Big thanks to Megan Harris for taking part of our Speaker Interview series. Her interview is below.
Megan will be presenting on Content Marketing on WordPress. If you’d like to learn a little more about her, you can also read her speaker bio.
NILE FLORES: What got you interested in WordPress?
MEGAN HARRIS: I became interested in WordPress when other CMS I worked with didn’t fit my needs. It is fairly user-friendly and customizable, with a lot of features that can be used by anyone, from the least skilled user to the most advanced developer.
NILE FLORES: What is the most interesting WordPress-related project you’ve worked on?
MEGAN HARRIS: I once worked on a video gallery within WordPress. We organized it in such a way to section it out by topic, giving the user an interactive space to learn more about the services the company offered.
NILE FLORES: Name 3 WordPress plugins that have always been on your MUST install list, and why.
MEGAN HARRIS: Yoast SEO Plugin – It’s great to have a website, but if the search engines can’t find you, what’s the point? The Yoast SEO plugin that allows you to set up your website for SEO success following many of the most commonly agreed upon SEO standards.
WordPress Editorial Calendar – This great plugin allows you to easily organize posts and schedule ahead of time, which is great for any busy professional with a content plan but not a lot of time to sit down and organize a spreadsheet.
Google Analytics Dashboard for WP – Just as SEO is important, tracking your traffic is essential for your goals. Setting up the Analytics dashboard plugin in WordPress gives you a quick snapshot of what your traffic is doing and allows you to dive a little deeper if you want more information.
NILE FLORES: What is something interesting about you that the WordPress community doesn’t know?
MEGAN HARRIS: I began working in marketing writing for the wedding industry, and many of my clients used WordPress for their websites. Some of my early projects included writing website copy and blogs for wedding DJ’s and event lighting professionals.
NILE FLORES: In regards to new WordPress users, what one or two pieces of advice would you give them that could be very helpful?
MEGAN HARRIS: I advise anyone beginning to use WordPress for the first time to get their hands dirty and learn by doing. Reading forums is helpful, but it’s also important to understand the CMS in order to accomplish your goals. Without understanding the CMS structure, you might have a hard time getting the most you can out of WordPress.
If you want to learn more about Megan or want to ask questions, she’ll be happy to answer them at the event or in the comments below. 🙂