Title: contributing – Make WordPress.org Marketing

---

#  Tag Archives: contributing

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/eidolonnight/) [Nicholas Garofalo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/eidolonnight/)
2:32 pm _on_ October 21, 2021     
Tags: contributing, [marketing ( 91 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing/),
[Marketing Team ( 185 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing-team/),
[Meeting Notes ( 116 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/meeting-notes/),
[new contributors ( 3 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/new-contributors/)

# 󠀁[Make Marketing Workshop: Contributor Ladder](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2021/10/21/make-marketing-workshop-contributor-ladder/)󠁿

On Tuesday, 13 October 2021, a collection of Marketing Team reps and members attended
a workshop with Josepha and Chloé to identify and map the various ways people contribute
to Make Marketing. Everyone met virtually in [Google Meet](https://meet.google.com/)
and a shared [Mural](https://www.mural.co/) board.

**Attendees:** [@chanthaboune](https://profiles.wordpress.org/chanthaboune/), [@cbringmann](https://profiles.wordpress.org/cbringmann/),
[@webcommsat](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/), [@oglekler](https://profiles.wordpress.org/oglekler/),
[@yvettesonneveld](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yvettesonneveld/), [@femkreations](https://profiles.wordpress.org/femkreations/),
[@vimes1984](https://profiles.wordpress.org/vimes1984/), [@nalininonstopnewsuk](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nalininonstopnewsuk/),
[@lmurillom](https://profiles.wordpress.org/lmurillom/), [@meher](https://profiles.wordpress.org/meher/),
[@callye](https://profiles.wordpress.org/callye/), [@dansoschin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dansoschin/),
[@eidolonnight](https://profiles.wordpress.org/eidolonnight/)

## Steps we took

 1.  Josepha gave us a quick introduction to using Mural.
 2.  We, as a group, added _granular_ Marketing tasks that exist today. As an example,“
     People of WordPress” consists of numerous individual actions, each of which would
     be added as an individual card: draft copy, edit images, publish the post, etc.
 3.  As a group, we sorted tasks into quadrants for difficulty and impact and then 
     discussed their placement in the following order. These tasks were sorted based
     on how they are now, and not how we would like them to be. 
 4.   a. High impact + high difficulty: These are tasks which are important to the WordPress
         project and community, but also difficult in that they may require a lot of time
         or resources like certain software.
      b. High impact + low difficulty: These tasks are high importance and relatively 
         easy.
      c. Low impact + high difficulty: These tasks, while not typically important, do 
         require substantial time and effort to complete.
      d. Low impact + low difficulty: These tasks are both low in important as well as
         difficulty.
 5.  After organizing the first grid was complete, Josepha copied the cards to the 
     second grid. We then sorted everything again, this time for access and knowledge
     required.
 6.   a. High access + high knowledge required
      b. High access + low knowledge required
      c. Low impact + high knowledge required
      d. Low impact + low knowledge required
 7.  The group had a few insights after this exercise:
 8.   a. Most high-impact tasks require historical knowledge as well.
      b. The majority of tasks do not require high access.
      c. There is a good mix of impactful tasks which require neither high amounts of 
         access nor high amounts of prior knowledge. This is great for new contributors,
         and we’re already seeing them take some of these on.
 9.  The meeting wrapped up with the Mural board left open for additional comments 
     and review, just in case we forgot anything.

## Next steps

 1. Team members who could not participate live should review notes and the Mural for
    our next Marketing Team meeting.
 2. Josepha will review the Mural boards. She will be looking specifically at the types
    of tasks that are very high-impact, or have high access required. The goal is to
    have a healthy number of sponsored contributors to take these on.
 3. Josepha will observe how certain tasks could be re-categorized with different expectations
    and/or processes.
 4. These insights will be shared in a future team meeting and the Make Marketing P2P2
    P2 or O2 is the term people use to refer to the Make WordPress blog. It can be 
    found at [https://make.wordpress.org](https://make.wordpress.org/).

