How to build a profitable podcast.
Want a great podcast outro? This post will show you how...
Podcasting has become one of the most popular ways to drive audience engagement. Many organisations have invested so much and are still investing after seeing its impact on their business.
Besides, one of the enticing things about podcasting is that it's an inexpensive way to get started, and the process is simple.
However, you want to end your podcast episode on a high note but not leave listeners hanging. You want to keep them engaged with your brand and give them a reason to subscribe to your show. The outro should be short and sweet but also leave an impression.
In this post, I will break down what makes a good podcast outro and how you can use these ideas to create a successful outro. I'll start by explaining the difference between a traditional outro vs a podcast outro. Then we'll discuss some of the common mistakes that podcasters make when it comes to their outros. Finally, I'll share my top podcast outro ideas for creating a great outro.
Let's get started!
A traditional outro is usually credited at the bottom of the screen or in the corner of the page after each episode ends. These may include sponsors, links back to other content from your site, etc. This type of outro is typically used in radio shows, TV programs, etc., as they're more commonly found in those types of media.
On podcasts, though, things work differently. Instead of having a traditional outro like television or radio, most people prefer using an outro similar to the one below. It has all the same information, but instead of being at the bottom, the outro appears suitable before the next segment begins.
In addition, many podcasts will have multiple segments per week, so if you only had time to do one outro during the previous week's episode, you'd need to repeat the outro over again. That means having two different outros within the same podcast episode.
The main benefit is that now the listener need not wait until the last second of the podcast to find out who was featured on the show. They already know that person thanks the intro music, which plays while the host introduces them. However, even though the introduction music is playing, the actual outro isn't played yet. So why would anyone listen to it? Why wouldn't they just skip ahead to the next segment? Because they don't realize that the outro starts once the intro music stops. If you've ever listened to any of my episodes, you'll notice that the intro music pauses before the outro begins. And since the outro is shorter than the rest of the episode, it gives you a chance to say something interesting without making the entire thing too long.
Now let's talk about some of the mistakes that podcasters often make when it comes to outros.
Mistake 1 – Not having an exciting intro music track to play while your host introduces them
This mistake happens frequently. When someone goes into an interview, they almost always play the first song they think of off iTunes. But here's the problem; no matter how much fun the music sounds, it won't help you introduce yourself to the guest. After all, you never really hear anything else besides the song itself. Even worse, if you try to add another track, later on, chances are it will sound terrible because you didn't practice enough beforehand.
Instead, take some time to figure out what kind of music works best for you. For example, if you feel comfortable singing along to songs, go ahead and sing along to whatever you choose. You can also use a guitar solo in place of an instrumental version of the song. Or maybe you want to write lyrics to a specific song. Whatever method you decide upon, I guarantee it will be better than creating a random song on iTunes.
If you're worried that you might not have a good selection of songs ready, you can still create an effective intro by thinking of a few ideas and writing down notes. Then record these ideas into GarageBand or Audacity and save them somewhere safe. Once you start recording, you can quickly select one idea and continue working on it throughout the process.
Once you finish creating the song, play it through several times. Make sure that everything flows smoothly and that nothing feels awkward. Also, pay attention to whether certain parts seem repetitive or boring. If you find that you keep repeating the same lines repeatedly, change up the wording slightly. Eventually, you should end up with a great intro!
Mistake 2 – Using a generic outro with no personality at all
When people do this, they usually simply repeat their names over and over again. This could work fine as a joke, but it's certainly not going to get your listeners excited. Instead, look at what other podcasts do instead of using generic intros like "Hi everyone!" Try coming up with something unique that stands out from the crowd. Maybe you'd instead give a shout-out to a friend or family member. Perhaps you want to thank your guests for being so fantastic during the interview, or you want to tell them that you hope they enjoy listening to the podcast. There are plenty of ways to spice things up. Just remember that every single one of those options has its pros and cons. It's important to pick something that you both agree upon.
As far as length goes, there's no correct answer. Some people prefer short ones where they only mention their name; others may choose more extended versions to include more information. Either way, you need to experiment and see what gets results.
Mistake 3 – Trying too hard to be funny in their outros
It doesn't matter how funny you are when you're talking about serious topics. Your jokes aren't supposed to make anyone laugh — your audience wants to know what you believe in. So don't forget that even though you've got a wicked sense of humor, you'll probably need to tone it down just a bit.
Don't worry too much about getting laughs, either. As long as you're able to convey who you are without sounding arrogant, then you'll be doing well. Remember that you don't have to be overly witty to succeed. People appreciate sincerity above all else. And while you shouldn't let your personality shine through too vigorously, you don't want to hide behind a mask either.
