What makes a great podcast intro?

[TheBiblePodClass]

What makes a great podcast intro? There are 15,840 podcasts on the alley.

Chances are with in the first 30s and maybe as little as 5s someone has decided if they are NOT going to listen to your podcast.

So your first 5 seconds to 30 seconds of your podcast can make or break your program. (One exception to this is that people will listen longer to a podcast if there is good word-of-mouth or other advertising -- or even bashing)

But for the average joe podcaster we may only have a few seconds to dazzle the ears of prospective new listeners.

So what makes a podcast intro ear-catching?
What must be done in the first 5 secs, 15 secs, 30 secs to get a listener hooked on your show? Maybe even a better question what should never be done in the first 30secs.

The reason I brought this up is that I do a lot of clicking through independent music sites for artists to play on my podcast. I can easily click through 100-150 songs, and I know within the first 5 secs if I will listen to most of the song or not. One characteristic I noticed that if the music is louder then I'll probably listen to it. Next I wait for the vocals. If the vocals don't start in 15 secs and there is nothing exceptional about the music, I move on.


So if I do this with music people are probably doing this with podcasts.

[Dr. Trey]

I love this topic and I think it would be great to see what people have to say. Personally I've actually never even thought about that. I figured just make it sound exciting and maybe they'll listen.

Ok. Thank you for your time.

[roadrageradio]

What makes a great podcast intro? There are 15,840 podcasts on the alley.

Chances are with in the first 30s and maybe as little as 5s someone has decided if they are NOT going to listen to your podcast.

So your first 5 seconds to 30 seconds of your podcast can make or break your program. (One exception to this is that people will listen longer to a podcast if there is good word-of-mouth or other advertising -- or even bashing)

But for the average joe podcaster we may only have a few seconds to dazzle the ears of prospective new listeners.

So what makes a podcast intro ear-catching?
What must be done in the first 5 secs, 15 secs, 30 secs to get a listener hooked on your show? Maybe even a better question what should never be done in the first 30secs.

...


The first 30 seconds must arouse, Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. Anything else is wasting time and risks losing listeners.

Create a hook using a combination of music, sound effects or spoken words in the first 5 seconds (Attention). For established shows, a consistent opening theme song or signature sound may be enough.

In the next 25 seconds, you have give the listener a reason to continue listening. Tease your topics, tell a joke, make a point (Interest). Promise more of the same (Desire).

Close with an invitation to continue listening (Action). And then deliver on your promise.

[womengrow]

I like the introduction to the Trafcom podcast (http://trafcom.typepad.com/podcast/ ). It is especially effective for iTunes, as it gets all the information out in the first few seconds that iTunes allows as a show preview.

Host Donna:
- summarizes the idea behind the show very well
- defines who the show is intended to be for
- gives a brief background about herself
- thanks old listeners and welcomes new subscribers
- gives the show topic

[Steve Pinder]

About a month ago, I thought the same thing and changed my shows intro. I used Bloopers during the opening song, and now my show responces have gone up. downloads are going up.

Take a listen

www.karatekast.com/mp3/KK-2006-03-06.mp3


Steve Pinder
www.karatekast.com

[bazookajoeshow]

I changed my intro six months or back or so.

I introduce myself, the show, the date and episode number followed by a 15 second sound byte that best sums up the days show. It's a compelling way to tell the listeners what the shows about as well as sounding cool as hell.

[Godfree]

we have a DJ and a Hip Hop artists doing our intro in a music studio and it coems out amazing. You need that exciting vibe before your show starts. Dont make it too boring so you wont lose the listener old or new.

[king bonk]

I tell stories on my site. I usually try to preface the story with a short anecdote (1 min-1:30 tops) told a) in a compelling way and b) over the coolest musical background i can find. This anecdote is often a "cliff-hanger" (i.e. "so what is going to happen next") so the listener can be enticed to listen past the 1:30 itunes preview.

[michel]

I rely on the juxtaposition of nostalgia and irreverence. And it doesn't hurt to have a real band (in my case Jim's Big Ego) that you enjoy and respect provide music for your opening (with their permission, of course)

I don't know if my opening is popular or even catchy, but I like it and I'm creating the show that I want to create.

You can check out a couple of examples here:

Jello Shots (http://media.libsyn.com/media/neuralcaffeine/NC20060307.mp3)

Sticky (http://media.libsyn.com/media/neuralcaffeine/NC20060227.MP3)

Mundi (http://media.libsyn.com/media/neuralcaffeine/NC20060224.mp3)

[TheBiblePodClass]

Tease your topics, tell a joke, make a point (Interest).

Excellent, I think that is essential to give the listeners context of what they are going to hear.


p.s.
Also I love your retro music in the intro.

[TheBiblePodClass]

I like the introduction to the Trafcom podcast (http://trafcom.typepad.com/podcast/ ). It is especially effective for iTunes, as it gets all the information out in the first few seconds that iTunes allows as a show preview.

Host Donna:
- summarizes the idea behind the show very well
- defines who the show is intended to be for
- gives a brief background about herself
- thanks old listeners and welcomes new subscribers
- gives the show topic

Thanks!

