Mr. Chitra Raj Bhandari popularly known as CRB is currently in Digital Marketing for past 6 years. He mainly focuses on SEO that includes technical as well as normal SEO. Besides that, Mr. Bhandari is also the content writer and editor for the Republica, nation’s leading English Daily Newspaper. Presently he is also working as a marketer for online gaming. Mr. Chitra Raj Bhandari co-owns a company called Pulse Digit, which provides services to Nepali Clients. His company provides training on various topics like SEO, SEM, Affiliate Marketing, Online branding and so on. You can contact him on Twitter- @CRBGuru
At WordCamp Kathmandu 2018, he talked about “Semantic SEO: Optimizing Web for Crawlers that Understand.
Mainly focusing making the site and its content ‘understandable’ to search engine crawlers.”
We had a small talk with Mr. Chitra Raj Bhandari at the event.
What made you come to WordCamp Kathmandu 2018?
I attended the first WordCamp Kathmandu in the year 2012. At that time I was in my initial days as a digital marketer. Today, through Facebook, I came to know that WordCamp Kathmandu is happening again. So, I immediately called Utsav Singh Rathour, since I have been working with him from my beginning days. Then I told him that I am interested in talking about SEO. Because I think there is a shortage of SEO and content writers here in Nepal. I have been trying to hire people for many months now, and I really felt that there is a shortage of SEO and Content Writers in the market. So, I thought maybe this is the perfect platform to talk about the SEO.
Have you been to WordCamp Kathmandu 2017 or any other previous WordCamps?
Yes, the first one actually, WordCamp Kathmandu 2012.
What’s newer in the WordCamp Kathmandu 2018 than previous one?
We have many people around here. (Smiles) That’s the one thing. And, It feels good to see the lot of enthusiasm for the WordPress. Earlier if we told “WordPress”. People would ask (bewildered expression) “What is WordPress”? But now we don’t have to say that anymore. Because now people know WordPress.
What do you like about this WordCamp Kathmandu 2018?
The first thing is here, we have speakers from the international communities. So, it helps to grow our feelings like, where we are in comparison to them. For instance, the Japanese were speaking earlier, I realized that we are also on the same plane. In somewhere we are trailing them and vice versa. So that is one point. And another point that is different over here is the ‘participation’. And mostly the youngsters, some of them are students and from agencies also. As you can see, most of the agencies that we have over here are either sponsors or attendees. They are actually participating fully. They have their own branded T-Shirts and all those kinds of stuff. So, it means that they are doing a sort of publicity, where they will be attracting more potential employers for their agency. They know the importance of WordCamp. Actually, it’s getting more attractive.
How long have you been on WordPress?
10 years I guess.
What do you think of WordPress Community in Nepal?
(With a big smile) It’s developing. The way they have WordPress into Nepali. I think that will need more fixes, to get it into more actual meaning. You know, translating language sometimes, don’t get it into the correct form. I didn’t realize it was actually in Nepali because I am trying to have my website in two languages. I.e Nepali and English. This is a huge progress because this will help more people to get a website and to use them.
What would you like to see change in WordPress Platform in the next 5 years?
Not much actually. Because it has a lot of features. And I also don’t know what features are they. Whatever features I need for digital marketing, it’s already over there. So the basically only one thing that I would like to see that the WordPress remains relevant and fast.
In what way do you think you can best contribute to the future of WordPress?
Yeah, actually I was thinking about joining the Polyglot. I think that is where I can make the contribution to them. I have seen those groups. And I came to know what they don’t have marketing section. So this the place where I like to contribute.
Do you find the value of being here today?
Yeah obviously, 100 percent.
And you think you are going to come back in another WordCamp?
I think maybe more than that. I am thinking of being active on WordCamps across the regions also. Because there we have lots of participation, I recently went to WordPress meet up on Bhaktapur. The participation over there and the guys who were dealing with this they need to be happier. So, I am trying to contribute to them and make them more happy with what they are doing.
What are your suggestions to make WordCamp better in the upcoming years?
I have one thing. The schedule, you know, we printed them at the last moment. Maybe we could track down this section. Because if we know all the timetable of the speakers earlier, it would be easier to know what they are going to do. And another one is the page of the WordCamp, for the speakers you can not share that page. For instance, I am a speaker, it is possible to share that on social media. That would help me to get some of my readers to come on the WordCamp Kathmandu 2018. More or less, that will help to increase the participation of the WordCamp.
For someone who is new to WordCamp or even WordPress, what would you like to recommend or suggest?
I would tell them to sit through the day and listen to every one. ( we both laughed hard) If someone is new then listen it, note it down, go back to home and google it. There’s a lot that we can learn from Google.
What was your background before stepping into WordPress?
I was journalist and lecturer. Still, I am a journalist and a lecturer.
Besides WordPress, what are your hobbies or passion?
To read a book and love to talk and I love to drink.
We would like to heartily thank Mr. Chitra Raj Bhandari for this wonderful conversation.