![](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2021/12/Make-Marketing-Workshop-1st-
Dec-2021-1024x575.jpg)

[Click for full-resolution PDF](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2021/12/Make-Marketing-Workshop-1st-Dec-2021.pdf)

[#contributing](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/), [#marketing](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing/),
[#marketing-team](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing-team/), [#meeting-notes](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/meeting-notes/),
[#new-contributors](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/new-contributors/)

 * [To-do](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/?output_format=md#)

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/) [Abha Thakor](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/)
6:10 pm _on_ December 1, 2020     
Tags: contributing, [contributor onboarding ( 6 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-onboarding/),
new contributor   

# 󠀁[Contributor support: Our 2021 Contributing Made Fun &and Easy Training Series](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2020/12/01/contributor-support-dates-announced-for-2021/)󠁿

To support both (relatively) new and seasoned contributors in having a rewarding
contributing experience, we continue to run ‘Contributing Made Fun and Easy’ training
sessions.

If you have pledged to support the marketing team on the Five for the Future and
don’t know where to start, these sessions are a great way to begin contributing.

The Global WordPress Marketing team focuses on marketing WordPress and its community
to the world. We aim to be an inclusive team, working hard to make everyone feel
welcome and finding ways to support their contribution. 

Join us and discover how to best contribute your talents, get to know the tools 
we use, and adopt good practices for working remotely and asynchronously.

Topics will include (but are not limited to):

 * creating and optimizing a WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where
   WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download
   the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central
   location for community conversations and organization. [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/)
   profile
 * using Google Meet
 * using Google Drive
 * using SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/).
   The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
 * using Google Docs collaboratively

## Schedule

 * **16 February 2021** at 14:00 UTC: [Using Google Meet](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyIXK_7oCbhvhQcHOjDq9O8T5DD9gc56J5hVjhNSfaioPiag/viewform?usp=sf_link)
   
   Please sign up for this session by filling out the Session 2 signup form
 * **16 March 2021** at 14:00 UTC: Using Slack
 * **21 April 2021** at 14:00m UTC: Using Google Docs, Sheets & Forms collaboratively

### Further help

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the following team members
through the WordPress Slack Marketing channel: [@maedahbatool](https://profiles.wordpress.org/maedahbatool/)
and [@yvettesonneveld](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yvettesonneveld/)

Also, a huge thanks to our amazing team members [@meher](https://profiles.wordpress.org/meher/),
[@webcommsat](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/), [@OGlekler](https://profiles.wordpress.org/oglekler/),
[@nalininonstopnewsuk](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nalininonstopnewsuk/), [@mark99](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mark99/),
and [@lmurillom](https://profiles.wordpress.org/lmurillom/) who have been helping
us and supporting contributors throughout this process. 

[#contributing](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/), [#contributor-onboarding](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-onboarding/),
[#new-contributor](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/new-contributor/)

 * [To-do](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/?output_format=md#)

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/) [Abha Thakor](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/)
12:53 am _on_ June 14, 2019     
Tags: contributing, [Contributor Day ( 12 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-day/),
[Marketing Team ( 185 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing-team/),
[WCEU ( 9 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/wceu/)   

# 󠀁[Contribute to marketing at WCEU](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2019/06/14/contribute-to-marketing-at-wceu/)󠁿

Could you help spread the word about WordPress and our amazing community? Join the
Marketing table at WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences
covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress
community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the
year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). Europe’s
[Contributor Day](https://2019.europe.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/) on 20 June 
2019. You can also work on the many different tasks in the [Contributing Area](https://2019.europe.wordcamp.org/2019/06/11/keep-contributing-during-wceu/)
during the main conference days, 21 and 22 June.

![WordCamp Europe Contribution Day 2019](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/
2019/06/D0BAA008-20CB-4BC7-A4DA-92EA5561981E-1024x512.png)

In the Marketing Team, we work on research, blog posts, case studies, videos and
a variety of other useful content. We have lots of exciting projects planned for
this year’s event in June and are looking forward to meeting all the contributors
who have booked.

