going for it: how to become a respected wordpress developer

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

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

So you want to be a professional WordPress developer?

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Good decision!

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Steps to Better WordPress Development

How good is better?

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

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

1. Define Your Skills

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?

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Honesty is Everything

Key Takeaway

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

2. Dominate Fundamentals

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.

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Discipline Wins

Key Takeaway

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

3. Be Part of the Larger WordPress Community

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

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Give Back, Get Back

Key Takeaway

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

4. Wear the Client’s Shoes

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

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Follow the Golden Rule

Key Takeaway

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

5. Exceed Expectations

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

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Deliver

Key Takeaway

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

6. Stay Hungry

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Stay Hungry

Always be learning.

• Core

• Blogs

• Books

• Twitters

• Teach

• Other developers

• Meetups

• WordCamps!

Avoid the monsters.

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Freebies!

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Drink Lots of Coffee

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Celebrate Launches

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Don’t be Lazy

Brian Krogsgard WordCamp Atlanta

Work Life Balance

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