And finally… Mistake 4 – Not listening carefully enough before recording
People mess up most often because they haven't paid close attention to the audio quality before recording. They think that because they recorded the podcast themselves, their voice sounds perfect. But if you listen closely, you'll notice some problems such as background noise, static, etc... These issues will show up once you've uploaded the file to iTunes Connect. You can fix them quickly enough, but you must first identify which problem exists.
You also need to hear yourself speak clearly. Listen carefully to ensure that each word comes across loud and clear. When you test your mic, ask someone nearby to say something simple and watch how many words they manage to fit into a sentence. If you feel confident that you can handle speaking freely, then go ahead and use whatever microphone you choose.
But if you struggle with speaking clearly, consider purchasing a new headset. Or better yet, invest in a pair of studio headphones. These come equipped with microphones built directly inside the ear cups. That means you won't have any sort of interference from outside sources. Plus, you can adjust the volume level independently for each side.
A well-written outro adds value to your episodes. But even if you don't write them up, you'll benefit simply from having a solid outro. After all, most people listen to their favorite shows while doing other things, such as cooking dinner or commuting. And that makes it difficult to focus solely on listening in full attention. Thus, a little bit of background noise can help bring about greater engagement.
The benefits of a great outro become apparent when we think about our own lives. Imagine being stuck somewhere far away from home without access to Wi-Fi. Now imagine trying to catch up on some news stories during this period. How would you do that? Most likely, you'd turn on your phone and fire up Twitter or Facebook. With these services, you can quickly scroll through posts and comments from friends, family, celebrities, etc., and gain quick insights into current events. However, scrolling through hundreds of tweets requires patience and concentration.
In contrast, a radio program allows us to tune in to a specific topic quickly. We can stop paying attention once we've heard enough information. As a result, we miss important details that we wouldn't otherwise know about.
In addition, many people enjoy reading books while sitting at work or driving down the highway. When we're engrossed in a book, we lose track of time. So instead of worrying about traffic jams, we find ourselves lost deep inside a story.
Similarly, we may decide to switch our cell phones off because we want to spend quality time alone thinking about something meaningful. These moments are precious; we shouldn't waste any of them. Which means we need to stay focused and attentive throughout. That's precisely what happens when we listen to a podcast.
The benefits of an influential podcast outro include:
Now let's look at some specific elements that go into creating a successful one.
Speak clearly and use simple words whenever possible. In particular, try to avoid jargon.
While your first sentence does matter, most podcasts last anywhere between 20 minutes and half an hour, therefore, if you have only 30 seconds left before wrapping up, it makes little difference whether you introduce yourself or simply state the topic of discussion.
An influential podcast outro should include all the basics of the podcast episode. This includes your name and that of any guests or co-hosts, as well as the name of your show. It also has an indication of the length of time remaining until the end of the program. Finally, provide information regarding the recording date, location, and airtime during the interview.
If there's anything else you would like to learn how to do better, it's a call to action. A call-to-action is one of the essential functions of a podcast outro.
This is where you get to invite your listener to become a part of your loyal podcast community by asking them to hit the subscribe button or follow your show. A call-to-action is also a place where you can tell your listeners about your new website, your business that just launched, your page that needs new followers, and all.
Suppose you've played your cards well, and your listener has invested their time into listening to your podcast episode right to the very end. In that case, your podcast outro can then leverage this high engagement by requesting the desired action. An example of a call-to-action include;
Call to Action: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! I'm looking forward to chatting with you next week. Thanks again for sharing your feedback. Have a great weekend. See you soon!
Your podcast outro doesn't have to be boring. It shouldn't be boring. Your outro can be entertaining too. But if you want to make your outro enjoyable, you need to add some sound effects. Music for podcast outro can help to engage your audience and give your outro some personality. And remember that the type of music and sound effects that you use is an effective way to help establish your brand identity and lets your listeners recognize it's your show no matter when they join.
There are many different types of sounds that you can use to spice up your outros. For instance, you could play a short clip of someone speaking or record yourself saying something funny. You could also play a song or looped audio file. There are plenty of other options available to you. Here's one of our posts on where and how to get podcast intro music for your show. You will find plenty of outro music options likewise on these websites.
Furthermore, before you start adding sound effects, you first need to decide what type of sound effect you want to use. Below are a few popular categories of sounds that you can choose from.
Let's take a look at each
Short clips are perfect for adding variety to your outros. They can be used to introduce a topic quickly or to transition between sections of your podcast.
For example, you might use a short clip of a person speaking to introduce a section of your podcast. Or you could use a short clip of a dog barking to transition to another area of your podcast.
