Aleksander Kuczek is going to guide us through the new WordPress plugin directory

The WordPress plugin directory has been redesigned and revamped. a lot of things have changed and at a glance you might feel a little confused. Don’t worry though, Aleksander is coming all the way from Poland to guide us through the changes.

The purpose of this session is to share knowledge on how to use the new WordPress Plugin Directory to find the best plugins you need for the website you build. Additionally, it’s meant to help plugin developers to prepare their plugins for the upcoming implementation of WordPress Plugin Directory 3.0. Join the session and discover possibilities hidden in the new directory.

Do_action.org – The WordPress Hackathon for Charity comes to Pune!

There are a lot of good things that are done in this world thanks to non-profit organisations. They serve society and try to make sense of the crazy world we live in.

While many non-profits organisations do attract a lot of talent, they often find getting a helping hand from tech experts difficult. This is true especially for small and focused non-profits.

How often have you heard of a impressive non-profit but found they had no presence online?

d0_action: A WordPress Hackathon for charity in Pune

All of us involved with Pune WordPress Knowledge Exchange, are happy and proud to welcome to the first ever do_action WordPress Charity Hackathon in India.

What is do_action?

do_action is a function used through out WordPress. The idea of this event and the name of this function match perfectly. This WordPress charity hackathon started initially in Cape Town, South Africa.

It will the held in Pune, and in fact the whole of India for the first time.

You can read more on the do_action about page.

do_action hackathons are community-organised events that are focussed on using WordPress to give deserving charitable organisations their own online presence. Each do_action event includes participants from the local WordPress community coming together to plan and build brand new websites for a number of local organisations in one day.

What do we do?

  1. As WordPress enthusiasts, we help non-profits build a WordPress powered solution– get a website or setup a payment gateway, set up a simple WooCommerce store, etc.
  2. We also conduct live training and workshops for members of such non-profits and other WordPress newbies and beginners (Beginner’s Workshops). So, you can learn WordPress.
  3. You can help solve the participant’s queries and in understanding how to use WordPress. (Beginner’s Happiness Bar)
  4. You can also contribute to the WordPress project during your time there.

Who can participate?

Individuals

Anyone who can help build a WordPress website. Bloggers, programmers and administrators, anyone who knows how to build a basic WordPress website or teach someone how to use WordPress can contribute. Experts and newcomers, are all welcome.

Teams

If you are an agency or a team, you can participate as a team and help build WordPress solutions for non-profits.

Non-Profits

If you are or know a non-profit that can benefit from this initiative, please fill out the application form here. Otherwise, get in touch with the organisers on FacebookTwitter or mail to us at [email protected].

When & where is do_action?

It is scheduled on 14th January 201710am to 4pm.

Thanks to ThoughtWorks

This event will take place on 14th January, 2017. It will be conducted at the ThoughtWorks office in Pune.

Internet and space has been sponsored by ThoughtWorks and like last year they have been excellent supporters and very thoughtful in helping out the local WordPress community conduct workshops and hackathons.

Thanks SlideDeck, our Silver Sponsors, for being “responsive” to our call

SlideDeck is one of the longest established premium slider plugins available for WordPress. It is a versatile and easy to use slider with social media and animation. You can pull in any type of visual social media into your WordPress site in an aesthetic way.

Check it in action: www.slidedeck.com/demo

Making Student Discounts Simpler

The reason WordCamp Pune gives discounts to students is because we feel they are the key to popularising WordPress and growing the community. We remember our own student days when we had to convince our parents for every small expense. So, we felt a discount would help a little in making things slightly easy.

How to get a student discount from ₹500 to ₹350?

  • Take a photo of/ scan your ID
  • Fill some long form.
  • Send a mail.

Nah, that was too complicated. What were we thinking? 🙁

Now

  1. Use coupon STUDENT
  2. Carry a valid & current ID from your institution for a government recognised course.

I’ll take the discount and claim I forgot my ID (evil laughter)

Your course has to be government recognised. If it isn’t, you won’t be allowed inside the venue. Don’t come to WCPune without a valid college ID, if you use this coupon.

We’ll entertain no reasons, excuses or anything else and we won’t be able to give you any of our time on that day. Sorry!

Introducing WordCamp Pune Radio

Subah ke nau baje hain aur aap sun rahe hain WordCamp Pune Radio. Garma garam chai aur nashte se shuruwat karte hain WordCamp Pune 2017 ki!

Well, first of all it’s not an actual radio station! It’s just a venue wide public address system; basically just a number of speakers spread throughout the WordCamp Pune venue.

PA system

Through a central location, we will broadcast reminders and updates throughout the day so that you know what’s happening when and where, and don’t miss out on anything.

