Thank you, we’re wrapping up now

It’s a wrap up. So, one more final post regarding WordCamp Utrecht 2017.

We had a great time in organizing this event. It all started end April 2017, right after the moment when we heard that there wouldn’t be a WordCamp Netherlands this year. A brand new team was formed for organizing WordCamp Utrecht. We had our ups and downs, some things didn’t go smoothly nor as planned, but in the end it turned out to be a giant roller coaster ride, with last weekend as the reward.

We sold 250 tickets and had 227 people attend day 1. There have been 41 people watching the livestream. Day 2 was attended by 70 people, the livestream was viewed by 96 people. A little less than 50 people attended Contributor Afternoon. The Support team managed to answer all questions in the support groups. WP-CLI and core have been able to board and set up their development boxes, Community brought in 2 new meetups: Den Haag and Arnhem. Zwolle was made into an official WordPress meetup. Other groups reported boarding of groups as well and doing some contributions, such as Polyglots and Accessibility.

We’re still collecting the results of the attendee satisfaction survey. 40% of the attendees answered our little survey. 87% of these respondents was happy with the event! That’s great! We’ve also received useful comments on what to do again next year and what you don’t want us to do again next year. Sharing your opinion with us is very valuable to us, we will use it for the next preparations.

Thank you for attending, sponsoring and speaking! Thanks for supporting us! Thank you for making this into a great event!

The organizing team of WordCamp Utrecht 2017:
Debby, Manuela, Yvette, Berry, Roel and Sjoerd

Thank you to our Bronze sponsors

WordCamp Utrecht 2017 is over. It has been a great event with the help of our Bronze sponsors, so just once more we’re going to brighten them by saying a huge ‘thank you!!!’

 

Wordcamp Utrecht Bronze Sponsor - Admin Columns

With Admin Columns, you can add columns to your overview pages so that you can see more important information.

We thought it would be cool if you could sort and filter content based on the column content, so we made that possible; and the best part is that you can edit most content from the overview screen itself.

 

We are native English speakers who help web content creators, bloggers, WordPress theme and plug in authors and any business marketing to a UK or international audience.

How’s my English helps you make sense to your English-speaking audience.

 

 

 

Level Level is een full-service WordPress bureau en loopt voorop als het gaat om de inzet van WordPress. Wij bieden advies, interactive design, visual design, development en support voor grootschalige en complexe websites. Ons gedreven en multidisciplinaire team wordt blij van het creëren van mooie en stabiele producten voor het internet. Met de focus op een optimale gebruikerservaring voor alle apparaten helpen wij onze klanten hun online doelstellingen te bereiken.

 

nostromo - Bronze Sponsor WordCamp Utrecht

Aan het roer van nostromo, opgericht in 2009 en gespecialiseerd in WordPress, staat Marcel Bootsman. Marcel is een techneut die graag onder de mensen is, die graag zijn ervaringen deelt met anderen en die graag anderen helpt.

 

 

 

 

PingOps is WordPress hosting met net dat beetje meer als je een echte maatwerk hoster zoekt. Met onze eigen kennis van WordPress helpen wij jou namelijk met de problemen waar jij tegenaan loopt.

 

 

 

Plesk is a leading WebOps platform and hosting control panel to build, secure and run websites, applications and hosting businesses. Plesk’s WordPress Toolkit gives you all you need to automate staging / cloning / sync and many security tools as well as mass-management for WordPress.

 

 

 

Siteground - Bronze Sponsor WordCamp Utrecht

SiteGround, with over 13 years in the business, provides managed WordPress hosting that does not miss a thing!

 

 

 

Wij maken hosting simpel voor jou. Gehost in superieure datacenters. Voorzien van groene stroom, ISO certificeringen en gebouwd op een zeer gemotiveerd team. Dat is Vimexx. Vimexx staat voor kwaliteit en de goede en betrokken service, dat Vimexx dit waar maakt blijkt wel omdat wij sinds april 2016 verkozen zijn tot de NR1 hoster van Nederland en België (bron: https://www.hostingreview.nl/top100).

