Meet Marcie, Our New Executive Assistant

Big news around here—our team’s growing! Meet Marcie Swan, our new Executive Assistant to the CEO. We sat down for a quick chat to learn more about what makes her tick.

First, the obvious question: Why did you choose Random Agency?

It was a bit of kismet. Lauren and I have a mutual connection that knew I was looking for a change and that Lauren was looking to hire, but it was when we had our first call that I felt like RANDOM was really a place I could see myself. I had missed being a part of a smaller company, and the “Patterson Empire” (as I have come to call it) seemed like the place where I could use my talents to help them, and also have opportunities to grow.

Tell us three cool things about yourself.

I love sharks! The guest room in my house is shark-themed, I used to dress up my dog every year for “Shark Week”, and share daily shark facts on social media.

I am an avid reader and have read nearly 100 books a year for the last few years.

Whenever I go on a road trip, I plan stops at the most ridiculous things I can find along the way. I’ve made my friends see things like the World’s Largest Concrete Gnome, World’s Largest Ball of Stamps, the Hobo Museum and Festival, Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, Giant Lincoln Head, Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, Metropolis, IL, etc.

Favorite TV show?

“Firefly”, “Warehouse 13”, “Derry Girls”, “Dead Files”. Ok fine, secret’s out, I’m a nerd.

If money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?

When I was 23, I quit my job and moved to Italy for 3 months. If I had the money and no responsibilities now, I would do that again, but do everything I couldn’t do then. I lived off one-euro pizza slices, so it would be nice to experience some more of the nicer food.

What's in your refrigerator right now?

I’m sure some really crisp cold air and cold Brita water. Maybe some string cheese.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation. I love to travel and have friends all over the country, and sometimes you just need to have dinner with them, but then sleep in your own bed.

What's your favorite childhood memory?

This is so ridiculous, but it was so fun. We had a pool in our backyard, and I remember one day, my mom was cutting the grass with the ride-on lawnmower, and she got too close and sliced open the side. I’m sure she was really upset, and it was a hassle to replace, but I just remember her yelling for me to jump in with all my clothes on if I wanted to go swimming before it leaked out, and I had the time of my life. 

Name one thing you wish you could do better.

So many things. Probably keeping my counter and couches clear though. They become a catch-all and once my space feels cluttered, my whole life feels cluttered. 

Which three things would you take to a desert island?

A magic-powered air conditioner because I hate hot weather, a library so I don’t run out of reading material, and one of those LifeStraw things that lets you drink water safely. 

What is the last book you read?

“Wild and Wrangled” by Lyla Sage. It’s the final book in the “Rebel Blue Ranch” series.

What is your favorite account to follow on Instagram?

@verbatim.books! They are an indie bookstore in San Diego that I’ve been to; their store is really cool, but they also post a lot of funny book content

If you weren’t working in marketing, what would you be doing?

I don’t know. I have worked in several different fields, from retail to home health care to insurance to seminar planning for financial planners, so I’ve never necessarily felt called to a particular sector in my career. I like to do work where I feel like I am making a difference at a company that is also making a difference and doing good.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Drive Route 66.

Any secret skills we should know about?

I will spot a dog before I spot a person. 


We’re so excited to have Marcie at RANDOM, and can’t wait to see her impact as she grows with the team!

Search Advertising for Public Speakers: The Secret to Getting Noticed

In the competitive world of public speaking, getting noticed can be a challenge. With so many speakers vying for attention, how do you ensure your message stands out? One powerful yet often underutilized strategy is search advertising. If you're looking to amplify your visibility and attract new opportunities, integrating search advertising into your marketing strategy can be a game-changer. Here’s how search advertising can help public speakers get noticed and why it’s an essential tool in your promotional arsenal.

1. Understanding Search Advertising

Search advertising, often known as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, involves placing ads on search engine results pages (SERPs). When users search for keywords related to your expertise or speaking topics, your ads appear alongside their search results. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it a cost-effective way to drive targeted traffic to your website.

