Unlike traditional web hosts, green web hosting companies can lower their impact on the environment in a variety of ways. And by extension, anyone’s website hosted by them will have a smaller carbon footprint or none at all.

For example, here at GreenGeeks, we calculate exactly how much energy our servers use and then purchase three times that amount in clean wind energy. This not only offsets the emissions but also helps us reduce emissions in general.

Let’s take a look at the importance of eliminating your website’s carbon footprint for Earth Day 2024.

How Do Data Centers Impact the Environment?

The rapid rise of digital goods and services has created an unprecedented demand for data centers to house user data on servers. These servers operate 24/7 and consume more than 200 TWh of energy.

Naturally, this makes them a large emitter that has quickly outgrown the aviation industry. Today, data centers are estimated to account for 1-1.5% of all electricity use in the world, which generates 3.5% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This number will only continue to grow as the tech industry does, and that has no signs of slowing down whatsoever.

However, while the electricity usage concerns remain one of the biggest, it is not the only impact web hosting has on the environment. Those familiar with data centers should know that the servers they house generate a lot of heat and need to be cooled down.

To do this, a lot of data centers use water to cool the machines, which can range anywhere from 1 to 5 million gallons of water a day.

Water will become scarcer than oil as droughts become more common. And in many cases, these data centers are built in drought-prone areas, thus only making the problems more pronounced.

It is also worth pointing out that data centers are not small. An average full-scale data center is about 100,000 square feet. This means constructing one is no small feat and takes up a large plot of land further adding to its impact.

How Can Green Web Hosting Companies Help Solve This?

On average, a website is responsible for about 4,500 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly, which is equivalent to driving an average passenger vehicle 5,225 miles. Considering that there are millions of websites, we have a big problem.

A green web hosting company can help with this concern by eliminating, or significantly reducing, the number of emissions your site is responsible for. Each green web hosting company tackles this problem differently.

Let’s take a moment and look at what we do to tackle this problem at GreenGeeks.

First and foremost, we address the energy usage directly. At GreenGeeks, you can rest easy knowing that your website is not leaving a carbon footprint, but instead reducing the amount of carbon in general.

This is done by carefully calculating how much energy our websites utilize, then we purchase three times that amount in clean wind energy, which means we don’t just compensate for our energy usage, we add more clean energy into the grid to offset others as well.

Another tactic we use is a strategic partnership with One Tree Planted. Every time a new account is created with us, we plant a tree. To date, we have planted 40,000 trees. Each tree acts as a carbon sponge, helping us lower global emissions.

On average, a single tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. That means the trees we have planted are responsible for removing 1,920,000 pounds of carbon each year as they grow.

Significance of your Website’s Carbon Footprint

One of the biggest problems facing the push to go green is the lack of understanding of what a carbon footprint actually means.

A carbon footprint is a measurement of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) that we create. It can be applied on a personal or business level.

The Green House effect is a process that happens in Earth’s atmosphere where the Sun’s heat is trapped by certain gases. While there are many heat-trapping gasses, none match Carbon dioxide when it comes to pure quantity.

In 2022, the annual carbon dioxide average was 418.56 PPM. To put this number into perspective, in 1960, it was just under 320 PPM. That’s a net increase of over 30%, which is causing the temperature around the world to rise.

This not only endangers wildlife, but humanity as a whole. Higher temperatures will damage food production as crops can only grow under certain conditions, not to mention melting polar ice caps.

As a result, the sea is rising, which puts coastal regions around the world at risk of flooding. Not to mention increasing the likelihood of natural disasters like hurricanes, as the water will also become warmer.

No matter how big or small your website is, the impact it has on the environment is unavoidable.

For example, let’s say you have a blog that barely gets any traffic. Regardless of the amount of traffic you have, the server hosting it will operate 24/7. So, you see, even the smallest of websites can still contribute greatly to climate change.

Only a green web hosting company can help solve this problem.

Data Centers Will Shrink Their Emissions Thanks to Technological Innovations

It’s important to point out that technological innovations are being made that will have a significant impact on data centers.

For example, one of the main challenges of any data center is keeping the servers cool. If they get too hot, the heat damages the hardware and can take them offline, which interrupts services.

For this reason, a lot of money and energy is spent on cooling systems.

Liquid cooling systems, in particular, are going to significantly change the way data centers operate as they can reduce cooling costs by 70% and further reduce the amount of electricity these centers utilize.

A more obvious example of innovations in the field can be seen by incorporating renewable energy.

In between 2015 and 2020, the carbon footprint of data centers remained flat despite electricity consumption increasing. This is due to the adoption of powering data centers through renewable energy.

Today, some of the biggest companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft power their data centers with 100% renewable energy.

There have also been efficiency improvements that have helped keep the overall energy needed to operate data centers from rising exponentially. In fact, the amount of computing done in these centers increased 550%, while the electricity consumption only rose 6%.

As technological innovations continue, data centers will ultimately see their impact on the environment shrink.

The problem is that the demand for data centers is outpacing the innovations.

AI Will Double the Demand for Data Centers by 2030

You may be thinking that the demand can’t keep increasing at its current rate, and you would be correct.

It’s going to get worse.

There has been a buzzword that is taking the tech industry by storm: Artificial Intelligence (AI). As virtually every major corporation enters an AI arms race with one another, the computing power these will require is staggering.

By 2030, the data center capacity in the United States will double as a result.

For those unaware, AI’s top-performing searches, data compilation, and conclusions made from inquiries in a matter of seconds takes a tremendous number of resources. And in no uncertain terms, everything will utilize some form of AI in the future.

For example, when you perform a Google search, you will now see an AI-generated answer at the top of most searches. Another example would be using AI plugins to help you manage a WordPress site.

