A podcast trailer is not necessary to launch your podcast, but we highly recommend you have one for three reasons. First, it helps you get set up on the listening platforms. Second, it reels potential listeners in by showing them what the show is all about and third, it’s super easy to produce a podcast trailer! And if you need even more convincing we got you right here.

A podcast trailer is a short, 1-2 minute audio clip that serves as an introduction to your podcast. It’s designed to give listeners an enticing flavor of what your show is all about, get them excited to tune in for more and subscribe early on. If you’re thinking of starting a podcast, creating a trailer is an important first step in the process. In this article, we’ll go over how to plan, write, and record a winning podcast trailer that will help you build an audience quick and keep them coming back for more.

Before diving into this task it might be helpful to listen to podcast trailer examples from other shows to get a feel for what others sound like and brainstorm what you want yours to be. You can listen to the Travel Squad Podcast trailer right here.

Plan Your Podcast Trailer

Before you start recording, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to say in your trailer. Here are some things to consider when planning your trailer:

• What is the purpose of your podcast? 
• What do you hope to achieve with it?
• Who is your target audience? 
• What are their interests and what value do you want them to get out of it? Entertainment, connection with you, education?
• What makes your podcast unique? 
• What sets it apart from other shows in the same genre? This is where you show your personality.
• How will you structure your episodes? 
• Will you have guests, or will you be the sole host?

Answering these questions will help you come up with a clear message for your trailer. You want to communicate the value of your show and why listeners should tune in. And most importantly you want them to feel an emotional connection to you right away. Podcasting is all about feeling like you’re listening to a friend talk and the trailer is the best place to make that first impression.

Write Your Podcast Trailer Script

Now that you have a clear idea of what you want to say, it’s time to start writing your trailer script. Writing it out helps to ensure all the details you want to cover make it into the final audio. You don’t have to read it word for word, but you can use this write up to practice out loud. Here are some tips for writing a fun and script that will hook listeners in.

• Keep it short and sweet. Your trailer should only  be around 1-2 minutes long, so make every word count.
• Bring energy to the audio! There’s nothing worse than a monotone podcast, bring your A game to the trailer.
• Start with a hook that will grab listeners’ attention and make them want to keep listening.
• Say your name, the podcast name and let listeners know what type of content they can expect in future episodes.
• Highlight the value they will get from listening to your show. Why should listeners tune in? What will they learn or gain from listening to your podcast? Entertainment, education, a friendly conversation to “be a part of” or something else?
• If you’re having guests, give some preview to what type of experts you’ll have on.
• End with a call to action. Encourage listeners to subscribe to your show and tune in for more.
• We also recommend pulling sound bite clips from episode to interject into the trailer
• Add the intro/outro music that matches your episodes

Record your Podcast Trailer

Now that you have your script written, it’s time to start recording. Pull up your recording software, whether that’s Audacity, Garage Band, Adobe Audition, or whatever audio recording software you’re using and bring the energy! Here are some tips for a successful recording session:

• Choose the right equipment. You’ll need a good microphone to capture high-quality audio. There are many options available, from budget-friendly USB and XML microphones to professional-grade models.
• Find a quiet, acoustically sound space. Noise can be a big distraction in a recording, so make sure you find a quiet room with minimal echo.
• Practice before you record. It’s a good idea to do a few dry runs of your script before you start recording for real. This will help you get comfortable with the material and reduce the number of mistakes you make.
• Be mindful of your pacing and delivery. Speak clearly and at a natural pace, and try to vary your tone to keep things interesting.

4. Edit and Polish your Podcast Trailer

Once you’ve recorded your trailer, it’s time to edit and polish it up with editing. Here are some things to consider:

• Trim out any mistakes or dead air. Use your recording software to cut out any mistakes or pauses that you don’t want in the final version of your trailer.
• Add music and sound effects. Adding a music bed or sound effects can help add some energy and excitement to your trailer

If you’ve made it to the step of recording a trailer, you must be close to bringing your idea to life. If you need more help going from idea to full blown podcast, make sure to check out our How to Start a Podcast Course for detailed step-by-step workflow to get you going.