How to use a Teleprompter: A Complete Guide

If you’ve engaged in public speaking of any form, you know that maintaining eye contact is crucial for effective communication. When delivering long speeches or presentations, it can be challenging to remember the entire script, leading many presenters to rely on notes. But how do you maintain eye contact with your audience while referring to your script? This is where teleprompter software comes in.

Teleprompter allows presenters to maintain eye contact with their audience while seamlessly delivering their scripted content. In this article, we'll talk about teleprompters, defining what they are, discussing the best software option you can choose, and showing how you can use everyday devices as teleprompters.

What is a Teleprompter?

A teleprompter (or 'Autocue') is a device or software application used in media production to display scripted text for a presenter or speaker to read from while maintaining eye contact with the audience or camera.

It mainly serves as a digital cue card system, allowing the speaker to deliver their speeches, presentations, news broadcasts or other forms of content smoother. What is a teleprompter used for? It helps speakers maintain a natural flow of speech while ensuring accuracy and professionalism in their delivery.

Podcastle: the Best Teleprompter Software Online

Podcastle stands out as a top choice among teleprompter software for its blend of user-friendliness and affordability. It offers a seamless experience, requiring just a few simple steps to get started.

Here is how to use Podcastle’s teleprompter in three simple steps:

Start a New Video Recording: Begin by logging into Podcastle and going to the Recording studio or selecting Create > Recording. Choose the Video recording option.

Access the Teleprompter Icon: Once your video recording session is initiated, locate the teleprompter feature that is positioned at the bottom right corner of your screen.

Paste Your Script and Record: With the teleprompter icon selected, you'll find a space where you can either input your speech notes or paste your pre-written script.

That's all there is to it! With your script displayed right in front of you, you can seamlessly record your video content while maintaining natural eye contact. Thanks to Podcastle's intuitive teleprompter feature, your audience won't even realize you're reading from a script.

Aside from the easy-to-use teleprompter feature, Podcastle also offers a set of intuitive and AI-powered features for studio-quality audio and video production, including 4K multitrack video recording, an intuitive video editor, a cinematic blur feature, instant highlighting tools, and a suite of AI-powered enhancements to elevate your content creation process.

If you’re curious to explore other options too, we’ve compiled a list of the best teleprompter software out there, you should certainly consider.

How to Turn Anything into a Teleprompter

Everything can be a teleprompter if you put your mind on it. Here are a couple of ways you can turn your everyday devices and tools into a teleprompter.

How to Use Your Laptop as a Teleprompter

Using your laptop as a teleprompter is a convenient option for many. You can achieve this by opening a simple text editor or teleprompter software on your laptop (like Podcastle!) Copy and paste your script into the text editor or teleprompter software, adjust the font size and scrolling speed to your preference, and place your laptop near your camera, or even use the laptop camera.

With the script displayed on your laptop screen, you can read your lines while maintaining eye contact with your audience or camera. This method offers flexibility and ease of use, making it a popular choice for content creators.

How to Use an iPad as a Teleprompter

The iPad can be used as a teleprompter the same way the laptop can. You just need to find a good teleprompter app to download on the App Store and pretty much follow the same basic steps to get your script displayed on it.

The iPad method offers more convenience and mobility, making it an excellent choice for various content creation scenarios.

How to Use PowerPoint as a Teleprompter

Using PowerPoint as a teleprompter is a straightforward option for those familiar with the software. Simply create a new presentation slide and paste your script into the slide's notes section. Adjust the font size and formatting as needed to ensure readability. Then, set up your presentation in slideshow mode, with the notes section visible to you.

Place your computer screen or projector near your camera, allowing you to read your lines while maintaining eye contact.

How to Use Word as a Teleprompter

Microsoft Word can also be used as a teleprompter with a few simple steps. Open a new document in Word and paste your script into the document. Adjust the font size and formatting to optimize readability. Next, select the View tab and click on the Reading Pane option to display your document in a separate pane beside your main document window.

Position your computer screen or monitor near your camera, enabling you to read your lines while maintaining eye contact with your audience or camera.

Final Thoughts

Teleprompter software offers a valuable solution for speakers and presenters seeking to maintain eye contact while delivering scripted content. Whether utilizing dedicated software like Podcastle or repurposing everyday devices like laptops and iPads, the accessibility and simplicity of teleprompters empower content creators to enhance their presentation results.