Kanoppi Previews WordCamp US 2024 | Bringing the WordPress Community Together
In this article, our founder, Louise Towler, previews the upcoming WordCamp US 2024, one of the largest WordPress community events in the annual calendar.
This year’s WordCamp US event is taking place between September 17 and September 20 in Portland, Oregon.
Ultimately, these WordCamp events celebrate all the hard-working, talented people within the WordPress community who have helped WordPress become the world’s most popular web platform content management system.
Louise covers everything you need to know about the event, what she’s most looking forward to, how to prepare to make the most of the experience, and more.
What to look forward to at WordCamp US 2024
The event is one of the biggest gatherings of web professionals and WordPress users in the world. Running over four days, it is even more action-packed than its fantastic European counterpart, WordCamp Europe.
The annual WordCamp US events have been running for almost ten years now, with the inaugural event launched in 2015. I attended WCUS for the first time last year when it was held in Washington DC, last August.
And these WordCamps are also a great chance to catch up with old friends and meet many interesting new people.
The four-day agenda includes:
- A Contributor Day
- A brand-new Showcase Day
- Two days of talks, exhibitions, and presentations
- Great food and evening fun
- Plenty of networking opportunities
- A collaborative environment for knowledge sharing and learning.
Louise is a table lead on Contributor day
This is my second time flying from the UK to attend WordCamp US, so I am planning to make the most of it by focusing on innovative new ways to make the WordPress platform and WordPress websites more sustainable.
I am delighted to be the table lead on the sustainability table for the contributor day and have been planning the topics we will be discussing with the core sustainability team.
Hallway track
I personally find the hallway track the best part, where you can talk to people between talks and meet new people. Everyone is very friendly, so it is easy to make new friends.
“From my experience, the WordPress community is extremely friendly, and if you are on your own, approaching people to say hello can result in very interesting conversations.”
Louise Towler
After the fantastic response Kanoppi received from everyone I spoke to at WordCamp Europe, I am hopeful that US-based WordPress users will also be keen to explore the possibility of measuring their website’s carbon footprint.
To get a feel for all the value and fun WordCamp events have to offer, read our recap of WordCamp Europe from June here.
Our highlights from last year’s WordCamp US
Last year’s WordCamp US event was an amazing experience, with a range of presentations and collaborative sessions. The highlights for me included:
Attending contributor day
For the first time, I sat at the sustainability table and really enjoyed talking to attendees about how we can all make WordPress more sustainable.
For All Userkind: NASA Web Modernization and WordPress
Wow, the work involved in creating three new websites all using WordPress for content management.
Anatomy of an Accessible Navigation Menu
It was really interesting to see the small changes that take a menu from inaccessible to accessible.
Which WordCamp US sessions are most exciting?
This year at WordCamp US 2024, we’re most looking forward to…
Reach for the Sky: Disney Experiences’ Magical Transformation with Gutenberg
I am looking forward to seeing how the block editor is being used to build websites quickly.
Unleash the Power of the Interactivity API: A New Era for WordPress
This new API looks really interesting, so I am looking forward to hearing about examples of how it can be used.
Beyond the Playground: WordPress as a Tool and Product Builder
This is something I would like to explore for Kanoppi so am keen to find out how it works.
Scaling Your Agency: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
I find it fascinating to hear about how other businesses and agencies manage their growth
How to prepare to get the most value from WordCamp US 2024
An event as big as WordCamp US can be a bit intimidating if it is your first time attending. So, it can be helpful to know what to expect so you can make the most of the experience while you are there.
I have given it some thought and come up with my top seven tips for anyone attending their first WordCamp US event this year:
- Visit the official WordCamp US 2024 website to familiarize yourself with the schedule, speakers, and sessions.
- Prioritise the sessions you want to attend and create a personal schedule.
- Follow relevant hashtags (e.g., #WCUS) to connect with other attendees.
- Customise your name badge with additional information and a company sticker.
- Network and prepare a brief introduction about yourself and your work to share when chatting with people.
- Bring business cards or have your LinkedIn profile ready to share.
- Think about questions you might want to ask speakers, sponsors and other attendees. This can help you get more out of sessions and networking opportunities.
Oregon can get a bit chilly, even in summer. So, don’t forget to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and shoes, as you’ll likely be on your feet a lot.
- A notebook and pen or a digital device for taking notes.
- Chargers for your devices and possibly a power bank.
- Snacks and a water bottle to stay energized and hydrated throughout the day.
- But do leave space in your suitcase for all the swag you will be taking home!
And of course, there is the after-party on Friday night!
If you can’t attend, get involved
I appreciate that not everyone can make it to WordCamp US, especially if you are UK or Europe-based. But when the WordPress community comes together for an event like this, you do not want to miss out, even if you are still at home.
On social media, you can also follow (and use) the hashtags #WordCampUS, #WCUS, and #WCUS2024 to see all the most important news and live updates from the event organisers, brands and attendees.
For instance, our Kanoppi team will publish more event-related content both in the lead-up to WordCamp US and after the event has finished.
Subscribe to our newsletter here, or follow us on LinkedIn here, to keep up with all our insights and updates.
Where does Kanoppi fit in?
Kanoppi is a tool that helps you measure and reduce the carbon footprint of your WordPress websites, while also helping improve their speed and performance.
As mentioned above, I am excited to represent Kanoppi and WordPress agency Indigo Tree at WordCamp US 2024.
If you would like to meet up at WordCamp US and/or learn more about Kanoppi, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can also message me on LinkedIn.
Hopefully, I will see you there!
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Louise Towler
Founder of Kanoppi and WordPress agency Indigo Tree, with deep expertise in WordPress websites, technical SEO and commercial performance for clients across the UK.
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