Conference Speaker on Marketing & Communications
Practical, informative…and just a bit of fun
In Year 12, all my friends came to me for help with their Biology homework. Not because I was one of the ‘brains’ who was definitely going to get straight ‘A’s…I wasn’t. They came to me because I knew how to explain the same thing in different ways until whoever I was talking to finally ‘got’ it.
That skill is something that’s never left me. And it turns out it’s a pretty useful thing to bring to a conference room.
I’ve been a professional writer, published author and writing teacher for over 30 years. I’ve also spent years helping technical specialists, industry experts and professional services businesses translate what they know into language their customers can understand and act on. Which means when I speak at your event, I’m not just talking about communication theory. I’m talking about what actually works, from experience, with examples and, where necessary, lollies.
(To read more about my writing journey, visit my About page.)
Speaking topics
I speak on marketing and communications topics including:
- why your marketing strategy is essential to meeting your business objectives
- how to write content that works…and cut the copy that doesn't
- why a social media plan is more than just demographics
- clear communication for technical and complex industries
- how to create an effective presentation
- writing and working with large or complex documents.
These topics are a starting point and are not set in stone. If you have something specific in mind, reach out. I’m always happy to develop a topic around your audience’s needs.
To see how I can help you
You know your business.
I know words.
Let’s make beautiful copy together.
Need some great copy?
Past speaking engagements
I’ve spoken at industry conferences, professional development events and association gatherings, and have also run creative writing clinics and school writing workshops.
One of my favourite recent engagements was at a technical writers conference…the third time they’d invited me to present.
The other speakers that day were deep in the technical weeds: ISO standards and plain language principles…although there was one particularly memorable session drawing a connection between Bob Dylan and the programming language Python.
My talk was about why their home page was scaring off customers. I explored how technical people love to fill any document they touch with facts, stats and graphs, which is entirely appropriate when they’re talking to their peers. But their customers would take one look at a home page stacked with jargon and head for the hills.
Then I told them something that made that room full of technical specialists sit to attention. I told them their marketing isn’t about them, their peers or even their business. It’s about their customers. And customers don’t need to know all the details. They just need to trust that you do.
I loved watching that sink in as their giant brains exploded a little.
The feedback was excellent. They invited me to present at the next conference before I’d boarded my flight home.
What to expect
Depending on your objectives, I can present at your conference, run a workshop or prepare a video presentation for your team. I tailor every session to the audience because a room full of engineers needs a different approach from a room full of marketers, even if the topic is the same.
I also know how to read a room. On my first conference presentation for these technical writers, I was the second-last presenter on day two of a two-day conference. The audience needed waking up. So, at the last break, I raced to the nearest convenience store and bought bags of lollies. My topic was that they were marketers even if they didn’t think they were (marketing is just persuasive copy with a price tag, after all). As they slowly acknowledged that they had indeed written persuasive copy in their time, and that some of it was to persuade others to do something they wanted, I channeled my inner Oprah and threw lollies at them while yelling ‘You’re a marketer! And you’re a marketer! And you’re a marketer!’ It worked. Sometimes the best way to get your message across is to be the person who makes everyone laugh at 4pm on a Friday.
Who books me
Professional associations, industry conference organisers and those running professional development events are just some of the people who book me. I’ve also worked for schools, municipal libraries and community organisations. If you’re looking for a speaker who knows their subject, can hold a room and won’t put anyone to sleep after lunch, we should talk.
Awards, best sellers, TV, Oh my!
Proud member of
How to book me
Reach out and tell me about your event: what you need, when it is and what you’re hoping your audience will take away. We’ll have a conversation to make sure we’re the right fit. I’ve only listed a sample of the topics I speak on, so if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, don’t let that stop you from getting in touch.
The earlier in your planning schedule you reach out the better…although I’m always happy to discuss what’s possible at short notice.
Need a conference speaker who won't bore people to death?
Client Success Stories
Not sure? I can help!
If you’re still not sure or there’s something you’re looking for that’s not listed on these pages, drop me a line contact@mariealafaci.com.
Better still, let’s talk like real humans in an obligation-free 15-minute call. I’m always happy to help. And if I can’t help you, I probably know someone who can.
