You spent so much time and energy getting the name of you podcast just right. And every week you are pouring everything you have into the content of each episode. But what about your podcast intro?
My podcast intro, you ask? That’s right.
How much time do you put into those first few minutes of each of your podcast episodes?
If you’re like a lot of other podcasters, you’re making the mistake of not putting much thought into your podcast introduction because you think podcasting is all about the main content.
But that’s the wrong way to look at it. And we’re going to tell you why. And it’s not just your podcast intro, but your podcast outro, too, that you need to pay special attention to.
Intro and Outro for Podcasts
You’re probably thinking, “if it’s killer content that keeps listeners tuning in each week, shouldn’t my focus be on creating and producing awesome content and not worrying about my podcast intro and outro?”
And, yes. You should be focusing on creating killer content for each episode. Please don’t ever stop with that. And it’s your content that keeps listeners coming back week after week.
But what about pulling in new listeners?
You’ve seen podcast directories so you know that listeners have a lot of podcasts to choose from. And most people do not have the time to listen to at least one full episode of every podcast available.
So, people sample podcasts. And many know within the first five minutes if they are going to stick with the show, or if they are going to remove it from their playlist.
And that is why your podcast intro is so crucial. It sets the stage for a listener and gives them everything they need to know about you, the podcast, and what will happen in the episode. More importantly, if done well, your podcast intro will captivate new listeners and keep them tuned in for the entire episode.
So now that you got people to listen to your entire podcast, how do you end it? Do you just say, “thanks for listening?’ and then end it.
If you do, we have to work on that.
Your podcast outro needs to not only entice people to come back next week, but it needs to give listeners a call to action. It needs to ask the audience to do something. Engage your audience and they’ll definitely be coming back.
How to Make a Podcast Intro?
So now you know why a podcast intro is vital to the success of a podcast, specifically your podcast. But what makes for a great podcast intro? And how to make a podcast intro?
Though a lot of thought should go into your podcast intro, if you get it right, you won’t need to keep putting in a lot of thought for each episode. Instead, all you will need to do is some minor tweaks to fit each episode and you are done.
But what should be included in a podcast intro?
At the very least, you need to have:
Your name. Who are you? Just like we all prefer having a face to a name, in podcasting, listeners love having a name to the voice.
Podcast title. It never hurts to remind listeners what podcast they are listening to. You can’t assume that they have just clicked on your podcast and started listening. Sometimes podcasts are saved to a playlist. If you are in a mix with different podcasts, you want to be sure that they know exactly what show they are listening to. And if you have a short tag line, you may want to consider saying it, especially if it’s catchy.
What your podcast does or who it is for. Go beyond just your podcast name in your podcast intro to say what your podcast tackles or what a listener will gain by listening to you. What will listeners take away from the podcast? Not only are you giving them a chance to make sure they are at the right podcast, but you are getting them into the right frame of mind for listening.
Should You do a Pre-Recorded Podcast Intro?
You’ve probably listened to a few podcasts yourself. And, you’ve probably noticed that some podcasts have very polished intros. Generally, those intros are pre-recorded and then added to each podcast episode in the editing process.
One of the key things about pre-recording is that you can add podcast intro music which helps set the tone and attracts listeners. And the podcast intro music can underscore your personal introduction, your podcast name, and what your podcast is for.
Do you need to do a pre-recorded podcast intro? Absolutely not.
There is no unwritten rule saying if you must or mustn’t have one. You can have an inviting and memorable podcast intro without having a pre-recorded one.
But, if you do decide to have a pre-recorded podcast intro, keep it short!
Why? Have you ever binged watched a show on Netflix? Silly question as most of us have. And when Netflix gives you the option to skip the intro, do you take it? Most likely you do, especially after watching the opening credits for the first (and only) time.
If audiences already know something, they tend to skip over it. And the same goes for your podcast or any podcast. So, if you make your pre-recorded intro short (15 – 20 seconds), you are not giving listeners a reason to skip ahead.
The Ever-Changing Part of the Podcast Intro
Introducing yourself, stating the podcast name and its purpose is only half of your podcast intro. Though that portion of the podcast intro remains the same for each episode, the second half of your podcast intro should always change.
And why would you always change part of your podcast intro?
You need to change a portion of your podcast intro to fit the particular podcast episode you are introducing.
Most importantly, you need to tell your audience what you will be talking about in the episode. But not just saying what topic you will be covering, but how the episode will benefit the listener. Does your episode offer solutions to a common problem? Or, does it provide insights that will allow the listener to make better decisions on a particular subject or situation?
And you must be concise with your episode break down. Get right to the point, but in a catchy-please-keep-listening-to-my-podcast type of way.