## Join the marketing contributors

The team focuses on marketing WordPress and its community to the wider world and
internally to other teams within the project. You can get involved in both one-off
or longer term tasks highlighting the amazing aspects of this global, open sourceOpen
Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely
available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered
via a licensing model, see GPL. platform and its vibrant community.

We will be bringing a selection of these projects to WordCamp Europe’s Contributor
DayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before 
or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people
get together to work on various areas of [https://make.wordpress.org/](https://make.wordpress.org/)
There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus.
[https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/](https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/),
which is one of the biggest WordPress contribution events on the planet. Here are
just some of the ways you can get involved.

 * Subtitling or translating WordCamp talks which promote the community or features
   of the WordPress platform
 * Helping develop the outreach process for gathering case studies of the amazing
   websites built with WordPress
 * If you enjoy filming and have equipment for that, you can work with our reporting
   team and WordCamp Europe communications to document the great event that is Contributor
   Day
 * And there’s so much more! So come join the marketing table, where you will be
   able to work on something individually or with others

## How can you prepare?

### Equipment

You will not need fancy hardware to join the marketing table at WCEU. For most projects,
all you will need is a laptop and a charger.

If you would like to help with filming video interviews, please bring audio and 
video equipment and a tripod, if you have them. If you want to work on subtitling
videos or just need to focus a bit more, you may want to bring headphones.

### Online tools

We use several online tools to work together with WordPressers across the world.
If you do not have an existing account, you can save some time by setting up in 
advance.  

 * [WordPress.org account](https://login.wordpress.org/register)
 * Make WordPress SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/).
   The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
   account – you will find [the instructions to create a Slack account in the Marketing Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/handbook/getting-involved/#creating-a-slack-account).
 * Join the WordPress Marketing team on TrelloTrello Project management system using
   the concepts of boards and cards to organize tasks in a sane way. This is what
   the make.wordpress.com/marketing team uses for example: [https://trello.com/b/8UGHVBu8/wp-marketing.](https://trello.com/b/8UGHVBu8/wp-marketing)
   by [following the steps in the Handbook. ](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/handbook/getting-involved/#creating-a-trello-account)
 * Direct message any one of [our Team Reps](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/handbook/about/team-and-leadership/)
   with the email address you use to access Google Drive and we will give you access
   to the shared folders.  

### Self study

If you would like to know a bit more about the team or familiarize yourself with
content creation guidelines, you can find more in the [Marketing Team Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/handbook).

If you would like to learn how we use Trello, discover more at our [First Time Here Trello Board](https://trello.com/b/mVPKLIaE/first-time-here),
which works like a tutorial.

## What we will be working on

There are several projects you can choose to work on during WCEU’s Contributor Day.
Just come along to the marketing table and we will help you pick a task or join 
one of the sub groups.

### Showcase Case studies

The [WordPress.org Showcase](https://wordpress.org/showcase/) consists of case studies
demonstrating a range of great web solutions made with WordPress. We are in the 
process of redesigning this area of the website, and there’s lots of tasks available.
We have a number of case studies ready to be written or adapted to the new format.
We’re also looking to create an outreach plan or program to gather new case studies.

### Video campaign

WordPress.tv holds thousands of great videos that we would like to use in marketing.
To do so, we need to know which videos can be used for what. Also, [these videos need subtitling (and you can help!)](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2018/11/29/these-videos-need-subtitling-and-you-can-help/)

So if you would like to help by reviewing videos to see whether they can be used
for marketing, subtitle them, or even translate while subtitling them, we want to
hear from you. We have videos selected in a number of different languages and this
list is growing every week! You don’t need video experience to help with this task,
but headphones will be useful to listen to the recordings. 
We also have some great
tools and videos to show you how easy subtitling can be.

### Profiles of WordPress contributors

Working with the awesome WordCamp Europe community and communications teams, we 
will be continuing our interview series. The wonderful community profiles encourage
new joiners, promote diversity and inclusion, and help make connections. They can
show people outside the community how open source works and how they can join in.

Our interviews and write-ups can be in written, audio or video form. Help us tell
the story of the project and its people.

