10 tips for a great podcast outro

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10 tips for a great podcast outro

Here are 10 tips on making a super podcast outro, to boost your podcasts visibility! 👀

November 19, 2021 • About 12 min. read

How to record a great podcast outro

The outro of your podcast is just as important as the intro. It’s your last chance to create a good impression on your listeners and encourage them to listen to future episodes.

Remember back in high school English class when your teacher recommended that you pay close attention to your essay’s introduction and conclusion?

Well in podcasting, it’s the same thing! 🤓 

In this new article we’re going to dive into what to say in your episodes’ outro. But first we’ll answer three beginner questions that will help you understand the tips that we are going to give you!

What are intros and outros for podcasts?

You can think of intros and outros for podcasts like the pieces of bread for a sandwich- they keep the whole delicious episode together. 🥪

The intro is the bottom piece of bread. It provides the foundation for the episode. In intros, podcasters give an overview of what the podcast is all about and what listeners can expect in that exact episode. For tips on how to nail your podcast intro, check out this blog post we wrote.

The outro is the top piece of bread. It tops off the masterpiece. As you’ll see in the 10 tips we give you, the outro is where you wrap everything up: a quick recap, thank yous, calls to action, and cool outro music. 😎

That leads us to the next question…

Why is it important to have a polished podcast outro?

When writing our podcast’s script and imagining the episodes’ themes, it is easy to slip into the habit of thinking about the outro we want to record at the very last minute. 😬 

However, this final step in the creation process can be a great way to spur your listeners to tune in again to your podcast. And even to retain them as loyal fans! 💜

Have you ever listened to a podcast without an outro? It can feel a bit abrupt and, more importantly, it doesn’t leave a great impression of the podcast’s host, does it?

The outro of an episode is your last chance to make a positive impression on your audience. Don’t let it pass you by!

Ok, one last common question we get, before we dive into the 10 tips. ⬇️

How long should podcast outro music be?

Generally a podcast outro takes anywhere from 1-4 minutes, depending on what you want to include, what your guest wants to include, etc. ⏱️

The length of the outro music, then, depends on if you want to it be playing quietly through out your whole outro or only after you have finished speaking, or some mix of the two.

For example, lots of podcasts start their outro musicbed quietly while the host and guests give the outro, and then turn up the volume once they have finished speaking, and then fade out the music after about 3-5 seconds of playing solo. 🎚️

The right answer really depends on what sounds best given the variables: host’s voice, guest’s voice, show branding, type of outro music, etc. This is where developing a good editing ear is important. So play around with it, get feedback, and keep working on your craft!

If you want a little more structure, check out our podcast script templates for ideas.

And now, without further ado… Here are the 10 tips for a great podcast outro!

How to record an efficient outro podcast

10 tips for ending a podcast episode

1. Thank your listeners 🤝

It may seem obvious, but it works very well! Before requesting feedback or teasing the next episode, thank your loyal listeners! 🥰

When you start by sincerely thanking them for their engagement and active listening, you show that you value them and at the same time you can start to make them feel like they are part of your community.

Note: If you use a podcast agency, you may want to thank them here too.


> Example thank-you wording: “If you’re hearing this message, you’ve listened to our new episode all the way to the end. And for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!”


2. Give a recap 👌

Regardless of your podcast’s type and format, whether it is long or short, your listeners have probably learned a lot of things from your content.

You can give listeners a summary of your episode in your outro, so they don’t miss any important information.

Akin to spoken bullet points, summarize in a few sentences the main lessons discussed by the episode’s guest or host. 🤓

By listing your episode’s main points, you are leaving your listener satisfied, feeling like they are taking away important things from your show.


> Example summary snippets: “To summarize in a few words what we learned today…” or “To wrap up, here are a few points to retain from this new episode…”


3. Encourage your audience to act with a CTA 

If your listeners hear your closing message, they’ve listened to your episode all the way to the end.

And if they listened to your entire episode, it is probably because they liked your audio content or the host’s personality and voice.

So, they’re likely to want to follow you on other channels to learn more about you.

Therefore, your episode outros are the perfect time to invite your audience to: visit your website, sign up for your program or newsletter, buy your book, follow you on social networks or even leave you a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 🚀

We recommend that you limit the number of CTAs (Call-to-Action) per episode, otherwise you may lose listeners.