Nearly every major company is expected to utilize AI by 2030, which will push demand higher than ever.

Earth Day Goals Everyone Can Commit To

This year, EarthDay.org has highlighted ways that everyone from individuals to businesses can go green by providing actionable toolkits that your business can follow.

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics”, with a goal to reduce plastic production by 60% by 2040.

They are a great starting point for any business, so let’s go over some of the key points you will find.

Go Paperless

This might seem hypocritical considering this just creates more demand for data centers, but the benefits of going paperless cannot be ignored. Normally, businesses will use a lot of paper for filing documents, printing billing statements, and so on.

All of this paper comes at the expense of cutting down trees, which act as a natural carbon sponge.

Of course, for some businesses, the elimination of paper use is just not practical. Thus, your aim should be to reduce it significantly. A great tip is to ensure you print on both sides of the paper. And any paper you do need afterward should be recycled.

It has never been easier to go paperless, which is why most businesses today are pushing customers into paperless statements and trying to communicate exclusively through email. If this is an option, consider starting today.

Use Energy Efficient Devices and Lights

Office buildings big and small use a lot of energy under normal circumstances. One way to easily reduce that is by using energy-efficient appliances and lighting for the office. Doing so will save money, and lower your carbon footprint.

Let’s take a minute to look at the cost savings potential of switching to energy-saving lightbulbs.

Today, energy-saving refers to Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs that on average last 25,000 hours compared to the incandescent bulb that only lasts 750 hours. Over the course of its life, an LED bulb will save around $81 depending on your energy rate.

When you consider that a typical office building has dozens or even hundreds of lightbulbs, the savings are easy to see. The same logic applies to all kinds of appliances your office will need. You can identify energy-efficient devices by checking the packaging.

Turn Devices Off or Enable Auto-Sleep

Most office buildings are filled to the brim with computers, printers, and all types of devices. They can use a lot of electricity, thus ensuring they are off when not in or are in a low-power state can help cut your electricity usage.

This not only helps the environment but also helps save your business money. You may be wondering, how much money can it really save? Well, just putting a single computer to sleep can save between $10 to $50 depending on the device and electricity rate a year.

Luckily, it is incredibly easy to enable sleep-mode settings and only takes a few minutes.

Incorporate Renewable Energy

Ensuring that your business is powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric is a great way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint. And in the case of solar, it can actually save you a lot of money.

Solar energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels over the lifespan of the solar panel. The issue for many is that the initial price can be quite high. Another option is to offset what you use by purchasing clean energy.

This can help you lower or eliminate your carbon footprint altogether.

Find An Eco-Friendly Web Hosting Company

Every business needs a website because it allows your business to reach a wider audience. Today, the majority of consumers look online before entering a store to check out what it offers and if it is worth their time.

Thus, finding an eco-conscious web host is one of the most important steps you can take when making your business green. Depending on your website’s popularity, millions of people may view it.

That’s why partnering with a green web hosting company like GreenGeeks can ensure your website does not create a carbon footprint, and instead can be another way your business is being environmentally conscious.

GreenGeeks, a leading green web host, has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2009 and returns 3 times the amount of renewable energy we consume back into the grid.

Celebrate Earth Day 2024 By Signing Up for Green Web Hosting

Each year, everyone thinks about what they can do for Earth Day. The best part is that there is so much anyone can do to reduce their impact on the planet’s climate.

Switching to a green web host is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint without really changing much from a business perspective. In fact, plans at GreenGeeks are some of the most affordable in the industry with a month of service costing less than a cup of coffee each month.

Combine that with our excellent service featuring 99.9% uptime, lightning-fast speeds thanks to our SSD-powered servers, and a knowledgeable support team standing by to answer all of your questions.

Switching to GreenGeeks will not only lower your carbon footprint but also improve your website’s performance.

What is your business planning to do for Earth Day 2024?

The post Why Your Website’s Carbon Footprint Matters on Earth Day 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

While at this one-day event, make sure you stop by and speak with our very own Ericka Barboza and Rita Robles Loaiza. They’ll be available for any questions you may have or to simply chat.

They’re not just attending; Ericka and Rita are co-organizers of the event! So, I’d like to share a great deal of appreciation for helping to get Women WordPress Day put together.

What to Expect from Women WordPress Day

This year, there are several talks that span across a lot of great topics. From inspirational to technical, there is a great balance that is sure to offer a lot of excellent insights and information rolled into a single day.

Let’s take a look at a few:

• The Value of Being a Woman
  In this talk, Johanna Jiménez Varela goes over four important things to reinforce value within yourself and to understand the value you have as a woman.
• Title of the Work: Magenta, The Color of Change, Program Your Mindset
  Join Yannet Perez Lozada as she shares what it is to be a woman and a technologist in the 21st century in an ever-changing climate. It’s all about being in a state of completeness and being happy during the journey.
• Digital Technologies That Echo the Fight for Women’s Rights
  During this session, Charleene Cortez Sosa and Pamela Barrientos Vargas talk about the UNDP’s commitment to the use of digital platforms for future development. This helps strengthen institutional capacities and promotes access to information for women.
• Rest Before Update: Changes in the Operating System When Becoming a Mother
  Motherhood transforms women in a variety of ways. In this talk, Celia Sofía Altamirano Jiménez goes over balancing life with mental models for happiness and identifying ways to solidify leadership and decision-making skills.
• Female Voices in WordPress: Impact and Empowerment
  This talk is a panel featuring Lua Salazar Lira, Karen Méndez, Floribeth González Chavarría. Join the trio as they talk about transforming the WordPress platform with technical skill, innovative vision, and their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

At the end of the event, there is a photo op and a Wapuu vote. Not to mention coffee and networking. It’s sure to be a great day for those involved and we hope to see you there.

