Most of us have been told that if we want referrals, we should just ask for them. But, that approach can feel awkward.

What if, instead of asking, you could design an experience that makes you naturally referable?

That’s exactly what my guest, Stacey Brown Randall, teaches. Stacey is the author of her new book The Referable Client Experience, and she’s built a proven system to generate consistent referrals — without asking, without paying, and without gimmicky tactics.

In this conversation, Stacey and I dig into:

• Why doing great work isn’t enough to generate referrals
• The three stages of the client experience — new, active, and alumni — and what to do in each one
• The difference between “work” touch points and “relationship” touch points (and how both matter)
• How to stay top of mind with clients after your work together is done
• What speakers can do to create a “referable” experience for event organizers

I especially loved Stacey’s ideas for how we can nurture relationships in meaningful ways — like acknowledging that quiet voice of buyer’s remorse with empathy and care, or sending a “You survived it!” gift to an event organizer after a big conference.

These kinds of thoughtful, human touches don’t just make you memorable — they make you referable.

If you’ve ever wished more clients and speaking invitations came your way because people can’t stop talking about the experience you create, this episode is for you.

Tune in and start designing your own referable client (or audience!) experience.

About My Guest: Stacey Brown Randall is the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, author of the forthcoming book, The Referable Client Experience (October 2025) and host of the Roadmap to Referrals podcast.Stacey teaches business owners how to generate referrals naturally...without manipulating, incentivizing or even asking.She has been featured in national publications like Entrepreneur magazine, Investor Business Daily, Forbes, and more. She received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/448/

Get Stacey’s new book The Referable Client Experience: http://referrableclientexperience.com

Stacey’s website: http://www.staceybrownrandall.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Stacey Brown Randall (guest) = http://www.linkedin.com/in/staceybrandall

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 62: Tired of Asking? A Better Way to Get Referrals with Stacey Brown Randall
• Episode 442: [Part 2] Booked Without Burnout: Speaking Invitations that Come to You

Are you the kind of speaker who loves to have everything prepared in advance? Perhaps you even have your entire presentation scripted out nearly word for word and you have detailed notes for every slide that you rely on?

Well, I have a challenge for you: getting more comfortable with impromptu speaking.

As a speaker and as a leader, both impromptu and prepared speaking skills are a must.

Have you ever had one of these situations happen to you:

You're in a meeting or group and asked to share something on the spot. You get really nervous and feel at a loss for words.

You're at a networking event where you need to concisely share with other attendees who you are, what you do, and how you help people. After you introduce yourself, you realized you left out the most important parts or it all felt like a jumble.

You're leading a meeting where you need to motivate your team, but you didn't have an opportunity to prepare your message ahead of time and feel like you weren't as clear or confident as you want to be.

This is why developing your impromptu speaking skills is essential.

I want more women - including you! - to feel comfortable and confident commanding a room and leading teams, organizations, and companies.

In this episode, I share:

• Why impromptu speaking is hard
• Why it matters to your development as a speaker and leader
• Specific things you can do to get better at impromptu speaking
• Some of my own impromptu speaking wins and fails!

This episode originally aired as episode 390 on April 29, 2024.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/390/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 382: 3 Signs You're Stuck in the Expert Trap with Your Public Speaking
• Episode 370: Overcome Speaking Nerves & Anxiety: How to Develop Confidence on Stage
• Episode 379: How to Develop Stage Presence and Build Confidence as a Speaker
• Episode 347: The Power of REAL Practice to Transform Yourself as a Speaker

Here’s what you don’t want the audience to say after you deliver your keynote: “I learned a lot.”

That’s you being stuck in the expert trap.

As a keynote speaker, you’re there to provide an experience for the audience; to help them see something differently about themselves or their industry or their world; and to have them believe they can do it.

In this episode, I’m sharing 3 must-haves that will take your keynote from “just another talk” to a truly transformative experience for your audience.

You’ll hear behind-the-scenes from a keynote I recently gave called From Invisible to Influential: How I Found My Voice and Why Yours Matters More Than Ever.

Here’s what you’ll learn

• Why storytelling should always be at the core of your keynote (and the story I shared that had women coming up to me afterward saying how inspired they felt).
• How to use the “Rule of Three” to make your keynote easy to follow, memorable, and impactful.
• The importance of weaving in humor and audience participation - and how I planned both into my talk so they weren’t left to chance.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear roadmap for how to design your keynote so it not only informs but truly transforms your audience.

✨ Ready to create your own keynote that’s powerful, inspiring, and totally YOU? Visit https://www.speakingyourbrand.com and schedule a call.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/445/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Schedule a consultation call: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 426: Every Talk Needs Humor: Here are 5 Ways to Make Your Audience Laugh
• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe
• Episode 382: 3 Signs You're Stuck in the Expert Trap with Your Public Speaking
• Episode 288: A Framework for Creating a Signature Talk for Income and Impact

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

We’re wrapping up our Booked Without Burnout series, and this one might surprise you: should you ever pay to speak?

I know - it sounds backward. After all, you want to get paid for your expertise, not the other way around.

But there are times when paying for a speaking slot makes strategic sense, especially if it’s tied to a sponsorship or marketing opportunity that gets you in front of your ideal clients.

This is Part 4 of my 4-part series on how to land more speaking engagements. In Part 1, I shared outbound strategies: what to do when you pitch yourself. In Part 2, we talked about inbound strategies: how to set yourself up so event organizers find you. In Part 3, we looked at getting paid to speak.

