How to build a profitable podcast.
Don't know how to write a GREAT description for your podcast episode? This post will show you how...
Writing a podcast description goes beyond just writing. There are thousands of podcast shows, and one of the most vital things that will help potential audiences stuck on your show is the podcast description. It is an essential factor determining how many listeners will come back to your podcast show.
A podcast description is like a summary of what your whole podcast show is about. It is what you sell to your potential listeners to make them a fan of your podcast show. This article will find easy methods to write great podcast descriptions and few podcast description templates. But first, you need to understand what podcast description is.
To understand what podcast description is, you need first to answer the question, what is a podcast? A podcast cannot be defined with a single podcast episode but the podcast show as a whole. Podcast description is often confused as podcast show notes, but show notes are just the text that subtitles each podcast episode. You can use a paraphraser to help write show notes. This helps you make short but useful notes without writing out everything exactly from the podcast. You can get to find out more about podcast show notes and how to write them here.
Podcast description is an integral part of a podcast show as it gives a little insight into what potential listeners should expect from your show. However, it is not essential for search engine optimization as it will just stuff your podcast summary with unnecessary keywords. A great podcast description is practical by letting potential audiences find your podcast show.
A podcast description gives potential audience information, motivation, and context. You can add whatever you want to your podcast description, such as the kind of topics you talk about, who your potential listeners are, and what your whole podcast show is about.
Different podcast hosting websites use podcast descriptions as you can get what your podcast is about from searches. Take Spotify, for example, being the most popular podcasting platform (with apple music being the first), and it makes use of podcast descriptions for searches.
Aside from choosing a good name for your podcast, it would be best to put descriptive titles on each of your podcast episodes. This will help get you in front of a potential audience and eventually read your podcast description.
Podcast shows are usually situated in the media host, ready before you submit them to the podcast directories where people will find and listen to them. Not many people put many thoughts into podcast descriptions; most write it as an afterthought to have something in the empty box.
It might not seem like a priority, but your podcast description is essential for your podcast show. And the good news is that you can edit it anytime if you find other compelling additions. After updating your podcast description, it will show up usually after 24 hours in all podcast directories.
We already know what podcast description is and why it is crucial to have it on your podcast show. Here we talk about tips for writing an excellent podcast description.
Having a good podcast marketing strategy is inclusive of a great podcast description, amongst other things. And writing a podcast description will vary depending on what your show is about and what your audience needs. For example, technical jargon will be in the podcast description for a specific type of profession.
Introducing yourself in your podcast description is a way for your potential listeners to feel connected and trust you. In a way, it helps to build credibility and gives a sense of connection with your listeners.
Many podcasters run different shows, so if you or your co-host(s) are famous, it would be helpful to have your name and other people on the podcast description. This information could help listeners feel like they are about to listen to a familiar person.
Your podcast show needs to have the same consistency as the name and content. You cannot have a severe tone and give a carefree podcast description. It could confuse the listeners and provide a different idea of what they signed up for when they eventually listen to your podcast. You can ask people around you for their input to understand how your podcast description sounds.
Starting your podcast description with a question can be a catchy way to entice potential listeners. You can then answer that question in a subtle way that does not give too much away. Get as creative with your question as possible.
For example, if you have a podcast show on trying intercontinental dishes, you could try a phrase like, “would you ever try to eat live shrimp? On _____, we try different dishes from around the world, so you do not need to.
While there is no rule on how long or short a podcast description length should be, it would be best to have brief descriptions between 300 to 600 words. Yes, describing your podcast is essential for your podcast show, but the content is all that matters. As such, there is no need to pack the whole thing into your podcast description. Your podcast description is just the bait, and it has to be clear, concise, and straight to the point.
Using too many words might cause your listeners to lose interest, so the best thing is to give the audience a taste of the Host (s), show purpose and unique features without giving too much.
It is vital to use the proper keywords while writing a podcast description. This will help the potential audience have a clue of what they are searching for. It helps to use exact and right keywords as that would give the audience a narrowed search. Think strategically about what your potential audience will want to listen to and add that to your podcast description for proper search.
As much as you might want to make your podcast description clear and short, you should also give the audience what to expect on your podcast show. A good podcast description will inform your listeners what your show is about, why they should tune in, and when it airs.
In fewer words, please give them a clue of what separates your podcast from thousands of all others. If you have to be on a previous podcast show or have been given awards, you can reference highlights. This way, your audience has a better sense of what your podcast show is about.
As much as you want to get creative with your podcast description, you should not entice listeners with content that does not appear in your show. It will create a deep level of distrust, making your podcast show end before it even begins.
Click baits such as scare tactics, too much exaggeration, deception, and other false content should be critically avoided. Using clickbait, listeners might tune in but tune out once they realize they have been deceived.
The final step in a podcast description should be a call to action. It is a simple phrase convincing the listeners to press play on your podcast. It could be as simple as “check back on ___ day for more episodes”, or tune into the show to find out more on today’s episode and so on.
A great podcast description should be three things:
Let's now jump into a good podcast episode description example so you can see how some awesome podcasts and businesses are leveraging this powerful podcasting tool:
“Online personality Lauren Elizabeth is a business-savvy Midwestern girl living in Los Angeles. She’s honest, hilarious, and isn’t afraid to keep it real. In each episode, Lauren dives into her best and worst moods of the week. You’ll become obsessed with her current mood boosters ranging from lifestyle products to tips and tricks. Stick around for each new topic discussion and #MyMOOD advice segment. Subscribe to have your mood boosted each Wednesday.”