Enjoy Women WordPress Day in Costa Rica!

There are a lot of great topics and speakers at this year’s Women WordPress Day event. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Ericka and Rita and show appreciation for the work they do, as well as the other organizers, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers who make these events happen.

It’s these kinds of contributions that make the WordPress community one of the best in the world.

The post Women WordPress Day in Costa Rica 2024 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Arriving for WordCamp Phoenix 2024

My short flight from LA was delayed by one hour due to a ground stop in Phoenix as it was raining quite a bit over there. That did not stop me from being excited and happy to be on my way to the camp.

As I was checking in the hotel, I ran into Marcus Burnette from GoDaddy, who was also staying at the same hotel. I had not seen Marcus since WordCamp Atlanta last year, so it was nice to quickly catch up.

After I was settled in my hotel room, I went down to the lobby to meet up with my team, Ericka Barboza and Marco Berrocal. By then, it was already time to head over to Arizona Wildness Brewing Co. where the speaker-sponsor dinner was being held.

Marcus was in the lobby with Courtney Robertson also from GoDaddy. I had never met Courtney in person, but we knew each other from the community’s social media, so we were formally introduced.

Since Marcus and Courtney were also headed to the speaker-sponsor dinner, they offered to share a ride with us.

Speaker-Sponsor Dinner

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. is located in Downtown Phoenix, in a very happening area of the city, full of restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

Because it was a cold night in Phoenix (which is rare for this time of the year), the dinner was held in the indoor area. When we walked in, the WordCampers were already there having drinks and eating delicious tacos.

We all joined in and had great conversations with many people, including Perri Collins, who was going to speak on the last day about a social media topic.

After we had been enjoying drinks and tacos, Raquel Manriquez, the WordCamp Phoenix 2024 Lead Organizer, went around all the tables and gave some thank-you gifts (cute painting sets) to each speaker.

I spotted Matthew Clancy, who was the Lead Organizer last year and we got caught up as well. Everyone in this community is so awesome!

First Day of Camp

WordCamp Phoenix 2024 was held at the Phoenix College which is one of the oldest community colleges in the country.

Ericka, Marco, and I walked in and got our registration badges. The first thing we did was to go thank the volunteers for all the work they do at these camps.

After setting up the booth, we started talking to people and giving out swag. Let the fun begin!

I went around the sponsor tables to say hi to the other sponsors whom I had known for a while. That included Chad Beatty with Rocket.net, Chris David Miles with Bluehost, Jen Swisher with Jetpack, and many others.

I also met a new sponsor I had not seen at other camps, CommercialNoise, led by Bruce Holland. We had a nice conversation about their hosting services and what they are all about.

On Day One, I was able to attend several presentations, starting with “The 2024 Remote Work Survival Guide” by Kathy Zant. I have known Kathy since 2019 and it was such a pleasure to listen to her presentation.

According to Kathy, it looks like although some major companies are moving employees back to offices, remote work is not going away. This is a good thing for many people, especially in this community.

Another interesting presentation I was able to attend was “AI Crash Course for WordPress Users” by Keanan Koppenhaver. I love that he kept saying that AI tools will still require human involvement.

After Keanan, Robbie Adair talked about “Using AI To Speed Up your WordPress Builds”. Looks like AI is of huge interest in the WordPress community.

Lunchtime

At lunchtime, we enjoyed delicious taco bowls in the outdoor area of the college and I had a chance to get caught up with Kathy Zant on her new position with Motivations AI. She spoke of how happy she is to work with great people such as Chris Lema and Jennifer Bourn whom I have known for a while.

After Day One of the camp was over, Ericka, Marco, and I decided to have a relaxed and delicious dinner at The Compass which is a well-known revolving restaurant located on the very top floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.

As always, the food was delicious as was the wine, and the views of Downtown Phoenix were awesome. It was great to be able to share a special dinner and private time with my team.

I reminded them again how important they were to me and that I could not possibly do my job without them.

Day Two of Camp

On Day Two of Camp, I also was able to attend several presentations.

I watched Alicia St Rose talking about the “The Story of a Custom Post Type Lost in a Word of Pages” and Chris David Miles about “Understanding Your Customer Using Personas and Empathy Maps”.

I then listed to the fireside chat of Raquel with Jenny Poon and Odeen Domingo, who founded the largest coworking community in Arizona, CO+HOOTS in downtown Phoenix.

Later, I ran into Jen Miller whom I had not seen in a while and just started a position with WebDevStudios. It was nice to catch up with Jen.

I also met up with Bet Hannon with AccessiCart and we talked about a possible partnership with GreenGeeks.

All the presentations were really interesting but all of a sudden it was already time for closing remarks! Raquel thanked everyone, especially the sponsors and the volunteers who are an integral part of the camps and they truly deserved our appreciation.

Marcus Burnette did a giveaway on behalf of GoDaddy for a Nintendo game and the lucky winner was Perri Collins who had just given the last presentation of the day about Social Media.

The After Party

The After Party was also held at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in the outdoor heated covered patio of this European-style beer garden. It was a very chilly but clear evening, but the patio heaters and firepit really helped.

We sat and had drinks with the A2 Hosting Team and then we had a great conversation about WordCamps with Julia Golomb, a Community Team Organizer who lives in Northern California but travels around the world for camps.

We talked to a lot of people that night, Unfortunately, it was getting late and we had to head back to the hotel and get some rest. It had been two long and busy days and Ericka and Marco were going to have a long trip back to Costa Rica the next day.

The next morning, Ericka, Marco, and I met in the lobby for breakfast and for goodbyes.

But wait, it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later as I am sure we will meet again at WCUS in Portland in September!

Another WordCamp Phoenix Is in the Books!

