121: Designing Your Website So It Speaks Your Brand with Melanie (Mel) Richards

How does your website impact your speaking opportunities and the fees you can charge?

More than you may think.

If you want to be seen as an authority in your field and charge premium rates, as both a speaker and an entrepreneur, your branding needs to reflect that.

This includes your website, your marketing materials, your graphics, and your content.

This may be controversial, but I’m going to say it:

DIY is not your BFF.

When you come to a place in your speaking and business when you need to level up, you need to bring in experts to help you.

As a speaker, if you want to get paid gigs and bigger stages, how you present yourself online and in your materials needs to reflect your value and build trust with event organizers.

You think doing things yourself is saving you money, but it’s really not. It’s costing you money: lost time, lost productivity, and actual lost revenue from prospective clients who don’t convert.

I came to this point about a year ago and I’ve been seeking out experts since then: hiring a high-level VA, a professional podcast editor, a sales coach, another speaking coach to work with our clients, most recently a website designer/developer, and soon a marketing strategist.

My guest today is Melanie (Mel) Richards, the founder of Modern Traction, a web development and content marketing company.

I hired Mel earlier this year to design and build the new website for https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

This was a big decision for me. My previous two businesses had been web development companies, so I had always created my own websites.

But, that was no longer my identity or my business. And it was no longer a good use of my time - I needed the expert guidance and skillset that Mel and her team provided.

Whether you know you need a new look for your brand and website, are happy with what you currently have, or perhaps just need a refresh, you’ll hear tips you can use to position yourself as a premium speaker.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Mel got interested in design (and what a 4-ton printing press has to do with it)
• What elements make a great website that works for you
• How your website can be your most powerful marketing and sales tool
• Where to start when working on your website (this may surprise you)
• What to look for when hiring a designer
• What the impact has been on my business since launching the new site
• How we decided on the branding for the new website (this can help you with yours too)

About My Guest: Having debuted her career in web design and development in 1999, Melanie (Mel) Richards is a highly experienced and award-winning art director and digital strategist. She’s sought out for her knowledge on branding, design, UX, conversion strategies and the technologies that make it all possible. Her dedication to helping her clients get more traction with their business drives her to create solutions that meet her client’s objectives and expectations so they see a healthy ROI after working with her. In her spare time, Melanie can be found reading non-fiction, hosting a lively dinner with friends, or pushing her boundaries through adventure sports. Living in the small mountain town of Squamish, B.C., the outdoors offer her an endless playground where she enjoys kiteboarding, mountain biking and skiing with friends and family.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/121

Visit Mel’s website: https://moderntraction.com/

Schedule a consult call with Mel: https://moderntraction.com/chat/

Download the free guide for getting great professional photos: https://www.moderntraction.com/speakingyourbrand

Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999.

Ready to create your signature talk and framework? Email carol@speakingyourbrand.com or click here to schedule a call.

Say hi to me on Instagram and Twitter: @CarolMorganCox.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts and leave a review!

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 57: How to Use Simple Story Structure to Create Compelling Content
• Episode 61: A Game Changer for Your Business and Presentations - Developing Your Own Framework
• Episode 116: 16 Ways You Can Use Your Signature Talk

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable