Why Your Podcast Needs a Trailer and How to Record One
You’re getting ready to launch your podcast. But on top of everything else, you’ve heard you have to record a trailer. You think to yourself, really? Do I have to?
Now, we’re not saying anyone has to do anything, but it would be a mistake to skimp out on creating a podcast trailer. You’ve put in all the hard work that goes into making a podcast, so why wouldn’t you do everything possible to help bring in potential listeners?
A trailer can do just that.
✴ Why your podcast needs a trailer
First thing’s first: let’s define the different types of trailers.
The one that probably comes to mind first is the Coming Soon Trailer. This is the type of trailer that drops before any episodes are ever released. You use this to grab the attention of potential listeners before launch day.
The next type of trailer is the Season Trailer. If you have large gaps between seasons of your show, then you create and release one of these before the next season to alert your listeners you’re coming back. Similarly, this builds buzz, but just on a smaller, season level.
Finally, there’s the Evergreen Intro Trailer. Apple Podcasts allows podcasters to pin a trailer to the top of their page, so use it. You can create an evergreen trailer that gives a general overview for your show, regardless of how many episodes you’ve recorded. You’re always looking to engage new listeners, so you’ll want a trailer that makes sense long after your Coming Soon Trailer loses its luster.
Keeping all that in mind, the one we’re focusing on for now is the Coming Soon Trailer. If you’re launching a podcast, this is the only one you have to concern yourself with at the moment.
There’s one other major reason to create a podcast trailer besides generating buzz. A trailer also allows you to submit to all of the major podcast directories and for them to approve you before launch day. Uploading a trailer before your first episode gives you some breathing room. You can make sure everything is up and running smoothly, and then upload your first episode. You don’t want to jump straight in with the first episode, only to find there’s a problem.
✴ How to record a podcast trailer
Now that we’re all on board with creating a podcast trailer, how exactly should you go about making one?
That depends a bit on the type of show you’re making.
That said, there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:
Keep the trailer to under 2 minutes.
State the name of your podcast.
Tell your audience who you are, what the podcast is about, and what they can expect.
Keep your promises realistic. You want to be able to deliver on everything you say.
Be yourself. Listeners want to hear your personality in the trailer.
In a 2-minute trailer, you’ll want to record a 30-second intro covering the basics. Then, you can use the rest of the time to pull interesting sound bites.
Where do you get those sound bites? Well, if you’re recording multiple episodes ahead of launch, then you can easily pull from those.
If your podcast is more timely and you can’t record ahead, then you should record a few dummy episodes. Not only will these provide you with the sound bites you need for a trailer, but it’ll be good practice for when you actually record episodes.
Once you have your sound bites, you can edit those all together. If you have theme music for your podcast, you should use that in the trailer, as well.
And finally, end your podcast with a call to action: ask your listeners to subscribe. Don’t get greedy and ask for anything more than that. For your Coming Soon Trailer, your only goal is to build up your listenership before launch day. If you can do that, then creating your podcast trailer has been well worth your time!
Want more advice on how to grow a profitable podcast? Check out our mini guide to monetization here.
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