Whether someone is listening for the first time or the fiftieth time, you always want to remind them what your show is all about. A podcast intro is about more than just creating a catchy jingle. It’s a tool that allows you to hook listeners from the very start of your show. It should convince them to listen to your podcast episode all the way through.
The question is: what do all excellent podcast intros have in common?
If you want to come up with a podcast introduction that will stick in the minds of your listeners, here is what you need to know.
What to Include in a Great Podcast Intro
Every good podcast intro has some of the same features that should be considered standard, from intro music to teasers. In the first five minutes of your podcast, 20 to 35 percent of your audience will bounce from your episode. This means your intro has to be spectacular.
Here are the seven essential components of a good podcast intro that will make people want to tune in to your show for its entirety.
1. Podcast Intro Music for More Engagement
One of the first things you should consider when putting together a podcast intro is your soundtrack. Intro music is a great way to stick in the minds of your target audience. The vibe of your music should match the tone of the show. Think upbeat pop music for entertainment or slower and more serious music for a true crime podcast.
If you can’t afford to have a musician create a jingle just for you, there are tons of audio clips and music libraries out there that allow you to find the perfect intro music for a low cost. You can also find royalty-free music on sites like Pixabay Music or try one of the best AI music generator options.
More than 95 percent of podcasts have intro music, so be sure to consider finding the perfect tunes for your perfect podcast intro.
Want to keep people listening all the way until your podcast outro? The best podcast intros give some clues as to the nuggets of wisdom conveyed throughout the episode. You might decide to give a small sound clip of what’s to come to hook listeners from the start.
A teaser tells your audience exactly what they will learn or gain insight on from listening to your show.
If you have a guest on today’s episode, introduce them here and let people know what you’ll be talking about. A teaser doesn’t always mean you need to reveal the biggest moments of your podcast episode in the first few moments. It just means that you clue listeners into what they will hear.
Teasers are especially important if you will be posting your podcast to YouTube.
3. Basic Information
Don’t forget that your intro should include the basic information about your show, including a podcast name. This is great for branding and lets new listeners understand who you are and what your show offers. Good podcast intro templates should give you space for:
- Podcast name and your name
- Background information on you as the host
- Why this show matters
- Who should be listening to your podcast
- Where to find additional information like show notes
4. Brief Overview of What the Podcast is About
In addition to sharing the basic information in your podcast intro script, you should also have a quick tagline or handle that lets people know what your show is all about. It should be short and sweet, a phrase or sentence your listeners can remember later.
This is a great place to introduce the problem your episode seeks to solve and tease the solution that you have on offer.
A tagline is a great place to clarify what your show is about if your name is a little more ambiguous. Some podcast hosts will find that the name of their show tells everyone everything they need to know about its content. If this is the case, you can skip the tagline.
5. Introduce Listeners to Who You Are or Who Your Guests Are
In all podcast intro examples, you should introduce who you are and why your opinion matters. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a PhD in your subject area to broadcast your opinion or facts. You could be a hobby enthusiast or work in a particular industry that qualifies you to share insight into a unique field.
Your audience wants to get to know you no matter who you are. Always introduce yourself with a brief overview of your experience, history, or other relevant achievements.
You should also take this time to introduce who your guests are. This is a great place to hook listeners and tell them why today’s episode is worth tuning in to. Maybe they are subject matter experts, have serious experience in a new area, or have hidden wisdom to impart to your audience.
Don’t be shy about telling people why you and your guests are worth a listener’s attention.
6. What This Episode is About (Problem and Solution)
The best way to hook listeners is to let them know why they should tune into your show: what problem will you solve for them? Your target audience has unique problems that keep them up at night, whether that’s time management, business growth, or something else entirely.
Even if they only need entertainment and relaxation, you should let them know what they will gain from your show.
Your podcast intro script doesn’t have to reveal every bonus of tuning into your show, but it should be enough to resonate with your audience. Think about what they want most out of life (and your podcast). You will soon be tailoring your episodes to the needs of your audience.
7. Call to Action
The best podcast intros also tell your audience what they need to do to hear more from you. Especially for new listeners, this is key to getting your content in front of them regularly. A call to action could be as simple as leaving a review for your show because it helps others to find you.
