Dustin Hartzler is a WordPress developer and podcaster. In addition to building websites for clients, he is the host of one of the most popular WordPress podcasts; Your Website Engineer Podcast. He enjoys digging into topics and teaching listeners how to different things about WordPress.
He’ll be presenting 13 WordPress Mistakes to Avoid.
Interview
Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress for several reasons. For me it’s the best CMS to have a client start using as it’s fairly user friendly. I also like how flexible it is when it comes to building fully functioning websites. I’ve never had a problem that WordPress couldn’t solve.
And the community is great. Everyone is so willing to share information with others.
When and how did you start using WordPress?
I started using WordPress in 2009. I was building a campaign website for a friend and I wanted to see what all the hype was about.
What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?
Spend some time playing with a demo site.
If you want to learn how to write a plugin, start a demo site and hack away. You’ll learn what breaks things and how to fix them.
When it comes to resources, there are hundreds out there. Find the medium that you like to consume (blog, video, podcast) and start learning by reading what others are creating.
What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?
Start Slowly.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by taking on too many projects at first, especially if you are still new to WordPress. Make sure you finish the project with your first client before moving on to the next one.
As you get more comfortable with your projects, you can start juggling more projects simultaneously.
How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?
I get a lot of my WordPress news from Twitter. I follow some active WordPress developers and I normally see the links they share during the day.
What do you like most about WordCamps?
I love attending WordCamps because there are opportunities for everyone to learn. Even though I use WordPress every single day, I still learn a ton from going to WordCamps.
The other thing I like about WordCamps is I get to meet people who listen to my podcast. At WordCamp North Canton, I was able to meet nearly a dozen people who listen to Your Website Engineer Podcast.