Since, it’s a multi-track, multi-activity WordCamp, this is also going to be the common MC for all the tracks and activities – introducing speakers, sessions, Happiness Bar rotations and much more.

In addition, we’ll be using the WCPune Radio to broadcast prize announcements (for the Bingo, for instance), open conference sessions, lost and found announcements, ( as if you don’t have mobile phones! 😉 ) etc.

We’ll also try and have a little fun and maybe play a little copyright free, public domain music too. We promise it won’t be too loud and we promise it won’t be too intrusive and we promise it will enhance and augment your experience of WordCamp Pune 2017.

Isabelle Garcia is here to document our views on WordPress in India “and” show us how to vlog with WordPress

Instead of talking much about this session, let’s hear about this 2-in-1 session from Isabelle herself:

I am a digital nomad from France. I have been traveling WordCamps since one year creating  small video interviews with speakers, volunteers and attendees. I had the chance to run into a few representatives of the WordPress Asian community. Inspired by WordCamp US and WordCamp Europe, they all shared their hopes of a “WordCamp Asia.”

Until this happens, I want to carry on this conversation with you, WordPress fellows of India! I want to hear from you what is your experience with WordPress in this country? What are your challenges? What are your opportunities? How is WordPress growing? How do you contribute to it?

During the first part of the talk, we will record a series of video interviews together where I will ask you to answer these questions for me. I will show you how easy it is, with just a few pieces of equipment and a smartphone to shoot simple footage that you can then edit to post on your WordPress Blog or social media.

On the second part of the talk, we will use this footage to edit a little documentary about “WordPress in India.” We will use the plugin VINUBIS Video Editor to do this. I will do a little demo for you so that you will be able to see how easy it is to edit video with this plugin, right onto your WordPress blog!

Presenting the entries for the T-shirt Design Contest

In all, we received 11 entries from 7 people; two of them sent in more than one design. Two of the entries were sent in by members of the organising team.

Everyone on this list gets one free ticket to WCPune, whether we choose your design for the official t-shirt or not. If you’ve already bought a ticket, you can pass on the free ticket to a friend or acquaintance!

For all WCPune attendees, feast your eyes on the submitted designs and let us know what you think of them in the comments. We named the designs ourselves, the designers just let their work speak. 😉 We’ll be finalising and announcing our selection within a couple of days.

Do make sure to follow these talented folks on twitter or share your appreciation with them when you see them at WordCamp Pune 2017

1. WordPress Network by Arvind Baraskar

 

by Arvind Baraskar

Aren’t WordCamps all about WordPress and Networking, just like this design. And oh, the WordPress blue!

2. Mandali by Ganesh Kerkar

by Ganesh Kerkar

Wapsara finally gets the whole troupe and they will perform the tamasha for you. Cuteness multiplied by five!

3. Shades of Pune by Kaushik Baroliya

by Kaushik Baroliya

Shaniwarwada and the typical Pune flag make it very clear where the event is. Calm, soothing and interesting at the same time!

4. Wapsara Aali by Premanshu Manghirmalani

by Premanshu Manghirmalani
This design lets our mascot Wapsara shine in her full glory. Simple, elegant and clear. Wapsara aali re aali.

5. Express, Impress, WordPress by Premanshu Manghirmalani

by Premanshu Manghirmalani

You know exactly what this t-shirt is about. Hint: The software that we all love!

6. I heart WP by Premanshu Manghirmalani

by Premanshu Manghirmalani

Who are we? WordPressers. What do we love? WordPress. When do we show it? WordCamp Pune!

7. Dashicons by Sanyog Shelar

by Sanyog Shelar

You’d never feel out of place when the familiar dashicons from the WordPress dashboard are on your t-shirt. Simple, easily recognisable, this t-shirt says WordPress!

8. A Day in Pune by Smita Dabir

by Smita Dabir

What do you do in Pune? Have a glass of Mastani, a plate of piping hot misal, visit Shaniwarwada. If you’re not sure, just use this t-shirt as a checklist and enjoy your time in Pune!

9. Laya Bhari by Smita Dabir

by Smita Dabir

So Puneri that only Poona folks will get this completely. Lay Bhari = Super Awesome Great Shakes X 1000!

10. Back to Basics by Smita Dabir

by Smita Dabir

No frills, no pretensions, no message. Just WordCamp Pune 2017!

11. Made in Pune by Rashmi Sonawane

by RSTech

This comes from an anonymous designer known only as RSTech. Mysteries aside, it is simple, elegant and very similar to our t-shirt last year. Consistency!