However, it can also promote more growth for your channel and other platforms. Encourage people to press that subscribe button to be notified when a new episode drops, or have them head over to your Facebook page to engage with you more.
Your call to action should not only be in your podcast intro but it should also be listed in your show notes, where people can refer back to it and find links to follow through. It can also be beneficial to bookend your show with a call to action in your outro as well.
How Long Should Your Podcast Intro Be?
You might be trying to figure out how you’re supposed to fit all of this information into a great podcast intro without losing the attention of your audience or taking up a full fifteen minutes. Remember: your podcast introduction should be short and snappy. Each of the above components to your intro should each take a sentence or so.
The most important part of your podcast introduction is the hook for your listeners. According to Search Engine Journal, many people will only listen for the first ten seconds or so of your show.
That means every second of your podcast intros truly counts. From your teaser to your introduction, your podcast episodes should have intros that are less than 30 seconds.
That means you shouldn’t pause to play your jingle. Instead, you should do a voiceover that gets into your episode title and starts to set the tone for the rest of the episode. Given how quickly people are likely to bounce from your show, you need to get into the meat of your episode quickly.
Get more information on how long a podcast should be here.
Podcast Intro Script
If you’re looking for a great example of a podcast intro, you might want to tune into our own podcast on our YouTube channel. We’ll be breaking down one of our intro episodes to give you an idea of how you can create a podcast script for your next episode.
Consider one of our recent podcast episodes here.
We spend the first 20 seconds as a teaser for the episode as a whole. Spencer introduces the topic, shows listeners why it matters, and gives a hint that a solution might be on the horizon for those who tune into the episode.
The rest of the episode dives right into the hidden gems. A popup on the screen shares the name of the podcast (Niche Pursuits) and tells people to subscribe. Spencer shares the podcast title and then gets right into it. This is very different than a new podcast that might need a more specific introduction to let people know who they are.
If you need a more general podcast intro script, you might consider something like this:
A brief teaser for this episode number with the theme music playing in the background.
Thanks for tuning into the show! In this show, we talk about [the main problem of your listeners]. My name is [your name], and I have [experience in your niche area]. This episode is going to share [real tips or insight offered in your episode] with our guest, [guest name and credentials].
Today, we’re going to dive right into this issue so you can [solution you offer].
All of this should take less than thirty seconds, and you’ll be on the path to hooking listeners from the very start!
Optional Items for Your Podcast Intro
A great podcast intro is an awesome way to get people to listen to your episode. However, there may be a few additional things you need to note from the start of your episode. These won’t apply to all shows but can apply to some (especially more seasoned ones).
Here are some optional items to include in podcast intros.
Sponsorship Information
If you’re lucky enough to start monetizing your podcast, you might want to mention podcast sponsors from the outset of your episode. This gives people an opportunity to know who is funding this podcast and how they can also help solve their unique problems.
A more detailed exploration of your sponsors might come later on in the episode with a short clip in an advertising segment at a logical breaking point in your show. However, sponsors might appreciate or require a mention from the beginning of your show.
Disclaimers
Depending on the content of your episode, you may want to clarify that your show is not a substitute for professional help. For example, you might want to include a disclaimer that you aren’t an attorney for legal issues, a therapist for mental health issues, or an accountant for financial issues.
Even if you do have some of these credentials, you should always mention that your episodes are not a substitute for professional, one-on-one help. If you offer personalized consultations that allow them to get the help they need, including your contact information or signup sheet in your show notes is a great way to market.
Final Thoughts: Creating an Engaging Podcast Intro
Whether you post on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere in between, you should consider crafting a streamlined podcast intro that can get people excited to listen to your show. It can set the tone for your podcast guest, explain who you are as the podcast host, and give them a quick episode preview.
To run a successful podcast, you need to get people to listen to your show in its entirety. Don’t let your intro linger at the expense of getting into the good stuff. Keep it short and sweet, and let your listeners listen for the reason they tuned in in the first place!
Don’t forget to keep tabs on your podcast analytics with Transistor to see how your show can be improved!
