Manchester Wordpress Users’ Group, January 16th, MDDA
Posted on January 17th, 2008 at 11:24
Yesterday evening saw the inaugural meeting of a new Wordpress users' group, organised by Alan Holding of the Manchester Digital Development Agency.
The first session was relaxed and informal. Freelance designer and serial WP-user Leanda Ryan gave a presentation on WP templates that emphasised the great flexibility and adaptability of the even the basic WP installation, and Alan followed up with a few pointers on security. The group responded well, with several members chipping in with advice and suggestions as to useful bits of third-party software, several of which I've added to the ever-growing list of useful bits of software that I really need to check out one day soon...
Alan then asked for volunteers to do a spot of show-and-tell (bribing us with the offer of a free Wordpress t-shirt in the process!) and so I stepped up and ran through a few of the sites in my current portfolio - emphasising as I usually do that they might not be the bees-knees in terms of graphic design, but by heck, they work - and hopefully helping to demonstrate a range of uses that WP can be put to.
Next to volunteer was Paul Fabretti from Stockport agency KMP (see also their Daily Digital blog), who demonstrated two of the aforementioned third-party software suites that he'd recommended earlier, namely Qumana and Windows Live Writer, the latter of which Paul definitely recommends if you have a client who's nervous about the WP interface and would prefer something a little more familiar-looking, as well as well-stocked with helpful editing features. Definitely sounds like one to try.
Nathan Beck, another local freelance designer, then showed us his own portfolio site, which is built on WP but looks completely unlike the 'standard' column-based blog format. Again, demonstrating the versatility of the product. Nathan also mentioned a means of integrating WP, PHPBB and Gallery into a three-in-one community site; something that sounds very interesting. I'll have to drop him a line and see if he can offer any pointers in that direction.
All in all a very good introductory session to a group that should build into a very good opportunity for relevant knowledge-sharing and networking. Hopefully I'll be able to make the next few sessions and get to know a few fellow WP-fans from the area a bit better. And of course, it's always good to be able to swap notes and ideas with someone on the same wavelength.
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7 Responses to “Manchester Wordpress Users’ Group, January 16th, MDDA”
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Glad you enjoyed it. There's still some t-shirts left, by the way. :)
Darren
Great review - glad you mentioned that we were BRIBED to present our wares! I am writing this form the MDDA offices at the "so you want to be a blogstar" event. Alan just pointed me to your article.
Great summary! I think we have found our first guest-author.
See you in March.
Paul
Alan - more bribery material for the next session... although I might need to upgrade to a baseball cap or something.
Paul - Guest-author? I'm intrigued... please do feel free to drop me a line and tell me more, unless it's something that can wait for the next MWPUG session?
Hey Darren, nice write-up, that really summed it up. It was a good night. I wish I could find the time to really do some blogging, this is an excellent site you've got.
I don't know about you but my t-shirt was too small! I'm so dissapointed...
Take care, I look forward to seeing you again in March.
Nathan
Cheers Nathan, much appreciated! And I'll definitely be trying to make it to the next session, it's got the potential to develop into a really good group, I reckon.
My t-shirt is still in the packet at the moment - the cat has decided it makes a comfortable cushion... but long-term it'll probably be donated to the missus' gym-kit collection. I reckon Alan snaffled all the XL sizes before we got there... :)
FYI - My t-shirt is massive!!!
You went for the XXL, then? :)