequently (a couple of times a week) visiting the various theme parks.

Michele: What do you do in the WordPress ecosystem?

Sandy: Mostly Project Management, but education is a big part of that.

Michele: How did you get involved with WordPress?

Sandy: My WordPress journey is an interesting one. About 8 years ago an agency my husband worked at needed someone to claim Google listings part-time. I was a substitute teacher working on my teaching certificate and said why not. It quickly went from part-time listings work to full-time project management work. We launched a new product built on WordPress and I quickly became a user. One weekend I got tired of waiting on contract developers to get me minor changes and sat down and learned HTML5 and CSS3 all in one weekend. Now I am able to troubleshoot JS, PHP, and code in HTML5 and CSS3. It is a really awesome feeling. Fast forward to today and I co-own a successful agency, travel teaching kids and adults technology, and have the freedom to visit Disney when I want.

Michele: Please tell me one story of someone who has inspired you within the WordPress Community?

Sandy: Jean Perpillant is someone who always inspires me to be a more positive person. He is always lifting others up and continually pushing all of us in the Orlando community forward. He is doing some awesome things personally, but never really totes about them. Instead, he always points out the awesome stories everyone around him is creating. It is truly refreshing and brings everyone a little more joy.

Michele: What does the Open Source Community mean to you?

Sandy: Open Source Community to me is moving forward to a better future, together. It means putting aside ourselves and our personal plans and pushing to a unified goal of creating a better world through tech.

Michele: Please name some of your favorite plugins. 

Sandy: WP Rocket, Beaver Builder, Imagify, Advanced Gutenberg, Yoast SEO

Michele: Do you have a favorite theme or framework you like to use?

Sandy: Beaver Builder

Michele: If you could change one thing in WordPress, what would it be?

Sandy: I really feel that the community needs to grow more. We need to focus more on outreach as a community. The software that powers 30%+ of the internet should have more than 3,000 people at its national conference.

Michele: What is your most memorable WordPress moment?

Sandy: For me, the most memorable moment was building my personal website. It took a ton of soul searching to make that site happen and it was a joy to finally launch it.

Michele: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started with WordPress?

Sandy: Just do it! Diving in headfirst it seems like a lot to take in, but the community that surrounds the software is amazing! Jump in feet first and just start doing something. Baby steps are still steps.

Michele: What do you think is in store for the future of WordPress?

Sandy: I still go to non-WP tech events and people dig in on WP not being a great option. We need to work hard on changing that image. If we can do that the future is limitless.

Michele: Just for fun, share one memory that makes you proud to be a part of the WordPress Community.

Sandy: At WCUS 2017 a friend of my son was rediagnosed with a rare form of Kidney Cancer. The community rallied to not only help me get a website launched that could take donations to help the family but we raised over $10k in 48 hours. This community takes care of its own and those directly surrounding it. Never underestimate the power of community.

You can find Sandy Edwards online at Florida Sun Adventures.

If you find these interesting and would like to be spotlighted yourself, please see our interview form.

Online Marketing Tips for Small Businesses That Are Staying Open During the Pandemic

The recent COVID-19 outbreak has changed the way everybody has been doing business. Grocery stores are offering pick up and delivery services. Doctors are seeing patients using video conferencing software. Some businesses, like dental practices have been forced to close due to the high risk of exposure.

Unsurprisingly, the outbreak has hit all types of businesses hard. But for small business owners that are staying open during this time, still need to do whatever they can to generate revenue and profits. One of the best ways to keep your business afloat right now is to make use of some creative online marketing ideas.

As everyone is at home using the Internet, it’s a great way to reach your target audience no matter who they are. It can also be a very cost-effective way to market your business if you do not know what you are doing.

Here are some online marketing tips that you can help you survive or even thrive during these times.

1. Focus on Existing Customers and on Generating Leads

Generating new customers when people are cutting back on spending is difficult to say the least. Rather than pursuing new customers, now is the time to focus more on your existing customers so you will keep them once times go back to normal. Reach out to them through your email list, social media channels, and messaging apps. Offer them exclusive discounts and deals that will give them a reason to return to you.

Make whatever you do offer your existing clients creative. Share a video update about the company while offering them something the can use now. One fun example could be as “simple” as offering them a package of toilet paper with each sale. It would be fun and also very beneficial as toilet paper is still one of the items that stores still do not seem to have. Also, make the offer sharable. That way your existing clients can share those offers with others and drive more business that way for you.

It’s far more cost-effective to generate sales from existing customers than acquiring new ones. Speaking of acquiring new customers, try focusing on generating leads if your prospects aren’t converting to customers at respectable rates anymore. When the economy does pick up, you’ll have a bigger list of prospects that you can market to.

2. Create Outstanding Content

Everyone is online consuming content right now. It makes perfect sense that a great way to bring in new followers, email subscribers, and customers is to publish outstanding content. Content is a great way to establish the credibility of your business, offer value to your target audience, and build a relationship with your audience. If your website does not have a blog, it is time to get one.

Do not be satisfied with only creating short articles. Publish videos, infographics, blog posts, how-to guides, interactive content, comparison guides, downloadable guides/reports, and podcasts. This will allow you to get greater exposure for your content, especially since you can publish it through many different channels like YouTube, Pinterest, Slideshare, and more. The more creative you can be on your blog, plus sharing it on social media, the more reach you can get with potential and current customers.

