Overview:

Carly helps people land TEDx talks within 30 days using her methodology called "land, learn, leverage." She discussed the process of ideating a talk topic, developing the idea into a script, and maximizing the talk's reach through marketing. TEDx talks can be given at live or online events, or prerecorded in professional studios which ensures high video quality. Getting a TEDx talk boosts one's credibility and opens doors to new opportunities. While acceptance rates are low, Carly can leverage her industry relationships to fast-track the application process. Interesting points included options for making studio recordings look like being on an actual TEDx stage, and how early results show talks increasing clients' leads and business within 30 days.

Takeaways:

• Carly helps people land TEDx talks within 30 days using her methodology called "land, learn, leverage".
• Getting a TEDx talk can help establish credibility, attract clients, and create business opportunities.
• Ideation support is provided to develop the talk idea and presentation skills.
• TEDx talks can be given at live events, online events, or recorded in a professional studio.
• Quality of recording varies at live events but studios ensure a high-quality legacy piece.
• Relationships with organizers are leveraged to fast-track the application process.
• Smaller TEDx events are easier to get into but the online talk is the important legacy piece.
• Building relationships over 2-3 years may help get into larger TEDx events.
• Joining local TEDx organizer mailing lists allows applying when opportunities open.
• Support is available to help clarify ideas and determine readiness for a TEDx talk.

Automatically-Generated Transcription:

Carly Farrier and Carly's the founder of Walk the Talk, a TEDx strategist, a brand stylist, a best-selling author, and an award-winning entrepreneur, A big thinking visionary here to enable change by supporting founders to elevate their authority, amplify their impact, and create a life and legacy they love.

So she's gone from fashion design to events and from burnout to Burning Man.

In 2016, Carly left her successful career to travel the world for two years to heal and grow through experiences like a 10 day silent retreat and off the Grid Tree house in Guatemala for three months and 10 days in the Nevada desert at the world's largest gathering, having lived in five different countries so far, Carly's worldly experience and inner journey has helped her define her gift to be a change enabler who unites purpose with strategy and self-expression.

And she's dedicated to positively influencing the lives of 90 million people by 2000, 2038.

She aims to do this with the only methodology of its kind in the world that fast tracks leaders to a TEDx talk in as little as 90 days by landing their talk in the first 30 days, no matter the location, and even if they don't have the time or much of an online presence.

So, Carly, first question I've got for you is, can you tell us how you ended up helping people with their, with their TEDx talks, like it's sort of a bit of an unusual outside the box thing.

Was there something that happened that caused you to go down this route?

Yeah, so I, I have had a career in events and marketing and, and business development, but as a bit of a, a connector and as someone who really, you know, came back from that two year soul, um, searching journey, I really did want to, um, do really purposeful, meaningful work.

And so I knew I wanted to work with a TEDx organization.

And a few years ago I was the head of partnerships, um, for, for one in, in Australia.

Um, of course, covid hit, it changed a lot for a lot of businesses.

I was made redundant.

Um, but a lot of people were still contacting me, asking me all of the, the usual questions, where do I start?

Who do I work with?

How long is it gonna take?

Is my idea good enough?

And so, as a bit of a creator and connector, I started to really problem solve for people and, and connect with people all around the world in the TEDx space.

And I quickly realized that there was not one source of truth for people to find this information because Ted don't make it easy for people to become TEDx speakers.

So I build a, uh, nine step methodology for people to fast track their way to the stage, and that's the land learn leverage your TEDx talk methodology, which, um, I support people with today.

Excellent.

And and if someone was wanting to plan a TEDx talk, where do they actually start?

Yeah, so there is a, it is a good question.

Really.

I would encourage people to allow at least six months if they're wanting a TEDx talk.

And for those of you who have seen Simon Sinex popular TEDx talk, you really wanna start with why, why do you want want one in the first place?

And so a lot of people look at it for global visibility, for authority, for income and impact.

So get really clear on why you want a TEDx talk.

You want to really look at the, the type of TEDx talk you want.

So I can talk a little bit more about those.

But, um, there are, since Covid online event opportunities, there's studio opportunities and there's also the face-to-face events.

Um, but those, um, are capped at a hundred people these days.

And so there's sort of less, um, exposure, um, with those face-to-face events and a longer, longer lead time.

But you wanna work out what type of event really appeals to you, and then what kind of support do you want on that journey, whether you're an experienced speaker or not, whether you need help with the developing the idea.

