This is where you welcome listeners and lay out what they can expect from your show. The trend is for introductions to be casual and if there are two or more hosts, lean on the rapport that exists between them. It’s up to you how you introduce your show, but you want to grab listeners’ attention quickly and give them a quick overview of what they can expect from the episode.
Intro
Setting the scene for new & old listeners
Tips & Tricks
It’s very important to get your listeners engaged early in the episode if you want them to keep listening. They need to understand what they’re hearing and what they can expect going forward. When you’re unsure about how to tell an audio story often the best way is to take the chronological route: start at the beginning and finish at the end.Burning Question
Should I put music in the background of my intro? It depends on what you think your listeners would like. Many people find music running throughout the entire intro very distracting. You might consider using music for short periods of time, such as at the very beginning, and fading it under your voice or completely out. If your intro seems boring without a lot of music, think about reworking what you’re saying in the intro itself.Common Mistake
Thinking that the intro has to be at the very beginning. You can start with a story or a gripping piece of audio and then get to the intro after a few minutes. There can be huge benefit to being plunged into the action of an episode straight away.Links
- Article: How Do You Make A Great Podcast Intro?
- Article: Podcast Intro: How To Hook Listeners With It
- Article: What to Say in Your Podcast Intro
TIPS from OUR Network
- Create an intro that let’s people ID your show in a few seconds.
- Ask someone for help! (boy/girlfriend, colleagues, neighbours…)