 

Easy Social Content List Building

 

 

WPHandleiding - Bronze Sponsor WordCamp Utrecht

WP Handleiding bestaat uit een groep enthousiaste WordPress experts die er alles voor over hebben om iedereen zijn of haar eigen website te laten bouwen. Mede door deze drive hebben ze maar liefst vijf WordPress handleidingen geschreven en bieden ze diverse WordPress support diensten aan.

 

 

WPML turns WordPress websites multilingual. It works with caching, SEO and E-Commerce plugins, and allows the building of complete multilingual sites. Thank you to everyone who makes WPML for helping us make our WordCamp excellent.

 

 

Yoast - Bronze Sponsor WordCamp Utrecht

Yoast helps you get the most out of your website. We make SEO available for everyone. You might be familiar with our Yoast SEO WordPress plugin. With over 7,5 million active installs, Yoast SEO is one of the most popular WordPress plugins worldwide.

 

 

Thank you to our Silver sponsors

WordCamp Utrecht 2017 is over. It has been a great event with the help of our Silver sponsors, so just once more we’re going to brighten them by saying a huge ‘thank you!!!’

 

acato - Silver Sponsor WordCamp UtrechtWij houden van WordPress, omdat we er bijzondere, unieke websites mee kunnen creëren die tegelijkertijd super gebruiksvriendelijk zijn. We hebben een team dat volledig gericht is op WordPress. Met de gebundelde kracht van onze getalenteerde front-end developers, back-end developers, online marketeers en designers maken we websites die je verrassen.

Benieuwd naar ons werk? Check ons portfolio! Op zoek naar een plek waar jij je WordPress skills kan showen? We zijn altijd op zoek naar nieuw talent!

 

Bluehost has been a WordPress partner since 2005 and powers over 1 million WordPress sites worldwide. Their objective is to help customers, whether novice or pro, create a thriving online presence at an affordable price. With a team of in-house tech experts available 24/7, Bluehost dedicates time and resources to providing the best support and services in the industry. Join millions of other site owners and see what Bluehost can do for you and your online presence.

Eagerly Internet is een fullservice internetbureau gevestigd in het hartje van Utrecht met ruimte voor nieuw talent (Vacatures: WordPress Developers, Projectmanagers, Happiness Supporters).

Leuk werk met leuke mensen, daar zetten we onze talenten graag voor in. Dat betekent een gezellig informeel team en (veelal) culturele opdrachtgevers, waar we online middelen voor maken die van het scherm af spatten.

 

 

GoDaddy Pro is a free membership program for web developers, designers & agencies. It offers exclusive tools to help onboard, manage and maintain multiple clients and their sites fast and easy. With GoDaddy Pro tools, you can easily shop for your client, monitor their sites, and manage their products from a single dashboard. Additionally, your membership includes advanced 24/7 technical support and rewards for recommending GoDaddy to your clients.

 

 

SecuPress Pro is a WordPress Security Plugin, we also provide Post Hacks services, Security Trainings, and Plugins & Themes security audits on demand.

Thank you to our Gold sponsors

WordCamp Utrecht 2017 is over. It has been a great event with the help of our Gold sponsors, so just once more we’re going to brighten them by saying a huge ‘thank you!!!’

Hostnet - Gold Sponsor WordCamp UtrechtService is the watchword for this Amsterdam hosting provider. Hostnet’s mission is to assist enterprising individuals to realize their dreams and ambitions with the best online solutions.

 

Transform how you work with your WordPress sites and rest easy knowing they’re always firing on all cylinders. Jetpack connects your site to the global services, community, and support provided by WordPress.com so you can focus on the stuff that matters.

 

Mollie. Slimme betaalproducten voor innovatieve bedrijven van elk formaat.

 

 

Vevida - Gold Sponsor WordCamp UtrechtBij Vevida kun jij rekening op adequate support, gecombineerd met een berg aan kennis en ervaring. Dat is wat jij van ons kan en mag verwachten. Overdag helpen onze experts onze klanten. In hun vrije tijd leveren ze diverse bijdragen aan de WordPress community, verzorgen ze trainingen WordPress (beginners en gevorderden) en organiseren ze de WordPress Meetup in Groningen. Waarom? Omdat wij bij Vevida ook helemaal maf zijn van WordPress. Daarom!

