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Most Effective Podcast Intros [Free Templates & Scripts 2024]
Roughly 20 to 35 percent of listener drop-off happens within the first five minutes of a podcast episode, so it’s essential to have an engaging intro that captures your listener’s attention from the start.
In this guide, we break down how to craft a high-quality podcast intro for your own podcast, so you hook your listeners and keep them listening!
CONTENTS:
6 Things to include in your podcast introduction
A solid podcast intro serves as positive momentum, inviting the listener into the episode and increasing anticipation for what’s coming next.
You can make your podcast intro yourself using an audio production tool like Audacity, or you can hire someone to do a professional voiceover using a platform like Fiverr. Here are six things you can include in your podcast intro.
Element #1. Intro music or sound effects (optional)
Starting your episodes with intro music makes your podcast sound more polished and can increase its overall quality. Intro music is also a simple way to express your brand’s personality and set the tone of the show.
But, not every podcast needs a jingle. Our show, Podcasting Q&A, just starts with a speaking intro that sets up the problem and addresses how the episode will address it and provide a solution.
Examples:
Element #2. Host introduction and podcast tagline
Most people who come across your podcast won’t know much about you or your show. A good podcast intro will familiarize new listeners with your content and make current listeners want to stick around.
This part of your intro will stay the same every episode unless you change your podcast’s topic. Make sure you address each of these points:
- Who are you, and why does your opinion matter? In one sentence, introduce all hosts and cohosts and tell listeners why your opinion matters. Are you an expert in your field or just a passionate and curious observer?
- What is your podcast about? Share your podcast name and tagline that summarizes your show’s topic and purpose. A good tagline is memorable and is a simple way to communicate your podcast’s purpose.
- Who is your podcast for? Briefly state your podcast’s target audience. When you record your podcast, what type of listener do you have in mind?
Element #3. Brief overview of the episode
Give your listeners a synopsis of the episode and what they can expect. What problem do you plan to solve for your listeners?
If you have an entertainment podcast, this is where you can tease an interview, introduce your podcast guest, and share their background, expertise, or life story.
Your intro should be like a teaser for the episode, so don’t give away too much of the episode’s content!
Element #4. Clearly stated benefit to listeners
In step three, you established that a problem exists and you plan to provide a solution. Now, it’s time to tell your listeners how they will benefit from listening to the episode and why they should listen.
What's in it for your audience? For example:
- Will it strengthen their relationships?
- Will they feel happier and more fulfilled?
- Will they be entertained and laugh a lot?
- Will they learn something new?
Remember to always under-promise and over-deliver to listeners. You’ll build the most trust with your audience by exceeding their expectations.
Element #5. Call to action (optional)
Some podcasters like to include a call-to-action (CTA) in their intro. A CTA is a great way to encourage listeners to take a desired course of action, and it’s an easy way to boost your podcast marketing strategy.
A call-to-action could include asking listeners to:
- follow you on social media
- subscribe to your podcast on platforms like Apple Podcasts or YouTube
- sign up for your email newsletter or Substack
You can include an accompanying link to your CTA in your show notes and reiterate the CTA in your podcast outro. Just make sure to limit yourself to one CTA per episode. Too many calls to action can overwhelm listeners and make them not take any action at all.
Element #6. A disclaimer (optional)
It's a good idea to include a disclaimer to cover you legally if you offer any advice on your podcast. For example, if you're a therapist, a disclaimer for your podcast could look like:
"This podcast is for the purpose of education only and is not a replacement for therapy. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained professional for help with your specific situation."
LEARN MORE: Consult a podcast lawyer to learn more about how the law applies to your own podcast.
Podcast intro script examples
Writing out a podcast script makes your content flow more and makes you sound more confident. Here are two intro scripts to choose from based on your needs and preferences.
Version #1: The basics (10-15 seconds)
“Hey, guys! Welcome to the Smart Dog Podcast, a show that helps you train your dog and answer all your training-related questions.
I’m your host [host name], a professional dog trainer with over 15 years of experience in the field.
In today’s episode, we explain why some dogs are harder to train than others and help you demystify the mind of your dog so you can read his cues and train him successfully.
Let's get started!”
[sound effect]
Version #2: Full-featured (20-30 seconds)
[intro music]
“Hey, everyone! Thanks for tuning in!
This is the Smart Dog podcast, a show for dog trainers that aims to give simple answers to all training-related questions.
I’m your host [host name], a professional dog trainer with over 15 years of experience in the field.
In today’s episode, we explain why some dogs are harder to train than others and help you demystify the mind of your dog so you can read his cues and train him successfully.
For more tips and tricks on training your dog, follow me on Instagram at [social media handle] or sign up for my newsletter at the address in the show notes!
Without further ado, let’s dive into the episode!”
[sound effect]
Podcast intro best practices
The best podcast intros have several things in common. Follow these three tips to keep your intro punchy and effective.
#1. Keep it short
The average podcast intro is roughly 15 to 30 seconds long. Don’t let it overstay its welcome! After about 30 seconds, the intrigue will turn into listener drop-off.
#2. Make music levels lower than your voiceover
We often see podcasters whose podcast intro music is louder than their voice.
Music files typically have a higher loudness setting than the audio you record with your microphone, so unless you drop the music volume a lot, it will overpower the narration.
To fix this issue, make your music levels lower than you think they need to be.
PRO TIP: Listen to your intro in a variety of environments and with several different devices (car stereo, headphones, in the kitchen, etc.) to hear how it will sound to your listeners.
#3. Use podsafe intro music
It's tempting to think it’s okay to use copyrighted music as long as you only use a short section or don’t make any money off your podcast.
The truth is, all copyrighted music is illegal to use on your podcast unless you get express permission from the artist and the recording label to use the track.
Royalty-free music is the best option for most podcasters, as well as creative commons music or music that is in the public domain.
Here are a few excellent podsafe music resources:
Summary
A great podcast intro goes a long way toward increasing listener engagement and is foundational to any successful podcast.
To hook your listeners, make sure to introduce yourself and your podcast and give a brief overview of the episode’s content.
Avoid long intros and make sure to state the benefit for listeners clearly, so they'll want to stick around for the whole episode!
Alban Brooke
Alban Brooke is the Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout and the co-host of Buzzcast. Have any questions about this guide? Reach out on Twitter.
FAQs
Should a podcast have an intro?
Every podcast should have an intro to hook listeners and get them excited about the episode. Podcast intros also give you a place to include a call to action and make brief announcements or statements.
What should my podcast intro say?
Every podcast intro should include at least these three fundamentals:
- Host introduction and explanation of your podcast’s purpose
- Brief episode overview
- Clearly stated benefit to listeners
How do I introduce my first podcast?
As a rule, your first podcast intro doesn't need to be different from your later ones. You can talk more about your purpose and goals for your podcast after the intro.