WordCamp US 2023: Impressions and Insights

Stylemix Editorial Team
WordCamp US 2023

It’s been over a month since we attended WordCamp US 2023, and now let me share a brief story of our experience at this gorgeous event. In this story we will try to uncover our goals for attending, what WordCamp is all about, and whether participating in such activities is worth it.

Joining in events like these is always a whirlwind of impressions, new friendships, partnerships, opportunities for self-expression, exploration of new products, and, of course, free refreshments and entertainment. Plus this is a great chance to travel abroad and, of course, the unique after-party experience, which varies depending on the host country and is always a mesmerizing celebration

WordCamp US is running annually in different states and is essentially one of the most essential live meetups in the WordPress community, alongside WordCamp Asia and Europe. While there are a bunch of other similar conferences following the same structure, most of them have a local area and often they are relatively smaller. WordCamp US, on the other hand, features a huge number of participants and a massive organization in the most stunning corners of the country.

This year, WordCamp US was held from August 24th to 26th in the charming and serene National Harbor town, Maryland state, not far from Washington DC.

If you are interested in our previous experience in WordCamp Asia 2023, take a look at our post here. 

Now, let’s dive into the story…

Content Outline

Some Statistical Information

Location: National Harbor, Maryland
Venue: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center               
Conference Dates: August 24-26, 2023
Lead Organizers: 6 individuals  
Other Organizers: 37 individuals
Sponsors: 49 companies 
Microsponsors: 21 individuals 
Speakers: 39 individuals  
Total Participants: Over 3,000 attendees

What is WordCamp and Is This Worth to Attend?

In a nutshell, WordCamp is a series of regular meetups and conferences held in countries deeply immersed in WordPress. While such meetings run very frequently throughout the year, the most particularly big ones are WordCamp US, Asia, and Europe.

The aims of these events are mainly the following:

  1. Networking: Building connections with fellow enthusiasts, developers, designers, influencers, and business owners within WordPress;
  2. Expanding Your Network: Meeting new faces, fostering collaborations, and exploring potential partnerships;
  3. Call for Speakers: The opportunity to share your expertise by presenting your pre-made topic and actual solution;
  4. In-Person Meetings: Meeting long-time virtual partners and colleagues face-to-face, strengthening professional relationships;
  5. Contributor’s Day: A dedicated day for actively participating in the WordPress community’s development and improvement;
  6. Job Opportunities: Some companies actively recruit new talent for various roles during these events;
  7. Business Insights: For business owners, the chance to discover new tools and services to enhance their workflow;
  8. Exclusive Discounts: Access to limited-time discounts and coupon codes from WordCamp sponsors;
  9. Giveaways and Raffles: The opportunity to win prizes and gifts generously provided by WordCamp sponsors;
  10. Swags and Goodies: Collecting free swag and gifts from these sponsors;
  11. Interviews, Podcasts, and Meetups: Participating in interviews, podcasts, and local WordPress meetups;
  12. A Reason to Visit a Foreign Country: Last but not least, a great chance to explore a new country!

As you can see, there are a whole bunch of advantages to participating in WordCamps, especially keeping in mind that the tickets, which typically grant you access, are quite reasonably priced — usually within the range of $20-60, unless you pursue being a sponsor.

Sponsorships

For various companies involved in WordPress, whether they are developers of themes and plugins, hosting services, marketing tools, optimizers, or any other vendors connected to the WordPress ecosystem, there is an opportunity to become sponsors of WordCamp.

In fact, sponsorship is the primary support by which such events occur. The funds contributed by sponsors go towards organizing, hosting, providing meals, and arranging entertainment for the event.

To become a sponsor, a company needs to allocate a specific amount of money (which varies depending on the host country of WordCamp) for a specific sponsorship tier. There are usually several sponsorship tiers available, and, obviously, the higher tier, the more benefits the company receives.

But what does sponsorship status offer? Well, sponsors are granted space for their booth, where they can showcase their products, distribute flyers, stickers, pens, notepads, branded t-shirts, and informational brochures about their service or product. It’s also where they typically prepare giveaways for WordCamp attendees.

This is a significant advantage if your goal is to make a splash in front of a broad audience. Sponsors receive special attention, and crowds of interested individuals typically stalk around their booths.