2. Targeted Visibility

One of the greatest advantages of search advertising is its ability to target specific audiences. By bidding on keywords relevant to your speaking topics, you can ensure that your ads reach people actively searching for speakers in your niche. For example, if you specialize in leadership development, you can target keywords like “leadership keynote speaker” or “business leadership expert.” This precision helps you connect with event planners and decision-makers who are specifically looking for speakers with your expertise.

3. Enhanced Online Presence

In addition to increasing your visibility on search engines, search advertising enhances your overall online presence. By appearing at the top of search results, you establish credibility and authority in your field. A well-crafted ad that aligns with your brand message can drive traffic to your website, where potential clients can learn more about your services, view your portfolio, and book you for their events.

4. Measurable Results

Search advertising provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Platforms like Google Ads offer detailed analytics that show how your ads are performing, including metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and cost-per-click. This data allows you to optimize your campaigns, adjust your keywords, and refine your ad copy to achieve better results. By continuously monitoring and adjusting your strategy, you can ensure that your search advertising efforts are maximizing your return on investment.

5. Budget Flexibility

Search advertising offers flexibility in budgeting, allowing you to start with a modest investment and scale up as needed. You can set daily or monthly budgets and adjust your bids based on the performance of your ads. This flexibility ensures that you can manage your advertising spend effectively while still reaching your target audience.

6. Competing with Industry Leaders

Even if you’re relatively new to the speaking industry or looking to refresh your approach, search advertising can level the playing field. By targeting niche keywords and creating compelling ad copy, you can compete with established speakers and gain visibility among event planners and decision-makers. This is particularly valuable in a competitive market where standing out can be challenging.

Tips for Effective Search Advertising

Ready to elevate your public speaker brand across digital platforms? Chat with our team today.

5 Ways to Refresh Your Public Speaker Portfolio

Refreshing your public speaker portfolio is crucial for making a strong impression on event planners, clients, and your audience. Here’s how to update your reel, website, and marketing materials to keep your brand fresh and compelling.

1. Revamp Your Sizzle Reel

Your sizzle reel is your visual calling card—a dynamic video that highlights your best moments on stage and captures the essence of your speaking style. An updated reel not only showcases your recent achievements but also aligns with current industry standards and trends.

Tips for Updating Your Sizzle Reel:

2. Update Your Website

Your website serves as your digital storefront, and keeping it updated is essential for maintaining a professional image. An effective website not only showcases your services but also engages visitors and drives bookings.

Website Refresh Tips:

3. Revise Your Marketing Materials

Marketing materials are key to presenting a cohesive and professional image. Your speaker one-sheet, social media profiles, and promotional content should all reflect your updated brand and messaging.

Marketing Materials Tips:

4. Leverage New Technologies

Incorporating new technologies can give your portfolio a modern edge and make your marketing efforts more effective. Explore tools and platforms that can enhance your presentations and outreach.

Tech Tips:

5. Gather Feedback and Iterate

Refreshing your speaker portfolio isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process. Regularly gather feedback from clients, peers, and your audience to understand how your materials are resonating and where adjustments might be needed.

Feedback Tips:

Ready to elevate your public speaker portfolio and branding? Contact our team today.

5 Steps to Create a Consistent Public Speaker Brand

Your personal brand is more than just your public persona; it’s a cohesive representation of who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to be perceived by your audience. From social media to the stage, maintaining a consistent brand helps build trust, increase recognition, and ensure your message resonates with your audience. Here’s how you can create and maintain a consistent public speaker brand across all platforms.

