This is the fifth post in a series to help you get to know our WordCamp Sacramento organizers a little better!
So far, we have introduced you to Bill Mead, Brian Bourn, Jake Goldman, and Heather Hogan. Today we’re introducing you to Jennifer Bourn. Be sure to give Jennifer at shout out on Twitter and don’t forget to use our hashtag #wcsac.
Get To Know Jennifer
Jennifer Bourn is the founder and creative director for Bourn Creative. She is an award-winning designer with a penchant for writing, white space, chocolate, and Legos. She has been in the design, web, and digital strategy trenches since 1997, working with corporations, casinos, professional sports teams, magazines, creative agencies, political campaigns, small to medium-size businesses, and entrepreneurs alike.
Today she is a sought-after consultant for brand, website, and digital strategy, and specializes in brand development and WordPress theme design. When not obsessing over pixels, margins, and type, Jennifer manages the Bourn Creative brand, writes for several marketing blogs including GoDaddy and WP Elevation, co-organizes the Sacramento WordPress Meetup group, speaks regularly at both virtual and live events across the country, and is excited to help bring Sacramento’s first WordCamp to life.
WordPress Q&A With Jennifer
Why WordPress? Why do you use it?
Before WordPress I used a private-label CMS that was the best solution at the time, but it was clunky, difficult to use, and completely inflexible. While clients could edit their content, it was cumbersome, and that is all they could do. When I found WordPress, I quickly saw the power it gave to both designers and developers AND our clients. WordPress as a platform, provides immense flexibility and puts site owners in control of their own sites.
I also fell in love with the community. I had been connected to many WordPress folks through various social media channels and blogs, but it only took one WordCamp, to fall head-over-heels in love.
What is your favorite thing/feature in WordPress?
I love that WordPress allows site owners to make revisions to their site whenever they want, without having to call a designer or developer. WordPress allows us to have long term, ongoing relationships with our clients, and keep our time and budget focused on things that matter most, instead of minor content-related revisions.
I also love that I can do anything I can imagine with WordPress. With the right knowledge, tools, team, and budget, you can imagine, design, and build anything you can think of.
Share 1-2 plugins you use often and think people need to know about.
We don’t typically use plugins, but when we do it is usually for marketing purposes. JetPack is a common go-to for client sites because it is easy to use and offers a lot of things they want (like the Publicize module) with in a single plugin.
On pretty much every site, we use Yoast SEO (formerly WordPress SEO). It’s the gold standard for search engine optimization when it comes to WordPress. I wouldn’t use anything else.
And I highly recommend you invest in Post Promoter Pro for publishing and scheduling blog posts to social media right from your post editor.
How has the community made a difference for you or influenced you?
The WordPress community has changed my life for the better. As long as it exists, I will be part of it. I mentioned that it only took one WordCamp for me to fall in love, and that it purely because of the people.
The WordPress community is made up of the most kind, generous, giving, and supportive people I have ever met, and some of the smartest, most dedicated, most talented, people I have ever met. In my own personal experience, what is truly special about the community as a whole is the willingness of people to give and share. They share ideas, knowledge, code, tutorials, advice, and business savvy. They offer support, motivation, help, resources, and time. They give without expecting anything in return. They teach others and lead by example, believing that a rising tide lifts all boats.
This community has given me amazing friendships and opportunities to grow as a person, as a designer, and as a business owner, and I hope that as a community member, I can do the same for others.
What makes Sacramento awesome? Why should people be excited to come to Sacramento for WordCamp?
It’s the state capitol! As the California state capitol and the location of gold discovery that kicked off the Gold Rush, Sacramento has a rich cultural scene with museums, living history events, tours, and more.
With a quickly growing, passionate startup and tech scene, it boasts an active and vibrant community dedicated to the arts, music, design, and technology. As the farm-to-fork capitol of the United States, it also offers a major foodie scene with amazing restaurants, lots of food festivals, and a dynamic nightlife.
What’s not to love?!