Nathan Driver Speaker Interview

Bio

Nathan Driver

I am currently the digital media strategist / web developer for an advertising agency (Ohlmann Group). Anything web related I have my hands in.

Nathan will be presenting “SEO Your WP Site” at 4:30pm in Room D.

Why do you use WordPress?

Why not? The ability to craft it to do just about anything still amazes me to this day. The open source and community as a whole makes WordPress enjoyable.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I actually started in 2007-08 when I first using the “J” CMS. I found it cumbersome and the lack of support and community was obvious at that point in time. When I first got in I was blown away by its capabilities from the jump creating hundreds of niche websites and helping small businesses claim their digital space.

What would you tell someone to convince them to attend a WordCamp?

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about WordPress and meet the people who are in the online community then they should come. It’s not just a bunch of WP geeks…well it is, but we welcome everyone. It’s warm – it’s inviting – it’s fun.

Tell us about something awesome you’ve experienced at a WordCamp in the past.

The most recent was in Dayton’s WordCamp when we had Cory Miller speak as our keynote. It had nothing to do with but WP rather his journey as an owner of a company that is centered around WP. It was truly inspiring.

Give an example of a cool WordPress project you have worked on recently.

There are too many to list. The biggest part of the WordPress project is handing the keys over to the client and teaching them how to use it. To take that fear away and show them how user-friendly WP truly is.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Meeting new people – building relationships.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?

Get involved in the WP community first. Make the connections and be willing to lift others up first.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related.

I am a geek and watch Doctor Who religiously.

Name someone in the WordPress community who inspires you.

Great question – its never one person. To name a few:
Cory Miller
Chris Lema
David Bisset
…..

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

Teaching people not to be scared of the updating their site.

How have WordCamps impacted you and your business in the past?

Tremendously. It gave me the confidence to try new things, become a speaker, and even organize a WordCamp in Dayton.

Fill in the blank for other attendees: “If you __________ then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”.

Want to know more about search engine optimization, social media marketing, or anything marketing related…

What should someone learn before attending your talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor?

They should know about Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools and how they interact.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

There are so many…
WP Beginner
WP Codex
TutsPlus
Smashing Magazine
CSS-Tricks

Where can we find you online?

Anywhere – just Google the name: “”nathan driver””
…or simple:
My blog
Me on Twitter
Me on Google+