WCSTL Speaker Interview: Emanuel Costa

Emanuel Costa will be talking on The Ultimate Security Checklist For WordPress Websites. Emanuel is originally from Brazil, and currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s a professional web developer, SEO/SEM specialist, eCommerce consultant and web entrepreneur at High Tech Web, Inc.

Here is Emanuel’s interview:

NILE FLORES: What was it about WordPress that got you to start using it?

EMANUEL COSTA: In 2005, when I first saw WordPress, I have to admit I was not impressed. I then developed my own blog code and database from scratch. 5 years later, I was invited to give a website redesign proposal to a real estate agency in South Florida and when I asked what were competitors sites, I found out that all theirs websites were built in WordPress. I asked myself, how come a blog tool be used as CMS and have so many different “look and feel” sites? I then took a second look and was positively surprised with the WordPress evolution to become a full featured Content Management System.

NILE FLORES: What motivates you to give back to WordPress and its community?

EMANUEL COSTA: After I deep dived in beyond the nuts and bolts of WordPress, I felt (and feel) I work standing on the shoulders of giants. Because of that I was inspired by many people involved in the WP community. I am an avid watcher at WordPress.tv and I am always amused by the awesome presentations people in the community give at WordCamps.

NILE FLORES: How many WordCamps have you been to, and what was your best 1 or 2 experiences that you had when attending WordCamp?

EMANUEL COSTA: I don’t know the exactly number but I would say 30ish in 10 different cities. I try to go to as many WordCamps as possible. In 2016 I went to 8 WordCamps including one as organizer in Brazil during the Olympic games. I guess I am WordCamp Junkie. 🙂

Networking is the number 1 reason I go to WordCamps. A close second is knowledge sharing to keep up to date with the recent WP related themes.

NILE FLORES: What is your number 1 tip for WordPress users?

EMANUEL COSTA: Attend WordPress Meetups and WordCamps! 🙂

NILE FLORES: What is your favorite feature in WordPress?

EMANUEL COSTA: I like to push the limits of WordPress. I do a lot of custom development. So, I guess my favorite features are Hooks, Actions and Filters. 😉

NILE FLORES: What are your 3 most favorite WordPress plugins?

EMANUEL COSTA: Yoast SEO, WooCommerce, Advanced Custom Fields, but to be honest, it is really hard to list top 3, so here are all my favorites: https://profiles.wordpress.org/emanweb#content-favorites

NILE FLORES: What is your favorite WordPress theme?

EMANUEL COSTA: Twenty Seventeen. I loved that now the default WordPress theme focuses more on a business type of site. It was the first time I followed from beginning to ending the WP theme development discussion at Github/Slack. I liked so much that after 7 years I finally updated my company site using it.

If you’d like to meet Emanuel and sit in on his presentation, come buy a ticket to WordCamp St. Louis!