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Supporting
         WordPress
Caring for your clients and community




                            @masonjames   #wcnyc
I’m Mason
I support WordPress
Support Team Leader, WPMU DEV
• Average 1500 unique topics (questions) per month and about
   7000 posts in total.

• Team of 7 full-time support reps from across the globe
• Nearly 150 individual plugins and over a million downloads




                                                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
I’m Mason
I support WordPress
CEO, WP Valet

•   Let us think about WordPress so you don’t have to

•   Management. Support. Peace of mind.

•   You’re very own CTO




                                                        @masonjames   #wcnyc
Learn more!
• WPMU DEV - http://
  premium.wpmudev.org

• WP Valet - http://thewpvalet.com



                                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
WordPress
Support:
1. The Case for Support
2. The Pulse of the Community
3. The Best Tools for the Job
4. The Importance of Metrics
5. Conclusion


                                @masonjames   #wcnyc
You must know why you are
providing support.
The ONLY reason to be involved is because
you have a passion for them and a vision for
the future.




                                    @masonjames   #wcnyc
The Case for Support




               @masonjames   #wcnyc
Long-term customers
and community equals
long-term revenue &
legacy

 f + jg = $$$
               @masonjames   #wcnyc
Publicly available
support is fantastic for
business.

The content is great for search engines and a long
record of support will encourage new customers




                                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
The Pulse of the Community
                  @masonjames   #wcnyc
Discover the persona
of your online
community
Exactly who is your community?

•Quirky/Fun
•Intelligent/Thoughtful
•Passionate/Energetic


                                 @masonjames   #wcnyc
Engage!
• Welcome new members
• Show them of ways they can be more involved
• Answer any questions in a timely fashion
Newsletters | Community Q&A Support | Social Media




                                                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
Listen!
 • Ask for frequent, regular feedback
 • What changes can you make to better the
     experience?

 • Respond immediately and honestly when there is
     a problem
Polls | Customer Survey | Contact Form | Social Media




                                                        @masonjames   #wcnyc
Use all types of
media!
No one wants to read long blocks of text.
Use screenshots and how-to videos to explain the
most frequently encountered obstacles.




                                                   @masonjames   #wcnyc
The Best Tools for the
         Job    @masonjames   #wcnyc
bbPress
•Native Wordpress Support Forums

BuddyPress
•Community Made Easy

                   @masonjames   #wcnyc
REAL WordPress
Hosting
Advantages:

WordPress Updates | Backups | Security Audits

Players:

WP Engine | Page.ly | Synthesis | zippykid


                                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
Ongoing Maintenance
and Plugin/Theme
Updates
• Manage WP - Update plugins/themes
  across multiple installs from one
  incredible dashboard with one click

• WP Remote - Update

                                    @masonjames   #wcnyc
The Importance of Metrics
                 @masonjames   #wcnyc
The edublogs story
• 2007: Initially totally free
• 2008: “Upgrades” - Pay if you want
• 2010: Supporter - Pay for features
 • Dedicated Server Admins
 • Dedicated Support Staff
                                   @masonjames   #wcnyc
WPMU DEV
• 2009 - Forum Support (Dev, Designer,
  Community responses)

• 2010 - First Dedicated Support Staff (ME!)
• 2012 - Q&A, 24/7 Support, Live Chats
 • 7 person team located across the globe
 • Focus on Community
                                    @masonjames   #wcnyc
@masonjames   #wcnyc
@masonjames   #wcnyc
Conclusion




             @masonjames   #wcnyc
Ongoing support is
not optional.

It’s critical to your
success.