We are honored to mention that at this year’s WordCamp US 2024, Stylemix proudly stepped up as a microsponsor, contributing a bit to the thriving WordPress community. 

But here’s the exciting part: we are expanding our sights even higher for next year. In 2024, we are going to reserve at least a Silver sponsor tier, as we continue our mission to make our WordPress plugins better and more popular across the world. 

Many companies come up with engaging games. For instance, A2 Hosting organized a unique challenge involving a car wheel, where participants had to screw and unscrew bolts within a set time frame. Yoast ran another fun game called Connect Four, where the aim was to place wooden discs into slots to form a complete row vertically or horizontally. Siteground engaged attendees with a game where they had to toss a bundle with weight into one of several holes at a distance. Nexcess offered free massage services for anyone interested, demonstrating their motto to attendees’ well-being. And, of course, there were rewards for those who scored the most points in these games!

Sponsorship not only helps companies gain brand awareness but also adds an exciting dimension to the WordCamp experience for attendees. It’s a win-win situation that enhances the event for all involved.

National Harbor – Delusive Heaven for Events

This year, WordCamp US performed in the scenic town of National Harbor, Maryland. Based along the shores of the Potomac River, National Harbor is a truly unique and visually captivating place. It’s a place where tranquil parks are adjacent to the clean and shiny streets.

One of the town’s standout features is the iconic Capital Wheel, a ferris wheel framed with neon lights that cast a dazzling view against the night sky. I would say strolling near the Capital Wheel is a must-do thing if you visit this place.

The WordCamp event was held in the luxury Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. This colossal complex has hotels, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, banquet halls, and conference rooms, making it a perfect spot for big events.

Contributor’s Day: Together Make Better WordPress

Let us first explain what exactly Contributor’s Day means.

Simply put, it is a special event in the WordCamp, where attendees as volunteers come together to give back to the WordPress community. Or I have to write, It’s a day dedicated to contributing to the development and improvement of WordPress, and it plays a crucial role in the overall WordCamp growth.

At Contributor’s Day, participants typically divide into various working groups, each focusing on different aspects of WordPress development, such as core development, polyglots (translation), marketing, design, testing, and more. The purpose is to collectively tackle issues, suggest enhancements, and collaborate on projects that will benefit the WordPress ecosystem as a whole.

WordCamps typically spans three days. The first day was entirely devoted to Contributor’s Day. And the following two days are dedicated to the sponsor booths and speaker presentations, which are the climax of WordCamp events. Sponsors have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, while speakers perform insightful talks on various WordPress-related topics. Finally, at the end of the third day, all attendees are invited to a closing party. 

This time Contributor’s Day was interesting and comfortable mainly because of the diverse mix of participants. There were both seasoned WordCamp veterans and newcomers.

I personally joined the Polyglots team as I was keen to translate WordPress products into foreign languages.

This day is typically a great chance for new enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the WordPress community, find their niche, connect with new people, and be a part of future contributions to the growth of WordPress.

Speakers Day and Sponsors Exhibition

The next couple of days right after Contributor’s Day were devoted to the core events where sponsors and speakers started their activities.

This WordCamp gathered a huge number of WordPress companies, primarily from North America.

WordPress giants like:

As well as smaller companies like:

Each sponsor booth was designed with its unique colors. For instance, Elementor booth traditionally was featured with a vibrant crimson color, while WooCommerce’s booth outlined an elegant indigo hue, and GoDaddy’s booth stood out with sleek, dark steel aesthetic tones.

Notably, attendees had the opportunity to collect swags and presents from sponsors, topped with an assortment of goodies and branded merchandise.

There were also prominent figures in the WordPress community, bloggers, and influencers. Special mention goes to Michelle Frechette, aka “the busiest woman in WordPress” (as Matt Mullenweg claimed her last year), and BobWP, a pro-WordPress news podcaster. 

The event also drew a diverse audience, including business professionals, startup enthusiasts, individual developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and WordPress enthusiasts from all walks of life.

In addition to the sponsor exhibitions, attendees could immerse in enlightening sessions from speakers across three different halls: Woodrow Wilson, Annapolis, and Potomac A/B. This diverse range of topics catered to wide topics within the WordPress community.

