Create your podcast intro (or have it created) - Text and music - Intro and outro
Great, the concept for your podcast is ready! Now you just need something recognizable. Your own podcast intro! We’ll show you what options you have when creating a podcast intro and outro.
Why do I absolutely need a podcast intro? And do I need an outro?
You’re probably asking yourself: Do I even need a podcast intro? That’s answered pretty quickly. You definitely need an intro because you have a very simple branding, intro and introduction. Because your podcast takes place exclusively on the audio level, your intro is your “logo”. It is repeated with every episode and burns itself into the memory of your listeners. You can also wish everyone a “warm welcome” with a music bed that matches your podcast!
The intro also gives a first impression of the podcast. Because a professional podcast (usually) also has a professional intro. It should therefore be an important part of your concept and podcast structure!
On the other hand, if you don’t have a podcast intro, the worst case scenario is that you start straight into the interview and give your listeners little context. With an intro, listeners realize that they are exactly right for your format.
You don’t necessarily need an outro, because you can end many episodes with a moderation or a sponsorship. Above all, you shouldn’t use your podcast intro again, because: If a listener listens to several episodes at once, they will hear the end and the beginning one after the other, the jingle and the intro/outro will be repeated and could then become annoying. If you want to produce an outro, you can mention the name of the podcast again and include a small call to action by asking people to visit a website, follow the podcast on Instagram or similar.
How can I create a podcast intro?
If you are creative and good at using audio software, then you have the chance to create your own podcast intro. But be careful: please don’t overestimate yourself. A 15-second jingle with text and music, with voice-over or moderation is not easy to produce!
Of course, you can also have an intro created by an expert, with an external narrator. This is not necessarily expensive, because if you also factor in the time you use, it can be more efficient to outsource this step. A high-quality production requires a lot of time, good equipment and expertise. A voice recording is not just about the recording itself, but also about the posture, the microphone that fits the voice and an overall coherent recording.
And either way, it makes sense to have this element done by a professional, because your introduction will pick people up right from the start and you won’t be annoyed by your “low quality” intro even after 30 episodes.
If you have knowledge of production, you can use your podcast editing software to layer music, speech and possibly sound effects and export the intro and use it for all future episodes.
So what does a professional intro consist of?
Normally consisting of these three elements: Music, speech and possibly sound effects.
But: there is no rule of thumb here! So you are free to decide which elements you use and how. There are podcasts that only use speech, there are podcasts that only use music as an intro and then greet the listeners in the episode. You should perhaps not use sound effects, as these have little meaning. (Unless it is an established sound logo)
Of course, you should also adapt this short audio introduction to your content and your target group, which is why there is no basic formula for “the perfect intro”. A yoga podcast may even sound perfect with soft music, as it doesn’t need a big announcement, but should contribute to a calm mood at the beginning of the episode. It is therefore an individual decision.
For a more classic podcast, such as a business or marketing podcast, the popular classic intro with a moderation that announces the title, the topic and the host of the podcast and is followed by a small music highlight with possible sound effects may be suitable. The “OMR Podcast” is linked as an example.
Examples of podcast intros:
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More InformationLyrics and music: What do I write and how do I secure music rights?
The text: Brevity is the spice of life
Nobody will want to listen to a 30-second intro more than once, it is enough to say the podcast title, a slogan or a short (!) greeting in the intro and mention the host or hosting. A podcast intro should be 15 seconds long.
Example: You are listening to the sound&go podcast with Johann Köhnen and Fabian Matzen. Learn to improve your sound!
You can then mention the topic of the episode, interview guests and so on before or after the intro.
As mentioned above, you can then include a call to action in the outro, but you shouldn’t make this too detailed either.
Example: That was the sound&go podcast – The podcast to improve your sound. Subscribe to us on Instagram or leave us a good review on your podcast platform!
Or: That was the sound&go podcast. If you want to learn more about sound, go to soundandgo.com and check out our online courses!
You should also make it a bit easy for yourself when you are just starting your podcast and not make individual intros for the podcast episodes, a general one is enough! So you see: In terms of content, the podcast intro is all about short, concise sentences, make sure that you don’t make your intro unnecessarily long, as this can annoy listeners in the long run. In case of doubt, they have little time and want to find out the most important information in the podcast info without having to wait too long for the episode.
Music rights: What music can I use?
As long as you are not a musician yourself, make sure that you are allowed to use the music in your intro! There are, of course, legal rules that prohibit the use and distribution of music. You must abide by them. It’s worth getting royalty-free music where the rights have been cleared forever. Because if the rights are no longer yours at some point, you will have to edit all old episodes or take them offline.
Royalty-free music is music that is not legally protected. There are several free and paid platforms that offer this type of music for download, some of which are YouTube (for example Audio Library – Music for content creators), Epidemic Sound, Audio Jungle, Artlist and many other service providers and platforms.
Should I introduce the interview guest in the intro?
As mentioned above, we would avoid this. This would produce an unnecessary amount of work, especially at the beginning, which you would be better off putting into creating the podcast. Because the intro is not everything in your podcast episode. You can introduce your interview guest before or after the intro.
Can I change my podcast intro?
Sure, it’s about your identity. If you’re unhappy with your old one, you can of course produce a new one. Even if your listeners are already used to an intro, you can change it. Be careful not to change it too often though, as this can confuse people and blur your identity, as it is never permanent and tangible.
If you are just starting out, we can recommend other blog articles from us, including on the best podcasting mics or starting a podcast in 10 steps and more, check out our blog!
Have fun podcasting!
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