Why I Flew to Brisbane for WordCamp 2025 — and Why It Matters for Your Website

WordCamp Brisbane 2025 wrapped up over the weekend of June 14–15, and I walked away with a notebook full of ideas to help improve website performance, security, and lead conversion — not just for Get Leads Australia, but for every one of our clients.

As a regional business owner working across Wagga and now Cairns, staying on the cutting edge of web development, digital strategy, and customer engagement takes real effort. I make it a priority to attend two major WordPress events every year — and Brisbane’s WordCamp didn’t disappoint. Having to get out of bed at 4am and jump on a plane is always a drag, but so worth it not just for me but for customers. Even better than the Sydney WordCamp last year I would have to say.

Why WordPress Still Leads the Pack

For those who don’t know, WordPress is the primary content management system we use at Get Leads to build websites. It’s open-source (portable), endlessly flexible, and gives us full control over performance, SEO, accessibility, and editing — especially when paired with Bricks Builder, our preferred page builder. Bricks allows for precision editing without the code bloat you often find in DIY platforms like Wix or Squarespace.

These aren’t just tech preferences — they’re the foundation of faster, more secure, and better-converting websites.

Key Takeaway #1: Conversion Optimisation Is About the Journey, Not the Sell

One of the standout sessions this year came from Dr Anna Harrison, with a talk titled “Worst First Date Ever.” She used a brilliant analogy: most websites come on way too strong, like proposing marriage on the first date. No wonder customers bounce. It was engaging with examples from the audience on their worst first dates involving letting your date know you have a kid at home to eating an ice cream and being criticised and body shamed for it.

Her message? We need to court our customers first. That means building trust with the right messages, low-pressure calls to action, and gradual nurturing.

Anna introduced a free AI tool called RAMMP, which analyses your site’s messaging and suggests conversion improvements. It’s impressive, and I’ll be testing it further — especially as I prepare a new “demo-style” lead-generation video inspired by her framework.

I actually bought her book as well from Amazon and just need the time now to read it. “Digital Brand Romance: How to Create Lasting Relationships in a Digital World“. Definitely worth a look.

Action for Clients: If your website’s only CTA is “Buy Now” or “Book a Call,” you could be losing warm leads. Let’s talk about adding steps that build trust first.

Key Takeaway #2: WordPress Security Is Still a Business-Critical Issue

Coming from an IT background, I’m always drawn to anything about security — and the session “Oh, sh$%, I’ve Been Hacked, What Now?” delivered.

While the talk could’ve lasted all day, the reminders were clear:

• Don’t wait until something breaks — maintain regular backups and monitoring.
• Implement malware scans and login protection.
• Avoid using dodgy third-party plugins or themes from unknown sources.

There was also some discussion on agencies offering rescue services to businesses running hacked or broken sites — particularly on platforms that lack proper support or backup systems.

Action for Clients: At Get Leads, we already maintain strong security protocols for all our hosting and WordPress builds, but this talk helped refine our SOPs even further. Our website management implements 5 different firewall techniques that keeps your online business safe.

Key Takeaway #3: Word of Mouth Still Beats Paid Ads

Another conversation that came up again and again across the weekend was this: quality clients usually don’t come from Google Ads. Yes, we run ads. Yes, we build lead funnels. But hands down, word-of-mouth referrals still generate the best clients.

The general consensus among agencies? Customers who come from referral trust your process, respect your pricing, and are more likely to become long-term partners. Cold leads from directories or social ads? Often more work, more hand-holding, and less payoff.

Often though websites aren’t about getting leads at all which is ok as well.

Action for Clients: This doesn’t mean stop advertising — but if you’re not leveraging satisfied clients to bring in new ones, you’re missing out. We can help implement referral-friendly landing pages and follow-up systems that support word-of-mouth growth.

Final Thoughts: Community Makes WordPress Better

There were loads of other talks I’m not mentioning that were excellent and I really appreciated the time and effort from everyone on the day.

WordCamps aren’t just about technical workshops. They’re about sharing insights, building networks, and refining how we build smarter websites. I met with more than 20 agency owners and developers from across Australia. We spoke candidly about:

• What tools are working
• How to scale sustainably
• How to avoid the time-wasters

And most importantly, how to deliver better outcomes for our clients.

I believe if you’re an agency and you’re not investing in events like WordCamp — you’re not just doing yourself a disservice, you’re holding back from contributing to the broader WordPress community that has helped all of us grow.

What’s Next for Get Leads Clients?

This year’s insights will shape how we:

• Design smarter CTAs and lead funnels
• Keep your WordPress site even more secure
• Offer content strategies rooted in buyer psychology
• Help attract better clients (not just more clients)

Want to discuss what this means for your website?

👉 Book a Site Review or Strategy Call

Let’s make sure your site isn’t proposing marriage on the first date.