So yeah, my, my suggestions would be get clear on why you wanna do it by when, what type of talk and what kind of support you want.

Yeah.

No, it e excellent.

So if someone doesn't have a TEDx idea talk yet, like perhaps say for, you know, hearing about this for the first time or haven't really thought about it in detail, what do you, you know, or, or if they have like lots of ideas, what do you, what do you suggest?

Yeah, it's quite common actually.

We get a lot of people who, you know, have the, the TEDx talk on the vision board and on the bucket list, and they are still trying to work out the best message to share.

And I mean, that's, that's one of the biggest things that, that our TEDx coaches help people with is that ideation process.

So we encourage people to still contact us and, and, you know, try and get clarity and confidence around that.

But as a starting point, if, if this is your situation, if you are unclear, think about if someone was to say to you, love for you to speak to my audience in an hour's time and you've got 10 minutes, what, what would you speak about that is really easy for you to, to talk about and something that you're passionate about as well?

That'd be the first, the first thing to consider.

The second thing would be, okay, well, let's just say in a year's time, you get the opportunity to talk about something on a regular basis, and it's going to mean that people get to connect with you afterwards, and you get to create opportunities for your life and your business.

What would your talk be about then?

And then the third thing to consider is, well, what if, what if it was your last year on earth and you had a 10 minute talk and a legacy piece and something that you can share with the world that could potentially really make an impact?

Then what would you talk about?

And so taking those three things into consideration, and yeah, I encourage, if anyone wants to share in the chat, we'd love to, to see what, what's coming up for people.

But it's, it's a way to really see what is present for you now and what is really passionate for you now in the short term and in the long term.

So that'd be a good place to start.

Yeah, yeah.

No, absolutely.

And, and in terms of the different types of opportunities that there are from a TEDx, you know, events talk opportunities, what are the, what are the different options that are available?

Yeah, so there are the face-to-face events that have recently in the last few months been capped at 100 people.

Um, they are typically quite a, a long lead time.

They can take quite a while to apply for them and get interviews and all of that.

It's actually the average person that's out there applying for TEDx talks themselves.

It's an average of about 80 applications, which is huge.

That's why a lot of people give up.

There's the live events, then there's the online events as well, and, you know, they can have hundreds of people attending them.

And then there's the TEDx studio opportunities, which are, uh, generally prerecorded and they can be, um, published at, at any, any date that the organizer that the organizer publishes.

So what, what I support people with mainly is these prerecorded TEDx talks that are for the, the studios or the online events.

And the reason is because you can actually fast track the, the process and not take about nine months in preparation for the event, but actually take as little as three months.

And, uh, there's so many benefits to pre-recording it and doing it in the, in a professional studio with the right lighting and camera angles and, and all that.

Yeah, yeah.

No, that's, that's great.

I, I wasn't even aware you could do a pre-recorded.

So what, what are the benefits of doing pre-recorded rather than on a, you know, on a live stage if you were to break that down?

Yeah, so, well, with these face-to-face events, as I said, they're, they're capped at a hundred people.

Um, but what people don't realize is that depending on the organizer, you don't know whether they're going to be filming it or not, and you don't know if they are filming it, the quality of it, and then whether that video will actually end up online.

So a lot of people who have been wanting a TED dog for years go down this long process to finally get on a stage, and then there might be 50 people in the audience and they get awful footage of it, or, you know, so, and we, some of the, one of the coaches I work with, he's had that situation where he is, you know, got an amazing TEDx talk, but you can barely, it's like film from the back of the room and you can barely hear it, and that's what's gonna be online for, for decades to come.

So we really wanted to like, avoid all of that and make sure that our clients who are out to make a big difference are really having a good quality piece of content online.

And so that's why we focus on the, the studios and the, um, online events.

So really what what's required is a month out from the, the due date is that people go into a local studio and they film, you can do it with a green screen.

So then the post-production makes it look like you're on a, a TEDx stage, or you can do it in, you know, a setting that really supports your, your TEDx talk theme.

So yeah, it, there's, there's so many benefits of doing it in a studio.

You can have a teleprompter.

You haven't got the, the, uh, the stress of having an audience and all of the, uh, extra event, um, things that you have to abide by if you do it at an actual TEDx event.

And you can obviously retake things as well and get lots of angles and the, the right lighting and, and all of that.

So, Yeah.

Yeah.

