• You may submit up to two (2) different presentation topics.
• Speaker applications are due by Saturday, September 27th.
• You will be notified about your application status by Tuesday, October 1st.
• Final session recordings are due on Wednesday, October 23rd.
• Event broadcast runs October 14-15th.

Every speaker will receive:

• The opportunity to be heard by a broad audience of WooCommerce professionals.
• One (1) comped ticket to attend WordSesh.
• Up to two (2) coaching and review sessions for your approved talk.
• A $250USD honorarium sent via PayPal, ACH, Wire Transfer, or physical check.

• Abide by the event code of conduct.
• Deliver an original-to-you talk that doesn't already exist online (note: it is perfectly okay to repeat a talk you've already delivered if it's been revised or it's not publicly available elsewhere).
• Deliver a run-through of the current draft of your talk two weeks prior to the event.
• Provide a PDF copy of your slides/resources with your recording.
• Participate in audience Q&A via Slack either during or after your presentation.
• You have to know how to spell WordPress and WooCommerce and respect the WordPress logo/trademarks and the WooCommerce logo/trademarks.
• It IS okay to share your products or services, and other products or services.
• It is NOT okay for your talk to be a pitch or entirely self-serving.

Writing an interesting application

• Think of the audience first. What will they learn and why is it useful?
• Everyone loves case studies and actionable tutorials. These are much more useful than general concepts and overview/introductory material.
• Be succinct. Try to limit your talk description to 2-3 exciting sentences. There are plenty of great written introductions across WPSessionsfor reference.
• Create a two minute video pitch to really sell your idea. If you're not sure what to say you can share greater detail about your talk summary. These videos are for internal review and entirely optional, but highly encouraged. Please don't feel intimidated by it – you'll do great!

Not sure what to talk about?

• The audience is a mixture of store builders (people familiar with WooCommerce who do not code) and developers (independent or agency based) with several years experience working with WordPress and WooCommerce.
• Everyone loves an in-depth case study! What problems did you encounter? What didn't work? How did you problem solve? What is the current solution?
• Talks about tool tips, workflows, business practices, and navigating client or customer relationships are always popular.
• Introducing people to WooCommerce-adjacent technologies is very helpful.
• If your talk doesn't fit into one of the generic "talk topics" in the application form, that's okay! Just select "Other" from bottom of the list.

First time speaking? No Problem!

• We offer professional coaching opportunities to help you hone your message and deliver an incredible presentation.
• You have a story to tell – a perspective or experience that is uniquely your own.
• You have knowledge to share and you know more about some topic than a person who hasn't started yet.
• You are excited and passionate about something.
• Watch some videos of past WooSesh talks. Notice how the talks are casual, share personal experiences, and aren't about selling or self-promotion.
• Get amped up reading these inspiring posts:
  • We Are All Awesome
  • Preparing a Tech Talk (and Part 2)
  • Tips for First Time speakers
  • Is Your Proposal Good Enough? (Addendum)