By the way, anyone with a passion for WordPress can apply to be a speaker. There are no strict limitations. The key requirement is that the proposed topic must be relevant to WordPress and receive approval from WordCamp organizers. Speaker applications typically open on the event’s website several months, sometimes even half a year, before the event starts.

Finally, WordCamp US 2023 ended up with a closing speech by Matt Mullenweg. And yes, right after this speech, I had the privilege of snapping a photo with him — just a memorable moment.

The Grand Finale: WordCamp US 2023 After Party

The culmination of WordCamp US 2023 was the grand After Party, an unforgettable farewell evening held at the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, D.C. This enormous museum is filled with cool stuff from nature, history, and science.

The party encompassed in the museum’s main hall, and the first thing you saw was a massive elephant exhibit as tall as a real one! 

But the best part? You could wander around the museum and check out all kinds of interesting things during the party.

There was a section with all sorts of animals called “Mammals.” We could see everything from furry mammals to the wildest creatures.

If you’re into dinosaurs and ancient stuff, the “Prehistoric Creatures” part was mind-blowing. It was like time-traveling back to when huge dinosaurs ruled the planet.

The “Marine Life” section was all about the underwater world.  Like tiny seahorses and massive whales, all without getting wet.

If you like shiny rocks and gems, the “Minerals and Precious Stones” area was like a treasure trove. It was like a real-life jewelry store.

For the science geeks, “Geology and Tectonics” explained how our planet works. We could learn about what’s going on under the Earth’s surface.

The museum had something for everyone, just like WordCamp. People chatted, had drinks, and celebrated their love for WordPress.

This unforgettable night mixed tech and the wonders of the natural world, making WordCamp US 2023 a truly unique experience.

Exciting Collaborations on the Horizon

As we participated in WordCamp US 2023, we met and contacted some remarkable partners for incredible collaborations and integrations. These collaborations promise to usher in a new era of possibilities for our main flagship WordPress plugin: MasterStudy LMS and Cost Calculator.

Blockonomics: New Bitcoin Payments Option

One thrilling collaboration is going to be with Blockonomics, whose cutting-edge cryptocurrency payment plugin is set to integrate seamlessly with our MasterStudy LMS and Cost Calculator. This partnership aims to make online education more accessible and flexible by enabling payments in bitcoins – an innovation that’s bound to reshape the e-learning business.

Weglot: Bridging Language Barriers by Setting Multilanguage Model

Another exciting partnership is with Weglot, a powerhouse in multilingual solutions. Our integration plans with Weglot will empower users of our products to effortlessly create multilingual websites, unlocking new global audiences and markets. Right now both of our plugins support WPML, the leading WordPress translation plugin. In the near future we will discuss the potential support with Weglot.

Leading Hosting Partnerships: DreamHost, Seravo, Sentree, SiteGround, Hostinger

We’re also joining forces with leading hosting providers like DreamHost, Seravo, Sentree, SiteGround, and Hostinger. The goal? To make our MasterStudy LMS and Cost Calculator plugins easily accessible by including them in hosting plans. So our users won’t think about choosing an appropriate hosting platform.

Kubio Builder: Elevating MasterStudy LMS

For MasterStudy LMS enthusiasts, the collaboration with Kubio Builder is special. This partnership will bring an extra option for building the pages with LMS widgets by using Kubio builder.

These are just a few glimpses of the dynamic collaborations and integrations on our horizon. As we move forward, we are looking forward to pushing boundaries and exploring new unique ways to enhance our WordPress plugins. And WordCamps are the keys to this.

In Sum Up: The Unforgettable WordCamp US 2023

WordCamp US 2023 was like a thrilling adventure full of surprises and discoveries. We met lots of cool new people, connected with partners, and even had a conversation with influencers. People got really interested in our plugins MasterStudy LMS and Cost Calculator, especially because we had special 20% discount coupons (Coupon Code – WORDCAMP)  just for them.

Throughout the event, we made new friends, found exciting opportunities, and joined the lively WordPress community. We’re hopeful that in the future, we’ll become sponsors of WordCamp and help make it even better.

We really hope you enjoyed a narrative about WordCamp US 2023. It was a pleasure sharing our experiences with you, and we’re looking forward to more new impressions in the world of WordPress. Stay tuned for more exciting stories!