Podcast Intro Script Template & Tips to Open With a Bang

On the surface, the most crucial part of your episode is the main content. After all, that’s where you discuss or address what was promised in the title. The podcast intro, though, gets your listener to that content. And the outro helps keep them listening to more episodes.

With your podcast intro, you have the crucial task of setting the scene for your listeners. Some may have heard every episode you’ve ever released before, but for a few, this will be their very first impression of your show.

These new listeners have no loyalty or obligation to you or your content in the opening minutes. They’ll likely have a playlist of other shows already downloaded and ready to listen to.

They’re giving you a chance – but you don’t have long. Our podcast discoverability survey found that 17% of listeners will only give a new podcast 5 minutes to “hook” them.

Just like if they’ve picked up a book or switched on a TV show, there are a few questions subconsciously running through their head:

• Does this seem interesting?
• Does it sound well-made?
• Do I know what’s going on?
• And, most importantly, what’s in this for me?

This is where your podcast intro needs to do its job.

What Makes a Good Podcast Intro Script?

Put yourself in the shoes (or earbuds) of a brand new listener – someone you’d consider to be in your target audience. They’ve downloaded your latest episode and hit play.

As I’ve said already, they’ve no loyalty to you. They’ve probably never heard of you and – at this moment – aren’t interested in you.

They’ve downloaded this episode for their OWN benefit. They want something from it. And whether that’s to learn something or to be entertained, they want to know as early as possible that you’ll deliver.

So, What Should I Include in My Podcast Intro Script?

I don’t want you to think that there are restrictive “rules” with your podcast introduction because there’s still an immense amount of creative freedom. Podcasting wouldn’t be very interesting if every single show sounded the same.

Nevertheless, there are some things I’d suggest you always include in your podcast intro script.

• Your name. It doesn’t need to be your full name; it could even be a nickname. Just let your listener put a name to the voice as early as possible.
• What is the podcast called? You might assume they already know, but they may be working through a vast playlist of new podcasts. Let them know that this is yours.
• Who is the podcast for? You can save people precious time by signposting early on whether or not they are your target audience. If your show is aimed at people who want to learn how to speak Spanish, make that clear ASAP. If someone who is listening doesn’t want to learn Spanish, there’s no benefit to anyone for them to keep listening. On the other hand, the person who does thinks, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for”.
• What is the overall theme of the podcast?
  • What’s the show about?
  • What problem is the podcast series here to solve?
  • What problem does this particular episode solve?
  • What’s the podcast format? Do you talk directly to the listener, or chat with guests?

Presenting a Problem to Your Audience – & Solution!

Being clear when laying out your subject matter is great. But making your listener relate to it by mentioning something they’re struggling with will really pull them in.

For example, on Podcraft, our target audience is people who want to learn how to podcast. Some big struggles include learning about microphones and audio equipment, editing and mixing digital audio, growing their audience and monetising their show.

The overall struggle they have is that they want to learn how to podcast, and our primary solution is that we can help them do that.

Each episode deals with a specific subtopic, providing a solution that helps them achieve their overall goal. We want to mention this in our podcast intro script, so the listener knows they’ve come to the right place.

So, in an episode about media hosting, we could present the problem: “Have you ever wondered how you upload a podcast and make it available on Apple and Spotify?”

Then we offer the solution: “Well, in this episode, that’s exactly what you’ll find out. We’ll walk you step by step through the process, and by the end, you’ll be able to submit your show to Apple and Spotify quickly and easily.”

Podcast Intro Script Template

Set your episode up by mentioning the overall problem your podcast is here to help them with (e.g., learning how to podcast) and then the particular issue you’ll be dealing with in this episode (e.g., getting your podcast published and distributed).

“Hello and welcome to the ___ podcast; this is the show for ___, all about ___, and on this episode, have you ever struggled with ___? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll help you with on this week’s show, where you’ll learn how to ___.”

You don’t need to copy this verbatim, but make it the framework of your podcast intro script. This means that everyone you want to keep listening will make it through to the main body of the episode.

Then, you can win them over with your content.

Should I Use a “Cold Open”? As My Podcast Intro?

You know when you sit down to watch your favourite TV show, and the episode starts before you’ve even opened your bag of Doritos? Then, after about five minutes, the intro kicks in? That’s what’s known as a “cold open“.

