Want to get involved with WordPress but don't think you have the technical skills or know-how to do so? ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE can contribute to the overall success of the WordPress project!

1. How My Shortcomings in
WordPress Make Me a Better
Contributor
Lisa Melegari
@lmelegari

2. A Quick History
• Started learning WordPress in 2008.
• Got involved with the WordPress Orlando
Meetup in 2012.
• Became an organizer of the WPORL Meetup
and WordCamp Orlando in 2013.
• Advised WordCamp Tampa during one of their
first organizer meetings.
• Now lead organizer of WCORL.

3. My Technical WordPress Experience

4. Why Non-Technical Contributors
Matter
• We bring a ton of unique talents to the mix.
• At the end of the day, most WordPress
projects are used by non-technical people.
• The technical people are often busy with that
“technical” stuff to take care of other
important “non-technical” matters.

5. How do you contribute so much to
WordPress while barely being able
to make a viable site?

6. Ways to Contribute
• Support those who can
• Channel your talents creatively
• ABC (Always Be Connecting)
• Be “that guy/gal”

7. Supporting Those Who Can
• Help test new plugins.
• Provide feedback on WIP designs.
• Offer your devices for live testing.
• Write constructive reviews on plugins.
– Don’t miss “Plugin Reviews Demystified” at 2PM!
• Submit bugs.

8. Supporting Those Who Can
• Take care of each other.
– Feed your fellow WordPressers.
– Offer lodging to your traveling WP buddies.
– Collaborate on WordCamp travel plans.
– Always have time to lend an ear.
Don’t miss “Invest in WordPress by Investing in
Yourself” at 3PM!

9. Channel Your Talents Creatively
• The WordPress Community is built on more
than just technical know-how.
• Instead of focusing on your WordPress
shortcomings, identify your strengths.
• Practically any interest/talent can be put to
use to improve WordPress.

10. Channel Your Talents Creatively
• Do you speak more than one language? You’re
a Polyglot and we need you!
– Translate WordPress core
• https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/
– Subtitle videos on WordPress.tv
• https://make.wordpress.org/tv/

11. Channel Your Talents Creatively
• Speaking of WordPress.tv they need people to
subtitle videos in English as well!
• Can you edit video? There are tons of videos
that could use your help!
https://make.wordpress.org/tv/

12. Channel Your Talents Creatively
• Do you like to travel? Are you good at
planning events? Fundraising? Networking?
• The Community Team is always looking for
people to help grow the WordPress
community and help establish new Meetup
groups and WordCamps!
https://make.wordpress.org/community/

13. Channel Your Talents Creatively
• Do you like to troubleshoot and investigate
things? Have a good attention to detail?
WordPress core needs testers!
Visit
https://codex.wordpress.org/Mailing_Lists#Testers
to join the WP testers mailing list. No
developer knowledge needed!

14. Channel Your Talents Creatively
For a full list of how to Get Involved visit
https://make.wordpress.org/

15. Always Be Connecting
• Spread the Word(Press).
• Get to know your neighboring Meetup groups
and WordCamps.
• Join other local tech groups.
• Collaborate with your local tech scene.
• Invite speakers outside of the WordPress
realm.

16. Be “That Guy/Gal”
• Find your niche and stick with it.
• Make a name for yourself by providing your
help however you can.
• Be the one people turn to when they need...
– Venue ideas for Meetups
– Help transporting/storing equipment
– Volunteers at conferences

17. Final Thoughts
• Give generously of your time but not to the
point where it impacts your life negatively.
• Do not contribute with the expectation of
getting something, contribute because you
love WordPress!
• Still feeling lost? Ask your local
Meetup/WordCamp organizers where they
need help!

18. Wapuu design by Michelle Schulp. Get more here!
Questions?
@lmelegari
Get the slides here:
http://goo.gl/aEFIsA
(that’s an uppercase ‘i’ after the ‘EF’ and yes it’s case-sensitive)