Podcast FAQ

podcast segment outline

by Easton Hodkiewicz Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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For example:

  • Segment 1: You introduce the episode and share what your audience can expect
  • Segment 2: Host 1 breaks down Point 1
  • Segment 3: Host 2 breaks down Point 2, and so on…
  • Segment 4: A call to action (tell your listeners what to do next)

Full Answer

What are segments in a podcast?

A podcast segments is a sectioned-off part of your show that is dedicated to a certain topic or activity, similar to how radio shows have a live call segment, or a news update. A well-placed segment (or two) can make your show more dynamic, keep you from falling into a rut, and help minimize listener drop-off. Should you add segments to your show?

Do you outline your podcast ideas?

Outlining the “podcast idea” in your brain helps you do exactly that. When you create a podcast outline, you are starting to give it a form. It was all in your head, and now you are giving it a shape that you can see and show someone else to get feedback.

What are the most important parts of a podcast?

Your intro can be the most scripted part, as it's arguably the most important section of your show. The first few minutes can be when your listener decides to commit to the whole episode or switch to another podcast. It's got to be engaging, give a clear outline of what is going to be talked about on the podcast and leave the listener wanting more.

How do I write my first segment of a podcast?

Your writing style should be conversational and friendly, limiting the use of jargon or industry-specific words in order to accommodate your listeners (you can use our sample scripts for inspiration). The first segment should be the most interesting in order to sustain listeners’ attention. This segment should appeal to the entire audience.

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How do you segment a podcast?

Segment 1: Introduction of topic, why it's so important, and quick overview of what we'll cover. Segment 2: A deep dive into the episode topic. Segment 3: A recap of the topic and why it's so important. Segment 4: A call to action (tell your listeners what to do next)

How do you write a podcast outline?

Create a visual outline to guide each podcast episodeFirst, map out the key topics. Start by laying out the major topics or questions you know you want to cover. ... Add talking points. ... Get the sequence right. ... Add imagery or video. ... Share with your co-host or guest.

What are 5 elements of a podcast?

5 elements of a good podcastFocus on a central idea.Play to an audience.Regular schedules.Show structure.Authenticity.

How many segments are in a podcast?

threeYour episode flow is the order of audio segments you have in each episode, and there are three key sections that almost all podcasts share: the intro, the content, and the outro.

How do you layout a podcast script?

If you want to script your podcast in more detail, you can organize it similarly to this:Topic 1 Header (Duration) Main Point. Supporting Point. Supporting Point. Supporting Data/Reference. Case Study/Example/Anecdote. ... Segue.Topic 2 Header (Duration) Main Point. Supporting Point. Supporting Point. Supporting Data/Reference.

What is a podcast format?

What is a Podcast Format? Podcast formats are ways to organize your show's content. They are delivery methods that give your podcast a structure. The right format will keep your content organized and make it accessible to your listeners. Without a strong format, your show will seem disjointed and messy.

What should a podcast include?

Here's what YEC community members had to say:Pain Points. “Right at the start, they should mention a pain point or issue that their audience is experiencing. ... A Teaser from the Presentation. ... A Few Key Takeaways. ... The Value Add. ... A Good Question. ... A Quote from the Interview. ... Statistics. ... A Tagline Summarizing the Channel.More items...•

What are different parts of a podcast called?

Six Structural Components of A Podcast EpisodePodcast Intro. This intro is a consistent intro between every episode. ... Episode Intro. In this introduction, you'll introduce the specific conversation for the episode. ... Advertisement. ... Content. ... Episode Outro. ... Next Episode Teaser.

What makes a bad podcast?

Bad audio quality. Too many ad reads or annoying/irrelevant ad reads. Lack of preparation or planning.

What is the difference between a segment and an episode?

Oppose — - A segment is one 11-minute story. An episode is two segments in a 22-minute package.

How do you storyboard a podcast?

Creating a Narrative Podcast: A Step-By-Step GuideStep 1: Develop the podcast season's focus and episode topics. ... Step 2: Write a detailed storyboard for each episode. ... Step 2.5: Start keeping track of your production cycle. ... Step 4: Write the first episode script. ... Step 8: Add music and FX, and normalize the podcast audio.

How do you write a podcast intro?

Podcast Intros: 10 Tips to Get Your Listeners HookedIntroduce Your Podcast.Start With a Question. ... Set the Tone for Your Podcast. ... Choose the Right Music. ... Create a Tagline. ... Write Your Intro Beforehand. ... Mention a Website or Call to Action. ... Include Disclaimers When Needed. ... More items...•

What should your first podcast episode be about?

The first reason is really to introduce the show to first-time listeners. In a podcast episode zero, you can lay out the kind of things your audience can expect from the show. Here, you want to make it predominantly about them. This is where persuasive communication comes into play.

What is a segue in a podcast?

Segue- it connects different sections of your podcast. A sound effect or musical tune would suffice.

What are some good podcast topics?

100+ Podcast Topic ideasBehind the scenes of an industry. ... Take your listeners on a journey - Personal podcast ideas. ... Clueless newbie & Podcast ideas for beginners. ... Tell the same story from different points of view - Podcast story ideas. ... Documentary. ... Deep dives. ... A day in the life of... ... Mystery theme.More items...•

How to outline your story in 6 easy steps

A podcast outline (or script) is the roadmap for your episode. It helps you map out your talking points and plan the sequence of topics you plan to cover. It's a simple, flexible technique to help all types of podcasters stay organized and produce compelling shows.

1. First, map out the key topics

Start by laying out the major topics or questions you know you want to cover. A great place to start is with the traditional storytelling structure of beginning, middle, and end. Don't worry too much about the order or details yet, just get the main parts out of your head. This is a quick flexible way to brainstorm the centerpieces of your show.

2. Add talking points

Next, add a sentence or a bullet point for each talking point or question you might cover. There are no rules for how much detail to add, do what works best for you. You'll be referencing these as you record your podcast, so try and keep them short, snappy, and easy to scan as you're talking.

3. Get the sequence right

Seeing your episode at this level lets you make connections between themes and concepts you might otherwise miss if you wrote a script in a word document. Re-read your outline so far. Look for points that feel out of place. Perhaps your transitions need some tweaking or a topic appears without a proper introduction.

4. Add imagery or video

While imagery probably won't make an appearance in your podcast, this is a great technique for kickstarting new ideas. Experiment by adding images or video clips that relate to your topics. You can have them on-hand and reference the details when recording to tell a more vivid story.

5. Share with your co-host or guest

With any creative technique or project, it’s important to be open to constructive feedback. Now that the first version of your outline is done it's time to ask for specific feedback on the sequence and talking points from your co-host or team. Make sure you stay open to suggestions and improvements and try not to take criticism personally.

You're ready to record!

Now that you've finished your outline, you can start recording, confident that your episode has a strong foundation. If you're starting a new show right now, use the free outline template below to start mapping it out or read our full guide on How to plan a podcast.

What should the first segment of a podcast be?

The first segment should be the most interesting in order to sustain listeners’ attention. This segment should appeal to the entire audience. Broad content is encouraged to serve the majority. News and current events related to your podcast subject matter are often of interest to an entire audience.

What are the two voice over styles for podcasts?

There are two voice over styles for recording your podcast that you should keep in mind when writing your podcast script. These include polished and freestyle: 1. Polished Podcasting Scripts. A polished, professional- sounding podcast, is similar to what you might hear in a newscast or documentary.

What is a podcast script?

Podcast Script (Template) 1. Opening: A quick musical jingle or your brand’s sonic logo. 2. Introduction: A monologue-style intro outlining your guests and what you plan to talk about on your show. 3.

What is a topic break in podcasts?

These topic breaks are typically described as bumpers or sweepers, giving your listeners the time they might need to digest the content you just presented. Since each podcast is inherently different, each show should have its own themes, topics, and lengths to set episodes apart from each other.

How to make a podcast?

Brainstorm Podcast Topics: Make a list of subjects that you’re both passionate and knowledgeable about, take a look at what’s already out there, and determine how your podcast will function as an extension of your content strategy. 2.

What is freestyle podcast?

Freestyle is an ad lib, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants recording style that can be an unpredictable and engaging voice. This style may work best for podcasts with a high energy or witty host or when there is more than one host on the podcast, highlighting their dialogue skills and spontaneity.

When will podcasts be released in 2021?

February 9, 2021. It may seem like everybody is launching a podcast nowadays, but that doesn’t mean that each new podcast you hear about just materializes out of thin air. In fact, behind every good podcast is a whole lot of podcast planning. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to start a podcast of your own, you’re in luck.

What are the segments in a podcast?

Segment 1: Introduction of topic, why it’ s so important , and quick overview of what we’ll cover. Segment 2: A deep dive into the episode topic. Segment 3: A recap of the topic and why it’s so important. Segment 4: A call to action (tell your listeners what to do next)

What can you look at in an interview podcast?

If you’re creating an interview-based podcast (you are inviting guests on to discuss a specific topic), then you can look at your episode segments as transition points for the interview.

What is a topic based podcast?

If you’re creating a topic-based podcast (one where you dive into a specific topic as the podcast host without any guests), then you can look at your episode segments as the headings of an outline.

How often can you release a podcast?

One example is to produce your podcast in a season-based format. So instead of publishing episodes once per week indefinitely, you could release a season on your podcast all at once, or drip the content out over a six-week period, and then take a break.

Why is it important to outline your podcast?

Outlining your podcast helps you uncover some unknown risks and also helps you make your show unique. This exercise, when iterated, can help you create a podcast that you’ve been imagining. Of course, before you get there, you’ll also see and discover a lot of good things and not so good ones too.

