A Guide to Crafting Compelling Podcast Intros, Outros, and Trailers
Today, I want to share my insights on creating engaging podcast intros, outros, and trailers. As a woman in business and podcaster myself, I understand the challenges you might face when starting your podcasting journey.
1. Mastering the Art of Podcast Intros
What is a Podcast Intro?
An intro is where you introduce yourself and your show. It sets the tone and gives listeners a taste of what's to come.
Here's what I include in my intro:
- My name and the podcast name
- What the podcast is about and who it's for
- A brief overview of what listeners can expect
Pro Tip: Keep it concise! I aim for 30 seconds to 1 minute max.
Here's my actual intro for "Podcasting 101 with Rachael":
"Welcome to Podcasting 101 with me, your host Rachael. This podcast is for female business owners and solopreneurs that are looking to start a podcast to add to your own already awesome offering. I'll give you helpful advice that you can take away and use in your podcasting journey. I hope to answer those tricky questions that just keep you from starting. Once a month, I'll be joined by other female podcasters. They'll share their journey with you and offer tips and advice they discovered along the way. Let's get started."
2. Crafting the Perfect Outro
The outro is where you sign off and provide a call-to-action for your listeners.
I recommend including:
- A thank you to your listeners
- A clear call-to-action – What is it you’d like them to do next? (follow on social media, join a Facebook group, DM you, etc.)
- Ask listeners to like, subscribe, rate, and review your show
You have two main options for outros:
- Record a new live outro for each episode
- Use a pre-recorded evergreen outro (this is what I do)
Pro Tip: You can do this every week if you want to. You can do a live sign-off if you prefer or if you want to add specific details for the next episodes or what's coming up. Or you can pre-record them.
3. The Power of Podcast Trailers
It’s a good idea to create a trailer for your show, especially when you are launching your podcast. You can create different types of trailers EG season trailers, episode trailers.
Here are some quick tips:
- Keep it brief: 60-90 seconds
- Use the same music as your intro/outro
- Create a specific branded graphic for it as the cover art
- Introduce yourself, your show, and what it's about
- Share highlights and topics you'll cover
- Provide a clear call to action
4. My Top Tips for Creating Intros, Outros, and Trailers
- Keep them concise and engaging
- Use royalty-free music or even invest in creating your own!
- Listen to other podcasts for inspiration (What kind of information do they give? What do you like about it? What do you not like about it? And then I would use this to shape your own intro and outro.)
- Update your intro/outro as your podcast evolves
- Review and potentially re-record periodically
5. Choosing the Right Music
Music can really enhance your intro and outro. Here's what I do:
- I use royalty-free music to avoid copyright issues
- I recommend MelodyLoops
- Make sure the music doesn't overpower your voice.
- Does the music fit the theme for your podcast?
6. Evergreen vs. Episode-Specific Intros and Outros
For my podcast, I use an evergreen intro and outro which means it stays the same every week.
I pre-recorded this at the beginning of my podcast journey before I started making my episodes. And then when I edit, I put this intro and outro on my episodes.
You can choose this method or create episode-specific intros and outros if you prefer to highlight particular content or upcoming episodes.
It’s about making them work for you and choosing a style which fits best for you and your podcast.
I would love to hear your experiences with your intros, outros and trailers. Get in touch and let me know!
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch!
Email me at rachael@rb-va.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Listen to my podcast Podcasting 101 with Rachael