I held a session at WordCamp Milwaukee about WordPress Navigation Menus. I’ve shared the slides on SpeakerDeck, and you can download the child-theme with all the code referenced in the presentation from Github.
Thank you to all the attendees of my session. I hope everyone was able to get something out of it! I had some great discussions afterwards about working WordPress Navigation. So good luck to all of you with getting started with creating your own “zazzy” WordPress Menus.
I am excited to be part of a pretty steller speaker lineup for WordCamp Milwaukee on June 2 & 3rd, 2012.
Tickets for WordCamp Milwaukee are still available for only $20.00 a person. Purchase a ticket now.
My topic will be customizing WordPress menus (in a slightly modified version of my talk at WordCamp Atlanta), or as I have titled it…
Navigation is among the most important elements of a website’s design. Effective navigation allows visitors to quickly and easily find desired content, keeping them on your site.
The session will begin with a review of the custom menu structuring from within WordPress, including how to extend the flexibility of the Menus screen with available screen options. Then we will move onto how you can style your navigation menu with modifications to your theme’s CSS stylesheet. We will cover:
Finally, I will demonstrate a few more advanced techniques using jQuery and CSS that can improve your visitor’s experience and improve conversions.
Did you notice 6 of the 14 speakers are female 
Looking for the slides or theme files used in this presentation?
I am really looking forward to speaking and attending WordCamp Atlanta this week. WordCamps are always fun events, where two days are spent talking and learning about WordPress. I am particularly excited to be traveling to Atlanta, the home to the World of (Diet) Coke and the world’s best chicken and waffles.
I will be speaking on Friday afternoon with a presentation titled “Website Navigation Menu Styling Tips and Best Practices“.
Hope to see you there!
Matt Mullenweg updates the crowd at WordCamp San Francisco on the use and future of WordPress.
I am excited to announce that I will be speaking at the upcoming WordCamp Chicago in the Developer Track. I decided to speak on something that every developer can relate to: how it all comes down to us.
A summary of my presentation:
As WordPress developers we hold great power and responsibility when working on client projects. All of the components of a website:
- Design
- Content
- Usability
- SEO
- Overall Goal Achievement
- funnel down for our execution. If any of the components are incomplete we are left holding the bag. The key to successful projects and happy clients is knowing that no matter how uber our php skills may be, we have to be project managers.
Learn how to effectively manage your WordPress projects through detailed scope definition, planning, communication, and a little pizzaz.
via Developer: You are the Project Manager Whether You Like it or Not | WordCamp Chicago.
Image Credit: Heather Acton
As a WordPress lover AND resident of Chicago, I am so happy to share the details for this years WordCamp Chicago. A WordCamp is a regional conference that focuses on everything WordPress. With such a strong WordPress community here in the Chicago area, this is not an event to be missed by WordPress users or developers of all skill levels.
Where:
DePaul University Student Center
2250 N. Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
When:
Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31, 2011
Early-Bird tickets are only $30.00 each, for the first 100
General Admission tickets are only $40.00 each
Get your tickets now >>
Interested in speaking or learning more about WordCamp Chicago 2011?
Visit the official WordCamp Chicago website
I have a lot of tasks floating around in my head. I think about projects for my consulting business, the Chicago Nerd Social Club, and personal items. I found many years ago that the only way I could be productive was to come up with a system for keeping track of my todo items.
I am going to be presenting to the WomenTech Meetup Group on September 15th on two methods I have found to “get things done.”
In 2005, I read the book Getting Things Done written by David Allen. Allen introduces a system for getting tasks and projects out of your head to allow you to focus on being productive.
Using the methods from the book, I have been able to stop myself from being overwhelmed. I get things out of my head and into a trusted system.
I had a great task list system, but found myself having problems focusing. In 2009, I found the Pomodoro Technique. A Pomodoro is 25 minutes you dedicate to work on a task. Often the momentum continues past the 25 minutes, however if not I take a 5 minute break before starting another Pomodoro.
If any of this sound interesting to you, I hope you join us!
