Jared Olson has been working in technology since 2004. He started off doing PC repair and grew into doing network implementations and server support. Working at a company that took on the QR code boom hard and having customers that needed simple landing page websites, he started learning HTML to help the customers’ needs. He grew up in a small town in Illinois and now recently moved to Grand Rapids.
Jared will be presenting Intro to WordPress.
Interview
Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress because I feel it is one of the most user friendly content management system to use. The ability to purchase a great template and run with it to create a great looking site that is editable by clients in hours is amazing.
When and how did you start using WordPress?
I first used WordPress in 2010 and did not really like it. Then in 2012 I was testing out a bunch of different content management systems like Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress and really fell in love with WordPress and how user friendly it became. I started just taking a template and adding content to it, and now am starting to customize themes and PHP files to create an even better experience.
What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?
A few things to help learn WordPress is to start working with it. The more you can deep dive into using WordPress the better you will get and the more questions you will have. Also go to events like Wordcamp and meet other people that are using it to learn what they are doing and how to do certain things. Meeting new people helps you grow your skills tremendously.
What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?
Look at working with other businesses that your skills can help, and vice versa. If you are a designer, find developers to help you in the back end. The more partnerships you can make, the more people you are helping, which then leads to more business.
How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?
I stay informed about WordPress by doing the following:
- Going to Wordcamps.
- Listening to podcasts.
- Subscribing to email lists.
- Going to meetups.
- Talking with other people that use WordPress.
What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?
lifeandtimes.com. This is a nice design and has some cool features. It is amazing what can be done with WordPress now days.
What do you like most about WordCamps?
I love being able to learn from experts in the area, and experts from all around the world. It is also cool that the WordCamps are recorded for future viewing also.
Where can we find you online?
consultingparttime.com
Consulting Part Time on Facebook
@OlsonJared