We have a friend in BuddyBoss, our Bronze sponsors

BuddyBoss helps entrepreneurs to create successful BuddyPress communities. We build and sell a suite of products for building social networks, including themes, plugins and packaged solutions. We have a team of specialized designers and developers who understand BuddyPress inside and out. Oh, and we’re hiring.

Our goal is to spread the word about BuddyPress, to contribute to the BuddyPress community, and to help organizations build fantastic, lively communities for their fans and followers.

10 reasons why sponsoring WCPune is a great idea

If you are watching WCPune and wondering whether you should sponsor it, here are a couple of reasons that we feel will help you make a decision.

We do everything that every WordCamp and other web conferences do: excellent sessions, awesome speakers, great networking. And we do more:

#1 The largest WordCamp

WCPune 2015 Attendance

With 500 participants from 6 countries, WCPune 2015 was the largest WordCamp in India in terms of the sheer size. With the same number expected for this year, it’s a chance to engage and interact with 500 enthusiastic WordPress professionals. Very few conferences will give you such a targeted audience, don’t you agree?

#2 The most progressive, inclusive, interactive and experimental WordCamp

Panel Discussion at WCPune 2015

It’s the only multi-track, multi-activity WordCamp in India. There’s something for everyone.

WCPune was the first to move away from traditional lecture like talks and continues to be the fisrt to start more interactive & experimental activities like Panel Discussions, Debates, QnAs, Interviews, BOF sessions, AMAs, etc.

We have more out of session and in the lobby activities, right where your booths are. It’s not just a conference, it’s a community gathering and event.

The only WordCamp in India with scholarships and discounts for women, students and other under-represented groups. We try our level best to include participants that you might never meet at other events.

It’s the only WordCamp in India that started sessions in Marathi & Hindi to ensure better participation and larger reach for you.

Don’t you think you should encourage such creativity and innovation? Won’t you like to be a part and one of the reasons for such an unparalleled experience for the WordPress community in India?

#3 Organised by the most active WordPress community in India

Pune WordPress Knowledge Exchange

With regular meetups, workshops, training sessions, translation sprints, etc Pune WordPress Knowledge Exchange is the largest (more than 1500 members) and the most active community (more than one meetup a month) in India.

You are not just supporting one event but the whole community in their activities around the year. Simply put, Pune is where most of the WordPress action is! You don’t want to miss all this action, do you?

#4 Engagement by design, not by chance

WordCamp Opening event with Sponsors’ Bingo & Speaker Introduction Quiz will happen in the lobby where sponsor stall are located.

Bingo with Sponsors is an activity designed to make your interaction with attendees fun and engaging.

We started the selfie station at WordCamps in India and it was always crowded and the backdrop could include your brand. You get to be a part of social media posts that get shared organically way more than any advertisement that you’d ever spend on.

Why would you miss out such an opportunity?

#5 Strategic Table Location

We don’t just set a sponsorship area and place your table there and hope that people will come visit you. The organisers of WCPune give a lot of thought on how to make sure that our sponsors have the best chance to interact with the attendees and vice versa:

Your tables will literally be at the center of things, between the conference area and the food area and surrounding the Happiness Bar & Networking area.

Venue Layout

Water stations and tea & coffee stations are strategically placed near sponsor tables so that you have more footfalls.

We’ll make sure you’re tired from talking and interacting with our participants by the end of the day! 😉 We’re sure you’d love that, won’t you?

#6 Meet business decision makers

Attendance Chart WordCamp Pune 2015
Attendance Chart: WordCamp Pune 2015

The majority of attendees at WCPune 2015 (almost 250) identified themselves as developers or managers. Of the 160 odd tickets sold till now (and there’s still a month left), about 100 identify themselves to be in the same category. Add to that a number of self-employed bloggers and you’ve got a whole bunch of people who make or are are primary influencers in business decisions.

Attendee Distribution 2017

 

That’s almost the same as the total strength of most web related events in India. Where else will you find such a specific niche audience?

#7 You’ll be in good company

You’d get to meet your fellow sponsors who share the same enthusiasm for the WordPress community and probably are in the same business.

You get to network with Speakers and Organisers in a speaker-sponsor pre-event dinner. Each of them are leaders and influencers in their own right.

See the list of sponsors, speakers & attendees. Why would you want to miss that?

#8 Get massive pre-event reach

FB Page Insights

 

Our reach and engagement of social networks reaches 1000s on people with every post. Our website gets more than 500 visits daily. We reach more people organically via our marketing than many events do with massive advertising budgets. Wouldn’t you want to capitalise on such a reach?