### Document contributor events

We enjoy sharing news and examples from contributor events. WordCamp Europe’s event
with more than 500 attendees is an impressive example of what the community does
and what it can achieve. Watch this video of [contributor day at WordCamp Europe 2018](https://wordpress.tv/2018/09/20/wordcamp-europe-2018-contributor-day/).

Covering the highlights of the event is an easy task for those getting started or
who have journalistic or filmmaking backgrounds. We want to help capture some of
the stories about what happens during the day, what teams are working on, and the
experiences of attendees. If you enjoy filming and editing videos, this could be
a great way to contribute. We will not have equipment for video or audio available,
but you would be welcome to bring items you want to use.

Here are a few interviews from our series working with WordCamps:

 * [Sabrina Zeidan on attending a WordCamp and speaking](https://wordpress.tv/2019/03/15/interview-with-sabrina-zeidan/)
 * [Gary Jones on contributor days](https://wordpress.tv/2019/03/15/interview-with-gary-jones/)
 * [Speakers and attendees at the first WordCamp Dublin](https://wordpress.tv/2017/11/11/wordcamp-dublin-2017-interviews/)

### Improving how we encourage new members

We are constantly trying to improve our induction and onboarding process to help
those new to the team. We are interested in suggestions from those new to the community
as well as those joining from other Make WordPress teams. We want to continue to
make contributing to the marketing team easier and an enjoyable experience. If you
can’t join the team at this year’s WordCamp Europe, come along to one of our weekly
meetings on Slack.

Read our feature on [why you should consider becoming a contributor](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2019/03/20/why-contributing-to-wordpress-benefits-everyone/)
and hear from a number of others on their journey with WordPress.

Thanks to [@siobhanseija](https://profiles.wordpress.org/siobhanseija/) and [@yvettesonneveld](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yvettesonneveld/)
for their contributions to this post and for leading the team at WCEU’s 2019 Contribution
Day, and to [@webcommsat](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/) for her work
on the contributor series. Thanks to [@harryjackson1221](https://profiles.wordpress.org/harryjackson1221/)
for his work on the case studies and showcase. We would also like to thank the WordCamp
Europe community and communications team for working with us on a number of contributor
promotion items during the last year.

[#contributing](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/), [#contributor-day](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-day/),
[#wceu](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/wceu/)

[#marketing-team](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/marketing-team/)

 * [To-do](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/?output_format=md#)

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/) [Abha Thakor](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/)
2:34 am _on_ March 20, 2019     
Tags: contributing, [Contributor Day ( 12 )](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-day/)

# 󠀁[Why Contributing to WordPress Benefits Everyone!](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2019/03/20/why-contributing-to-wordpress-benefits-everyone/)󠁿

![](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2019/03/why-contributing-benefits-
everyone-1024x587.png)

WordPress is a content management system built around the culture of giving. Developers,
translators, marketers, designers, and many others contribute their skills and expertise
to the world-wide WordPress open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software 
for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed
and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. 
project.

This widely popular platform helps millions of people across the world create websites
and digital services. You can join in and contribute your time and skills like so
many others, and bring benefits to you and your work too! Discover why you should
become a contributor and join the international WordPress family sharing their experiences
in this post.

## What Is Contributing to WordPress?

There are two aspects of WordPress: [WordPress.org and WordPress.com](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2018/09/14/what-is-the-difference-between-wordpress-org-and-wordpress-com/).
The global open source project is [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/), which
everyone around the world can join in to help build, maintain and grow the platform
and its digital opportunities.

The project thrives on the skills of developers, marketers, designers, translators,
and many more roles. You will be able to find tasks and groups to join, developments
to help plan, and be able to work with others to innovate. And while you contribute,
you can benefit and learn too! Together with others, you can make the product that
you use better, and network with talented and inspiring people.

Interested in joining in? Discover how you can [get involved with WordPress](https://make.wordpress.org/).
Read on for some personal stories about contributing to WordPress!