No, that's, that's, that's awesome.

So, so can you like, so in terms of if someone wanted to do a, a TEDx talk, how would you go about helping them?

Yeah, so my methodology that helps 'em land learn and leverage in as little as three months, really within the first 30 days, we focus on, on their idea so that I can go and pitch them to TEDx organizers.

We get really clear on where they are and where they want to get to because everyone's got different reasons for wanting to be a, a TEDx speaker and, and have a TEDx talk out there in the world.

A lot of our clients do want to use it to then become paid speakers, but for a lot of people, it's also about credibility and standing out in their, their niche and really attracting in the right types of clients and business opportunities.

So we wanna get really clear on what that roadmap looks like specifically for, for the client.

And so once we've landed the talk and we've got that strategy set up in the first month, then it's really about the client working with the TEDx coach to develop the idea into a script and the presentation skills and get ready for filming.

And then they work with me on implementing the strategy, and that's right across like elevating their brand.

So they've got that global visibility and presence, and they're positioning themselves as an international speaker.

It's looking at marketing, like really maximizing their marketing and monetizing their message.

And, you know, we look at developing partnerships and really creating opportunities for that TEDx talk to be seen and heard by more people.

And that's through pr, other speaking opportunities and, and, and partnerships.

So yeah, that's the, the nutshell of the land learn leverage methodology.

Some, some clients do, um, fast track it in as little as three months.

Some stay with us over about 12 months.

So it really depends.

Yeah, yeah.

No, absolutely.

And we, we've got a question here from, uh, James.

How does a TED organization make their money?

Well, all of the TEDx organizations are not, not-for-profit.

So through sponsorship and partnerships, that's how they can generate their, their income.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yep.

Okay.

Yep.

No, that's, that's good.

And any other questions out there from, from anyone?

We might just open it.

Yep.

Open it up and see if there's any questions.

Yep.

When I was, I, I launched a book a few years ago and I was about to go out and do a big speaking round for it, and I went down to look into the TEDx pathway and put together a, a plan for that.

I was working with a group, uh, people at a, a entrepreneur education company called The Entourage.

So I sort of work with them about putting something together, but it was like, you couldn't actually just go and speak about anything.

You had to come in from a real unique angle typically to get past the, the gatekeeper.

Is there any ideas is, is that actually true?

Because, you know, you can't just go and say, I'm gonna just go and speak about my book on a TEDx stage.

There's that, they, they were explaining how you needed to come in from a unique angle.

Is that correct?

Yeah.

So what TED stands for is an idea worth spreading.

And so it, it does need to be something that is quite unique and an idea that people are willing to adopt and, you know, take action on and, and then actually share with other people because it's, it's activated them so much.

What I, and, and this is, I've had this feedback a lot from a lot of people who come to me who want me to land a TEDx talk forum because they've struggled elsewhere.

And what I would say to that is that every organizer has their own their own process of interviewing people and accepting speaker applications.

Like I know a number of organizers who get bombarded daily with interest, and they run one event a year with up to nine speakers per event, and they know who they're booking on their stage for the next two years.

So it's quite for you to stand out and actually have your application seen, like it's 1% of applications actually get looked at by the average TEDx organizer because they already know who they're booking.

So yes, you want to have that, that angle, but where I've been able to support people is by landing that talk for them in the first 30 days, regardless of that, that angle.

Of course, we're helping you develop that, that idea, but I've got the trusted relationships in the industry that don't go out to market and don't open their applications up to anyone.

And I pitch to them, um, quite privately.

So yeah, there's, there's different ways of going about it.

Yeah.

Does that answer your question?

Yeah, yeah, that's fine.

I mean, you know, you are like a gatekeeper in a way that if you can fast track the process.

'cause if it's only 1% Yeah, makes sense.

Yeah.

What, what's the sort of reach, what's the sort of reach that a TEDx talk gets?

Like if I, like if someone gets on a TEDx, are they get being exposed to, and, and I, I realize it would vary.

Yeah.

Because there's, it's not just, not everyone's gonna have a Simons and Neck start with Y Home run, but is it tens of thousands?

Is it hundreds of thousands?

Is it millions of people?

Like what would someone expect?

Yeah, so on the TEDx Talks YouTube channel, which is where most of them get published, and, and our clients get published on them, there's close to 40 million subscribers.

So that's the potential reach there.

But of course, what you wanna do is get as, as many views as possible on your talk, especially in the first 72 hours.

