Why We Went to WordCamp Europe

Why We Went to WordCamp Europe

When the opportunity to travel to WordCamp Europe came up to speak about what we love to do, it was an easy decision.

As a web design agency, one way we love to give back is to participate in our local WordPress community through WordCamps. When the opportunity to take our passion globally at WordCamp Europe came about it took our sharing to a whole new scale.

I had the blessing to be invited by the WordCamp Europe organizers to speak about my passion for serving nonprofits as a web designer in Berlin, Germany. It’s not every day that I get an invite like that so of course, it was a resounding “yes!”

People ask me all the time, why do I speak at WordCamps? If I were to provide a one-word answer to that it would be “community”.

Whether speaking at local WordCamps of a few hundred or one as big as WordCamp Europe that had a record-setting attendance of almost three thousand. One thing remains consistent and that’s the community.

The WordPress community in which we live and love to work is open source in many ways, not simply their code. We are open and share our knowledge with one another. The WordPress framework is built on the premise of always being open source and so are the people that work with it. In addition, if you ever need help, there is always someone willing to lend a hand.

Speakers, sponsors, vendors, and attendees alike all gathered together to share with each other. Sharing their knowledge, passion, and insights on a platform we have all grown to love.

WordCamp Europe 2019 held at the Estrel Berlin Hotel and Congress Center in Berlin, Germany. From the opening remarks to the side conversations in the hallways, the venue filled with an energy that was palpable. There were 97 countries representing a global community of WordPress enthusiasts. All gathered together to share in a common thread, their love for WordPress in a way I have never seen before.

Events of this size do not happen overnight. Many months of planning and execution by the outstanding volunteers and organizers made it come off without a hitch. Their months of painstaking planning paid off.

A great deal of information shared by many fantastic speakers from all over the world from three different stages. Each one contributing their small part back into the WordPress community.

Connections made, business cards exchanged, ideas shared, and friendships created.

I had the opportunity to open up track two of day one of the conference. Above all turn a room full of strangers into friends within minutes. I shared about web design techniques that I have found to work while designing websites for nonprofits. Being able to share my passion from a stage like that was well, humbling.

stage presentation Charles Johnston WordPress for nonprofits at WCEU

An engaged audience had great questions right after my talk. We continued those conversations as we passed one another in the hall or around the vendor area or in the cafe. It was fun to read the tweets and social feedback as well.

It was amazing to watch people from all backgrounds and nationalities come together in such a global community. At HeartWired we talk about our passion for serving those who serve their local and global communities. WordCamp Europe exemplified that mantra.

As I unwind my mind from a whirlwind trip to Europe and back. One thing I can say, if the opportunity comes where I am invited again to speak at WordCamp Europe which will be in Porto, Portugal next year, or any other WordCamp out there, it would again be a resounding “Yes!”

In conclusion, I want to thank the WordCamp Europe organizers, volunteers, speakers, speaker wranglers, emcees, founders, vendors, sponsors, attendees. Without each one of you, there wouldn’t be a #WCEU!

Keeping Your Website in Motion with Flywheel Hosting

Keeping Your Website in Motion with Flywheel Hosting

Ever had a website go offline with a server error with no explanation?

Similar to the flywheel of your car, people take web hosting for granted until it breaks.

Spinning your tires when you need support for your site is no fun!

I cannot tell you the hours I have spent, not to mention the frustration trying to get an issue resolved only to be spun off and get transferred to another department.

All of that changed when I moved my web design agency from another web host to Flywheel. Any mechanic will tell you without the right tools, it does not matter what you know, same goes for hosting support.

With Flywheel WordPress hosting that does not get bogged down with email, hosting other products besides WordPress sites. Therefore they are able to provide optimum service on the services they provide. They have everything you need from a local host, cloning, staging, and more. Whether a web design agency like we are or a single site owner of a blog, they are the best choice by far when it comes to customer service, hosting.

With an all-around pleasant user experience, which truth be told is worth every penny in my book, why go anywhere else?

A worry-free host is invaluable these days.

With hacker-free security, blazing speeds, nightly backups and much more. I rest easy and am able to focus on my clients’ designs knowing that their hosting is in good hands.

There have been a couple times that I have contacted Flywheel for help. It was like taking my truck to the local mechanic that specialized in Ford trucks rather than the dealership that “specializes” in numerous makes and models. It is expedited personal service like this that keeps all my clients’ sites up and running. At the end of the day that is what matters most.

Add in a free SSL that is included rather than extra. This gives that extra layer of security to both clients and designer. This helps keep all the bearings greased up and running smoothly for our clients and their businesses that they run online.

Just as in any equipment or service, you get what you pay for. With Flywheel, you can count on their great team to help keep you up and running. From pain-free migrations to staging a new client. Flywheel is not only where I host my clients’ sites, but who I trust with my own hosting as well.

So if you are in the market for a new web host, we can help.

We only offer Flywheel hosting as our WordPress hosting provider if you host your site with us.