Four keys to a great podcast introduction and closing
There really are no set protocols as to what your Intro and Outro should or shouldn’t be. You can pretty much do what you like or what you think is best. However, they usually include music and voice over. A great introduction is the perfect start to every podcast episode.
Recent surveys revealed that 27.5% of listeners decide to listen to a podcast within the first 5 minutes. Therefore, you need to hook your listeners from the very beginning. Consider the podcast Intro and Outro as the personality of your broadcast.
An Intro and Outro is not a requirement for publishing your podcast; but it gives your transmission a professional look and feel. It also conveys a level of experience in the minds of your listeners.
There are plenty of podcasters out there who just hit the record button and start talking. You don’t want to be like those podcasters. You want to give your podcast a fighting chance in a very crowded market! Therefore, you need to have a great introduction and ending to help you stand out from the crowd and achieve success.
one. Add some music to give your podcast a dynamic feel. As you well know, music can have different moods. Therefore, you can use music to set the mood for your podcast. This can be dark, light, playful or sad, etc. It’s your job to match the music to the mood of your show. For example, if your show is comedic in nature, then you can choose music that is light and fun.
Where do you get this music? The answer is quite simple and free for the most part. You can download royalty-free music from various services on the Internet! Also, you can cut and join the music to suit your creative ideas. You may even decide to use a jingle in the intro to act as an attention grabber.
two. Choose a suitable podcast intro and ending length. The length of your introduction should match the length of your podcast. For example, you don’t need to have a 60-second intro for a 15-minute podcast. Instead, you can create an intro that is 15-20 seconds long. Most podcasters have Intros that are between 15 and 60 seconds long. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
3. Give vital details. During the introduction of your podcast, you should introduce yourself, state your call to fame, or the desired outcome of the podcast. Also, indicate the name of your podcast, the date and the season (if you are doing a seasonal podcast). Keep in mind that you’ll need to decide whether to use the same intro for all episodes of the podcast, or to customize the intro for each episode. This decision will determine what details you give in the voiceover of the introduction. If it’s custom, you may want to include the date and episode title or episode number.
4. Follow up your podcast intro with a memorable Podcast Outro. Have a call to action statement. This could be subscribing to your podcast stream or providing information for the listener to click on a link in the show notes. You can even give them a sneak peek of what’s to come in later broadcasts. The most important thing is to remember to thank your listener for their time. Time is one of the most valuable assets someone can give you, so be sure to acknowledge that gift from your listeners. It’s also helpful to end with something witty and exciting, as this will make listeners want to come back for more!
Proper use of an introduction and ending will lift the perception of your podcast’s professionalism to new levels. This one thing can set you apart from many other podcasters who don’t want to take the time and effort to be professional. Many influencers in various genres and niches refuse to be interviewed by someone they consider “unprofessional.” So add a great intro and ending to your podcast and raise your level of professionalism in the eyes (and ears) of your listeners!