This is why we like this podcast description:
“Golden Grenades is a weekly podcast about birds and those who worship them, all set against the heart-warming upbeat backdrop of the end of the world. YOLOBirder chats to a special guest about their five favourite birds each week, one of which must enter the best bird duel against the mighty Peregrine Falcon! Twitter: @YOLOBirder Artwork, music, bells & whistles by Will Rose.”
Why we like this podcast description:
“Hear ye, hear ye! This is Royally Obsessed, the podcast that discusses all things Royals! Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie both write about the Royals for Pure Wow and, each week, they discuss the latest news coming out of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and beyond. Follow the show on Instagram @RoyallyObsessedPodcast and like our Facebook group, Royally Obsessed.”
This is why this podcast description is good:
“Hello and welcome to I Could Murder a Podcast! Join good pals Tom and Ben as they make weekly deep dives into the mercilessly morbid, curiously creepy world of true crime. The boys will be exploring the who’s, how’s, what’s, where’s and why’s of all things strange and intriguing. From mass shootings to serial murderers to tragic events and mysteries – they will pick apart each subject with their unorthodox commentary and bizarre references, looking into the Red Flags and Motives, as well as exploring the impact and aftermath of each case.”
This is why this podcast description is good:
There are several templates for flyers you can use for your podcast description. We have seen the creation of thousands of podcast episodes and have come to determine what we believe to be the best possible structure for these.
The first sentence in your podcast description is the most important as it is the defining factor in the success of your podcast show. Ensure you use two sentences and connect to the listener about a knowledge they know or agree with an opinion of theirs. For example:
While the above statements are not generally factual, that's okay if they resonate with your listeners.
The next thing to do is to give brief details of your podcast show, including the frequency of the podcast, the Host (s) of your podcast show, and the podcast’s format. This is an excellent place to briefly tell potential listeners what they will be getting on each episode and any other detail worth mentioning.
The first two pieces of the podcast description template may be enough for you, but it would be best to add a little more to it. Adding extra content for search algorithms will build a solid ground for potential listeners to want involved in your show.
Adding extra information about your brand will come in handy for potential listeners to know more about what your podcast show entails. You can add details of your social media pages or websites.
Now we can put these pieces together to see how a podcast description looks. You can change the details of the below template and use the structure to build the best podcast description for your podcast show.
Strategy:
Now that you have your podcast description, you are off and running with your new podcast episode.
Template 1:
How to rise above the level playing field and actually SELL your art - whether you're a musician, composer, book author, filmmaker, animator, game developer, or poet. And even if you are a coach, consultant, therapist, trainer, or chef, you're going to need to solve these same problems too. How do you compete over millions and millions of "me too" artists, all over the world?
Template 2:
Learn the stories behind the photos with Photographer and Photo Conservator Al Thelin. A true Renaissance man, who shows his greatness in his work from black & white to digital. Grab your favourite darkroom snack and enjoy a historical journey through photos and stories. Everything from Mountain Man Rendezvous, Civil War, Revolutionary War, cowboy life, and today.
Template 3:
Your #1 resource for how to live your best curvy life as a confident fashionista. Join Deana, your plus-size stylist & social media influencer bestie as she shares her fashion expertise and how to embrace your curves unapologetically to show up as your best self. Hear personal stories of her struggles and successes during her journey in becoming a confident plus size with a bit of sass/humour along the way. Guest interviews with other influencers, clothing designers, and more regarding all things curvy! Warning: serious Curves ahead.
Template 4:
Do you struggle to understand the intricacies of Game of Thrones? Join Bob and Mindy Hope (published authors and students of George R. R. Martin’s epic story) as they delve into the intrigue and complexities of Westeros. New episodes are released 24 hours after each new TV episode. If you need help understanding the story and want a little more Game of Thrones in your diet, come along for the adventure! Consider supporting us on Patreon so we can continue to deliver Game of Thrones content ad-free!
Template 5
Have you ever been on a sales call and thought to yourself, “what do I say next?” or have a contract out to a promising prospect but haven’t heard back in weeks? Don’t let your loss of words cost you the sale ever again. The Your Sales MBA® Podcast is the answer to every sales question you have ever had. With a focus on the ‘how’ as opposed to the ‘why,’ we roll up our sleeves to answer your most puzzling sales conundrums. Join our hosts, Jeff Hoffman and CeCe Aparo, as they give you the answers you’re looking for and deliver impactful, tactical, engaging advice so you can close that deal and crush your quota.
So you see, the short piece of text that describes your podcast makes all the difference. It creates a great first impression and lets the potential audience know whether to give your podcast show a try.
It is essential to give your podcast descriptions more attention. Research the perfect keywords to make your podcasts show more visible and consider the character limit to build the structure of the description. Don’t neglect the hooks that will appeal to the listeners.
Moreover, if the platform allows it, you can add a trailer to your podcast description. You can use this to make a better introduction, as social media has a limited character count. Keep it entertaining and alluring to make your listeners feel welcome