1. Define Your Brand Identity

Before you can project a consistent brand, you need to define what it is. Your brand identity encompasses your core values, mission, and the unique qualities that set you apart as a speaker. Consider the following elements:

2. Design a Unified Visual Identity

Your visual identity plays a significant role in brand consistency. This includes elements like your logo, color scheme, fonts, and overall design aesthetics. Consistent visual branding helps reinforce your identity and makes your materials instantly recognizable. Here’s how to ensure visual consistency:

3. Create a Cohesive Online Presence

Your online presence is a vital part of your brand. Consistency across your website, social media profiles, and other online platforms helps create a unified and professional image. Consider the following:

4. Align Your Speaking Style with Your Brand

Your on-stage presence should mirror your brand identity. This includes your speaking style, content delivery, and interaction with the audience. Ensure that your presentations:

5. Leverage Your Brand in Networking and Marketing

Networking and marketing efforts should also align with your brand. Use your brand identity to build relationships and attract opportunities:

Creating a consistent public speaker brand is essential for building a strong presence and making a lasting impression. By defining your brand identity, maintaining a unified visual style, aligning your speaking style with your brand, and leveraging your brand in networking and marketing, you can effectively project a professional and cohesive image. Regularly monitoring and adapting your brand ensures that you remain relevant and impactful in a dynamic industry.

Ready to elevate your public speaker brand across digital platforms? Reach out to our team today.

6 Ways to Grow Your Public Speaking Career with Content Marketing

From blog posts to social media to email newsletters, effective content marketing can help you connect with your audience, showcase your expertise, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. Let's explore six ways to harness the power of content marketing to propel your public speaking career to new heights.

Why Content Marketing Matters for Public Speakers

Content marketing is a strategic approach to creating and sharing valuable content that attracts and engages your target audience. For public speakers, leveraging content marketing can:

Content Marketing Strategies for Public Speakers

Here are several effective content marketing strategies that can help you grow your public speaking career:

1. Create a Blog

A blog is a versatile platform for sharing your insights, experiences, and expertise with your audience.

2. Develop a Sizzle Reel

A sizzle reel is a short, dynamic video that highlights your speaking engagements, audience reactions, and key messages.

3. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms are powerful tools for engaging with your audience and promoting your content.

4. Publish Ebooks or Whitepapers

Ebooks and whitepapers are in-depth resources that can provide significant value to your audience.

5. Host Webinars and Workshops

Webinars and workshops offer interactive opportunities to engage with your audience and showcase your knowledge.

6. Create a Newsletter

A regular newsletter allows you to stay in touch with your audience and keep them informed about your latest content and events.

Best Practices for Content Marketing

To maximize the impact of your content marketing efforts, consider these best practices:

Leveraging content marketing is a powerful way to grow your public speaking career, enhance your visibility, and establish yourself as a thought leader. By creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, and using strategic marketing techniques, you can build your brand and attract new opportunities.

Ready to elevate your content marketing game and take your public speaking career to the next level? Contact our team today.

How to Leverage LinkedIn as a Public Speaker

LinkedIn has emerged as the premier platform for professionals to connect, share, and grow their networks. For public speakers, LinkedIn is not just a digital resume but a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships with event organizers, industry influencers, and potential clients. Here’s how you can leverage LinkedIn to expand your reach, connect with key decision-makers, and elevate your public speaking career.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital storefront, so it’s essential to make it stand out. Here’s how to optimize it for maximum impact:

2. Build a Strong Network

Networking on LinkedIn is all about building meaningful connections. Here’s how to effectively expand your network:

3. Share Valuable Content

Regularly sharing content on LinkedIn can help you establish yourself as an authority in your field. Here’s how to do it effectively:

LinkedIn’s advanced search features are valuable tools for finding and connecting with potential clients and collaborators. Here’s how to use them effectively:

5. Engage with Your Network

Building relationships on LinkedIn is not just about making connections but also about nurturing them. Here’s how to engage effectively:

6. Showcase Your Expertise

LinkedIn offers several features to highlight your expertise and attract potential clients:

Conclusion

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for public speakers looking to connect with event organizers and industry influencers. By optimizing your profile, building a strong network, sharing valuable content, and engaging actively with your connections, you can leverage LinkedIn to expand your reach and enhance your public speaking career.

