going for it: how to become a respected wordpress developer
DESCRIPTION
At WordCamp Atlanta 2013, I talked about how to become a respected WordPress developer.TRANSCRIPT
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Going For It
How To Become A Respected WordPress Developer
blogs at krogsgard.com | @krogsgard
Lead WordPress Developer at Infomedia
curates Post Status | poststat.us
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
So you want to be a professional WordPress developer?
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Good decision!
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Steps to Better WordPress Development
How good is better?
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
• Define your skills
• Dominate fundamentals
• Be part of the larger community
• Wear the client’s shoes
• Exceed expectations
• Stay hungry
Steps to Better Development
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
1. Define Your Skills
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
• CSS
• HTML
• PHP
• MySQL
• “Best Practices”
Define Your Skills
The many levels of a WordPress Developer
Where do you stack up?
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Honesty is Everything
Key Takeaway
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
2. Dominate Fundamentals
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
• Coding Standards
• Template Hierarchy
• The Loop
• Conditionals
• Template Tags
• Hooks!
• WP_Query
Dominate Fundamentals
Fundamental practices for WordPress Development
Practice makes perfect.
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Discipline Wins
Key Takeaway
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
3. Be Part of the Larger WordPress Community
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Be Part of the Larger Community
There are many ways to get involved.
This is a large community.
• Blog
• Contribute to core
• Contribute to docs
• Release plugins
• Release themes
• Be nice
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Give Back, Get Back
Key Takeaway
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
4. Wear the Client’s Shoes
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Wear the Client’s Shoes
How would you want to be treated?
• Know known unknowns*
• Reply to emails
• Don’t be afraid to call
• Manage expectations
• Exceed expectations
• Finish the job
High heels or flip-flops?
*Answer questions the client doesn’t even know they have yet
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Follow the Golden Rule
Key Takeaway
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
5. Exceed Expectations
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Exceed Expectations
Didn’t we go over this?
• What does cheap mean?
• Set expectations
• Imagine another developer is your client
• Make the interface intuitive
• Educate them to use it
• Learn the word “no”
• Compromise
You’re the client’s lifesaver
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Deliver
Key Takeaway
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
6. Stay Hungry
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Stay Hungry
Always be learning.
• Core
• Blogs
• Books
• Twitters
• Teach
• Other developers
• Meetups
• WordCamps!
Avoid the monsters.
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Freebies!
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Drink Lots of Coffee
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Celebrate Launches
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Don’t be Lazy
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Work Life Balance
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Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta
Going For It
How To Become A Respected WordPress Developer
blogs at krogsgard.com | @krogsgard
Lead WordPress Developer at Infomedia
curates Post Status | poststat.us