 

Whether you’re selling a few handcrafted items to a niche market, taking an existing business online, or going global with an enterprise level eCommerce business – WooCommerce will get you set up and selling fast and scale securely as you grow. Plus your content will be forever yours and customizable down to the finest button color.

 

Sponsorblog – How’s My English – 5 quick ways to improve your content now

We’re often asked how people can improve their English web content. Of course, the answer is to have an English editor proofread it for you, which is why we’re here! However, that’s not possible for everybody, so here are 5 tips to improve your English content today, including something especially for Dutch speakers!

1. Print your copy to proofread it.

There’s something about reading content you’ve just written from a screen. It’s still very fresh in your mind, plus reading from a screen encourages you to skim the words rather than read them, so mistakes are often missed. So print your copy onto paper, take them away somewhere with a pen and a cuppa and read it again with fresh eyes. You’ll notice far more that way. We’ve written about this in more detail on our blog: If you want to proofread your text, print it!

2. Beware of local sayings that don’t translate well.

If you’re using English to appeal to a global audience, be aware that using sayings that are only used in your native language will be confusing to speakers of other languages who may also be coming to it as their second language. Good examples of this are:

  • Making an elephant out of a mosquito
  • Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve
  • To have hair on one’s teeth

Dutch speakers may know what these mean, however the rest of us are left scratching our heads…

3. Put sentences the right way round.

To use an English phrase, ‘don’t put the cart before the horse’. In other words, make your point then explain it afterwards. So, for example, instead of saying: ‘To build yourself a WordPress website you must first get a hosting package’, a better way of putting this would be: ‘You must get a hosting package before you can build a WordPress website.’ This may seem obvious but we have seen some otherwise very good writers make this mistake.

4. Be short and to the point.

When you review your own content you’ll be surprised by how often you repeat yourself, saying the same thing in different ways. Don’t be afraid to chop these repetitions out for clarity. Also, beware of directly translating from other languages, as French, for example, can be overly formal and wordy, and German can often over-explain things. In English, it’s better to find the shortest way to express your idea to keep the reader’s interest.

5. Beware the question mark!

Before you use a question mark, ask yourself: ‘Is this actually a question, or is it a statement?’ Never put a question mark at the end of a statement, even if it sounds like a question. This is tricky, but you can read more in our post: When to use a question mark in English.

Find us at WordCamp Utrecht if you want to know more about ways to improve your copy or if you have any content you would like our help with.

It’s almost WordCamp Utrecht!

We’re soooooo excited! Only a few days to go until WordCamp Utrecht 2017! Here’s a little summary of important information for you regarding the event:

  • If you arrive by train: go and find our WordCamp Utrecht Arrival Hosts at Utrecht Central Station. They will point you in the right direction.
  • There’s no need to print out a ticket or find a PDF to show us. When you bought your ticket you gave us your name. Just mention that name at the registration desk and you will get your badge (if you’re on the list of course).
  • And the event schedule: some people find it very hard to click the word ‘Programma’, but it can be found under ‘Useful information’ as well: ‘Schedule’.

Hope to see you Saturday.

Happy WordCamping!

Sponsorblog – Mollie Payments for WooCommerce

Quickly integrate all major payment methods in WooCommerce, wherever you need them. Simply drop them ready-made into your WooCommerce webshop with the powerful plugin by Mollie. Mollie is dedicated to making payments better for WooCommerce.

Next level payments, for WooCommerce

No need to spend weeks on paperwork or security compliance procedures. No more lost conversions because you don’t support a shopper’s favorite payment method or because they don’t feel safe. We made payments intuitive and safe for merchants and their customers.

Our pricing is always per transaction. No startup fees, no monthly fees, and no gateway fees. No hidden fees, period.

Key features

  • More than 30.000 WooCommerce plugin users with Mollie Payments.
  • Support for all 16 payment methods.
  • Compatible with WooCommerce Subscriptions for recurring payments.
  • Transparent pricing.
  • Fast in-house support in your local language.
  • Live within 15 minutes.

