Teleprompter Script Template

How to format a script for a teleprompter

Most scripts that sound stiff on camera were written to be read silently. A few changes fix that:

• One idea per paragraph. When the idea changes, start a new paragraph. The gap tells you where to breathe.
• Short lines. Aim for 8 to 15 words per sentence. Long sentences are where people lose their place.
• Words you would say out loud. "We shipped it" beats "The release has been successfully completed."
• Numbers the way you say them. Round them, like "about two thousand customers". Keep the exact figure only when it matters.
• Names spelled the way they sound. If a product or person's name is hard to say, add how to say it in brackets the first time.
• Big text, narrow column. On a laptop, a narrow window under the camera keeps your eyes close to the lens.

Before and after: the same script, formatted

Here is a typical opener written like an email:

That is one 45-word sentence. It is hard to read on a prompter and hard to follow on a call. Here it is rewritten for speaking:

Thanks for joining.

Today I'll show you the new reporting dashboard.

First, what it does.
Then, what changed since last time.
And last, what I'd suggest your team does next.

Same message, shorter lines, and every line is something you would actually say.

Template: product demo opener

Use this for the first minute of a sales demo or a customer walkthrough. It is about 120 words once filled in.

Hi (name), thanks for making the time.

Before we start, I'd love to check one thing.
You mentioned (their problem in their words).
Is that still the main thing you want to fix?

(Let them answer. Then carry on.)

Great. Here's the plan for the next (number) minutes.

First, I'll show you how (product) handles (problem).
Then I'll show (second feature they care about).
And we'll keep the last few minutes for your questions.

If anything doesn't match how your team works, stop me.
Let's start with (first screen).

Template: weekly team update

Use this for a stand-up, a team call or a short update to managers. Keep it to two minutes, about 300 words.

Morning, everyone. Here's where we are this week.

The headline: (one sentence on the most important result).

What went well:
(Win one, with a number if you have it.)
(Win two.)

What's blocked:
(The problem, and who can help.)

What's next:
(The one or two things we're doing before next week.)

One ask from me: (what you need from the group).

That's it from me. Questions?

Template: lesson or training intro

Use this to open a class, a training session or an onboarding call for new users. It sets clear goals before you share your screen.

Hi, I'm (name), and I'll be with you for the next (length).

By the end of this session, you'll be able to:
(Goal one.)
(Goal two.)
(Goal three.)

Here's how it will work.
I'll show each step first.
Then you'll try it yourself.

If you get stuck, (how to ask: chat, raise a hand, unmute).

Let's start with (first topic).

Template: interview talking points

This one is for preparing for an interview. Keep each point to a few words so it works as a reminder while you talk in your own voice. Always follow the rules the interviewer gives you, and don't use notes in a test that asks you not to.

About me, in three lines:
(What I do now.)
(What I'm known for.)
(Why this role.)

Examples to mention:
(Project, my part, the result.)
(A problem I solved, and how.)

Questions to ask them:
(What does a good first 90 days look like?)
(How does the team work together?)

Close:
(Thank them. One line on why I'm keen.)

How long should a teleprompter script be?

Most people speak at about 130 to 170 words a minute. Use these as a starting point:

Read your script out loud with a timer before the call. If it runs long, cut whole lines rather than speaking faster.

Read it naturally

A good script still sounds stiff if you rush it. On the call:

• Look up between lines. Glance at the next phrase, then say it to the camera.
• Slow down. Reading feels slower than it sounds, so a pace that feels slow is usually right.
• Leave the script when you need to. If someone asks a question, answer it, then find your place again.
• Rehearse once. One read-through out loud makes the words feel like yours.

In Notch, you can scroll the script by hand at a speed you set, or turn on voice following so the text moves as you speak and waits when you stop. Voice following works in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Our help guide on writing a script and the getting started guide cover the settings. The Notch Teleprompter is free to try and costs $17.99 once, with no subscription; see pricing.