Going For It: How to Become a Respected WordPress Developer
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Transcript of 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
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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
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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
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Don’t be Lazy
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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