## Who Can Contribute to WordPress?

Anyone who has knowledge about any aspect of WordPress can contribute! From full-
stack developers to JavaScriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented 
computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within
web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. 
While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. [https://www.javascript.com](https://www.javascript.com/)
users, from experienced web designers to beginner graphic designers, and from marketers
to community activists. They all come together to be part of an international learning,
sharing, and Open Source community.

Every year, in cities across the world, thousands of people gather for one- to three-
day events dedicated to the WordPress global project. These events are known as 
WordCamps. They are organized by the local WordPress communities and often attended
by an international audience. People come together to contribute, talk and share
at these events, held throughout the year. WordCamps often include a Contributor
session or a whole day dedicated to both the new or long-term contributor.

![Volunteers on stage at WordCamp Europe](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/
2019/03/volunteers-wordcamp-europe-2018-1024x683.jpg)

The 170-member volunteer team assisted organizers to coordinate the 3,000 attendees
WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything
related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes
together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share
the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). Europe(_Photo courtesy
of Ivan Gatic)_

## What Experience Will Contributing to WordPress Give You?

Contributor events last from a few hours to a full day, and can stand alone or be
part of a WordCamp schedule. The best way to discover contributing is by attending
one of these events or joining one of the Make WordPress teams and try it for yourself.
If you are thinking about contributing, let these stories enthuse you! We’ve asked
some WordPress contributors about their contributing experiences.

### Giving Back to WordPress

Maziar Firuzmand, of ArtBees, said: “I was really happy with my first experience
helping WordPress at WordCamp Europe in 2018, where I picked the marketing table
to contribute. WordPress gave me a chance to start a business which has grown year
by year, and I wanted to give back to the project with some of my time. Since then,
wherever possible I have joined the contribution days at events and work with others
to contribute to the marketing team.”

He added: “I have seen many people, who have different levels of engagement with
using WordPress, enthusiastically come and take part in the Make WordPress teams.
Many of them have full-time jobs but they are still keen to spend part of their 
free time contributing to WordPress.”

Maziar echoed the feedback from others attending events saying: “Contributor days
are full of people who collaborate on getting things done for a software platform
they like. This is accompanied with a lot of fun, chit-chat, snacks and opportunity
to try different areas. WordCamp Milan was a great example of this atmosphere. You
could see people organized in different teams working in harmony.”

![Contributor day at WordCamp Milano 2018](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/
files/2019/03/cd-wordcamp-milano-2018-2.png)

Contributor dayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently 
held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events
where people get together to work on various areas of [https://make.wordpress.org/](https://make.wordpress.org/)
There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus.
[https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/](https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/)
at WordCamp Milano 2018
(_Photo courtesy of WordCamp Milan_o_)_

### From Students to Experienced Professionals

Siobhan Cunningham, of Yoast, attended WordCamp Nijmegen 2018, in the Netherlands:“
I had been to a few contributor days before so I was looking forward to seeing my
marketing friends from different countries again, and getting more things done together!
It was amazing to see a few of my Yoast colleagues, who were first-time WordCampers,
really enjoying the experience too. At the Contributor event, like others, they 
were able to explore what team to join. Soon enough, everyone found their place.
Translating, coding, planning community events, there was something to do for everyone.

Two of our interns joined the design team and had a blast! They were really enthusiastic
about the people they met, the things they had learned in just one day, and especially
at being able to contribute already, as students. They felt more people should know
about contributing at any phase of their career.”

## What Do You Get in Return for Contributing?

WordPress is driven by a commitment to open source, inclusiveness, giving and diversity.
There are a lot of reasons people choose to become an active contributor. Find out
how you’ll benefit from contributing to WordPress as well.

Firstly, the teams that makeup what is known as [Make WordPress](https://make.wordpress.org),
have ways to thanks and recognize contributions.

### Contribution Badges on Your WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. 󠀁[https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/)󠁿 Profile

For the contribution you make to a WordPress team, you will be awarded a contributor
badge which will appear on your WordPress.org profile page. This is peer-recognition
from a globally known software project which powers [more than 30% of websites](https://wordpress.org/news/2019/03/one-third-of-the-web/)
across the world.