The Power of a Personal Website: Showcasing Your Public Speaking Expertise

A personal website is not just an optional tool for public speakers—it's a vital asset that can significantly enhance your career. Your website serves as your digital storefront, providing a centralized platform to showcase your expertise, connect with potential clients, and establish your brand. Here's why having a personal website is crucial for public speakers and how to use it effectively to boost your speaking career.

1. Establish Your Brand Identity

Your personal website is the cornerstone of your brand identity. It provides a space to define and communicate who you are, what you stand for, and what makes you unique as a speaker. A well-designed website helps create a professional image and allows you to:

2. Present Your Portfolio and Success Stories

A personal website allows you to present your speaking portfolio in a compelling way. Include:

3. Optimize for Search Engines

Having a personal website helps with search engine optimization (SEO), which is crucial for getting noticed online. Optimize your website by:

4. Provide Easy Access to Your Services

Your website serves as a hub where potential clients can learn more about your services and book you for speaking engagements. Ensure that your website includes:

5. Engage Your Audience

Your website should not only inform but also engage your audience. Incorporate features that encourage interaction:

6. Showcase Your Media Presence

If you have been featured in media outlets, podcasts, or interviews, your website is the perfect place to showcase this. Create a media page where you can:

7. Maintain Professionalism and Usability

Ensure that your website reflects professionalism and is easy to navigate. Key elements include:

8. Track and Analyze Performance

Use analytics tools to track your website’s performance and understand visitor behavior. Monitor metrics such as:

Conclusion

A personal website is a powerful tool for public speakers, offering a platform to showcase your expertise, connect with clients, and enhance your professional brand. By leveraging your website effectively, you can establish a strong online presence, attract more speaking opportunities, and grow your career in the competitive world of public speaking. Invest in creating and maintaining a high-quality website, and watch as it becomes a key asset in your speaking journey.

A Guide to Short-Form Content for Public Speakers

The digital age has transformed how we consume and create content, with short-form videos leading the charge. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have ushered in a new era of quick, engaging content that reshapes how public speakers can connect with their audiences. As a speaker, understanding and leveraging the power of short-form content is essential for staying relevant and engaging effectively. Here’s how this trend affects public speakers and how you can adapt to make the most of it.

1. The Rise of Short-Form Content and Its Implications for Speakers

TikTok and Beyond: Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, with their emphasis on 15 to 60-second videos, have revolutionized content consumption. For public speakers, this shift means a need to rethink how you present yourself and your message online. Short-form content offers a powerful tool for reaching potential audiences and showcasing your speaking style in bite-sized, engaging formats.

Changing Audience Expectations: Audiences now crave quick, impactful content that delivers value immediately. This shift requires speakers to adapt by delivering compelling, concise messages that capture attention quickly. Short-form videos can be a great way to meet this demand, allowing you to reach viewers who prefer fast, digestible content.

2. The Benefits of Short-Form Content for Public Speakers

Enhanced Engagement: Short-form content’s ability to grab attention in just a few seconds makes it a powerful tool for increasing engagement. By creating brief, captivating videos, you can showcase your speaking skills, share key insights, and connect with audiences more effectively than with longer, traditional content.

Increased Shareability: The concise nature of short-form videos makes them highly shareable. As a public speaker, leveraging this can expand your reach, allowing your content to be easily shared and promoted by viewers. This viral potential can help you grow your audience and increase your visibility.

Cost-Effective Production: Short-form content is typically less resource-intensive to produce compared to longer formats. This cost-effectiveness makes it accessible for speakers who may have limited budgets. It also allows you to create and distribute more content regularly, keeping your audience engaged and your presence active.