3. Capitalize On Social Media

Another thing people are doing more of is spending time on social media. With strict social distancing measures in place, people are craving personal connections from wherever they can get it. Mostly they are going on social media sites to start and join conversations. That is why you want to make sure that your digital marketing strategy puts a heavy emphasis on social media. Use a mixture of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for sharing your fantastic content you just added to your blog, updates on the company, and to directly engage with leads and customers alike.

There are many ways to capitalize on social media. You can announce webinars, live stream content, partner with influencers, and run contests. Make sure you also take note of how behavior and trends are changing on social media for your target audience or industry. It can help you make appropriate business adjustments during the pandemic.

4. Win and Maintain the Trust of Your Customers

Some companies are currently failing to win and maintain trust with their customers while others are responding to the crisis well. Let your customers and your followers know how your business will change during this time. Provide them with regular updates so that they know what to expect.

You also want to look to do the things other businesses are not willing to do. For example, if you’re shipping products to customers, why not let them know that employees are working with protective gear? Why not let them know you’re wiping down packaging before shipping orders out to protect customers? These are a few simple things that very few businesses are doing.

Being honest with your customers is the best way to win and maintain their trust. Showing them you care by cleaning and protective gear builds trust. Also, work with your community on what you can do to help. Right now there are many Facebook groups dedicated to helping the community during the pandemic. If there is not one, reach out to your community to see what you can do to help. The more authentic and helpful you can be, the more people will remember.

5. Don’t Cut Back on Your Marketing

The first thing cut by companies across the board is marketing as it is seen as non-essential to their company. You may be thinking that now would be the time to cut back on your advertising and marketing. In reality, you want to capitalize on this moment. Ad costs in many advertising channels have dropped significantly. Competitors have cut back on their marketing too. You want to grab all the advantages you can get.

However, if the cost of your advertising or marketing expenses are still too high compared to the returns you’re seeing, this is the time to be more resourceful. Maybe it’s finally time to start a YouTube channel for your small business. Maybe you should focus more on creating and distributing content. Think of alternative channels and digital marketing strategies you can use to get the exposure and sales you need without spending much money.

6. Sell Gift Cards and Packages at a Discount

Many small business owners are desperate for cash right now. In the restaurant industry, there are many businesses that have decided to sell gift cards at a discount to maintain cash flow. For example, a taco place may be selling $50 in credit for $40 in cash. This will be a great deal for regulars that have plans to go back when businesses reopen. You can also use options like Groupon or LivingSocial to share deals. Plus, check with your local newspaper and radio as they often have a deal website for sharing local business discounts and packages.

7. Restructure Your Pricing

If you’re selling a premium product/service and the pricing is on the higher side compared to your competitors, it could time to restructure your pricing. Try to lower pricing without selling yourself short of the value you’re offering. Offer more payment options and payment plans to make it easy to afford what you’re selling.

Another way to approach it is to add value. You can discount your product/service a bit but offer an immense amount of value as an added bonus. This can be extra bonuses, future redemption coupons, and additional services. The more value and benefit you can show for your products or service, combined with the trust you build for your brand, can help a business more than many realize.

These are just a few online marketing strategies that you can use during this pandemic. There are many other things you can probably do to survive and maybe even thrive a little despite the economic circumstances. Get creative and resourceful to try to come up with more ideas and be ready when people are ready to visit your location in person. Please remember that working together is what will get us though.

WP Weekly Spotlight – Morten Rand-Hendriksen

Morten is a former astronaut, professional water juggler, and exiled President of the Federation of Martian Land Owners. He is not a space alien.

Michele: What do you do in the WordPress ecosystem?

Morten: Ask difficult questions. Hold leadership accountable.

Michele: How did you get involved with WordPress?

Morten: I used to build websites with Dynamic Web Templates and frames and layers, but that got boring so I switched to Flash, but that wasn’t very maintainable, so I tried out Mamboo, which got forked into Joomla!, but that didn’t work well so I tried Drupal which was all the rage at the time, but that was like trying to kill an ant with a tank, and then I stumbled across WordPress and discovered my clients couldn’t destroy my sites through its admin, so that’s what I stuck with.

Michele: Please tell me one story of someone who has inspired you within the WordPress Community?

Morten: Rachel Cherry. That woman not only speaks the truth, but actively does more than most to make change happen.

Michele: What does the Open Source Community mean to you?

Morten: Open Source to me is about equity and the common good. We all contribute to a common good, and everyone, regardless of their own contribution or identity gets to use what we create to build their lives.

Michele: Please name some of your favorite plugins. 

Morten: Gravity Forms

Michele: Do you have a favorite theme or framework you like to use?

Morten: WP Rig

Michele: If you could change one thing in WordPress, what would it be?

Morten: Governance

Michele: What is your most memorable WordPress moment?

Morten: In 2014 I asked Matt Mullenweg what we could do to make themes accessible (https://wordpress.tv/2014/10/26/matt-mullenweg-state-of-the-word-2014-qa/). The year after, I asked if we could mandate accessibility. This year, the theme review team finally did that – mandated accessibility in themes in the repo. Things take time, but eventually they work out.

Michele: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started with WordPress?

Morten: WordPress is a tool in your toolkit. To be successful in the web industry, you need to know how to build a site with or without WordPress. WordPress is not the be-all and end-all of the web. It is a tool, nothing more, nothing less.

Michele: What do you think is in store for the future of WordPress?

Morten: The web is changing, and WordPress needs to change with it. What that is I’m not sure, but change is coming.

You can find Morten Rand-Hendriksen online at Mort10.com

If you find these interesting and would like to be spotlighted yourself, please see our interview form.