For the first time, WordCamp Miami is posting an online update regarding our speaker submissions. To be clear at the present time NOT EVERYONE has been confirmed to be a speaker (or not a speaker) but we wanted to get some information out publicly for the sake of some transparency. A link to this post will be sent to all those that applied to speak via our online form.
All-Time Record Of Submissions
We experienced close to 240 speaker submission this year, which is a new record. That is an honor to have that number of submission for a WordCamp – and we are happy to have that kind of variety of people and topics. As you can imagine, with only about 60-70 slots available that means only 1/4 of the submissions can be accepted.
Emails, Emails, Emails
An improvement over last year is us sending “your submission is under review” emails to those submitting (we did this two times during the selection process). It’s difficult to keep speakers updated more than that, but we definitely good feedback that those kinds of emails were welcome.
In addition, it’s our policy to send an email out to EVERY person who submitted via our official online form. The acceptance emails are pretty much the same (outside of some minor details related to the talk). The emails stating we couldn’t accept the speaker are also short and sweet. We try to mention any particular reason why the sessions submitted weren’t accepted if we can, but many times it just boils down to a few innocent reasons (see below). Sending out these emails takes alot of time and energy.
Reasons Why Applications Weren’t Accepted
A few people ask, so we figure we would share common reasons why applications are not accepted (outside, again, of the sheer fact that we don’t have slots for everyone). The vast majority (>95%) of ones that get a confirmation that they have been selected this time around fall into one of these three categories:
– Simply too many talks submitted with the same subject. This is the most common reason, and you can’t blame this really on anyone. But sadly with an event like ours if you are looking for (let’s say as a random example) an SEO talk… and there are 40 SEO talks submitted by qualified speakers… you can only realistically pick one.
– Some submitted talks interested us greatly, but simply wasn’t relatable to attendees of a WordCamp event. Random example (this was NOT submitted): how to build a toaster (if there’s a toaster conference though, we know who to recommend).
– Format changes for our 10th anniversary event (such as adding a keynote) removed spots in our schedule that would have otherwise gone to other speakers.
It’s the nature of the beast that with large conferences the odds aren’t in your favor, sometimes if you submit multiple talks. Highly suggested reading: Speakers And Organizers: Dealing With Conference Rejections. If you among not sadly not accepted this round, there’s some good pointers there.
Other Recommended Places To Submit
If you are looking to give talks to other WordCamps in sunny Florida and Georgia (general Southeast), we would recommending checking out these:
WordCamp Jacksonville – https://2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org (at the time of this writing, no call for speakers yet but looks to be soon)
WordCamp Atlanta – https://2018.atlanta.wordcamp.org/speak-at-wordcamp-atlanta/ (looks like they are closing the call soon)
WordCamp Orlando – https://2018.orlando.wordcamp.org/ – happens late in the year, usually around November.
Meetups
If you are local to the South Florida area, we highly encourage you to give those same submitted talks at your local WordPress meetups. Speaking at a local WordPress meetup is an excellent way to demonstrate that you are interested in supporting the local WordPress community, which is what WordCamps primarily focus on.
No matter where you are, find your local meetups and give your talks there. Some speakers come recommended to us just by the fact they gave a presentation at a local meetup that impressed enough people to made to our ears.
Speaker Announcements
Please help us spread the word about all the speaker announcements coming out. That not only shows support for the conference, but those speakers that got selected. There are going to be quite a number of speakers that are new to speaking at WordCamp Miami, or new to speaking at a WordCamp period.
More Information
We hope to share more information about our submissions – we will likely share some interesting stats Saturday (March 17th) during our opening remarks or during our closing remarks on Sunday March 18th.
Thank You
We sincerely want to thank EVERYONE who submitted a talk. If you were not accepted this year PLEASE SUBMIT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. WordCamp Miami is dedicated to locating new speakers locally and from around the world. Feel free to get in touch with us after April if you want to pick our brains on future submitted talks.