Podcast Intro Copywriting Advice from Reddit
Some great advice from a random Reddit account on how to introduce a guest on a podcast.
It reads:
Podcasters need to start introducing their guests the same way they’d introduce a friend at a cocktail party.
If you can do that, your podcast instantly becomes more engaging.
I work primarily with business-to-business podcasts, but this applies to any genre. Unless you’re welcoming the President of the United States or Taylor Swift to your show, there’s no reason to lead with a guest’s credentials or even their name.
At a party, you don’t walk up to your friends and say, “Hey everyone, this is Jerry. He went to Syracuse, grew up down the street from my grandmother, almost became a priest, acted in 26 college plays, won 11 industry awards, and has written two books.”
No.
You say, “You know how we were just talking about the landscaping at Augusta National? Jerry is actually the guy who formulates the fertilizer they use. He spends 11 months a year working on it. It’s this insanely specific science.”
And boom! Now I want to hear from Jerry.
Your podcast audience is no different.
Start with the value. Tell us why this person matters in the context of the conversation you’re about to have.
Unless your guest is instantly recognizable to the majority of your audience, most people don’t care who they are. They care what they’re going to learn.
If the first minute of your show is just small talk and a laundry list of credentials, you’re doing your listeners a disservice. You need to sell the value this guest brings. You need to clearly explain why this conversation is worth their time.
You can always sprinkle in personal stories, achievements, or funny trivia later in the episode, after your guest has delivered some real value and earned the listener’s attention.
Introduce your guest like you’re bringing someone fascinating into a conversation your audience already cares about.
Image Description
A Reddit post titled "there is only one right way to intro a guest on your show..." from the subreddit r/podcasting, shared by a user named PodcastArchitect. The post discusses effective ways to introduce podcast guests, comparing it to introducing a friend at a party.
Positive Aspects
The Reddit post is packed with practical advice that’s directly applicable to podcasters looking to create engaging content. By using a relatable analogy—introducing a guest like you would a friend at a cocktail party—it simplifies the concept and makes it easy to understand and implement. This approach is not only insightful but also universal, applicable to any podcast genre.
Key Takeaways
- Introduce podcast guests as you would a friend at a party to make the conversation more engaging.
- Start with the value the guest brings to the conversation, not just their credentials.
- Focus on why the guest matters in the context of the discussion, rather than listing their achievements.
- Save personal stories, credentials, and trivia for later in the episode after the guest has engaged the audience.
- Ensure the introduction makes the audience care about what they will learn from the guest.
Additional Insights
This approach to podcast introductions is akin to storytelling. By framing the guest's introduction around a specific topic or anecdote, you create a narrative hook that captures the audience's attention. It’s like starting a mystery novel with a gripping scene rather than a character’s resume. This technique can also help differentiate your podcast in a crowded market, making each episode feel more like a unique conversation rather than a generic interview.