A huge thank you to the organizers, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and of course, the Phoenix WordPress community. We love them.

Until next year!

The post WordCamp Phoenix 2024 – Recap appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

It was a WordCamp of firsts, no doubt, and it was just a fantastic one. Read along!

Getting to the Venue

The venue is located in downtown Zaragoza, just off the train station (Las Delicias Train Station) in a building called Etopia (not to be confused with Ethiopia like many of us did).

Etopia is a center for the arts, technology, science, and contemporary society. Once again, I like how organizers choose their venues, and this one was more than perfect. Centric, easy to get, has great room for sponsors, and good vibes in general.

Getting to Zaragoza was a bit difficult because Zaragoza is just at the border of what could be the beginning of the northeastern region of Spain. So, it was either Madrid or Barcelona the natural choice to enter, and then take a train/car to the venue.

Needless to say, getting there was hard, but getting around Europe itself is quite easy.

Zaragoza, is the former royal city of the Aragon Kingdom, who was the first European ruler of the city after the Mutism’s ruled in Spain for centuries. It lies in the Ebro river, which is a very important river within Spain and the city is beautiful to stroll, eat and hang out.

The venue, like I said, was a perfect distance from everything and we were good to go.

As usual, I arrived a few days before to scope out the venue to see the logistics of setting things up. As this was the first WordCamp we held in Europe, it was important for me to know the place beforehand to avoid surprises.

Speaker Party

Me and Selena Salustri, who came to Italy to her first WordCamp in Spain and a dear friend of mine being just an awesome person, we met in the train station in order to go to the venue when something I hadn’t seen in 20 years appeared.

Snow.

I mean, I was not expecting that one – no-one was. The organizers later said it hand’t snowed in Zaragoza in many, many years. It was magical at first, but then I remembered how much Canadians disliked it. I wasn’t prepared for it, had left my winter coat at the hotel. I couldn’t get to it and my shoes were obviously not winter ones.

So, there I was, chilling cold, with feet wet. Did I mention it was cold?

Needless to say, we got to the venue and then we went to the speaker/sponsor party which was at this restaurant called Aura, which was overlooking the Ebro river.

The view was fantastic because you could see the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar from afar, which is one of the landmarks of Zaragoza.

The party was great, I was pleased to see many of the friends I have known from the Spanish community that I’ve met in WordCamp Europe, such as Ohia, who unfortunately didn’t make it to WordCamp Europe last year.

We caught up, had food and drinks, and things were about to warm up, as they do sometimes at these parties. Eventually, it was time to go home because there was a big day tomorrow.

The Camp

The next day, it was time to get things going. I had my swag ready and the first thing I noticed was that it was still cold. It wasn’t as bad as the day before, but still cold, and I soon realized that it was also cold at the venue.

It turned out that the heating system was broken, and the company couldn’t fix it the day before since it snowed and the machine that fixes it couldn’t be exposed to water, etcetera, etcetera.

Thus, this was bar none the coldest WordCamp I had to attend.

No jackets were taken off during the entire Camp. It was ok, I mean I am pretty resilient to cold (was wearing a shirt and hoodie when it was snowing) so I was able to withstand it. Attendees were not to successful and you could see they were cold.

The organizers where aghast about the situation, but I just think these things happen. They are out of one’s reach and you have to make the best out of this.

Our swag, as usual, stunning, great and for the very first time in a very long time, we ran out of it. All of it!! It was such a great feeling.

It was also a great feeling of having people ask about us, because well, since we’re in Europe, not many of the attendees knew us, or had seen us before. So, it was a refreshing thing, the organizers were thrilled at having new sponsors tag along.

A couple of the things I noticed from the Spanish community is that one, they do by far the most camps out of ANY country in the world right now (maybe the US beats them?). And two, they are a very, very, very tight community in the sense of unity and good spirit.

The talks? I went to one, and it was a workshop by Carlos Diaz, who is from Madrid I believe. The workshop was about Google Tag Manager.

Great guy, great talk. I was interested in this one because I work a lot with programmatic ads, and knowing Google-talk as a developer is quite useful.

The Afterparty

Last day of the Camp, and the following day is Sunday. No waking up early, no rushing to the WordCamp, you would think it is time to party hard, right? Of course you are.

Although it didn’t seem like that at the beginning, WordCamps and its parties can be unpredictable. One minute you are in a museum eating fruit and you end up in a karaoke 5 hours later.

This was no exception.

The afterparty was at the venue, with free, unlimited beer (take note organizers!!) until 9:30PM when we were kicked out. People scattered and they went who knows where.

Me and Selena though, we made friends with the organizers from WordCamp Torrelodones, and they told us they were going to eat at a bar. So I said, alright let’s go.

When I arrived there, what a surprise. They were ALL there, plus other organizers from other parts of Spain, and we were at this authentic Spanish bar where they served real, homemade Spanish food.

The place was small, but the food was out of this world. So we ate, drank, and had a blast. The next thing I know, I was having a blast with the crew from Torrelodones, Jaime Garmar and Ana Cirujano.

I had a great time as it was a great party. And man, what a great WordCamp this was. One of firsts – snow, trains, Spain, new people, but that same vibe of community, friendship, knowledge and just good old WordPress.

Until next time!

The post WordCamp Zaragoza 2024 – Recap appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Not only is GreenGeeks a “Diamond Galaxies” supporter, but our own Ericka, Marco, Rita, and one of our newest additions, Alex will be in attendance. So, feel free to stop by and say hi while checking out all of the awesome things happening at this year’s WordCamp.

What to Expect from WordCamp San José in 2023

This year, there are a ton of great talks to attend. Everything from developing WordPress to personal growth is available, and it might be a bit difficult to pick and choose which ones to attend in person.

So, what kind of talks can you expect to see this year?