In this episode, I share:

• How to evaluate whether paying to speak is worth it for your goals
• The key questions to ask before you invest in a speaking opportunity
• How to turn a sponsorship into a visibility and revenue boost

Plus, I’m including an episode from my Confident Speaker podcast, my fully AI-generated show. The script, voice, and show notes are all created by AI using a custom knowledge base built from 400+ episodes of Speaking Your Brand. You’ll hear “AI Carol” and see how closely it matches my style (it’s kind of wild!).

If you’ve ever wondered how you can use AI to amplify your brand voice, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what’s possible.

Listen in and find out when it might be smart to pay to speak - and how to use AI to grow your visibility without burning out.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/444/

Check out my companion podcast “Confident Speaker”: https://confidentspeaker.transistor.fm/

Apply for my Automate & Amplify with AI program: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/ai/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Enroll in our online Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 443: [Part 3] Booked Without Burnout: Getting Paid to Speak
• Episode 442: [Part 2] Booked Without Burnout: Speaking Invitations that Come to You
• Episode 441: [Part 1] Booked Without Burnout: A Smarter Way to Land Speaking Gigs
• Episode 433: Behind the Scenes of My AI-Powered Business: Real-World Use Cases

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Visibility is valuable. But visibility plus revenue? That’s power.

Speaking isn’t only about sharing what you know. It’s about owning your expertise, modeling equity, and showing what women leaders are worth on stage.

So how do you go from free talks at local events… to $2,500, $5,000, even $10,000 keynotes and workshops?

This is Part 3 of my 4-part series on how to land more speaking engagements. In Part 1, I shared outbound strategies: what to do when you pitch yourself. In Part 2, we talked about inbound strategies: how to set yourself up so event organizers find you. And now, it’s time to talk about getting paid to speak.

Because here’s the shift: when you position yourself as a thought leader who delivers transformation, not just information, you move from being “a nice-to-have” speaker to an essential investment for event organizers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The signs that you’re ready to start charging for your talks.
• How to position your value in terms of audience transformation and ROI.
• What typical fee ranges look like across associations, conferences, and corporate.
• The exact question to ask organizers that opens up budget conversations.

  
  

Getting paid to speak is absolutely possible - and once you start, you’ll open the door to bigger stages and bigger impact.

Want help creating your signature talk, packaging your expertise, and building a strategy that leads to paid opportunities?

• Join our online Thought Leader Academy for step-by-step coaching and a proven process to elevate your message.
• Prefer in-person? Attend our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator in Orlando and walk away with your talk and action plan.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/443/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Enroll in our online Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 442: [Part 2] Booked Without Burnout: Speaking Invitations that Come to You
• Episode 441: [Part 1] Booked Without Burnout: A Smarter Way to Land Speaking Gigs
• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe
• Episode 373: From Free to Fee: How to Get an ROI from Speaking

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if speaking invitations just landed in your inbox - and with a speaker fee attached?

The truth is, they can. In fact, many of my own paid speaking gigs (and our clients’ too) have come through inbound strategies - because we’ve intentionally set ourselves up so event organizers find us.

This is Part 2 of my 4-part series on how to land more speaking engagements.

In Part 1, I shared outbound strategies: what to do when you pitch yourself.

In today’s episode, I’m diving into inbound strategies: how to position yourself so speaking invitations come directly to you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What your speaker page and LinkedIn profile must include so event organizers instantly see your credibility.
• Why being active in your local community and industry leads to referrals and repeat invitations.
• How delivering an amazing talk becomes your best marketing tool for stage-side referrals.
• Real client examples who turned one talk into many opportunities.

With the right inbound strategies, you’ll build familiarity, trust, and visibility, so event organizers think of you first when they need a great speaker.

Want help creating your signature talk and positioning yourself to get booked?

• Join our online Thought Leader Academy for step-by-step coaching and a proven process to elevate your message.
• Prefer in-person? Attend our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator in Orlando and walk away with your talk and action plan.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/442/

Check out my speaker page = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/carol-cox-ai/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Enroll in our online Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 441: [Part 1] Booked Without Burnout: A Smarter Way to Land Speaking Gigs
• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe
• Episode 401: Strategies for Getting Momentum on the Speaking Circuit
• Episode 245: How to Get Selected as a Speaker by Event Organizers

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Hey there, it's Carol, popping in for a minute! I want to make sure you know about our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator Workshop coming up on October 30th in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

You’ll go from having a rough idea to building your talk using our proven Signature Talk Canvas® framework - and then practice delivering it with real-time feedback from us.

And here’s the thing = you’ll create a talk that goes beyond tips and facts. I know you know how to create a slide presentation, but to achieve your goals, you need something much more than that. You need to shape a message that persuades, gets buy-in, and leaves a lasting impression.

That’s exactly what you’ll do at our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator.

We’ll show you how to use storytelling for resonance, how to paint a vision your audience wants to be part of, and how to step into the speaker and leader you’re ready to be.

Can it really be done in a day? We guarantee it! Listen to episode 435 to hear my conversation with 3 of the women who attended our last workshop.

You'll get:

✅ Your signature talk and framework mapped out, blending thought leadership, storytelling, and lead generation
✅ Personalized coaching to take your delivery from good to captivating
✅ Strategies to reduce nerves and boost your stage presence
✅ A curated speaker kit and printed workbook
✅ New connections with incredible women
✅ And professional photos of you speaking - perfect for your website and social media

This isn’t just one talk. It’s a message you can use everywhere: On stage, in webinars, podcast interviews, your emails, social posts, even your book or course.

Whether it’s been stuck in your head or sitting in a slide deck, your talk deserves to make the impact it was meant to - and achieve your goals.

If you're ready to make the shift out of the expert trap, from information to transformation, join us at the Citrus Club in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025.

Spots are limited to 15 attendees, so go to speakingyourbrand.com/orlando to register today. I’d love to have you there!

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.