![](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2019/03/wordpress-marketing-badge.
jpg)

The marketing badge for Make WordPress

Scott Jones, of Illustrate Digital, said: “I thought for a long time that I would
have little to contribute to WordPress, until I stepped up at WordCamp US and realized
I could make a difference. To top it off, I got to meet some amazing people and 
make some great new friends.”

He added: “Ever since then I’ve been displaying my ‘I Make.WordPress.org’ sticker
with pride.”

## Networking With Others in Your Field of Interest

![Three contributors working on computers at Contributor Day, WordCamp Europe](https://
make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2019/03/contributors-823x1024.jpg)

Contributors working at WordCamp Europe 2018
_(Photo courtesy of Mark Smallman_)

The WordPress community gives you an opportunity to meet many developers, designers,
marketers, and writers from across the globe. Through contributing at a WordCamp
event you can get to know and share with many amazing people, networking and learning
alongside them. You can also develop your skills and contribute to improving the
usability and accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y)
refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people 
with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access”(
i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive
technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Accessibility) of WordPress.

### Access to Potential Collaborators

Piccia Neri, who since joining the community has become a MeetupMeetup All local/
regional gatherings that are officially a part of the WordPress world but are not
WordCamps are organized through [https://www.meetup.com/](https://www.meetup.com/).
A meetup is typically a chance for local WordPress users to get together and share
new ideas and seek help from one another. Searching for ‘WordPress’ on meetup.com
will help you find options in your area. and WordCamp speaker in Spain and many 
other countries, said: “Contributing to the WordPress community has quite literally
changed my life. When I moved to a new country, and a new city where I didn’t know
anyone, volunteering with my local WordPress MeetUp gave me an instant circle of
close friends, colleagues, and allies.”

She added: “Contributing also gives you access to potential collaborators, staff
or contractors to work with on projects. WordCamps frequently have informal job 
boards showcasing the opportunities currently available in the WordPress ecosystem.

“During the course of three years, I have effortlessly created deep connections,
friendships, and joint ventures across the globe. Thank you, WordPress.”

### Endless Opportunities for Learning While You Work

![Attendees of Delhi WordPress group listening to presenters](https://make.wordpress.
org/marketing/files/2019/03/delhi-dhaka-wordpress-meetup.jpg)

Delhi WordPress Meetup with Dhaka WordPress organizers
_(Photo courtesy of Delhi
WordPress Meetup)_

Not many jobs give you the option of learning for free while you are working. In
contributing you work with developers, designers and others specializing in different
areas. You have the opportunity to learn more about good practices in your area 
of work, and of course, to take them back to your own company or team. If you’re
contributing to a WordCamp Contribution session or helping one of the Make WordPress
teams remotely, you have this opportunity for free.

### Meeting the Most Amazing People

Maria Aragón, from ACOCO Web, said: “I volunteered to help at my first WordCamp 
in Soltau, Germany, when I was still very new to the community and to contributing.
It gave me the chance to meet people who had been contributing for years. It was
great! The amount of value, knowledge and great tips that you can learn during a
WordCamp and a Contributor Event, has no parallel. I’ve been a volunteer for many
different events in my life, and the WordPress community is by far one of the most
talented and generous communities I’ve had the pleasure to be part of.

“Most of the people who contribute to WordPress are driven by a desire to give and
to help others. This brings together really amazing people. The kind of people we
all want to hang around with! And as a contributor, you get to know many of them.
Being part of a group like this is always a lot of fun, it fills you with energy,
and personally, it makes me very happy.”

### Taking Part in Collaborative Working

![Some of the Contributor Day tables, filled with volunteers improving WordPress,
at WordCamp Europe 2018](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/files/2019/03/team-
lead-talking-at-contributor-day-1024x683.jpg)

Contributor Day at WordCamp Europe 2018
_(Photo courtesy of Val Vesa for WordCamp
Europe 2018)_

If you are running or involved in a remote tech business of any kind, being a WordPress
contributor can be a great opportunity for you to learn and execute remote collective
working practices in action, for free. You can learn more about what it takes to
participate, organize or run different teams across a range of areas as well as 
lead, collaborate and facilitate workflow.