• WordPress 101
  Obviously, I’ll have to start with learning the basics of WordPress and how to maximize its use. Our very own Marco Berrocal covers everything you’ll need to get started immediately.
• How to Create Custom Gutenberg Blocks with Advance Custom Fields Pro
  Customizing blocks can help you get the most out of your content in WordPress, and Hannss Muller Oliveros will show you how to do it without a great deal of coding knowledge.
• SEO 101: Join the Ranks of the Best
  Search engine optimization plays a vital role in the success of your website. Especially after Google rolled out the “helpful content” update. In this talk, Mariano Rivera explains the ins and outs of SEO while using the Rank Math plugin.
• How a Podcast Can Increase Your Web Traffic and Generate Leads
  Podcasts are still a widely popular form of content. In this talk, Mariana Salas Ruiz goes over the many elements of creating a successful podcast while demonstrating a good distribution strategy to grow your audience.
• 8 Gaps That Limit Your Growth and How to Overcome Them
  In this session, Luis Bova shows you how to recognize the issues that hold you back. By identifying these eight gaps, you’ll have greater clarity to help develop your own personal growth plan.

These are just some of the amazing talks going on in San José this weekend. There are simply too many to list here, but I assure you, there is something for just about everyone, whether you’re a novice or an expert at using WordPress.

Unfortunately, some of the talks overlap, so you need to pick and choose if you attend in person. Nonetheless, you might be able to catch some of the talks you missed at WordPress.tv.

Things to Do While Visiting San José, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is among the shining jewels of South America, and it has a great deal of history. While you’re attending the WordCamp, make sure you absorb as much of San José as possible.

For instance, you could find time to:

• Visit the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. It has an amazing assortment of thousands of crafts that pre-date the Columbian era dating back to more than a thousand years ago.
• Get a bite to eat. Looking for some fresh food while immersing yourself in the culture? Visit the Central Market and explore the collection of stalls and restaurants that span the location.
• Visit Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Co, the first microbrewery in the country that spearheaded the craft beer movement. This location has a “Brewpub” and restaurant at the back end of the facility.

Here’s to an Incredible Weekend in Costa Rica!

The two-day WordCamp event in Costa Rica is sure to be another smashing success. I just hope everyone has a great time while some of us are stuck in the Rockies under five inches of snow.

Have a great camp and don’t forget to stop by and say hi to our GreenGeeks members: Ericka, Marco, Rita, and Alex. They’d love to see you there!

I’d like to take this time to thank the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, speakers, and patrons who make camps like this one in San José, Costa Rica a success. You’re the reason why WordPress has one of the greatest communities on the planet.

The post WordCamp San José, Costa Rica 2023 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

This year, WordCamp Atlanta is a two-day event on October 14th and 15th, 2023 at Kennesaw State University. Registration starts at 8:00 am on the 14th and Closing Remarks are scheduled at 4:00 pm on the 15th.

What Can You Expect at WordCamp Atlanta 2023?

There are a lot of great talks happening in Atlanta this year. It’s really difficult to choose just a handful to list, but needless to say, there is plenty to check out regardless of what you do with WordPress.

Some of the talks you can attend this year include:

• The Impact of AI on SEO Content
  It seems you can’t go anywhere without hearing about artificial intelligence these days. In this talk, Jenny Munn helps a variety of professionals and experts integrate the best practices of using AI to their advantage.
• Exploring WordPress 6.4 Upcoming Features
  WordPress is constantly in development. Damon Cook breaks down some of the newest features and enhancements in the coming 6.4 version of our favorite content management system.
• The Blending of the Metaverse, VR, AI, and Most Importantly, Don’t Forget WordPress
  Technology can do some wondrous things in today’s world. And William Jackson shows you how to utilize the power of AI, VR, and the Metaverse with WordPress. Imagine the possibilities!
• Benefits, Not Features: How to Speak Human About Your Product
  In this talk, Rob Pugh goes over how to speak authentically about your product or brand and how it can solve the problems of customers. It’s all about delivering a human element instead of appearing robotic.
• The Power of Leaning into the WordPress Block Editor
  As WordPress continues to evolve, the Block Editor has grown into a powerful tool. In this talk, Will Middleton shows you how to get more out of the Block Editor and the power behind full-site editing.

These are just some of the talks that piqued my interest, specifically. However, there are far more ranging from helping developers to improving business practices.

Because of the state of things nowadays, I would like to point out that there are quite a few talks centering around using AI for a variety of purposes. If that interests you, then this is definitely a WordCamp you should attend.

Fun Things to Do in Atlanta

Atlanta has a lot of historical references and is full of attractions and museums. You might want to take a bit of time to explore what the city has to offer.

For instance, a few things to do in Atlanta during the WordCamp include:

1. If you enjoy relaxing in a serene natural setting, be sure to check out Piedmont Park. It’s free to visit and is often referred to as one of Atlanta’s best parks.
2. The National Center for Civil Human Rights is a 42,000-square-foot complex highlighting a lot of history including a collection of artifacts from Martin Luther King Jr. himself.
3. Of course, I’m going to point out the Atlanta Botanical Garden as an attraction. This 30-acre locale is next to Piedmont Park and is home to the Fuqua Orchid Center and one of the few hardwood forests remaining in Atlanta.

To be perfectly honest, there is just so much you can do in Atlanta while visiting the WordCamp. The World of Coca-Cola, Oakland Cemetary, the Delta Flight Museum…it’d take a long time to visit all of the great attractions available.

Have a Great Weekend in Atlanta!

WordCamp Atlanta is sure to be a great couple of days, so be sure you’re reserving your place today. Between location and the available talks, I am quite envious that I won’t be able to attend.

