Carrie Dils Interview – “Do your market research and make sure there is an audience for the service you want to offer”
Welcome back to another KCCSB interview! Today we’re talking to Carrie Dils – a seasoned freelancer and WordPress connoisseur. She shares with us her perspective on success, productivity and the WordPress ecosystem.
If you missed our last interview with Elementor’s Amitai Gat, it’s worth checking out. Amitai talked about new Elementor features, the WordPress space, personal vision and more. If you need inspiration, check out our full collection of interviews with people of all skill levels and areas of expertise.
Carrie Dils has been using WordPress in their web development business for more than a decade. Besides being a frontend developer, she believes education is one of the most important things in life.
With this in mind, Carrie not only helps her clients build and grow websites, but also teaches people new web development skills through the LinkedIn Learning Platform (shortcut) and you to blog.
With 20 years of freelance experience, Carrie knows what it means to doubt this path. That is why she coaches people into self-employment by helping them to leave the traditional path and earn their own living. You can work with her to achieve your goals here.
Let’s have a quick chat with Carrie!
Carrie Dils Interview – “Do your market research and make sure there is an audience for the service you want to offer”
When and how did you start working with WordPress? Is there an interesting story here?
I have a long history in web development but only came across WordPress in 2011. At that time I was working for Starbucks and at the same time taking on customer orders. A work colleague recommended WordPress and I was immediately SOLD OUT by the CMS features out of the box.
What’s your technique for staying productive throughout the day?
I have been using the Pomodoro Technique for many years. I use it in conjunction with toggle to track my time. It’s a great way to do focused bursts with a built-in reminder to get up every 25 minutes. I also like to break up my morning and afternoon work sessions by doing some form of physical activity at midday.
How do you define “successful”?
actually wrote about the success a few years ago. This is a personal question as I believe we all define success differently based on our priorities. For me, being successful still revolves around time freedom and the work that I enjoy.
What does “a good day at work” mean to you?
Staying focused and working consistently on all projects I work on. Any developer can relate to losing hours, if not days, to silly technical problems. These are not good days!
Describe the WordPress community in one word.
What is the #1 thing a new business getting into the WordPress space should do?
Do your market research and make sure there actually is an audience for the project/service you want to offer.
What is your favorite/must have WordPress plugin and why?
It’s hard to make it a pair! I would say my go-to for development is Query Monitor and my go-to for site administration is Plugin Notes.
What do you think is currently the most efficient way to market a product?
Ugh, for someone who is reasonably knowledgeable about marketing, I’m terrible at actually doing it. However, there are plenty of sponsorship opportunities (WordPress events, podcasts, communities, etc.). Finding opportunities that fit your target market is a great way to both support the community and get your product known.
What drives you to keep doing what you do? What is your personal mission?
I’m not sure I’m fancy enough to have a personal mission. 😂
I really love helping others through education. It’s the right mix of challenge (you always have to learn to continue your education) and personal satisfaction.
That sums up our Carrie Dils interview. If you liked it and want to learn more, please leave your comments in the section below. If you also have ideas on who we should talk to next, please feel free to share your suggestions with us!