Sample Podcast Intro Script
So, you may still be a little unsure of just what to say in your podcast intro. The best thing to do is to come up with a script that you can say at the start of every podcast episode that allows you to tweak it to fit the topic of the week.
Here’s a sample podcast intro script:
Hey, everyone! Welcome to (name of podcast) and I’m your host(s) ________________. This is a show about _______________ for people like you in mind who want ___________________. Have you ever struggled with __________? Well, in this episode, we look at __________ in depth and help you by providing proven solutions.
Will this script work for everyone? Of course not. It is just an example to get you brainstorming for ideas.
You need to make your podcast intro script work for you. It should inject your personality while matching the tone of the show.
And if you come up with the perfect intro, all you are doing from episode to episode is changing the topic and problem. So, putting the effort and time now will save you tons of time each week. In fact, you won’t even have to think about it.
So, if you can, come up with at least 3 podcast intro scripts. And then try them out with friends and family and see which they like more. Getting reactions is a great way to make sure that you’ve created the perfect podcast intro for yourself.
How Long Should a Podcast Intro Be?
Ok, so you now know everything that goes into a podcast intro. But how long should a podcast intro be?
On average, your podcast intro should be around one minute long, but never longer than 3 minutes.
And remember, the longer your podcast intro, the more it cuts into the content of your show. And you don’t want to short change the main chunk of your show.
Podcast Outro
Okay, so now that we have the podcast intro covered, let’s focus on your podcast outro. And before you ask, yes, your podcast outro is just as important as your intro and you need to spend some time on it as well.
So, why is the podcast outro important? It’s the end of the show. Who cares, right? Wrong!
Your podcast outro is the last thing that a listener will hear of your show. It can leave a lasting impression. As the saying goes, you want to finish strong. And the same goes for podcasting.
What Goes into a Podcast Outro?
Again, you want to keep your podcast outro short, but there is a lot that you can (and should) put into your outro. Though it is really is up to you what you want to say in your podcast outro.
Some things you may want to consider putting into your podcast outro include:
Thank your listeners – it pays to be polite and to thank them for choosing to spend their time with you.
Sneak peek for next episode – who doesn’t like a good tease? If your audience knows what’s in store for them the following week, you can be sure they’ll be tuning in.
Give them a place to visit – if you are more than your podcast, let your audience know that they can find out more information on a topic or find helpful extras on your website. Point them in that direction and score some hits for your website in the process.
Give them something to do – or, as we call it, a call to action. You’ve had your audience’s ear for an entire episode. And, if they’ve stayed through to the end, it means they liked what they were hearing. So, use that! Really engage with your audience and ask them to do something. This includes:
Subscribe to your podcast
Tell friends and family about the podcast
Follow and like you on social media
Leave a positive review of the podcast
Sign up for your newsletter/email
Buy your podcast merchandise
Should I do a Pre-Recorded Outro?
Again, there is no common law on this. It is completely up to you if you want to do a pre-recorded outro or not.
But, if you do a pre-recorded intro, then you should do an outro as well. Begin as you started using the same music for your podcast outro. And, keep it short!
The one downside to doing a pre-recorded outro is that if you need to do a special call to action for your audience (for example, you’ve released an eBook and you want them to purchase or you are speaking at a conference and you’d like them to attend), it makes it tricky to change that call to action.
Podcast Outro Script
But, if you are opting to not do a pre-recorded podcast outro, then think of your podcast outro in the same terms of your podcast intro. Put some thought into it and come up with a podcast outro script that you can use for every episode that allows for some slight tweaks.
For example:
Well, listeners, that’s it for this episode. I want to thank you all so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this show, tune in next week when we discuss ________. And don’t forget to visit us ________.com for bonus materials about ___________. And while there, sign up for our weekly email so you never miss another episode. See you next week!
Again, this is just an example that hopefully will help you brainstorm podcast outro scripts that are tailored perfectly for you and your show.
Podcast Intro and Outro
So, now you see just how important your podcast intro and outro are to the success of your podcast. Many podcasters overlook these because they are so brief. How important can 60 seconds be?
Turns out, those first and last minutes of a podcast are extremely vital. If you do your podcast intro and outro just right, not only will you be hooking new audiences but also keeping them. And without an audience, keeping your podcast going will be a struggle.
Though you need to put in a lot of thought to your podcast intro and outro, if you do them correctly, you only have to really think about them once. After that, it will take just a few minutes to reword those parts of your podcast script that deals with each episode’s content.
So, take a look at what you have now and see if it has all the elements discussed here. And if you are starting out, you have everything you need for success.
Happy podcasting!
Add Comment