When: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 – 6:00pm
Where: The Parthenon
More Information: WomenTech Meetup Group
BarCamp Chicago 2010 is coming Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd. BarCamp is an unconference unlike any other because it brings hackers, entrepreneurs, tech students, and business folk together to share ideas and industry developments. It takes you out of your comfort zone to encourage learning and discussion in an open forum.
A BARcamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants. The name BARcamp was inspired as a complement to FOOcamp, a private tech gathering run by Tim OReilly.
- BARcamp.org
If you are still not convinced that you should attend: I am excited to be a part of the Drunken Panel Discussion on Saturday, August 21st at 8:00pm. So come and learn and then listen to me rant about technology with a beer in my hand.
Hope to see you there!
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 21-22, 2010
Where: 215 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60654
Attending WordCamp Chicago this weekend?
Join Lakeshore Branding, Think Tank Live!, Virtual Hires and (me) Plugged In Consulting for an official WordCamp Chicago after party for networking and merriment at Bull & Bear, an upscale sports bar blocks away from the Mart Plaza Hotel.
Drink Specials:
Wear Nametag or say “WordCamp” at the Door
$3 bud and bud light
$5 sky vodka drinks
$7 call drinks
*specials good till 11pm
I am pleased to announce that I am the newest speaker for Think Tank Live! events. Think Tank Live! is a collective group of integrated marketing professionals from Chicago and Milwaukee. The group provides trainings, conferences, and customized executive retreat events with in-depth strategies on how to create online and offline communication channels.
My first session will be a part of the May 27th WordPress Workshop – Social Media Emphasis on the topic of WordPress Security. The Workshop is an all day training, and the coupon code: THINK50 will get you $50 off admission. What a deal!
If you are new to WordPress, or a business owner that is looking to start blogging – this is the training for you.
Register for the event here: http://wordpresssocialmedia.eventbrite.com/
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2010
Time: 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Where: I.M. Think Tank Office 222 South Riverside Plaza, 29th Floor, Chicago, IL 606o6Admission: $199
Includes: Workshop, Coffee, Soda & Water throughout the day, 3 month subscription to IM Think Tank Membership Site.Laptop Required
Please bring your own laptop computer. Make sure your laptop can connect to a Wireless Wi-Fi Network. Internet access will be provided to all attendees.WordPress Installation Preferred
It will be best if you have a fresh copy of WordPress installed, hosted, and ready to go on your domain prior to the workshop. If you need help with this, please contact us at 312-725-2221 prior to the event. Otherwise, we will give you access to a fresh installation of WordPress on one of our test websites to practice on for the day.
Who Should Attend:
People interested in getting a comprehensive overview of WordPress. We will talk about using WordPress as a blog and as a CMS (Content Management System) and connecting WordPress to your overall Social Media Online Strategy.
Bloggers and Writers
Entrepreneurs/ Business Owners
Social Media/Marketing Professionals
Non-Profit Organizations
Web Designers and Developers
Students
Benefits for you:
· Hands-On Experience with WordPress
· Networking opportunity with other WordPress users
· 3 months free subscription in IM Think Tank Membership Site
What You Will Learn:
1-Day WordPress Workshop Schedule
MORNING SESSIONS
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration and Doors Open9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Welcome & Introductions9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
Session 1: WordPress Overview – Using your blog as a Social Media Hub10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Session 2: Selecting a Theme, Adding Plugins, connecting with Social Media Applications10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Break11:00 AM – Noon
Session 3: Copywriting Tips & Publishing Your First Blog Post.Noon – 1:00 PM
Lunch – On your own, restaurants within walking distance.AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Session 5: How will Google find you? Search Engine Optimization Tools for WordPress2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Session 6: WordPress Security for Your Website & Common Sense Best Practices – With Rachel Baker of Plugged In Consulting
3:00PM- 3:15PM Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Wrap Up Session: Q&A – Adding Final TouchesRegister Online Today – Registrations must be in at least 12 hours prior to event.
Parking – Use Amtrack Parking on Jackson and Clinton