How to Create a Great Podcast Intro

We’ve all heard the saying that you only get one chance at a first impression, and your podcast is no exception!

What a listener hears in those first few seconds of starting your podcast can be the deciding factor on whether they continue listening, or if they shut it off and never return. Therefore, it’s crucial that you start with your best foot forward.

Types of Podcast Intros

If you’ve done any podcast listening, you’ve probably heard many different styles podcast openers, such as:

  • Fully produced with voiceover, music, and possibly sound effects.
  • Music track only and host does the intro as part of the show.
  • No music or any pre-recorded intro, host dives straight in and welcomes you back.
  • Produced intro with episode-specific elements such as episode number, brief summary of what’s coming up, etc.

There are other variations as well, such as opening the show with a teaser clip from the episode, then going into a produced intro, and then beginning the show.

At the very least, you will want some music at the start of your show. The next level-up beyond that is the well-produced intro with music and a voiceover done by somebody other than the host. While we may not have any scientific studies to back this up, we still know that a nicely produced intro is associated with quality, and in turn, things like professionalism, trust, and authority.

On the other hand, some of the biggest names in podcasting don’t have anything special to begin their show, they just begin. Perhaps they need no introduction! You may reach that point someday (and if you have already, congrats!) but for the remainder of this article, we’ll assume you’re not a celebrity. Therefore, let’s make every effort possible to encourage listening and build your trustworthy brand.

The Importance of a Quality Podcast Intro

Establishing trust is vital with your podcast, and a well-produced intro helps you do that. There are a number of areas where a listener may be consciously or subconsciously looking to trust you, particularly that you’re a credible source of valuable information, and that you will not waste their time.

Attention spans are shorter than ever. If you’ve taken all the proper steps up until this point and managed to get somebody to hit the play button on your podcast, you don’t want to waste this opportunity.

While it’s true that even the most terrible of podcasts can easily pay to have a great-sounding intro created, and even the best of podcasts could still earn listeners without even having a proper intro, it’s just one more thing to have in your arsenal, so use it!

What Makes a Great Podcast Intro?

There are a number of things that go into creating the perfect podcast intro. Let’s start by looking at the foundation, or the script. What should the intro say? How long should it be?

While a simple “Welcome to ___ podcast” would suffice, it can be better! It’s highly recommended that your intro give the listener an idea of exactly what type of content this podcast offers.

Consider including…

  • What type of content can the listener expect?
  • Who is the host and what are their credentials?

While this information is important, another crucial aspect is that the intro not run too long. It must be concise. 10-15 seconds run time total is plenty, 30 seconds should be a hard limit. Aim for 40-75 words. The writing should also be professional, and if you think you need some help in that area, try reaching out to a professional copywriter or somebody else with great writing skills. Maybe you can even enlist ChatGPT to give you some ideas!

Your intro should also reflect the whole feel and style of your podcast as it will set the tone. What is the personality of the host or hosts? Is this a serious podcast or a fun podcast? The music, voiceover talent, and voiceover style will all contribute to how this is portrayed, so you’ll want to make sure it is congruent with your message and appealing to your niche.

As mentioned previously, there are many possible ways of how you can arrange your podcast opening. In this article we’re speaking specifically about the produced aspect of your intro which stays the same every episode, but you can also add in episode-specific elements such as episode number, teaser clip, summary of the topics being covered today, etc.

What About the Podcast Outro?

Congratulations, you’ve succeeded at keeping a listener tuned in to the very end of your podcast. But now what?

Almost as important as the intro is your podcast outro.

The outro is a good place for some things that don’t belong in the intro, particularly a CTA (call to action). What would you like the listener to do next? Are you selling a product and you’d like them to go read more about it? Would you like to offer them the link to your website to check out resources in the show notes? You have a bit more wiggle room for length here at the end, although it’s still important to be concise and get to the point.

The more options you give somebody, the less likely they are to take action, so it’s important to choose a single CTA and stick with that.

Spending too many hours on your health-focused podcast and need help taking back your time? Book your Podcast Vitality Call now!

Share this post

5 Growth-Killing Mistakes Holding Back Your Health-Focused Podcast and Business

Screenshot 2024-11-09 at 21.57.03

Enter your info below to get the free guide!