And there's certain things that you can do to, you know, support that.

So I mean, the reach is endless.

The, when they say there's a viral TEDx talk, it's because there's been over a million views, and that's generally taken someone a couple of years.

So one of the coaches i I work with, he's got close to 2 million views, and that's been close to, to two years.

So there's different strategies that you can use in order to maximize that reach.

Um, we've had one of our clients in the first 48 hours get over 2000 views organically, and that was not using too many strategies at all.

We've had another client, she has reached over 150,000 over nine months now.

There are, you know, so many different strategies that you, you can, you can take.

But yeah, that's, that's part of the magic and the, the stuff that I love doing with people.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, abso and, and, and obviously there's a benefit from reach from brand how, because you, it's not really a call to, it's not a call to action thing, but can you also use it as a, as an authority piece in all of your marketing material?

Like what are the, I guess, the bottom line measurables that come out of the, the back end of that?

Yeah, definitely.

So the thing that I love about, um, the, my community that I'm supporting is that they're starting to see results within that first 30 days since like landing the TEDx talk, because even by announcing it to their community that they've just landed a TEDx talk that instantly increases their, their authority and they start to generate more leads and business opportunities as a result.

So we're working towards a number of TEDx talks at the end of this year, and we've got a few spots left to fill actually.

And yeah, we've already got people that are, you know, getting PR opportunities.

One of the clients is, uh, in talks about a documentary, another client over in Dubai, she's on a, she's been booked for a stage with Tony Robbins, and these are all people that haven't actually got their TEDx talk out there yet.

So it's really amazing to see just that stamp of approval of being a 10 x speaker, the opportunities that are, that are coming for them now.

Yeah, yeah, no, a absolutely no, that's, um, Sorry, Tim's got his hand up.

Sorry.

You can, you can go first.

I'll, I'll, yeah, I have a, like, yeah, back to the, my original question originally, the, there was two avenues.

I haven't heard of this online concept before, but they said to me that you get, there's one main stage in Melbourne, one main stage in Sydney, but you could get a TEDx gig at the multiple small venues that might be in say, university.

And there might only be like about five to 10 people there just to get your name out there to start with.

Is that a pathway that you would recommend?

So is this what the entourage was offering that No, no, not offering.

They weren't offering it, but, we'll, I was looking into the whole TEDx pathway that, and there's little events where not many people turn up to that are quite easy to get on, but you get your name in front of the brand in, but there might might be five people there.

Got it.

So my, my recommendation in that situation, if you are able to secure one of those TEDx spots, just remember that your legacy piece is going to be the, the piece of content that's online.

It's not the people that are in the room.

So I would encourage you to get really good film crew there and then make sure that TEDx organizer, when they submit that to ted, then that's going to be your authority piece that's being looked at for decades to come.

And then have your strategy in place to make sure that you are getting as many views as possible on that TEDx talk over the, you know, next couple of years.

That's good.

Tim, where, where do people find TEDx organizers if you wanted to get on their radar, right, and, and kind of play a longer game if the good ones have got a sort of two year pipeline, you want to kind of get your content visible in front of them and again, seems like a good speaker, where do you find them?

Great question.

And this is where a lot of people struggle because when you go and Google TEDx talk applications, when you go to the TED website, it really is a bit of a, a minefield.

We actually have a TEDx event and organizer list.

So there's, those are for the face-to-face events and they are very hard to pitch people for and, and apply for.

So answer your question, it is just a matter of searching online and when you, if you are looking to get one in here in, are you based in Australia?

I am.

I, I don't really care either way.

I'm just thinking of other clients as well.

If they want something becomes tedex speakers, you know, advised them and say, Hey look, you know, it's not, not just look so up and give 'em a call and say, Hey, I wanna be a TEDx speaker.

Can you put me on, right?

Mm-hmm.

I think it sounds like as if for the good ones, unless you built the relationships already, you know, effectively as your PR agent, your TEDx presentation, if you wanted to build your own profile, you've almost gotta kind of go, this is a two, three year pipeline of kind of build a relationship, make sure that you're speaking and seen to be speaking on a regular basis so that when someone comes and has a bit of a perv at you and say, what are you about?

They can go, Hmm, they're actually pretty good.

I can put them on my stage.

Yeah.

So someone's saying, I think you're right's an X-rated speaker.

F**k.

Yeah.