That is an excellent podcast. It is a very professional podcast. I think I'll probably subscribe. The women grow cast is an excellent show too. I think professional podcasts like women grow and Donna's will add a lot of legitimacy to podcasting. I picture within the next 3-4 years every CEO of every public company will have a quarterly podcast and the Stock Markets will use it as an essential tool.

Back to the topic, what's great about Donna's introduction is that it doesn't have a hint of pop-culture (loud music, crazy sound-bites) but is still very effective and professional. It still matches her audience.

Good call.

[TheBiblePodClass]

I used Bloopers during the opening song, and now my show responces have gone up. downloads are going up.


Very funny intro.:lol: After I was done listening I realized your intro was pretty long, but you kept it funny enough to keep listening..

Great intro. I like how you keep a sport or recreation fun, as it should be.

[bazookajoeshow]

I love Jim's Big Ego. Jim used to by my neghbor and I had him on my radio show back in Bosto a numbe of time.

I'm going to listen to your MP3s.

I rely on the juxtaposition of nostalgia and irreverence. And it doesn't hurt to have a real band (in my case Jim's Big Ego) that you enjoy and respect provide music for your opening (with their permission, of course)Mundi[/url]

[TheB1T]

Generally for my intro, I tend to have a pretty set format.

1) I use an electronic style tune for background audio that seems to fit quite well with my subject matter.

2) The name of the show is announced - "You're Listening to TheB1T Radio Podcast. Technology and computer graphics, with your host, Chris Heier."

3) In the remaining 45 seconds of time before the background song ends, I introduce myself as well as the date the podcast is for, then I give a brief description of all the topics in the show.

The total length of the introduction is just over 1 minute long, provides the name of the show, the name of the host, the date of the show and a brief introduction of all topics in the show.

I don't know about how well it works since I haven't gotten an ounce of constructive feedback from anyone regarding how I do my show, even though I'm pushing more than 40 subscribers on a good day now according to feedburner, and have requested podcast reviews in a couple of threads.

EDIT: Generally, after the intro, I then just have a bit of chat after. Let people know about things I might be doing with the show. I'll probably start making this section more personal, but it generally doesn't last that long. Maybe another minute after the intro. but then I get to the content at hand.

[TheBiblePodClass]

... followed by a 15 second sound byte that best sums up the days show.


Very nice I think the sound bytes are very effective. What I like about your soundbytes is that they are not just "thrown" in to sound cool they actually give the listener (me) an idea of who the show is about.

Nice show!

[TheBiblePodClass]

we have a DJ and a Hip Hop artists doing our intro in a music studio and it coems out amazing. You need that exciting vibe before your show starts. Dont make it too boring so you wont lose the listener old or new.

I lIke pro intro, I think it must have been latest episode, because the change to the Rocky competition music sort of lost me because I ddin't hear anyone talking for what felt like a long time. This is probably because I was a first time listener.

Also, I wish I was that cool 8) .

Your intro is a perfect fit for your audience.

[bazookajoeshow]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you like the show!

To be honest, I got the idea from the A World of Possibilities podcast/radio show. Their intro is a bit more intensive than mine. I'm sure their intro was inspired by still another radio show :D

Very nice I think the sound bytes are very effective. What I like about your soundbytes is that they are not just "thrown" in to sound cool they actually give the listener (me) an idea of who the show is about.

Nice show!

[michel]

I love Jim's Big Ego. Jim used to by my neghbor and I had him on my radio show back in Bosto a numbe of time.

Wow, how cool is that. I'd love to meet the guy in real life. We've only had communication via email regarding the use of Stress, but I was so pumped when he said he was cool with my use of it.

He said, "Those poor major label bands are missing out on the future of broadcast."

I hope he likes the show.

[bazookajoeshow]

Him's an ultra cool guy. I don't know why he isn't a giant among men in a world where bands like Creed can be megastars.

Jim's uncle is also comic book great, Carmine Infantino. I hope to arrange an interview with Carmine in the next month or so.


[quote=bazookajoeshow]Wow, how cool is that. I'd love to meet the guy in real life. We've only had communication via email regarding the use of Stress, but I was so pumped when he said he was cool with my use of it.

He said, "Those poor major label bands are missing out on the future of broadcast."

[TheBiblePodClass]

1) I use an electronic style tune for background audio that seems to fit quite well with my subject matter.


My first show I just wanted to get something out on the internet so I slapped together some GarageBand loops as an intro. I didn't like it but I was more interested in getting content out.

The second show I spent some time on my intro music. I adjusted my loops so it would sound consistent but fuller, but I added a distinctly Eastern sounding Garage Band track (since the Bible is an Eastern book) then I hit the regular intro music.

The day after I submitted the new intro, I got my first listener letter. I think that my intro had much to do with that. One thing I realized is that when I go to a generic site like podcast.net where there are a bunch of feeds lined up. If I walk down that list of casts that the first 5 seconds of my show stands out.

Personally i think a good intro should be able get anyone to listen to the first 5 minutes of your show -- then after about 5 minutes people should say "Why am I still listening to this? -- I'm not interesting in competitive knitting (or what ever your show is about)."