#9 Fits your budget

Choose from a slot that’s comfortable and affordable for you:

  • Gold: ₹50,000
  • Silver: ₹25,000
  • Bronze: ₹10,000
  • Agency: ₹5,000
  • Individual: ₹2,000

That’s a steal compared to any other web conference in India. If you can spend lakhs on big budget events and get much less, you surely can spend a couple of thousands and get much more organic engagement, we think. Don’t you agree?

#10 WordCamp Radio

PA system

A novel concept at WordCamps, we are going to have a venue wide Public Address system where we announce updates, scheduled activities and thank you’s to sponsors throughout the day.

You’ll reach everyone, no matter where they are at the venue, on the day of the event. Where else would you get that?

It’s time to start planning your WCPune trip!

WordCamp Pune is less than a month away. If you haven’t made your travel itinerary yet, now’s a great time to start!
Below is a list of hotels around the venue. Booking your stay well in advance is a great way to knock a few bucks off the price. If you are travelling in a group, most hotels will make further allowances for multiple bookings.
You can hit us up on Twitter (@WordCampPune) if you need help planning your stay.

5 star ( ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ )

ST Laurn Hotel (2.5km)

15 A, Koregaon Road
Phone: 020 4000 8000
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 4,500

Vivanta By Taj – Blue Diamond (2.5km)

11, Koregaon Road
Phone: 020 6602 5555
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 5,525

Le Méridien Pune (3.1km)

Raja Bahadur Mill Road
Phone: 020 6641 1111
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 7,140

The O Hotel (2.8km)

North Main Road, Koregaon Park
Phone: 020 4001 1000
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 8,000

Conrad Pune (800m)

7, Mangaldas Rd, Sangamvadi
Phone: 020 6745 6745
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 8,499
4 star ( ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ )

Hotel Sagar Plaza (1.7km)

1, Bund Garden Rd, Sangamvadi
Phone: 020 2620 5000
Rooms start from‎ ( SPECIAL OFFER ): ₹ 2,800

Aurora Towers Hotel (2km)

No.9, Moledina Road
Phone: 020 2613 1818
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 4,000

Royal Orchid Golden Suites (4km)

Golden Nest, Opp. Cerebrum IT Park, Kalyani Nagar
Phone: 020 4000 7000
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 4,000

 

3 star ( ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ )

Hotel Woodland (2km)

B J Road, Sadhu Vaswani Circle, Near Pune Railway Station
Phone: 020 2621 2121
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,500

Hotel Phoenix (5.5km)

Shop No. B1/1,Opp. Satellite Tower, Koregaon Park extension
Phone: 020 6687 2000
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,800

The Central Park Hotel (1.5km)

Near Inox Multiplex, Bund Garden Rd, Agarkar Nagar
Phone: 020 4010 4000
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 3,200

Hotel Studio Estique (2km)

Amar Avinash Corporate Plaza, Near Inox Multiplex, Bund Garden Road
Phone: 020 4018 8444
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 3,960

 

2 star ( ⭐ ⭐ )

Hotel Meru (1.7 km)

Dhole Patil Road, Behind Ruby Hospital, Boat Club
Phone: 020 6560 1616
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 1140

Hotel Sapna (4.7km)

573/7, Jangli Maharaj Road, Next to Sambhaji Park, Opposite Shiv Sagar Restaurant
Phone: 020 6800 1455
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,000

 

1 star ( ⭐ )

Treebo Sahara (6.9km)

Sr No 106/3a, Opp. J W Marriott, Senapati Bapat Road, Shivaji Nagar
Phone: 093 2280 0100
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,294
Service Apartments

Hotel Shivam (1.4km)

12, Wilson Garden, Near Pune Railway Station
Phone: 020 2613 7593  For Query
080 3966 4713 For Booking Rooms
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 1,495

Hotel Madhav International (2.5km)

6 A, Ramabai Ambedkar Road, Near Pune Railway, Station Tadiwala Road, Agarkar Nagar
Phone: 020 2605 9118
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,000

Valencia Hospitality Service Apartments (5.5km)

Kalyani Nagar

Shree Balaji Service Apartment (5.5km)

Shastrinagar, Yerawada

Apple Tree Apartments (4.3km)

410, Dee Bee Tower, 1st floor, lane, 5, S Main Rd, Koregaon Park
Phone: 098 6036 7777
Rooms start from‎ ₹ 2,000
Other Options

Hotel Sudarshan (5km)

Plot No.18, Lane No.7, HDFC Bank Lane,Kalyani Nagar
Phone: Tel. 020 4004 6273 / 74 / 75
Mob.: 097 6222 2375 / 98 2265 0140

Hotel Lotus (4.2km)

Opp Rajat Rashmi Apartment, Lane No. 5, Koregaon Park
Phone: 098 2265 0141