6/6/2025
Editors: Rebecca Morgan & Ken Braly
See “About SpeakerNet News” at the end for information on how to submit tips and use this newsletter. Remember, your “dues” for this free ezine are submitting two tips a quarter. Send your best tips to editor@SpeakerNetNews.com.
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From the Editors
Would you like to join the SNN editorial team?
We’re looking for a few people to help source and craft relevant tips. Or add your own tips. Is that you? It would likely take less than an hour every week or two, and you could gather useful info from sources you’re probably already consuming. Plus, what a cool thing to add to your resume that you’re an official part of a nearly 30-year-old industry publication!
If interested, please email us ASAP and we’ll set up a time to go into detail. editor@SpeakerNetNews.com
SNN Webcast Info
Wednesday, June 11
Become a Teleprompter Pro:
Do’s and Don’ts for Successfully Using
Teleprompters for In-Person and Video Presentations (webcast)
with Pete Weissman
Did you ever notice how most people, when they’re speaking to you on Zoom or anther online platform, don’t look like they’re speaking to you at all?
Thet’s of course because speaking to a remote audience is an unnatural act, and our natural tendency when speaking is to look at the people in our audience — on our screen — rather than looking at the camera. Good newscasters maintain eye contact with the audience, when there is no audience in front of them, by using a teleprompter.
But using a teleprompter well requires practice, and in this webcast our expert will help you master this helpful technology, to deliver your message more effectively to those watching you online.
Are you thinking of trying a teleprompter? Do you use one now but would like to use it even better? Don’t miss this session.
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.
Technology Tips
Automate how-to guides — Julie Holmes
I’ve been using Scribe to document workflows converting videos to docs. It automatically creates step-by-step guides just by watching you do the task — screenshots, instructions, the whole thing. It’s fast, it’s easy, and the finished product looks super polished. If you’re tired of writing up processes from scratch, this will save your sanity.
I also use Tella for video walkthroughs.
Consider various AI tools — Beth Terry
People often think ChatGPT is the only AI available. Consider going to lmarena.ai to test out multiple AI choices. You can ask the question and compare two options side by side from different AI clients. I have been using Grok more than ChatGPT, as I’ve seen more measured responses from Grok. But at least check it and compare choices.
How to prevent AI from accessing the Internet — Rebecca Morgan
If you want to have AI help you edit a manuscript and don’t want to have it plagiarize others’ work, you can turn off its access to the Internet before submitting your project. I asked AI expert Gina Carr how to do this, and she sent this useful link. (Scroll up to the top of the page.)
Travel Tips
Amex and Hawaiian Airlines — Randy Gage
American Express Membership Rewards points will no longer be available for transfer to Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles. The last day for transfers is June 29.
SpeakerNet News Webcast Info
Wednesday, June 11
Become a Teleprompter Pro:
Do’s and Don’ts for Successfully Using
Teleprompters for In-Person and Video Presentations (webcast)
with Pete Weissman
News anchors and politicians make teleprompters look easy, but for professional speakers, there are skills to learn and pitfalls to avoid.
A teleprompter can help you stay on message and maintain eye contact on stage at a big conference, at your desk for a virtual talk, or while recording a video on your iPhone.
Yet you’re concerned that reading a script will appear stilted. You know part of your allure is your authenticity. So how can you maintain this while using a teleprompter?
Or perhaps you think, “They’re hiring me (or watching my video) because I am a professional presenter! I don’t need a teleprompter.” That may be true, but some conferences are now *requiring* all speakers use one, so you need to become familiar with the basics. Plus, you might find you actually like using one, especially if you are delivering new material.
These ideas are shared by a master, who coached more than 40 speakers to use the teleprompter at a 2024 national political convention. Pete will reveal how to connect with your audience when they’re on the other side of the glass.
You will learn how to:
- perform — rather than read — as the words scroll by
- leverage the audience’s energy ... or bring your own if you’re speaking into the void
- format the script for powerful delivery
- position the screen and camera at your desk or in the field
- create Plan B (and C!) for when Murphy’s Law strikes
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: Wednesday, June 11
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 creating great speeches and delivering them with technology, we’re suggesting the recordings of several earlier programs to complement this program:
- “How to Hone Your On-Camera Skills to Close More Sales” with Carolyn Strauss, CSP
- “Speechwriter Savvy: How to Make Your Ideas Remembered, Repeated, Reported and Retweeted” with Pete Weissman
With your order of this live or recorded session, at checkout you will be offered these recordings.
About SpeakerNet News and the Editors/Publishers
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