The communicatrix speaks!

Colleen Wainwright, a.k.a. “the communicatrix,” speaks to organizations (and the people who comprise them) about how to connect more effectively with their right people by using a mix of common sense, tried-and-true marketing practices and, where applicable, that consarned new media all the kids were talking about ten minutes ago, while you were out of the room.

Her presentations are jam-packed with a lively blend of solid theory and actionable information, served up in stories, real-life examples, and non-sucky graphics rather than hateful bullet points. In other words, they neither under- nor overwhelm, but communicate useful information in a way that leaves you excited about the possibilities the future holds in store. Good stuff!

Currently, Colleen offers the following talks:

Making People Love You Madly: Selling Yourself in the Postmodern Marketplace

How does a small, creative business stand out in a bid, crowded market? Not by spending the most and yelling the loudest—that’s a sucker’s game (and boy, do those suckers get annoying, fast.) The secret to gaining attention in a noisy world lies in making yourself irresistible at all turns: in person, on your website, over the phone, and of course, on all those crazy social media outlets that keep popping up all over the internet. Learn how to let your glorious creative light shine through in every aspect of your marketing, promotion and services, and have the time of your life doing it.

Your Multimedia Toolkit: Combining Old, New, and Future Methodologies for Better Audience Engagement

From handwritten notes to that hot, happening social-media hub that’s right around the corner, there’s a way to talk to everyone of your audience in a way that makes them want to tune in. This lively, example-packed talk outlines the underlying similarities across media, providing the basic understanding you’ll need to select the right channel and connect with confidence—no matter which medium you’re most comfortable with.

Passion Rules: The Key to Successful Crowdfunding

In the 50 days leading up to her 50th birthday, Colleen Wainwright set a goal to raise $50,000 for a local nonprofit using nothing but the Internet, word-of-mouth, and suspension of disbelief. Learn how she successfully reached her goal with 10 days to spare, then more than doubled it, and how to apply those lessons to help gain traction for your own small business, project, or cause.

Social proof?

She’s spoken at Ignite Portland (twice!), TEDxConcordiaUPortland, SxSW Interactive, ASMP’s Strictly Business 3 Conferences (and 16 individual ASMP chapters), PhotoPlus Expo, WPPI, Seattle Interactive Conference, HOW’s Creative Freelancer Conference, Seattle Design Center, Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (twice!), Orange County Advertising Federation, Pam Slim’s Escape from Cubicle Nation tour (Chicago and Los Angeles stops!), Biznik, Freelancers Union, GreenKey Realty, and Casting Networks, Inc.

Some Nice Things People Have Said About Colleen’s Talks

“Working with Colleen Wainwright is a joy. Her contemporary approach to marketing is exactly what I needed for ASMP’s conference keynote and she delivered beyond my expectations. Her talk was inspiring, funny and informative. As the conference producer, Colleen made my job easier by meeting deadlines, offering creative input and generally making my job easier. She is high quality and low maintenance and receives my highest recommendation.”
—Susan Carr, ASMP Education Director

“Colleen is a dynamic evangelist for the creative and strategic use of social media. Whether speaking to novice or expert audiences, she’s able to convey the excitement of the medium, the potential for communities to coalesce and flourish around ideas, businesses, or other focal points. She takes full advantage of her broad knowledge of best practices and innovation in the social media space to help clients develop a productive social media presence appropriate for their resources and aspirations.”
—Andrew Gossen, Senior Director for Social Media Strategy, Alumni Affairs & Development, Cornell University

“Her presentation had great ideas that are easily implemented and will help increase your business. I highly recommend that you hire her for any upcoming speaking event and/or to work with you on creating and implementing a customized marketing plan. You will be pleased with the results!”
—Jan Kostner, Deputy Director, Illinois Bureau of Tourism

“She is the rare presenter who combines a detailed and comprehensive understanding of her subject matter with exceptional presentation skills, a keen wit and immediate, applicable real world solutions to vexing problems.”
—Peter Beckwith, New Media Producer

“Colleen has an excellent grasp of how to explain and demystify interaction online. She gives clear advice and examples, a wealth of insider tips and honest feedback on how to create trusted connections online. If you’re looking for guidance, support and a common sense understanding of how social media can work for you and your business, Colleen is the right place to start.”
—Julie Shanson, Strategy Consultant

See for yourself!

Here’s Colleen speaking about marketing at the Strictly Business 3 conference in Chicago. Thanks to the impeccably awesome ASMP for compiling and generously sharing the video. (Apologies for the few minor audio dropouts contained herein. Apparently, an electrifying, ungrounded personality can short out an amp. Or something.)

Here’s a 10-minute talk from TEDxConcordiaUPortland with Colleen sharing her chief useful takeaways from the 50-for-50 Project:

For the truly impatient, here’s a 5-minute talk Colleen gave at Ignite: Portland entitled “My Bloody Epiphany.” (Don’t worry—it’s more “epiphany” than “bloody,” and it’s more entertaining than you’d think.)

To get in touch with Colleen about speaking to your group, please contact her at colleen AT communicatrix DOT com, or leave a nice message at (323) 843-4395 [Google Voice number].

Photos (top to bottom) by: Michael Smith; Armosa Studios.