So I, I would suggest if there are particular locations that you are, you are close to and and willing to do talks for, then you can be following them and join their mailing list so you know, when their speaker applications are open.

That would be the first thing, um, I would recommend.

And probably the, the easiest.

Uh, because often though I have, I do know people that have traveled overseas for the TEDx talks, you might be able to find them more locally.

There are thousands of organizers all around the world and they are popping up regularly as well.

I also mentor people who are wanting to become a, a TEDx organizer.

So yeah, the easiest way is to join mailing lists of, of TEDx organizers and when they open up for speaker applications, then apply that way.

And I do have a, a resource, if anyone's interested, it's a, a TEDx talk application form guide.

It has, it has brought, I guess, the standard questions that organizers ask in that first like, interview process.

But every organizer's different and they have different application processes.

But this is a starting point.

If anyone wants that, you can just connect with me.

Yeah, do do.

And the, if someone wants to shortcut the process, Carly, what's the best way for them to get in touch with you?

Yeah, so if anyone wants to just connect with me on Facebook, I can provide that link.

But my TEDx coach has actually opened up his diary the next couple of days.

'cause I'm gonna be pitching to organizers in the next fortnight for some spots at the end of this year.

So, I mean, if anyone is really interested in getting on the stage by the end of the year, then yeah, I can provide that link, um, for you to book in a clarity call with the TEDx coach.

And that way you can just yeah, get more clear and and confident on your TEDx talk idea and find out whether this is for you.

I'll put your Facebook, I think that's your Facebook link Oh, great.

In the, yeah, in the chat if anyone wants to connect with Carly and yeah.

And if there's any other links you want to drop in there too, Carly, feel free so everyone can reach.

Yeah, everyone can reach out to reach out to you.

Any other, any other questions?

Final questions for a Quick one, Carly, just on the studio setup, what look are you are, I was just scrolling through the videos on TEDx and it seems that some of them, it looks like their studio shot, but shot in a black background, for instance, but the person's got the Madonna, mike on, on the, the whole bit.

So they're trying to set up that look.

What, what kind of look do you go for when you're shooting in the studio?

If it's a private studio that you're controlling?

Yeah, it depends on the client and, and their topic and, and their brand.

But most clients will do it with a green screen, and then my team does the video editing, so it looks like they're on the TEDx stage with the curtains and the red circle and, and obviously the organizers logo.

So that's, that's one option which looks really lifelike.

But another option is a digital studio where it really does look like a real stage because it is, and there's, um, a digital backdrop that might have, you know, the planet Earth with some, some FedEx logo or, or whatever it is that's in, in theme with, with your talk.

Right.

And is that a requirement of, of Ted?

Do they give you a style guide for that, or is that just something you do to, to make it look up market and, Uh, there is a little bit of a style guide, but it's mostly the standard that I hold because since Covid, a lot of people did TEDx talks from the Zoom screen, and they are not clickable on YouTube.

And I want my clients to have really professional looking, uh, TEDx talks.

So, um, we do not support Zoom recordings.

Right.

Thank you.

Yeah, no, that's, that, that's great.

And if, and if everyone can just drop just a note of what you, mainly what of your biggest takeaway from Carly's talk, that'd be, that'd be, or Carly's presentation.

That'd be great into the, into the chat and yeah.

Thanks.

Thanks so much, Carly.

That's been like, super, super insightful.

Big hand of a hand of applause and yeah, very much appreciate you coming on today and sharing your, your expertise.

So we've got John Abbott who said I'd be interested, interested Carly, and then we've got online version was a great tip from Craig Schulz and Blake Cola.

Thanks Carly.

We've got Roscoe Patterson take a film crew to a TEDx talk and don't rely on their video professionals.

Yep.

No, a hundred, a hundred percent.

So that's, that's, that's great.

So's some really solid, solid insights in that presentation and what Scotty Baker said, an expert to get through the clutter.

Yeah.

And John Hubbard studio shoot was great.

Was a great takeaway.

Thanks.

So that's, that's, that's, that's excellent.

So yeah, and, and yeah, no, that, that surprised me.

Actually, I, I didn't even think about like the whole studio shoot and, and that sort of thing.

We got, Tim, if you land one, make sure you leverage it and promote the crap out of it.

Don't just leave it to TEDx.

Yep.

It's a bit like, it's a bit like, it's bit like book pug publishing, right.

You know, that's bad.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's so, and Serena said Studio for consistency online is online is great.