As WordPress is a global project, being involved in its community promotes cross-
cultural harmony and understanding.

### Improve Team Working Skills

Naoto Egusa, from Japan, has attended Contributor Days across the world, said: “
Through the WordPress community, I have been able to advance my skills and knowledge
of how to work in broader teams, particularly across time zones and cultures. It
has helped in maintaining my skills during my break from work, and given me new 
opportunities.

“Patience, understanding, and collaboration are something we often need to practice.
The WordPress community can give you great strength in learning how to work with
others from countries and cultures which are not the same as your own. This itself
fosters new ideas and advances.”

## Ready to Contribute to WordPress?

There is no set requirement for how much time you should put into contributing to
single or multiple teams. It can range from a couple of hours in a single contributor
session to a weekly commitment. It can also vary at different stages of your life
and career.

The two main ways to get involved are through a WordCamp contribution session or
by choosing a Make WordPress team to work with remotely.

You can discover more about the teams through the [Make WordPress pages](https://make.wordpress.org/)
on WordPress.org. All you need to do is find a team, or teams, in which you are 
interested. It is easy to get started. Each team has its own tools and workflow 
process. You can also approach team representatives and deputies who help coordinate
tasks and workflow and ensure people are welcomed. They will be pleased to provide
support.

## What Can You Do Next?

Becoming a contributor can help you make the most of your career regardless of which
area and level you are currently working. WordPress gives you the perks of a perfect
job, such as reputation, learning, networking and co-working opportunities, without
having to move from your existing job and at a time which suits you.

It is not only people who run businesses and careers around WordPress that can benefit
from contributing to it. Everyone who specializes in an area related to technology
and wants to support Open Source platforms and community-based software, can gain
significantly from contributing to the WordPress community. 
 Your journey can start
today, visit [make.wordpress.org](https://make.wordpress.org/page) and find out 
how you would like to take part.

### Read More!

If you would like to learn more about the WordPress community and how people around
the world use WordPress, here are some useful resources.

 * [Video roundup: How to contribute to the WordPress project](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2018/12/05/video-roundup-how-to-contribute-to-wordpress)
 * [Why your company should contribute to WordPress](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2018/12/09/why-your-company-should-contribute-to-wordpress/)
 * [Ways to be part of the WordPress community](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2019/01/17/so-many-ways-to-be-part-of-the-wordpress-community/)
 * [WordPress jargon glossary](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/2018/02/28/wordpress-jargon-glossary/)
 * [Contributor Day glossary](https://2019.europe.wordcamp.org/contributor-day-glossary/)
 * [Q&A on Contributor Days, WCEU](https://2019.europe.wordcamp.org/2019/02/06/contributor-day-answers/)
 * [Interview with Gary Jones on Contributor Days and how people can contribute](https://wordpress.tv/2019/03/15/interview-with-gary-jones/)(
   WordPress.TV video below)

## Acknowledgments

Thanks to [@abhanonstopnewsuk](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/) and [@antialiasfactory](https://profiles.wordpress.org/antialiasfactory/)
for developing and writing this feature, and to all those who contributed or were
interviewed. Images courtesy of photographers at WordCamps Europe and Milan, and
WordPress Delhi. Thanks to [@siobhanseija](https://profiles.wordpress.org/siobhanseija/),
[@maedahbatool](https://profiles.wordpress.org/maedahbatool/), and [@michelleames](https://profiles.wordpress.org/michelleames/)
for their contributions.
Thanks to [@webcommsat](https://profiles.wordpress.org/webcommsat/),
[@danmaby](https://profiles.wordpress.org/danmaby/), and [@Rubio](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drbe4t/)
for producing the video interview with Gary Jones at WordCamp London. This is part
of a series of contributor interviews to be featured by the Make WordPress marketing
team.

[#contributing](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/), [#contributor-day](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributor-day/)

 * [To-do](https://make.wordpress.org/marketing/tag/contributing/?output_format=md#)