3/3/2023
Editors: Rebecca Morgan & Ken Braly
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SNN Webcast Info
Tuesday, March 7
Low-Tech Solutions for Highly Engaging Zoom (webcast)
with Robbie Samuels
You’re probably not thrilled about sitting through yet another Zoom meeting, are you?
If you feel that way, how do you think the people feel who are coming to hear *you* speak in a virtual presentation?
You have been speaking to groups on Zoom for the past three years. You have mastered the basics, but how have you grown your virtual presentation skills?
If you want to learn the latest techniques you can use right away to keep an online audience engaged and enthused, don’t miss our next webcast.
Read more about this session at the bottom of this newsletter, then register for the live program or pre-order the recording.
Note: Everyone who registers for the live webcast session or orders the recording will get a link to the recorded video of the online webcast, as well as the audio MP3 for convenient re-listening.
Feedback on the SNN webcast, “New Tools to Increase Your YouTube Followers and Your Bank Account” with Chuck Gallager:
“Chuck gave an awesome presentation loaded with lots of gems. The handout was a bonus. I can’t wait to make the changes Chuck recommended. Count me in on the next SpeakerNet News event. You know how to bring the information people like me need. I appreciate the work that SpeakerNet News does.” —Kelly Armstrong
Intensive — Fine Tune Your Voice
to Sound Best in Your Presentations
As a presenter, you know your voice is critical to getting your message across. Speakers with weak or inauthentic voices are rarely successful. Audiences want confident presenters who telegraph their assuredness without going over the top.
Knowing something is an important tool is different from mastering its use. Just as with any fine instrument, you have to know how to care for it, use it for the best sound, and take care of it when something is wrong. When was the last time you thought about your voice? When did you last get some tips for making it even more effective?
These three recordings will give you new ideas on how to use and preserve your most important speaking instrument.
- “Raise Your Voice Value for Authenticity, Story, and Connection” (webcast) with Hilary Blair, MFA, CSP
- “Put Your Best Voice Forward: Secrets from a Voice-Over Artist to Up-Level Your Webcasts, Podcasts, Videos and Recorded Books” (webcast) with Grant Holmes
- “Use Professional Techniques to Make Your Audio Product a Sound Succe$$” with Toni Boyle
All SNN single-focused intensive packages are detailed here.
Miscellaneous Tips
Email subject line test — Bobbie O’Connell
The CapitalizeMyTitle.com website offers a number of cool tools, including an email subject line tester that will evaluate your email subject on a scale from 1–100 for word usage, sentiment, and other factors that will increase your open rates. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find other tools such as a headline analyzer, blog title generator, grammar checker, and many more.
Put handout on website for attendees — Milo Shapiro
I found a solution for the uncertainty of hoping the virtual session event planner will send the handout attachment to attendees, or my remembering to upload it for last-minute attendees via the chat.
I created a private web page where there’s a link to the event handout. Now, in repeated emails for the event, the planner only has to provide a link to the special page instead of sending attachments. Also, since the event is virtual, we can more easily post that URL in the chat for latecomers than upload the document there. And all I have to do for my next event is replace the document linked to on that page. Easy!
Inquire about discount before web services renew — Rebecca Morgan
I’ve learned to call my website and domain host (GoDaddy) when I get notified of upcoming renewals. When I did this recently, the rep found a 50% discount coupon which saved me hundreds of dollars. Try this with your host.
Topic of the Month (TOTM) — Your Input Wanted
Our TOTM is: “How are you using AI (artificial intelligence) to further your business goals?”
Send your brief, pithy responses *that are different from those previously mentioned* to editor@SpeakerNetNews.com. Please put “Topic of the Month” or “TOTM” in the subject line.
I’ve used ChatGPT as a “brainstorm starter” to make content or to improve my presentations.
I often try more elaborate prompts such as:
“From the point of view of a [insert field] expert and a [insert activity] consultant, what are the X most important aspects that need to be explored when implementing [activity]”
I’ll find that 9 out of 10 topics are spot on, I can usually discard the ones that aren’t based on my experience and knowledge of the audience, and those 9 usually can be broken down into 11 or 12 — or provide inspiration to add a 13, 14 or 15 that ChatGPT didn’t think of but inspired me to.
Also, you can use it to create thank-you letters, intros, scripts and such, provided you are very explicit. Think of it as another version of you from the multiverse with slightly different experiences that you can consult — and agree with or debate depending on its point of view.
Never ever take its word at face value though. The mathematical models used are trained to tell you what you might want to hear, not necessarily factually. Always check every single thing by searching online using traditional search engines and get primary sources. Sounds like more work, but in the end, you’ll find it makes you 10x more productive.
SpeakerNet News Webcast Info
Tuesday, March 7
Low-Tech Solutions for Highly Engaging Zoom (webcast)
with Robbie Samuels
When Covid brought all in-person events to a screeching halt, events became synonymous with virtual events. You now have Zoom basics down. The problem is that basic skills are not enough to stand out as a top-notch virtual presenter.
Your message may not be getting across if you are not providing a thoughtful participant experience design that allows everyone to engage. All too often, traditional event design, particularly in a virtual setting, benefits the loudest, most confident, and most experienced participants.
You don’t need a high-tech recording studio with a green screen, hair light (that’s a real thing), and fancy software to level up your Zoom game. Focus on improving your technique rather than your technology.
This webcast will help you design transformative, inclusive, and engaging online experiences.
Robbie will share how to use the latest features and online facilitation techniques to structure your events, so everyone feels welcomed instead of merely invited. Using purpose-first design creates sessions that move participants from inspiration to action.
No more death-by-PowerPoint. No more Zoom fatigue.
If virtual programming is part of your business model, you cannot afford to use skills and settings stuck in 2020.
You will learn how to:
- incorporate purpose-first design to create sessions with specific outcomes in mind
- enhance virtual presentations by utilizing improved online facilitation techniques
- create opportunities for ALL voices to be heard, not just the most privileged or experienced
- design breakout rooms that foster intentional engagement
- apply these online facilitation and event design concepts to any virtual platform
Note: Everyone who registers for the live webcast session or orders the recording will get a link to the recorded video of the online webcast, as well as the audio MP3 for convenient re-listening.
Date: Tuesday, March 7
Time: 7:00 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific
(Enter your location here to get your local time)
Length: 60 minutes
Cost: $49 (webcast)
Special Limited-Time Offer:
If you would like more ideas for amazing virtual programs, we’re suggesting the recordings of several earlier programs to complement this program:
- “Design Engaging Virtual Events to Be More in Demand” with Robbie Samuels
- “Going Remote: How to Set Up and Deliver Exceptional Speeches and Presentations from Any Location” with Alan Stevens, FPSA
With your order of this live or recorded session, at checkout you will be offered these recordings.
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