David Mackey gave a presentation on how to start a community using the BuddyPress plugin for WordPress. He began with introductions and an overview of BuddyPress. He then demonstrated how to install and configure BuddyPress, setting up groups, profiles, and enabling members to interact through activities, messages and notifications. He also discussed common BuddyPress themes and plugins, and considerations for community management and performance.

1. David Mackey
Modshopr
How to start a community with BuddyPress
Ottawa WordPress Meetup

2. David Mackey
@dbmackey
AGENDA
Who Are you?
Who Am I?
Problem - WP Community Creation
Solution - BuddyPress Plugin
(examples, features & demo)
Questions

3. David Mackey
@dbmackey
WHO ARE YOU?

4. David Mackey
@dbmackey
WHO AM I?
Geek
• B.Math in Computer Science with Electrical Engineering Electives,
Honours, Co-op, University of Waterloo
• 23 years inTelecommunications at Nortel/Avaya
Programmer/Manager/Architect & Customer Service
Digital Marketing Consultant
• Solution Architect who connects businesses with customers
• 195Twitter Followers - @dbmackey
Frustrated Shopper
• Modshopr Website
• 300Twitter Followers - @modshopper

5. David Mackey
@dbmackey
It’s popular!
200,000+ Installs
Own your community
Control the data
Customize the experience
WHY BUDDYPRESS?

6. David Mackey
@dbmackey
APPLICATIONS
Intranets
Customer Support
Common Interest Groups
Learning Groups
Forums (add bbPress plugin)

7. David Mackey
@dbmackey

8. David Mackey
@dbmackey

9. David Mackey
@dbmackey

10. David Mackey
@dbmackey

11. David Mackey
@dbmackey

12. David Mackey
@dbmackey
https://mercime.github.io/BuddyPress-2016-survey-results/2016 Survey: 306 responses from 61 countries

13. David Mackey
@dbmackey
https://mercime.github.io/BuddyPress-2016-survey-results/2016 Survey: 306 responses from 61 countries

14. David Mackey
@dbmackey
https://mercime.github.io/BuddyPress-2016-survey-results/2016 Survey: 306 responses from 61 countries

15. David Mackey
@dbmackey
FEATURES
Activity Streams
Groups
Profiles/Settings
Friendships
Messaging (public/private)
Notifications

16. David Mackey
@dbmackey
THEMES
BuddyPress Groups Extras
BP Group Documents
bbPress
Commons in a Box (CUNY)
Many, many more …
PLUGINS
Works with “reputable” WP themes
Theme compatibility added:
BuddyPress 1.7 (April 2013)

17. David Mackey
@dbmackey
CONSIDER
Performance
• BuddyPress is not your typical WordPress website
Community Management
• Managing a community requires different skills than
managing a blog and/or CMS
• Registration spam
• Content spam

18. David Mackey
@dbmackey
OUR STORY
Who: Minor HockeyTeam Parents
Goal: Manage team communication

19. David Mackey
@dbmackey
DEMO

20. David Mackey
@dbmackey
BuddyPress Demo Script
Start State
Theme: TwentySeventeen
Page: One home page; show page
Plugins No activated plugins
Settings/General Anyone can register
Settings/Reading Front page displays = static page
Dashboard Show menu, users and settings
Install & Activate BuddyPress plugin
Dashboard/Plugins Find BuddyPress and Install Now
Dashboard/Plugins Activate BuddyPress
Dashboard Show new menu, users and settings
Page: Show home page - no change
Dashboard Show new pages: Activate, Activity, etc.
Dashboard Show BuddyPress settings
BuddyPress Configuration
Settings/BuddyPress Components: turn on groups, etc
Dashboard/Pages Show new group page
Settings/BuddyPress Show new BuddyPress page settings
Menu Configuration
Appearance/Menus Create new BuddyPress menu
Appearance/Menus Select Groups, Members, Activity, Register,
and add to menu. Save menu.
Appearance/Menus Manage Locations: select Buddypress
for top menu
Home Page Show the new navigation options
Dashboard/Pages Change “Groups” to “Teams” and
“Members” to “Players”
Home Page Show customization for “Hockey Team”

21. David Mackey
@dbmackey
BuddyPress Demo Script cont’d
Register User: Coach
Header Logout as admin
Home Page Register as “coach”
Login Login in as admin
Dashboard/Users Show coach is not a user
Go to Manage Signups
Select coach, activate, apply, confirm
Show coach is a user
Logout as admin
Login as coach
Edit Profile
Create Group
Register User: Player
Join Group
Interaction: Activity, Messages, Notification, etc

22. SLIDES
http://www.slideshare.net/davidmackey351/presentations
David Mackey
@dbmackey

23. BACKUP REFERENCES
Buddypress.org
https://mercime.github.io/BuddyPress-2016-survey-results/
People:
@BOONE
@JJJ
@PGIBBS
@DIMENSIONMEDIA
@MODEMLOOPER
@R-A-Y
@IMATH
David Mackey
@dbmackey

24. QUESTIONS
David Mackey
dbmackey@modshopper.com
@dbmackey - Digital Marketing
@modshopper - Shopping UX
https://modshopr.com
David Mackey
@dbmackey

25. THANK YOU!
David Mackey
@dbmackey

26. David Mackey
@dbmackey
GRATUITOUS PUPPY PICTURE