Creative Flexibility: The constraints of short-form content encourage creativity. As a speaker, this format challenges you to present your message in innovative ways, experimenting with different styles and formats to see what resonates with your audience. This creative flexibility can lead to unique and memorable content that sets you apart from others.

@brenebrown

Vulnerability is not weakness. It's our most accurate measure of courage. Are we willing to show up and be seen when we can't control the outcome?

♬ original sound - Brené Brown

3. Adapting Your Public Speaking Strategy

Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience’s preferences is crucial for creating effective short-form content. Analyze what resonates with your target demographic and tailor your videos to their interests and needs. Engaging with trending topics and challenges relevant to your niche can also increase your content’s appeal.

Craft a Strong Hook: The first few seconds of your short-form content are critical. Start with a strong hook that captures your audience’s attention immediately. Whether it’s a provocative question, an eye-catching visual, or a powerful statement, make sure your opening is compelling enough to keep viewers watching.

Leverage Trends and Challenges: Participating in popular trends and challenges can boost your content’s visibility. By aligning with current trends, you can tap into larger conversations and increase your chances of reaching a broader audience.

Optimize for Mobile Viewing: Since short-form content is primarily consumed on mobile devices, ensure your videos are optimized for mobile viewing. Use vertical video formats and make sure text and visuals are clear and engaging on smaller screens.

Engage with Your Audience: Encourage interaction by including calls-to-action, asking questions, or inviting viewers to participate in discussions. Engaging with your audience through comments and direct interactions helps build a community and keeps viewers interested in your work.

@melrobbins

Here’s how to interrupt worry: use my #5SecondRule and these 6️⃣ magic words to stop your anxiety in its tracks. #melrobbins #letstalkmentalhealth #anxiety #worry #advice #mindset #tiptok #learnontiktok #westicktogether

♬ I Wanted to Leave - SYML

4. Short-Form Content for Public Speakers

Teasers and Highlights: Use short-form videos to share teasers and highlights from your speeches or presentations. These clips can generate interest and drive attendance to your full-length events or talks.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Offer behind-the-scenes glimpses of your preparation and rehearsal process. This not only humanizes you as a speaker but also creates a more personal connection with your audience.

Audience Engagement: Utilize short-form content to keep your audience engaged before, during, and after your events. Share quick tips, interactive content, and updates to maintain interest and foster ongoing engagement.

Building Your Brand: Short-form videos are a powerful tool for building your personal brand as a speaker. Share snippets of your expertise, motivational messages, and thought-provoking insights to establish yourself as a thought leader and keep your audience engaged.

@sarabfrasca

Innovating doesn’t just mean creating the best new product on the market.  It’s about transforming how we work within our teams, optimizing the ways we lead, and getting creative about interacting with our customers or clients.   #innovation #businesstips #keynotespeaker #creativity #businessowner

♬ original sound - Sara Frasca

5. Best Practices for Creating Effective Short-Form Content

Keep It Concise: Ensure your message is clear and to the point. Every second of your video should deliver value, avoiding unnecessary fluff and focusing on what matters most to your audience.

Prioritize Quality: Even with a short format, quality is key. Ensure good lighting, clear audio, and professional editing to create engaging and visually appealing content.

Analyze Performance: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your short-form content. Monitor metrics like views, engagement, and shares to understand what works and refine your strategy accordingly.

Experiment and Adapt: Experiment with different styles, formats, and topics to see what resonates with your audience. Continuously adapt based on feedback and performance data to keep your content fresh and relevant.

Stay Authentic: Maintain authenticity in your short-form content. Genuine and relatable content resonates with viewers and helps build trust and connection.

Leverage Short-Form Video as a Public Speaker

The rise of short-form content, driven by platforms like TikTok, has transformed how public speakers can connect with their audiences. By adapting to this trend and leveraging short-form videos, you can enhance engagement, increase visibility, and build a stronger personal brand. Embrace the potential of short-form content to stay relevant, connect with your audience, and make a lasting impact in the evolving digital landscape.