I’d like to take this moment to give appreciation to all of the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who made WordCamp Atlanta happen. It’s nice to get back to a sense of normalcy.

Don’t forget, we’ll be there in person and can’t wait to see you.

Have a great weekend and stay safe.

The post WordCamp Atlanta 2023 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

If you’re curious about the location, you can always take a virtual tour of the School of Arts facility.

What to Expect from WordCamp Rochester, 2023

Although this particular camp is only one day, it has a lot of interesting talks available. It begins at 8:15 am with opening remarks and ends at roughly 6:15 pm.

Then, you can participate in the After Party at Jeremiah’s Tavern, which is only a short Uber or Lyft ride away if you need it.

Some of the talks you’ll find at WordCamp Rochester in 2023 include:

• How Close Are We to “No-Code?”
  In this talk, Ben Dunkle shares his experiences using the Gutenberg editor and how it simplifies designing a website without knowing how to code.
• Supercharging Your WordPress Journey with Artificial Intelligence
  AI is a booming platform for a long list of development projects. Christopher Ross discusses the potential of AI and how it can vastly impact WordPress creations.
• 5 Tricks Every WordPress Blogger Needs to Use to Get More Long-Term Readers
  While SEO is important to engage new readers, you can’t dismiss the followers and subscribers you’ve already gained. In this talk, Allysha Howse shares five tips to keep those long-term visitors coming back for more.
• An Easy Update for Old Content
  Part of maintaining a successful website is making sure content is updated. This often includes the layout and theme you show to visitors. Ken Gagne outlines tools and strategies to give your site a new and fresher look.
• Need More Donations for Your Non-Profit? You Should Know This…
  In this talk, Adian Tobey teaches you about clarifying your value position, diversifying yourself, automation of certain aspects, and using the right metrics to keep yourself sustainable for the long haul.

These are just some of the talks going on in Rochester on September 30th. There are quite a few to list here, so be sure to check out the schedule for more information.

One of the talks that interests me the most, though, is the one for getting more long-term readers. Who wouldn’t want to build a dedicated and supportive community from their content?

At a Great Location

The location for WordCamp Rochester in itself has a sense of style and class. Yet, it’s also surrounded by some great attractions, restaurants, and shops. Whether you’re visiting for a single day or plan to spend the weekend in New York, be sure to check out the area.

For instance, sites like the Rochester Museum & Science Center, George Eastman Museum, and of course the Memorial Art Gallery are all within walking distance.

If you’re looking for something to eat, Maru Sushi & Ramen Bar, Carnegie Cellars Wine Bar & Kitchen, and several other locales are less than a few minutes away.

The point is that there are some incredible locations near the venue, and it would be very easy to simply make a weekend of it and do some exploring.

Enjoy WordCamp Rochester 2023

There are some great talks going on in Rochester for this WordCamp. Add the fact that the location is great for exploring and you have an experience that will deliver a lot of fond memories.

Have a great time at the WordCamp, but make sure you visit some of the best locations Rochester has to offer.

I’d like to take a moment and thank the sponsors, organizers, volunteers, and attendees. It’s your support that keeps WordCamps like this active and ongoing. WordPress has a great community, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

The post WordCamp Rochester, NY 2023 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Registration for this event is free unless you want to donate. Although donations aren’t necessary to enjoy the event, they are helpful in making sure events such as this continue in the future.

Plus, you can add a bit extra to your donation to receive a shirt specific to WordPress Accessibility Day.

Personally, I rather enjoy memorabilia and merch from events such as this. In fact, my daughter still walks around with one of our WordCamp shirts from four years ago.

What is WordPress Accessibility Day?

Started in 2020, WordPress Accessibility Day is essentially a day of recognizing those with disabilities using the Internet. This includes those who suffer from various visual impairments, hearing loss, mobility complications, epilepsy, dyslexia, and a host of other complications.

As roughly 16% of the world’s population has a significant disability, a more accessible way to use the Internet is ideal for everyone. This event helps bring to light the importance of accessibility and why it’s vital for online success.

The event is held online as attendees are able to register for free and watch the live streams during Zoom webinars. And because WordPress Accessibility Day is a 24-hour event, attendees can watch live streams regardless of where they live across the globe.

If you miss a specific talk, don’t worry; recordings are available on the WordPress Accessibility Day’s YouTube channel.

I like the idea that recordings are becoming more apparent today. There have been a lot of talks I would have loved to see but were in a WordCamp on the other side of the world. This lets everyone enjoy the content at their leisure.

What to Expect from WordPress Accessibility Day

The event starts on September 27, 2023, and begins at 14:45 UTC with opening remarks from Amber Hinds, Co-lead organizer. Afterward, you can attend more than 20 webinars covering a variety of topics.

Some of the talks that stand out most to me include:

• Is my WordPress site accessible? How to Perform Accessibility and Usability Tests
  Do you know if your website is accessible? Depending on location, having accessibility options may actually be enforceable by law. In this talk, Maria Gabriela Gandica helps you test for and improve the accessibility of your website.
• Go Beyond Checklists to Build a Great Course Learning Experience
  For those who are interested in building learning courses with a Learning Management System, Sandi Gauder walks you through going beyond simple checklists to create learning content that is great for everyone to use.
• Let’s Build an Accessible WordPress Page & Post
  Do you know what it takes to create an accessible post or page in WordPress? In this webinar, Peter Ingersoll demonstrates the best practices for including accessibility in your content.
• Mobile Accessibility: Building Accessible Mobile Sites and Native Apps for Accessibility
  Did you know that currently, more than 54% of Internet users are on mobile devices? Mobile accessibility is just as important as it is for desktop computers, and Gian Wild will break down the best practices to accommodate those who use those devices.
• Accessibility Pitfalls of WordPress Menus
  Not everyone puts a lot of thought into the accessibility of menus in WordPress. In this discussion, Deneb Pulsipher goes over why you should include accessibility in menus and what to avoid by showing how certain WordPress themes fail to accommodate.