Sponsorblog: White Label Perks – Brandable Content: The Best Kept Secret Hiding In Plain Sight

This community comes together around software that leveled the playing field for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to reach the world with a message or product.  WordPress gives us a powerful technical platform for sharing.  So, what do we need next?  Content to publish and promote, of course!

Did you know there’s a resource for content that saves you a huge amount of time and effort? It’s called ‘brandable content’ and it exists for a wide range of topics.  Another term often used is ‘private label rights content’.  The content is developed and written by ghostwriters adept with subject matter, then sold to others with the right to edit and brand for use.

Because the content is sold to multiple buyers, the cost is a fraction of what you’d spend on a private ghostwriter. This often sparks a question about the concern for publishing duplicate content, but that’s not an issue for many uses of the content that I’d recommend.  More on that in a minute.

I’ll kick this off by saying in most cases, the best content comes out of our own hearts and minds.  Written or spoken from our own experience, expressing our expertise, content we create ourselves is unique.  We know our market best and understand what they need.

The challenge arises in not having enough time to create all the content we’d really love to be sharing with the world. Brandable content fills the gap between what we can create and what we really need to accomplish our goals.

Here’s a common situation: The time you have available to write is spent creating great blog posts and a few compelling social posts to drive traffic to the new blog content.  This good!  Where you’ve fallen short for several weeks is finding time to craft a helpful small report to use as a new subscriber gift, so while you’re getting some eyes on your content, you’re not growing your mailing list or giving your readers a way to let you stay in touch.

Brandable content can be used to create a fantastic subscriber gift, whether it’s a small report, white paper, checklist or some other helpful chunk of content.  I’ve done this many times, focusing on a topic of high interest to my community, peppering in a few of my own stories and opinions, and finally adding my own branding and call to action.  Since I deliver this content via email, usually as a PDF, I don’t worry about duplicate content on the web.

There’s brandable content in a variety of formats.  Articles, eBooks, worksheets, checklists, even full version products you can adapt to use as a bonus or a product you actually sell.  My own business coach used several quality PLR workbooks to create a bundle of helpful resources that she sold the heck out of on Black Friday last year.

Could she have created these workbooks from scratch? Sure.  But why?  The PLR seller used ghostwriters with strong experience on the topics covered and formatted everything beautifully.  Having full confidence in the materials, she saved a tremendous amount of time and turned more of her readers into buyers at the same time.

I use PLR in ways that support and amplify my unique content.  It’s an invaluable part of my web marketing efforts.  While brandable content hasn’t been developed for every niche, it may very well be available for yours.  I encourage you to explore the possibilities.

If you operate in business development, marketing, self-help or health & wellness, I’ll invite you to visit White Label Perks for great brandable content choices.  In appreciation for your attention, I’d love to give you a coupon code good for one free package of your choice.  The code is: WORDCAMPBLOG

About the Author:

Kelly McCausey equips entrepreneurs to publish content they’re proud of for a community they love.  White Label Perks offers brandable content for social media driven list building.

Sponsorblog: Plesk – Plesk WordPress Toolkit – Power your WordPress

Plesk has created the ultimate tool for WordPress devs, designers, agencies and IT admins to manage sites and apps. The WordPress Toolkit simplifies your workload using a single dashboard. Have a look at its top features.

Click and build

WordPress Toolkit helps you initialize and configure WordPress from start-to-finish with one click. If you need to test new ideas, features or code, simply clone your site with the toolkit, stage it independently of the production site, and sync it when you’ve ironed out all the bugs. Easy!

Security at your fingertips

Plesk WordPress Toolkit’s one-click hardening helps make your instance secure by implementing best practices recommended by WP Codex and other WP security experts. So no need for a team of security consultants – it’s all done for you.

Freedom to Run

Get an overview of all your WordPress sites on one dashboard, and manage your WP core, themes and plugins in batches or one at a time.

Plesk WordPress Toolkit is a simple tool, but it’s the tool for web professionals. Different WordPress Toolkit versions are available depending on which license you choose. Get in touch with the Plesk team for more info or try a free demo.