What is the third phase of a podcast?

Well, the ears of your listener. This is the third phase of your podcast project – Distribution and Test. It’s not good enough to put them in your listeners’ ears, but more important to get to understand what they think about it. Get them to open their thoughts and mouths.

Why is it important to treat your podcast like a project?

Treating your podcast like a project helps you tackle all of the above questions and more. The most important of them all is that it helps you focus on your goal. A podcast that has a definitive goal and all dependencies and resources tracked, is sure to head in the right direction.

Is it good to have an idea for a podcast?

Having an idea for a podcast is a good first step. But usually , it’s communicating that idea to someone else, that makes it better. Outlining your podcast helps you communicate your new podcast idea better.

What can you do with a few segments on a podcast?

Even if you have a very specific podcast topic and a set format, a few segments can add some variety to your podcast and make it that much more engaging.

How to make a podcast?

1. Q & A. Ask your listeners on social media to send in questions and randomly select a few on your podcast to answer. 2. Guest. Invite experts, friends, family, influencers, musicians, and other notable individuals to your podcast.

What is a spotlight?

Spotlight. Feature an artist, album, movie, show, destination, specific topic, or anything else that you would like to talk about more in depth. A spotlight is similar to a review, except spotlights are more based on factual information and reviews are more based on your opinions. 11. Advice of the Day.

What is Live365?

Live365 is dedicated and passionate about giving webcasters the best place to stream on the internet. With powerful broadcasting tools, generous revenue share, listening distribution, and stream licensing for music royalties, Live365 is the best one-stop-shop for your internet radio station.

Episode intro

Your intro can be the most scripted part, as it's arguably the most important section of your show. The first few minutes can be when your listener decides to commit to the whole episode or switch to another podcast. It's got to be engaging, give a clear outline of what is going to be talked about on the podcast and leave the listener wanting more.

Guest intro

Obviously, this only applies if you have a guest on your show. Often in these shows, the host will ask the guest to "tell the audience a little about yourself" or "can you talk us through your backstory" - try to avoid this if you can.

Sponsor slot

Another optional section of your script depends on if you have sponsors or not and your agreement with them. Some like to have the same ad slot for every episode, in which case you'll only have to script it once. Where others like to break up the monotony of a sponsor slot and get creative with it for each episode.

Talking points

This is usually the main section of your show. Often this can go on for over an hour, so there is no need to script this. Unless, of course, you have a narrative show or tightly produced episodes that require a narrative structure. But for most podcasts, they'll only need talking points or questions.

Segment

This is not essential by any means, but some shows like to have some kind of segue into another component of the show that is used to break up a long interview. This could be a series of questions that are asked in the middle of every episode, or an interesting fact or anecdote interjected at a certain point.

Outro

It's good at the end of every episode to finish off with an outro, instead of the conversation finishing abruptly. This could contain a summary of the episode with key takeaways and a call to action telling people where they can find out more about what was discussed in the episode.

Recap

So that's an outline of the components of a podcast script along with some real examples to get you started. A podcast script is not what you might traditionally think a script to be, more a guide to keep the episodes on track. You can mix and match different components which will be different depending on your unique format.

How many stories can you tell on a podcast?

You can tell one story per episode or span your story across an entire series. Or you could simply report the news. This is an excellent podcast format for listeners who like to learn more about our world. You have the opportunity to expose people to new ideas, concepts, and events.

How long does it take to talk on a podcast?

It’s a lot of talking. Speaking for 30 to 45 minutes is tiring. And that’s only if you record it perfectly the first time. Realistically, you’ll talk for an hour or more for each episode.

Why is it important to have a good podcast format?

The right format will keep your content organized and make it accessible to your listeners. Without a strong format, your show will seem disjointed and messy. Podcast formats also create consistency for your listeners. When you stick to a format, your listeners will know what to expect when they open each new episode.

Why are listeners forgiving?

Listeners are forgiving about little mistakes (ums, likes, and brief pauses) because they know you’re having a legitimate conversation. Opens your show to a new audience because your guests promote their appearance on your show, especially to their fan base.

What is repurposing content?

Repurposing content is when you take content that already exists and transform it in a way to get more value out of it. You might add to it, split it up, or transpose it to a new medium. Some bloggers simply take existing written content and repurpose it into a podcast for an audio experience.

What is panel podcast?

A panel podcast is similar to an interview podcast, but with more people. Each episode has a single host and a group of guests. For your listener, it feels like overhearing an organic conversation between friends.

What to expect when you open each new episode?

When you stick to a format, your listeners will know what to expect when they open each new episode. If your show features a serious solo monologue one week, a comedic panel the next, and a fictional story the week after, you’ll have a hard time holding on to your listeners. Plus, a good format will help your listeners describe your show ...

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