These are just a handful of the talks you’ll have access to on WordPress Accessibility Day. Others include everything from accessible email methods to creating animation pause buttons.

Regardless of the type of website you build with WordPress, there are topics for virtually everyone…figuratively and literally.

Register for Free!

Don’t forget that registration is free. This one-day event has a lot of great webinars, available, and you don’t want to miss out on the information provided. And if you miss a few because of timing, you can also access them on YouTube, as I mentioned earlier.

I’d like to end by thanking all of the organizers, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors for helping maintain the WordPress Accessibility Day event. You all demonstrate how an amazing community can bring together so many creative and awesome minds.

The post WordPress Accessibility Day, September 2023 appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

What we had was hands down, the biggest US WordCamp as far as attendees were concerned, which is amazing considering that since WordCamp US in Saint Louis, we had a pandemic (how can we forget that one), and last year, to play it safe, only 750 people were allowed to attend.

This year, WordCamp US had a whopping 2000 attendees, which makes it a record.

Getting to the Venue

The venue is located on the shores of the Potomac River, which is a major river in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is downriver of Washington DC and across Alexandria in Virginia.

The overall region is plain beautiful. Getting there for me was a flight from San Jose to Panama, and then on to Washington Dulles Airport which is very, very far away from the city center (Washington DC).

I spent a day looking at the United State’s capital city. It is a place like no other. The city was built to impress with its monuments and memorials all across the city. The National Mall is simply amazing.

As the days progressed, people were coming in because, in addition to the US WordCamp, we also had the WordPress Community Summit which was like a ‘WordCamp’ for WordPress Contributors from across the WordPress Open Source Project.

The summit was held two days before the WordCamp took place.

I had a chance to see Aurooba and had dinner with her, whom I hadn’t seen since WordCamp US in 2019. It had been a Long time, but nevertheless, it was a great feeling to reunite after so long.

Speaker Party

Before the speaker party, we had to set up the booth. Ericka and I have done many WordCamps, and it’s safe to say that we can do this with our eyes closed.

The sponsor area was quite good; its downside was that it was too far away from where the talks were.

To no surprise, the party was held where the venue was. The venue was simply majestic in its size and space.

It had a beautiful atrium that overlooks the Potomac River and thus, the sunset was to die for.

So the party was held there, which was more like a gathering as there was just food. I said hello to my fellow WordCamp friends. It was great to see some of them again, some whom I had seen at WordCamp Europe, whilst others I had seen in last years WordCamp US.

After leaving the party, I bumped into Eleonora Anzini, whom I initially met at WordCamp Europe 2022. We instantly clicked and have been friends ever since, despite having an Ocean that separates us.

I was so happy to see her as this was her first WordCamp outside of Europe and her first-ever visit to the US. So we met, and next thing I know, I bumped into Ruth, who I had seen…. Pretty much everywhere.

At that point, we headed to a bar, had a few drinks, and spoke a lot about stuff which of course included WordPress.

Day 1

We started the WordCamp with lots of intensity, lots of people, lots of swag, and lots of questions. Good vibes. Ericka and I handled everything and everybody.

It was quite funny, as I reflected that the more you do something, the more you are able to do it synchronized and efficiently.

With Ericka, I don’t know how many WordCamps we have done together, but it has been quite a few. Needless to say, the crowds, the pressure, the questions, everything runs smoother the more you do them.

We decided we would alternate talks while seeing friends here and there. For my talk of the day, I saw Aurooba!

Her talk was a lightning one called, “Building a thoughtful block editing experience,” which was about things you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to building your own blocks.

Aurooba was fantastic, despite the fact that she said she was nervous! She did great, her talk was fast and I wish it had more information, for sure. But alas, it went well.

Then I stayed for another one that caught my eye: “Rising from Rejection: How WordPress Helped Me Reenter Society Again” which was given by a new guy in the WordCamp world, called Justin Kopepasah.

His talk called for attendance because of the struggles ex-convicts face to re-integrate into society. This is something that I think is too bad since people do time in order to be rehabilitated yet society marginalizes them, making it impossible for them to get jobs.

The talk was quite nice, as the speaker became a developer, started to work remotely, and in a way, it was WordPress as a software that gave him a second chance.

And just like that, day one was over! We went to a few parties and had a great time. The most notable was the pride party, which was awesome stuff!

Day 2

Day two was underway, and as is usually the case with WordCamps, crowds were smaller but that didn’t stop anyone from having fun.

Eleonora swung by and wanted to know who made the beautiful George Washington Wapuu. Turns out I did know who made it, so I was looking for Joe. He was all over the place as he was an organizer.

I got a hold of him, and the great guy that he is, he was able to speak to Eleonora, as she was quite fond of the Wapuu. She is a fellow designer who has shaped WordCamp Europe over the years as far as design was concerned.

I was so happy to get them both going.

After a quick lunch, we knew the Camp was coming to an end. I had a chance to view one more talk, which was Antonio Sejas’ talk called: “WordPress Playground, Present and Future Applications,” which was about an innovative tool that lets you run WordPress directly in your web browser, within Visual Studio Code, or as a standalone local environment.

It was quite the talk and I enjoy seeing revolutionary discussions like this, which help us shape the tools we use for development.

I didn’t attend Mark Mullenweg’s closing remarks because quite frankly, meh! So I went to the hotel and got ready for the after Party and of course, the after-after party.

The Afterparty

The afterparty was held at the National Museum of Natural History, which is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The party was ok, I guess?

