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Melissa Harrison

Speaker | Trainer | Consultant

Melissa is a member of the National Speakers Association. She makes audiences laugh and inspires them with real situations and answers to dive into the things that often scare them but that are necessary for growth. She teaches business leaders how to embrace change and engage internal and external audiences.

She connects on a personal level because she’s been there before—building up organizations (including her own) through recessions, membership decline and turnovers. She rolls up her sleeves right with you and gets to work.

Most requested presentations

Stress levels for working moms in a pandemic: We’ve got it bad

Working mothers are not OK. We don’t even know how to adequately construct our thoughts without them seeming like random rants to express just how overworked and stressed out we are. How many hats can we wear until they all fall off? We have no space to recover. We worry all the time, and we feel like we have no support. From one working mom to the next, I feel you, I see you and we’re going to unpack all of this to talk about it. Based on her articled published in SheTAXI, Melissa gets candid about what moms aren’t talking about that we’re all feeling as we’re still deep into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marketing basics: What you need to know to set your plan

Marketing plans are an essential part of business. A fluid marketing plan that moves with you as the market evolves is even better. And thus, we all know that planning is half the battle. This workshop guides participants through marketing basics and the need-to-know components to develop a solid marketing plan. Melissa will present her 10-step approach to marketing planning along with considerations and research you can do prior to setting your plan. She’ll also speak specifically to implications of COVID-19 and how to adjust your marketing plan accordingly.

Building a 365-day content plan in an ever-changing landscape

In wake of COVID-19 we saw a dramatic shift in the way we do (and market) business—how to make critical decisions and cancellations, how to communicate effectively throughout day-to-day changes, how to revamp communications to be in line with current sentiments and experiences. Hindsight (like most crisis) is 20/20. In this session, Melissa covers how to set up ongoing content strategy plans throughout the year and the tools to support you in this effort. Learn what to talk about during the down time and how you can leverage engagement and channels already set when crisis happens. We’ll explore video tools, content calendars and ideas for mitigating stress on your event when unknowns creep up.

Communication on point: Best practices for digital media campaigns

Melissa explores various aspects of organic and paid social media campaigns to put you on the right track for launching your first set (or subsequent sets) of campaigns. Concentration will be given to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and email marketing. Learn which social media channels appeal to which audiences:, how to set goals for paid media campaigns, tips for organizing your content (and planning ahead), and best practices for measuring results.

Welcome to the dance of client-agency communications

While we may want to look at our clients through rose-colored glasses, in reality, we know that’s not always the case. From clients who pivot without notice and take too long to respond to those who always feel their way is right, agencies can struggle to find that great balance of communication and amazing work. We’re getting real about working with clients and what agencies can set up as best practices (and ultimately, when it may be time to fire a client). Based on her breakout session and interview with Content Marketing Institute, Melissa breaks down essentials for agencies to regroup and rethink communication strategies and expectations with clients for better business growth and relationships.

Our Workshops

Looking for customized workshops and training? We’ve got you covered. Send us an email to start the conversation on how we can customize a training package for you and your team.

Sample workshops include:

• Demand generation training for marketing teams (Google campaigns, paid social media, etc.)
• Marketing strategy and development
• Board and volunteer workshops/training
• Customized digital marketing training (email marketing, social media channels, Google Analytics)
• Marketing strategy and budget development

Our workshops are the perfect option for new marketing teams, association boards or organizations looking to strategize marketing strategies with expert professionals. From there, you take the knowledge and run with it!