The clip art is a collection of images that you can use to spice up your outros. It can be used to draw attention to certain parts of your outro. For instance, you could use a cat picture to highlight a particular point during your outro.
Audio files are a great way to add variety to your outros. You can use these to play a song, looped audio, or even a recorded voice.
For example, you could use a recording of a child singing to highlight a specific point in your outro. Or you could use a recording of a dog barking to transition to another section of your outro.
Songs are a great way to add variety to your outros. You can use songs to highlight points in your outro or to transition between sections.
For example, you could use a song to highlight a specific point in your outro. Or you could use a song to transition to another section of your outro.
Loops are a great way to add variety to your outros. You can use loops to highlight a specific point in your outro or to transition between sections.
For example, you could use a loop to highlight a specific point in your outro. Or you could use a loop to transition to another section of your outro.
You don't always have to wait until your next episode to tell your listeners about new episodes. You can also tease your listeners by including teases in your outros.
A teaser is simply a snippet of information that gives your listeners a preview of what's to come in your next episode. Teasers can be as simple as a single sentence or as long as several paragraphs.
Here are a few examples of teasers you could use:
And if you're featuring a great guest on an upcoming episode, you could also have them record a brief message letting your listeners know what's coming up in your next podcast episode and share this in your outro.
As mentioned earlier, it is vital to make sure that you abide by any stipulations you are contractually obligated to fulfill in your outros. If you are using a sponsor, you should mention their name in your outro.
Below are podcast outro examples that you can use. You may simply replace the words in italics in the scripts below or perhaps just use them as a podcast outro template for writing your outro:
An outro doesn't necessarily follow a strict format. But there are certain things you should avoid doing. Here are three common mistakes:
There are many other ways to improve your outros, including music cues, graphics, animation, and video clips. I'm sure you can come up with creative solutions on your own. Just remember that sometimes less is more.
Outro Lengths
The length of your outro depends on how much time you have left in your show. As a general rule, the longer your outro, the better. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
It is best to keep your outro under 3 minutes. Anything over 3 minutes is too long and will begin to lose your audience.
Other Tips
There are many other things you can do to improve your outros. Here are some additional tips:
Just like your intro, your outro shouldn't last more than 3-4 minutes. Anything longer than that begins to lose your listeners.
Transitions help to connect one part of your outro to another. They can be as simple as a voiceover or as complex as a musical piece.
When choosing your transitions, consider the following factors:
So now you're ready to record! Here are a few essential tips on how to improve your outro:
1. Make sure your mouth isn't open wide: Don't force air into your lungs by forcing your lips together. Let your breath flow naturally throughout the entire process. Also, avoid breathing through your nose. Breathe normally and concentrate on keeping your throat relaxed.
2. Speak slowly: Slow speech tends to sound less robotic than fast speech. Think of it like driving versus running; you can drive smoothly at 55 mph, whereas you might run faster at 50 mph. Go slow until you find a leisurely pace that works best for you.
3. Keep your head still: A steady head position helps keep your face looking natural and prevents unwanted facial expressions. Avoid moving around too much after taking off your shirt. Even small movements can cause distracting artifacts in your recordings.
4. Use good lighting: Lighting should always be kept constant regardless of whether you're indoors or outdoors. Otherwise, shadows cast by objects in front of you can create weird distortions.
5. Record multiple: this way, you get to practice different ways of delivering your introduction. It's often helpful to include sections where you read aloud what you wrote out beforehand. Doing so gives you more flexibility when listening back later.
6. Add pauses between sentences: Pause briefly whenever necessary to give listeners time to absorb what you just said. There's no hard-and-fast rule regarding how long you should pause between sentences. Just make sure there's sufficient space between phrases.
7. Start strong: Your opening line doesn't have to start immediately upon starting talking. Instead, begin quietly, allowing great silence before proceeding. Then gradually build momentum over several seconds. Once you reach the point where you're comfortable speaking, try adding emphasis to specific vital points. For example, you could emphasize certain keywords, repeat a phrase twice, or play a short clip from your previous podcasts.
Conclusion
Your outro is one of the essential parts of your podcast and another effective place to showcase your personality, enhance yourself and your overall brand, and find a place for yourself and your show in the hearts and minds of your listeners because it sets the tone for your entire podcast. Therefore, you must pay close attention to every aspect of it.
While the exact details of your outro depend on the type of podcast you are creating; specific guidelines apply to all podcasts. But above all, you want your outro to showcase your show's identity as with every other aspect of your podcast. Be yourself and allow your uniqueness to permeate the entirety of your episodes.
Remember, your outro is the first impression people get of your podcast. So, take the time to create something that stands out!
