WordCamp Phoenix took place on 24 – 25 March 2023 at the ‘On Jackson’ warehouse in Downtown Phoenix. The last time the community met in Phoenix in person was 2020. As a proud sponsor and supporter of WordCamps, we at Bluehost would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this year’s event such a resounding success.
From the organizers who worked tirelessly to create a seamless and enjoyable experience for attendees, to the speakers who shared their knowledge and expertise, and the engaged and passionate attendees, we are grateful to have been part of such a fantastic community.
Theme for WordCamp Phoenix 2023
The theme for this year’s WordCamp was Basketball, and the lead organizer, Matt Clancy, explained why this theme meant so much for him. During opening remarks, he mentioned that the Phoenix Suns (the local NBA team) have sounded a heralding cry to “Rally the Valley” as their team has been performing remarkably well after a spell of sub-par seasons.
Clancy wanted to echo this rallying cry since WordCamp Phoenix was meeting in person for the first time since 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This theme was reflected in the sports jersey’s that the organizers wore, the various sponsorship levels, to the track names “Full Court” and “Fast Break.”
Bluehost at WordCamp Phoenix
Bluehost was a ‘Slam Dunk (Gold)’ level sponsor at the event. The booth at the event highlighted our new ECommerce solutions, which is equipped with a new onboarding that helps customers setup their online store faster.
We had some fun swag for the attendees who visited our booth, along with a raffle for a cool Apple Watch!
We had 2 speakers from our team who got the opportunity to address the audience. Here is what they had to say about their experience:
Engaging with the community, clients, and numerous WordPress professionals at WordCamp Phoenix was a wonderful experience. Our booth fostered a multitude of insightful and productive conversations with both current and prospective clients. In short, the entire event was a blast.
Al Ani
It was a labor of love to help reboot WordCamp Phoenix as an organizer, but incredibly fulfilling to see so many people make new connections, strengthen old ones and the spark of excitement for learning and growth that was palpable in the venue. Sitting with a Bluehost customer and talking for over an hour about their goals made all the hard work worth it. It was a centering reminder that many customers use our platform to improve their corner of the world, and how proud I am to be a small part of that.
David Ryan who was also one of the organizers at this year’s WordCamp.
Sessions at the event
There were two tracks at WordCamp Phenix – ‘Full Court’ and ‘Fast Break’. Below are highlights and insights from some key sessions covered by our team on ground.
You can also see the livestream as below:
Micah Wood: Becoming a Better Developer
“Focus on what you want to do. It starts with elimination, improves with concentration, and compounds with continuation.
Collaborate because that reveals your unique perspective.”
Al Ani: Breaking Down The Block Editor’s Layout System
“A WordPress Block Editor can be used to create top-notch designs and websites. It’s important to understand core components including Cover, Stack, Global Layout Styles and how you can them effectively.”
Cami MacNamara: It’s About Time
For all #WordPress freelancers who struggle to manage their time, Cami MacNamara detailed a comprehensive time management system. Here are some tips:
-Time block your work week in simple patterns for success
-Borrow time when you need it the most
-Find the right tools to manage your time effectively
-Track your progress to make adjustments
Maddy Osman: Content UX: How to Create a Great Reader Experience
“Helpful content is something that’s people first, genuine, specific, actionable, up-to-date, relatable, concise and satisfying.
Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines tell us about how Google determines a search result’s quality and ability to meet a searcher’s needs. A website with a high rating needs to have high-quality main content, a positive website reputation and high E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) for the publisher and author.”
Closing Note
This is a wrap on WordCamp Phoenix 2023. The event saw hundreds of attendees, 28 speakers and sessions, 19 sponsors and several community supporters and volunteers.
The energy and enthusiasm we saw throughout the event were truly inspiring, and we came away feeling energized and excited about the future of WordPress.
We feel honored to have been a part of this community and look forward to continuing our involvement in the years to come.
