WordPress, WooCommerce and content marketing - these are the strengths of Michael Firnkes, who is now supporting the Raidboxes team. So you can look forward to new articles, e-books and professional tips from him. So that you know who exactly is behind the new content, we asked Michael a few questions.
How did you come to WordPress?
Originally purely as a blogger. I had to look it up first: I started my first blog in 2007 (God, I'm getting old)), alongside my actual job. The whole thing was successful quite quickly and I became self-employed with my blogs. Back then, it was still easy to make a living from it. At most, you got headwinds from the community, like at my first WordCamp session on "Making money with blogs". The good old blogosphere.
Today it's exactly the opposite, with monetization topics being among the most visited. Much of the private blogosphere is now clearly too optimized and too profit-oriented for me. Along the lines of "get rich quick with no effort" - *yawn*. Of course, it has helped me professionally. I gained all my knowledge about online and content marketing through blogging.
As a computer scientist, I quickly "slipped" into the WP scene. Among other things, I helped organize WP Camps in Berlin (we weren't allowed to call it a WordCamp). This was followed by jobs for WordPress and WooCommerce companies: The virus had infected me.
What brings you to Raidboxes and what will you be doing in the team?
After five years of professional blogging for a company, I wanted a change of perspective. One thing was clear: I wanted to return to the world of WordPress and WooCommerce. I had already recognized Raidboxes as an exciting company at WordCamps.
New job?#waswithWP #waswithblogging #spoiler #freu #detailsfollow pic.twitter.com/sW5lM6y0aZ
- Michael Firnkes ?? (@MichaelFirnkes) April 4, 2019
In addition to my job, I also give seminars on blog and content marketing, mostly for larger companies. They often say: "We'd love to use WordPress, but IT won't let us". Good and secure hosting is the basic prerequisite for WordPress to establish itself in the pro environment. I like Raidboxes' mission to support freelancers, agencies and start-ups. When I heard that the team was looking for content support, I was immediately interested.
Together with Leefke, I take care of content marketing and the blog, especially WooCommerce.
What is your first impression?
Professional work, with a great team. At my last employer, I worked purely from home and rarely saw my colleagues. I really enjoy working remotely. It gives me the peace and quiet I need, especially when blogging. But I've realized that I miss the togetherness. I won't be in Münster very often, as I'm writing from home again (now in Freiburg). But much more often than before.
Tip: Michael knows the challenges of working remotely or from a (temporary) home office. Read his article Remote working: Advantages and disadvantages for employees and companies.
And I now work in a small but excellent marketing team. This means that I get professional feedback on my content, can develop the so-called content strategy together and put it to the test. I know what a great service company blogs can provide. But only if they focus on added value and personality. This is already the case with Raidboxes. That was the basic requirement and the most important argument for my application.
What are you most looking forward to?
In addition to working with colleagues: The return to the WordCamps, now also to the WCEU in Berlin. That had fallen asleep for me over the last two years. There are a few people I want to say hello to 🙂 And that I can deepen my knowledge and contacts in the direction of WooCommerce. I still hope that a small community will form in D/A/CH at some point, just like with WordPress. However, WooCommerce users "tick" differently. Let's see, maybe I can contribute to that.
Apart from that, I'm looking forward to writing books again. That was also my entry into the blogging world back then with "Blog Boosting". I no longer have the time to write real publishing books, but I will create one or two e-books for Raidboxes.
Which (WordPress) topics are you currently most interested in?
At first I cursed Gutenberg on my private blog, but now I love it. it today. Collaboration in blogging has long been a dream of networked authors. I'm excited to see where the journey will take us.
I still have to get to grips with the topic of WordPress & WooCommerce hosting myself. I do have a sound basic knowledge, but my blogs were hosted by various cheap hosters - due to a lack of alternatives at the time. However, I know how much better you can do with support, just like with Raidboxes 😉
And I am observing how WooCommerce users are becoming more professional. The days when the system was only suitable for small stores are over. WordPress as a basis and "blog CMS" is perfect. Because every online store - like every portal in general - needs very good content to be able to keep up with Amazon & Co. to even a certain extent. I blogged about it here.
In other words: I'm looking forward to webshops that finally no longer just offer meaningless product descriptions and horrible usability. The first ones have already understood this game. In this respect, blogging and selling online is a perfect combination.
What do you do when you're not blogging?
I'm looking after my little family, out and about in the vineyards in the Kaiserstuhl, or taking a break online to meditate and do yoga. In other words, the exact opposite. It helps me to "come down". And to stop thinking online 24/7. I now consciously switch off the computer from time to time. Since then, I've become much more structured and enjoy writing more again.
After a long break, I'm also blogging privately again, albeit irregularly. I can pursue my passion both professionally and privately, that's the beauty of blogging and WordPress 🙂
Dear Michael, thank you very much for the interview. We are very excited about your valuable input for content marketing and look forward to our readers finding more content on the topic of "WooCommerce" soon. 😉
