Congratulations! You’ve decided to attend this year’s WordCamp U.S. online conference. We’re so glad you’ll be joining us, along with about 2,000 of our closest friends and fans. It’s going to be a jam-packed day, filled with delight, wonderment, and yes, a lot of WordPress!
But now what?
You’re going to have to pace yourself, and to do that you’ll need a plan. This WCUS is unlike any other because we’ve condensed it into a single day and moved it online. So without further ado, here are our three top tips for goal setting.
Tip #1 – Decide What You Want to Get Out of WCUS
What is your goal for attending WCUS? Do you aspire to be an SEO ninja? How about a code hustler? Looking for inspiration as a site builder?
Knowing what you hope to gain from this day-long event will help you zero in on which sessions you should attend.
Perhaps your employer is permitting you to spend your workday attending an online WordPress conference. Do they have something in mind for you to accomplish? Will you have to report back on what you learned?
Elizabeth Wilcox, Sr. Consultant for Advising at University of California Berkeley, suggests:
For example, [conferences] can help you build and extend professional contacts, find a mentor or collaborator, gain experience presenting original work, advance your subject matter expertise, extend your knowledge of resources, introduce you to new theory, methods, or tools, gain ideas for new programs and workshops, develop new skills or simply refresh your interest in and enthusiasm for managing programs and working directly with students. Whatever the goal, be intentional in the way you seek to advance your professional identity, contacts, and knowledge. Don’t passively attend the conference, use it to advance your career objectives!
This is fantastic advice for maximizing your experience (and your investment of time.)
Tip #2 – Plan Ahead
- Bookmark, download, and/or print out the session schedule.
- Review the different sessions to understand where to focus your time (and participation).
Spending 15-30 minutes now to filter through the topics is a great investment of your time. It will help you be more organized and less frantic on the day of the event. Sure you can change things up later, but planning ahead and understanding how you’ll be spending your time will be a key to your success.
As you plan ahead, be sure to allow time for breaks – food, a walk, or even to take just a bio break – you’ll need to take care of yourself too!
Tip #3 – Network
Networking comes naturally to some while others dread it more than having their teeth cleaned.
But just like all things in life, with a little risk comes a little reward. So if reaching out to others is not normally your thing, you are in luck and among good company. You see, many attendees feel this way. It is completely normal to have a little anxiety when it comes to meeting new people.
WordCamp is the perfect space for you to make new connections safely without pretext or expectations.
Because we are online-only this year, it’s both easier and more difficult than ever to make connections. You’ll feel a little less reserved because you are at your computer chatting with other attendees, so that should help you overcome any fears and give you a boost of confidence. But, you’ll have to jump in and say hello.
For starters, simply log on and visit the networking area and introduce yourself. Share your name, where you are from, and what you do. Need an icebreaker if there’s little conversation? Share your WordPress origin story like mine.
Maybe set a goal. What if you walked away with three new connections on LinkedIn? That’s doable, right?
Bonus Tip – Social Media
Let your existing friends and connections know you are attending WCUS this year by updating your Twitter handle (just add @ WCUS to it) or simply tweet out that you are attending.
Then share two or three updates throughout the day with a kudos to a speaker who led a great session, or share a link to a sponsor as a thank you.
The point is, just share.
As you share more and more, you’ll find that it becomes easier to make connections and build your own network. (And use the hashtag in your tweets so others see your contributions, too. #WCUS)
Final Thoughts
WordCamp is a fun and interactive opportunity that not everyone can attend – even when online. Take advantage of this opportunity and make the most of your experience with a little advanced planning and goal setting. You’ll be well on your way to having a memorable and rewarding day.