Words to WordPress: The Uncharted Path of Syed Laden

Howdy! I’m Syed Laden. You could say I wear quite a few hats nowadays: content marketer, product manager, SEO consultant, and when the need arises, a bit of a tech whisperer in the form of UX and technical writing.

The childhood trauma is long gone, but I was bullied, not accepted wherever, and constantly mistreated. Maybe I was different, maybe I was out of the league, but these avoidances helped me become a better person over time, and now I’m writing my essay for you all.

My journey is a bit of a rollercoaster, starting in the quaint alleys of literature and journalism, and taking a sharp turn into the bustling highways of the tech world. This isn’t just a tale of changing careers; it’s about transforming passion into possibility.

Being Laden is not easy and you’ll know why.

A Literary Beginning

So I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and my family was extremely well off at the time. I had all of the perks and luxury that anyone could imagine. But it didn’t last long as I grew up. Consider your early childhood to be prosperous, followed by a period of anxiety and stress due to a shortage of funds.

I wasn’t prepared to settle down in a bad way because it was an unexpected circumstance. As a family, we had to make a lot of adjustments, and it was a true sacrifice for me as a little boy who had lost everything without even understanding how or why.

I’ve dreamed of regaining everything by working hard since I was exposed to wealth and comfort in my early years. But, isn’t it true that becoming wealthy is harder than it seems? Yes, I was clueless about what career path to take and couldn’t figure it out. 

I used to seek advice on what to do with my life from practically everyone I could. But because everyone had a unique perspective on life, no one could provide me with exact information.

Since I was struggling, my desire to become wealthy had already faded because I had come to understand that constant effort is what lifts you rather than just having a dream. At that point, I was ready to start over and didn’t even consider what fate still had in store for me.

My approach to life had become more grounded.

I majored in literature during my undergraduate studies for some reason after developing an interest in it. Because English was not my first language, I initially found it difficult to understand and communicate.

Despite being in a horrible situation with my personal life and family, I had a strong desire to learn, which helped me overcome all of the challenges. In the world of prose and poetry, I found my voice. I stepped into the world of journalism, making my mark at NewAge BD, one of Bangladesh’s leading dailies.

But life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, and mine came in the form of a tech-shaped one.

Discovering WordPress

Because I come from a literature background, I had to be creative in everything to communicate my emotions and connect with other people. My friends used to tell me that I have great vision and I can convince people very easily.

I used to write content for other people to secure my pocket money from 2018 but I had no idea how good I was at communicating or connecting with people through my words, whether vocal or written. This resulted in a great story-telling premise, which I uncovered later.

Because I had to write a lot for academic objectives, and most of the time it had to be creative, I developed a writing style that was unrivalled by others.

In 2019, someone approached me to write content for his Amazon niche websites where he asked me to make them SEO optimized and I had no idea what he was talking about. By that time, I was already introduced to WordPress and then I also started to get to know how search engines work. 

My eyes were open by then and I saw a very open field where I could be in with the additional power of my writings. However, I was still confused cause I had plans to build my career in journalism for which I had joined NewAge BD where I nurtured my love for writing and journalism.

However, I found my calling in the tech world as I saw a more vibrant opportunity. 

Since I had an immense interest in WordPress, I switched my job to a WordPress-based company who were then making plugins for WooCommerce. This was a gateway to endless possibilities. As someone who once found solace in the rhythm of words, I now saw potential in the flexibility of WordPress.

I’ll be honest, eCommerce and tech were pretty alien to me, but writing? That’s my jam. So, I took what I knew and started painting with my words in this new digital canvas. Since then I never looked back and my life was getting better than ever with the financial freedom and also the geographical freedom. 

Growing Pains and Gains

Writing articles for a newspaper and writing a technical blog are not synonymous, just as poetry and prose are not. The same applies to my Amazon niche writing. Every piece of writing has a unique format and motto. So it was difficult for me to write for WordPress because I had these internal conflicts.

All of those money articles, info articles, product articles, and so on were driving me insane because I was so focused on the quality of the content. All I wanted was to make people read my post like they were drinking fine wine.

However, I was living in a period where written content was dull and visual stuff was fascinating. Also satisfying search engines to rank better and making sure that my article was readable, sometimes my brain froze to deliver my best but I never stopped doing this even today.

There were no cheat codes or secret tutorials; just a lot of trial, and error, and learning on the fly. And WordPress? It was like unlocking a new level in a game I didn’t know I was playing. It was intuitive, and user-friendly, and suddenly, making websites didn’t seem like wizardry anymore.

Though the path was not without its thorns. My name, Syed Laden, became an unintended barrier! You wouldn’t believe what hardships I had to go through just to have my WordPress.org profile confirmed, all because of the name I was born with.

The name game is real!

But hey, challenges are just opportunities in disguise, right? Yet, these challenges only fueled my determination to prove my worth and contribute to the WordPress ecosystem.

Small Victories, Big Lessons

My time in the digital world has been defined by significant accomplishments. My goal was to make every piece of content not just readable but discoverable.

From blog posts ready for SEO that climbed the SERPs to influential writings that influenced industry titans like Gumroad and Shopify Plus, my work not only demonstrated my abilities but also promoted WordPress as a versatile and powerful platform.

I’ve had my fair share of wins and whoopsies. SEO? Nailed it. Convincing big names to rethink their pricing? Been there, done that. But the biggest takeaway? Nothing’s set in stone, and you’re only as good as your last success.

Stay humble, stay learning.

Every challenge was a lesson in disguise. I realized that the world of WordPress, much like literature, thrived on diversity and adaptability. I honed my skills in SEO, content marketing, and technical writing, all while being in the complex landscape of WordPress & Woo.

The journey has been a great teacher. The paramount lesson learned is the impermanence of success and the importance of humility and continuous learning. The WordPress community, a tapestry of diverse talents and backgrounds, taught me the value of respect and the beauty of collaboration.

Apart from everything, I made sure my voice was heard.

Looking Forward

I’m not done yet. Today, I stand at a crossroads, ready to take WordPress to new heights.

My mission is simple: to bridge the gap between tech savviness and digital expression. WordPress is for everyone, and I’m here to prove it. Whether it’s through SEO-friendly content, user-friendly guides, or community support, I’m all in.

Think of me as the WordPress ambassador, ready to welcome folks from all corners of the internet.

Leaving My Mark

At the end of the day, I’m just a guy who jumped from the world of words to the great digital unknown. And if I can make a splash on WordPress, you can, too. My journey from the serene world of literature to the electrifying world of WordPress is a narrative of transformation.

It’s a story of embracing change, facing challenges head-on, and never losing sight of your roots. In the vast digital void, I’ve found my niche, and I’m just getting started.

Whether accepted or rejected, I am and always will be, in spirit and deed, the real Laden of WordPress.