SpeakerNet News 3/29/2024

3/29/2024

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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Miscellaneous Tips

New AI platform looks promising for content creators — Shep Hyken

While I haven’t used this yet, Flot.ai looks intriguing. From what I can tell, you can upload your content (articles, books, transcripts) into its closed system where you (or anyone you give access) can ask it questions, or create articles or scripts. There’s a free version, but the $15/mo version includes ChatGPT-4, which is currently $20/month on its own.

Don’t skip the most impactful step to being a great podcast guest — Melanie Benson

If you are an in-demand podcast guest expert with lots of bookings, you might be tempted to skip one of the most impactful steps to be a “good guest.” Always share your featured episodes on your social media (and even better, in your email newsletter, too). Most hosts consider this the “payment” to be featured. But the bigger payoff is the other speaking invitations and client leads your showcase should generate!

Learn from a master copywriter — Ian Percy

IMHO, Jonah Malin is one of the most brilliant, creative and insightful copywriters today. His copywriting newsletter “Gobsmacked - copywriting that slaps” is a must-read for me. Not to be unkind, but the common promotional copy speakers use (e.g., bragging about oneself) is bland and tranquilizing.

My favorite AI platform — Robert Siciliano

I’ve been using Perplexity.ai as my go-to AI tool. I like that when I ask it questions, it will respond in the format I request, including real sources with links. Try it out.

Want to see if the Rebecca Morgan/eSpeakers Virtual Master Presenter course and designation is right for you? Register for the free 1-hour preview April 17 or 25. The five-part, live, virtual course starts May 15. Limited space. Details on the course and register for the preview

Travel Tips

Search all point-transfer flight options on one site — Rebecca Morgan

The site www.Point.me allows you to see which point/mileage-transfer-partner airlines have availability for flights that interest you. It searches programs like Amex, Chase, Citi, Bilt, etc., and tells you how many points/miles it will take to get you from/to your paired cities. You can search by class of service, number of stops, duration, etc., sort by the number of points it will take, then look at the details of the flight.

Once you find a flight you want, click the button, and you’ll see a video on how to confirm there is availability on the airline’s site, and how to transfer your points to that airline. If this is scary, the Point.me expert concierge will book it for you for $200. The Starter Fee is $5 for 24-hour access, and there is an annual subscription available.

There’s also a special sub-site, Point.me/amex, that allows you to see which Amex partner airlines have availability for flights to transfer your points. (You don’t want to book your flights directly using the Amex travel portal as this is not a good value for your points.) I recently searched for flights I’d already booked and found flights on airlines I hadn’t searched with better schedules for about the same number of points. There is no fee for Amex cardholders. This helpful video explains it all.

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Topic of the Month (TOTM) — Your Input Wanted

Our TOTM is: What have you found are the best uses for your old cell phones, even if they don’t have cell service?

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.

— Rebecca Morgan

Donate to a local women’s shelter (once the phone is wiped to clear any data and disconnected from your accounts). They can still be used to call 911.
Use as a clock in my home and/or home studio (if the OS is up to date, stand it in landscape so it goes into nightstand mode, and the clock numbers are large). Remember to mute the sound. The advantage of using your phone vs. a clock is you never have to reset it if the electricity goes out or when the time changes, as long as it is plugged in.
Use it as a camera in your virtual studio, either as your main or second camera. This video explains how
Use it as a security camera. Download an app that will enable that. (See the video above.)

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