WordCamp Sacramento 2018 is on! Happening September 15-16, 2018 at the Sacramento Convention Center, WordCamp Sacramento is once again bringing two days of WordPress-focused learning, networking, and fun to California’s state capitol.
I was lead organizer for WordCamp Sacramento in 2016 and 2017, growing the event from 180 attendees to 500 attendees, but there is a two year term limit on the position of lead organizer. This rule is in place to ensure that WordCamps remain a community event and don’t “die on the vine” when one community member leaves or moves away. What this also means is that this year I’m only the Speaker Wrangler and Brian is only the VIP Dinner Wrangler, which means we aren’t responsible for the overall planning, food, and coordination and I am not involved in the event design.
As Speaker Wrangler, I am in charge of the event curriculum and the management of the speakers, and now that the speakers, the sessions, and the official WordCamp schedule have been announced, I can tell you that I am over the moon excited about the event, especially the all new, two-day Beginner Track!
About WordCamp Sacramento
While more than 100 WordCamps happen each year around the world, WordCamp Sacramento is the only WordCamp in Northern California and with two days of sessions, food trucks, swag, snacks, loads of coffee and drinks, and more, the value it delivers is insane. Plus, tickets are only $40. How can you say no to that?!
WordCamp is happening September 15-16, 2018 at the Convention Center in downtown Sacramento. It has sold out every year and we have had to turn people away, so get your ticket ASAP so that doesn’t happen to you! And, if you’re thinking that an event with a ticket price that low can’t possibly be worth your time, stop right there.
There are a few things you should know:
- WordCamps are volunteer run, community organized events — no one makes any money from WordCamp.
- All speakers volunteer their time and pay their own travel expenses.
- Global WordCamp sponsors provide grants to WordPress communities to host WordCamps and local sponsors make up the difference in funds needed.
- We’re not allowed to charge any more than $20/day for a WordCamp. It’s a mandate by WordPress Community Support, PBC, the entity that oversees WordCamps, to keep all WordCamps affordable. This means that every WordCamp around the world will never cost for than $20/day.
- Any extra funds raised through sponsorships, go into the community fund that is then applied toward future WordCamp grants.
An All New Two Day Beginner Track
In 2017, so many people attended the WordPress Beginner Track that we had to move the sessions to a larger room! We definitely learned our lesson for 2018, which is why we’re not only using a larger room, but we have expanded the Beginner Track curriculum to cover Saturday and Sunday.
- On Saturday, the all Beginner Track sessions are focused on how to use WordPress. We’re going to cover the themes Dashboard and the customizer, pages and posts, the WordPress editor, categories and tags, the media library, plugins, users, tools and settings, and menus and widgets. If you’re new to WordPress or you just want to learn how to use WordPress or how WordPress works, this is the track for you.
- On Sunday, all the Beginner Track sessions are designed to answer the question, “Now that I have a WordPress site, what do I do with it?” We’re going to cover email marketing and email automation, online courses and membership sites, accepting money and getting paid through your WordPress site, local SEO, social media, and blogging. If you have a WordPress site and want to get more out of it, this is the track for you.
If you have a laptop or tablet and want to bring it, login to your WordPress site and follow along on Saturday, go ahead, but it isn’t necessary. You can come watch, learn and absorb, and benefit from the content with or without a device. On Sunday, you don’t need a device either… But you should be prepared to take notes!
Two Mixed Tracks Of Sessions
In addition to the amazing Beginner Track, WordCamp Sacramento is delivering two additional tracks of mixed sessions — and all three tracks will run on the exact same schedule, so you can choose your own path and attend any sessions that sound interesting.
- We’ve got sessions on design and UI/UX, Gutenberg, content, and blogging.
- We’ve got many development focused sessions to help you do more with WordPress.
- We’re bringing back the speed networking session and hosting it right before lunch again to help you meet more people and make new friends to enjoy lunch with.
- All sessions, at the end of the description, include the proposed skill level for the session.
What’s Included In Your $40 Ticket
For only $40, your WordCamp Sacramento 2018 ticket includes:
- Access to all of the WordCamp Sacramento sessions on Saturday and Sunday, including the mixed tracks and the Beginner Track.
- Access to the Happiness Bar — the WordCamp version of a help desk that is open throughout the entire event so you can bring your laptop and get on-the-spot help with your WordPress site or get your specific WordPress questions answered.
- An opportunity to network with and meet sponsors, speakers, and other WordPress community members, including business owners, designers, developers, agency owners, bloggers, copywriters, freelancers, site owners, and more.
- Drinks, coffee, and snacks throughout the entire event, as well as an awesome catered lunch — 4 food trucks will be on hand for a picnic in capitol park!
- A WordCamp Sacramento 2018 t-shirt.
- A networking reception Saturday immediately following the event to relax, unwind, celebrate WordPress, and continue conversations from the day.
- And more
This is seriously an incredible value, and I think once you see the WordCamp schedule and lineup of speakers, you’re going to be just as excited as I am about the event… although, I’m pretty excited about the food trucks too.
I’ve seen the menus and I’m already looking forward to lunch.
Anyway, get your tickets ASAP and I hope to see you there!