                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
Happy clients = lasting
business




                     @masonjames   #wcnyc
Thanks so much!
Mason James
@masonjames
http://masonjames.com
http://premium.wpmudev.org
http://thewpvalet.com


Slides by Slidefix at http://slidefix.com


                                          @masonjames   #wcnyc

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Supporting Wordpress

  • 1. Supporting WordPress Caring for your clients and community @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 2. I’m Mason I support WordPress Support Team Leader, WPMU DEV • Average 1500 unique topics (questions) per month and about 7000 posts in total. • Team of 7 full-time support reps from across the globe • Nearly 150 individual plugins and over a million downloads @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 3. I’m Mason I support WordPress CEO, WP Valet • Let us think about WordPress so you don’t have to • Management. Support. Peace of mind. • You’re very own CTO @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 4. Learn more! • WPMU DEV - http:// premium.wpmudev.org • WP Valet - http://thewpvalet.com @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 5. WordPress Support: 1. The Case for Support 2. The Pulse of the Community 3. The Best Tools for the Job 4. The Importance of Metrics 5. Conclusion @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 6. You must know why you are providing support. The ONLY reason to be involved is because you have a passion for them and a vision for the future. @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 7. The Case for Support @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 8. Long-term customers and community equals long-term revenue & legacy f + jg = $$$ @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 9. Publicly available support is fantastic for business. The content is great for search engines and a long record of support will encourage new customers @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 10. The Pulse of the Community @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 11. Discover the persona of your online community Exactly who is your community? •Quirky/Fun •Intelligent/Thoughtful •Passionate/Energetic @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 12. Engage! • Welcome new members • Show them of ways they can be more involved • Answer any questions in a timely fashion Newsletters | Community Q&A Support | Social Media @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 13. Listen! • Ask for frequent, regular feedback • What changes can you make to better the experience? • Respond immediately and honestly when there is a problem Polls | Customer Survey | Contact Form | Social Media @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 14. Use all types of media! No one wants to read long blocks of text. Use screenshots and how-to videos to explain the most frequently encountered obstacles. @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 15. The Best Tools for the Job @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 16. bbPress •Native Wordpress Support Forums BuddyPress •Community Made Easy @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 17. REAL WordPress Hosting Advantages: WordPress Updates | Backups | Security Audits Players: WP Engine | Page.ly | Synthesis | zippykid @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 18. Ongoing Maintenance and Plugin/Theme Updates • Manage WP - Update plugins/themes across multiple installs from one incredible dashboard with one click • WP Remote - Update @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 19. The Importance of Metrics @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 20. The edublogs story • 2007: Initially totally free • 2008: “Upgrades” - Pay if you want • 2010: Supporter - Pay for features • Dedicated Server Admins • Dedicated Support Staff @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 21. WPMU DEV • 2009 - Forum Support (Dev, Designer, Community responses) • 2010 - First Dedicated Support Staff (ME!) • 2012 - Q&A, 24/7 Support, Live Chats • 7 person team located across the globe • Focus on Community @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 22. @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 23. @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 24. Conclusion @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 25. Ongoing support is not optional. It’s critical to your success. @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 26. Happy clients = lasting business @masonjames #wcnyc
  • 27. Thanks so much! Mason James @masonjames http://masonjames.com http://premium.wpmudev.org http://thewpvalet.com Slides by Slidefix at http://slidefix.com @masonjames #wcnyc

Editor's Notes

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  4. \n
  5. \n
  6. Your passion becomes your community’s. A community is a living organism. Listen for the heartbeat.\n
  7. \n
  8. Free as in speech. not free as in beer. It’s ok (and often a necessity) to make a profit. Community allows you to build something that is profitable and lasting.\n
  9. \n
  10. \n
  11. \n
  12. \n
  13. \n
  14. \n
  15. Practical elements. What’s out there to help you get the job done?\n
  16. The two biggest WordPress players.\n
  17. Providing the best support means using the best solutions. Choosing the right hosting provider for your business or community is the difference between smooth sailing and late nights of pulling out hair.\n
  18. Heartbeat - Projecting it across a distance\n
  19. Stats aren’t just for sales. They help you gauge your support needs as well as how you’re doing\n
  20. \n
  21. Next up: Examples\n
  22. \n
  23. \n
  24. \n
  25. \n
  26. \n
  27. \n