I do tend to note that parties in WordCamps in the US aren’t as intense or as crazy as parties in WordCamps both in Latin America and Europe. So the party was mellow, with no alcohol, and it was more like a gathering.

I stayed there for a bit, started to say farewell to some of my dear friends, and went with Eleonora to have some drinks. We walked, alongside another Marco (from Hostinger I believe) and Freddy Korpershoek, who I ironically had once bought a course from at Udemy. I didn’t know he was a WordCamp guy!

We went to this bar called Vue Rooftop which was right on the side of the White House in DC. Unfortunately for us, one of the guys we were with could not enter, as the Secret Service (you read that right) disallowed people with backpacks on a rooftop overlooking the White House.

He wasn’t allowed to enter with the bag, plus he was unwilling to leave it downstairs with security.

We had a few beers, and a few messages here and there as Ruth Kalinka was on the way. We had a new destination: a Karaoke bar called Wok and Roll, right in Chinatown.

So, Eleonora and I decided to wait for Ruth, but she didn’t come alone. She came with Antonio Sejas (the speaker) and Kat Zarabanda. Long story short, we had ourselves a nice crew to go.

We went and walked a lot to get to Chinatown, and once there, we found a few WordCamp Asia organizers!! The place was quite interesting, as well as what we sang! ????

We sang for hours until they kicked us out, and after that, I escorted Eleonora to her hotel before going to my own.

And just like that, my adventure at WordCamp US 2023 was over. It was great to see fellow friends, was great to help people interested in expanding their services via our hosting, and overall, I felt that this year, compared to last, was significantly better.

Each WordCamp feels different, even if they are the same. This has been my 4th US WordCamp and I have to say it has been amongst the best of them. The city, the venue, the people, the laughs, and even the hard goodbyes are what make this experience so unique.

Until next year!

The post WordCamp US 2023 – Recap appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.

Workshop

Zoom
Saturday, September 23, 2023, 9:30 am -12:00 pm IST (Part 1)
Sunday, September 24, 2023, 9:30 am -12:00 pm IST (Part 2)
Free

About this Event

What do you need to speak at WordPress Meetups and WordCamps?

You need:

• A talk topic
• A well-crafted title
• A great talk description

It also really helps if you:

• Feel like you belong up on the stage
• Can overcome nerves and have stage presence

Some of us have a harder time with this than others. And for women in India, these can be especially challenging.

GreenGeeks is helping the Diverse Speaker Training Group (#WPDiversity) on the WordPress Community Team organize and host a workshop: Speaker Workshop for India Women in the WordPress Community.

This is a workshop for women in India (other countries are welcome to join us, too) who are thinking about speaking at a WordPress Meetup or WordCamp.

When we say women, we include anyone who identifies as a woman some or all of the time.

Does the thought of speaking at a WordPress Meetup or WordCamp intrigue you? The focus of this hands-on, online workshop will be to generate WordPress-related topics to give a talk on.

This includes writing a well-crafted title, boosting your speaking confidence, and overcoming your nerves. Not to mention having a stage presence and allowing you to practice speaking in a safe space.

At the end of the workshop, you will have a few ideas for talks, an outline of one topic, a title, a pitch/proposal for applying to events, and more confidence to get up on stage.

Plus, you’ll have a chance to practice speaking.

You do NOT have to have any experience in public speaking. This workshop is for all levels of experience.

Register now

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is for you if:

• You identify as a woman some or all of the time
• You have thought about speaking at a WordPress Meetup or WordCamp but haven’t been able to think of a topic
• You think you don’t know anything worth speaking about
• You would like to feel more confident about being on stage

This workshop will be two 2.5-hour sessions; Part 1 and Part 2.

We will cover:

Part 1: Saturday, September 23, 2023 (9:30 am -12:00 pm IST):

• Why speak at WordPress Meetup or WordCamps?
• Dispel some myths about speakers/speaking
• Come up with topics and choose one
• Write a meetup description or WordCamp proposal
• Practice speaking in front of a group

Part 2: Sunday, September 24, 2023 (9:30 am -12:00 pm IST):

(Prerequisite: Part 1 on September 23, 2023)

• Come up with a great title
• Write the outline
• Tips on becoming a better speaker
• Practice giving a short talk

Accessibility:

• The workshop will be held in English.
• A live transcript will be available to turn on or off.
• Please let us know if you have any other accessibility needs.

Register now

Why We Are Doing This?

GreenGeeks values diversity, particularly empowering women around the world. We see a world where there is a mix of different organizers and leaders, including a mix of genders.

Public speaking is one of the direct paths that open up great opportunities for people. This is why we are co-organizing this event with #WPDiversity, and working closely with Jill Binder, the lead of the Diverse Speaker Training Group (#WPDiversity), and funding Jill’s work to host this workshop.

This workshop follows our two previous workshops in India that we hosted and helped to organize: Speaker Workshop for Indian Women in the WordPress Community 2022 and Empower Women Speakers For Your WordPress Events in India 2021.

This is the second year in a row that we are holding a workshop of this specific style: working directly with the women in India who are thinking about becoming speakers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to learn. Even if you are confident in public speaking, this workshop can be useful – understanding how to narrow down a topic, how to pitch, and the do’s & don’ts of public speaking. Thank you to the organizers for supporting this & Jill for conducting it and involving all participants.“ – Akshaya Rane, Software Developer, Thane, India

“The feedback process was great. It was a great balance between constructive criticism and praise, so it helps build confidence. The environment is inclusive and the exercises done together help refine our thought process, which is hard to do on your own and without feedback.” – Karishma Sundaram, Content Strategist

Please help us share this event with women in India and nearby countries, and if this workshop is for you, please get your ticket on Eventbrite today!

The post Speaker Workshop for Indian Women in the WordPress Community appeared first on GreenGeeks Blog.