Many podcasters use cold opens at the beginning of their episodes. You’ve probably heard them before. You hit play and immediately seem to have landed bang in the middle of a guest explaining, “…so, it was at that point I decided to wear a diving suit made of sirloin steaks and go swimming with sharks.”

Obviously, the idea is that you think, “Wait, how is this idiot still alive to tell the tale? I need to get the full story.”

And you keep on listening.

Cold opens can work well for podcast intros, but there are some nuances and things to be aware of, as Steph explores in the article I’ve linked to, there.

How to End My Podcast Episodes: What Makes a Good Podcast Outro?

The main purpose of this post is to help get your podcast intro script on point. But we ignore podcast outros or endings at our peril.

In fact, there’s even a theory known as Peak-End, which says you remember events, occasions, or experiences based on two things:

1. The Peak: the most exciting or impactful part (in podcasting, the main content of an episode)
2. The End: how it all wraps up (your outro and Call to Action)

So, the final minute or two of your episode goes towards creating a lasting impression of the podcast in your listener’s mind.

You might have done a great job with the podcast intro and the main body, but if the show ends poorly, that could be the difference between a new listener hitting the Follow button or not.

The outro’s job is to thank the listener for listening and point them toward any vital details covered during the episode.

It’s also the part where you can ask for something in return. If someone has stayed to the end, they’ve probably enjoyed the episode you’ve put together for them, so they might be willing to respond to your request for a rating, review, or any other relevant Call to Action.

What Should I Include in My Outro? How to End a Podcast

Like the podcast intro, there are no “rules” as such, but if you want to close your episode effectively, you should consider the following.

• Thank them for listening. There are millions of podcasts out there, and they’ve chosen to listen to yours.
• Point them to the shownotes on your website for links to everything mentioned in this episode.
• If possible, offer them a teaser of what’s in store for the next episode.
• Send them to ONE place – your website. There’s no point in reading out your email address, Twitter handle, Patreon page, or Facebook URL, when you can have clear links to all this on your site.
• Include a ‘Call to Action’ (CTA). This is your opportunity to ask for something in return. Remember, though, if you give someone too much to do, the chances are they won’t do any of it, so just pick one and be clear about it. You might want to ask your listener to…
  • Follow or Subscribe to the show on their podcast app of choice
  • Share the podcast, or tell a friend about it
  • Rate/review the podcast
  • Sign up to your email list, or download your ebook
  • Buy tickets for your event or conference
  • Support you on Patreon, or pledge to your crowdfunding project

A wee bit of thought and planning goes a long way with your outros. This is how you turn podcast listeners into followers and maximise the effectiveness of your CTAs.

What About Pre-Recorded Podcast Intros & Outros?

Some podcasts use pre-recorded segments as their standard intro and outro. These can be created by the host or recorded and produced to enlist the talents of a professional voiceover artist.

Pre-recorded elements can offer that extra layer of polish, but they should always be as succinct as possible. If you play the same three-minute clip at the start of every episode, listeners will tire of it quickly. You’ll train them to hit the skip forward button. Some apps even enable them to do that automatically.

Likewise, if you close with the same lengthy pre-recorded outro, your listeners will switch off before the end.

If you’re creating premade podcast intros and outros that utilise many of the tips given in this article, try to keep them to a length of 30 seconds or less.

What Do the Top 20 Podcasts Tell Us About the Perfect Intro Formula?

Read article called: What Do the Top 20 Podcasts Tell Us About the Perfect Intro Formula?

Conclusion: Podcast Intro Script Tips

This shouldn’t seem like a lot of red tape, or, something that will restrict your creative license. On the contrary, the job of your podcast intros and outros is to support and enhance the actual content of your episodes.

You don’t need to overthink them or spend much time on them. It’s just about putting some good practices in place that make sure you’re not needlessly losing listeners, and that you’re always steadily growing your audience.

Over time, the things you want to include at the beginning and end of your episode will become second nature to you. Your main focus should always be on your topic, and a great podcast intro simply ensures your audience is still around to hear it.

If you’d like feedback on how you open and close your episodes (or on any other aspect of your podcast!), be sure to join us in the Podcraft Academy. In there, you’ll find our podcast feedback feature, along with a host of other resources, from downloadable checklists to full video courses!