If you have more than 3 CTAs, they may feel overly solicited and do nothing at all. A listener shouldn’t feel like your podcasting is making them work! Choose your CTAs intentionally based on your current priorities.

If your goal is to boost book sales, your message will be different than if you are aiming to increase your fan base on social media. 😁


> Example CTA: If your goal is to strengthen your personal brand: “Thank you for listening to this episode from start to finish! If you have any questions about the things we covered in the show or would like to follow my projects, please find me on Instagram and LinkedIn. I answer all messages, so don’t hesitate to reach out.”


Leave feedback on Apple Podcasts

4. Tease the next episode’s topic in your podcast outro

What better way to convince your listeners to tune in to your podcast again than by giving an audio preview of your next episode?

If you’re ahead of schedule and you already know your next topic, you can spur your audience to keep listening while giving them a peek at what’s going to be on the next episode.

To do so, there are 2 options: the first is to announce the next episode’s theme in 1-2 sentences, the second is to insert an audio extract from the next episode at the end of this episode. 😁


> Example teaser: “Next week we will talk about the importance of making your podcast visible everywhere. To discuss this topic, I’ll have the pleasure of hosting Maxime Piquette, CEO of Ausha and podcast marketing expert.”


5. Gather feedback from listeners

A common practice among podcasters is to use an episode’s outro to encourage their audience to leave them feedback on their podcast.

Almost systematically, the host of a show calls on his/her listeners to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or (brand-new!) on Spotify.

Reviews collected on listening platforms are crucial both for your show’s natural SEO and to convince potential listeners who aren’t familiar with your show to give it a listen. 📣


> Example feedback request: “We hope you enjoyed this first episode. If you did, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and share this episode with your friends!”


How to record a great podcast outro

6. Involve your listeners in co-creating your podcast 

Once again, with your episodes’ outro you’re addressing the cream-of-the-crop in your audience – the listeners who listened to your podcast until the very end. Therefore, these are your most engaged listeners. 🥰

Take advantage of your podcast outro to engage with them even more by asking them what they would like to hear in upcoming episodes. Do they have an idea for another topic or a suggestion for a guest to be interviewed? Are they curious about a certain topic and its effects on their everyday life?

By asking listeners to participate in your show’s development and voice their opinion, you are once again valuing their participation and, moreover, you are sure to make content that they will like! 💪

Another way to include listeners in your podcast’s creation is to ask for feedback and suggestions to improve your episodes. Ask what they liked or didn’t like about your latest audio content. 😁


> Example co-creation blurb: “Also, please don’t hesitate to tell us which topics you would like us to cover in future episodes. To get in touch, drop us a line in the comments section or send us a message on social media.”


7. Ask your listeners to support your podcast 

If your listeners liked your episode, they may be interested in supporting your show one way or another.

If you launched a crowdfunding campaign, ask them to pitch in as you bring the episode to a close. 💸

Make sure you give very easy instructions on where the listener can find the crowdfunding campaign website. A listener should not have to work hard to find it!

With Ausha, you can add custom buttons to your communication materials to help you encourage your audience to visit your crowdfunding campaign and leave a donation.


> Example support request: “If you enjoy this podcast and want to help it grow, head to our Patreon page and donate to the show in exchange for premium content.”


8. Choose your podcast’s outro music wisely

Like the intro music, it is important to select your outro music with care. You can use a recurring theme song or choose a different sound track each episode. You may even include some podcast sound effects, if you chose them wisely.

Either way, your music selection should match the tone of your podcast: dramatic, light-hearted… 🎵 🎶

If you use music found on the internet, make sure the license says it is free to use and don’t forget to credit the author if necessary.

Ausha provides you with an audio library of free podcast music that you can use to conclude your episodes. It can be found directly in the show manager, on the top-right.  💜

Free Music Library on Ausha

9. Hide an “Easter Egg” (or surprise) in your podcast outro

Nobody has mastered the Easter Egg better than the Marvel blockbusters. In almost every movie, hidden scenes are added in the middle or at the end of the credits.

Fans who know Marvel well will stick around until the very end to uncover the Easter Eggs. 🥚

This technique is also used in music. Some audio tracks are hidden and are only played when the album is finished, or after a silence of several seconds or even several minutes at the end of a song. 🤫

You can do the same thing with a podcast. At the very end of your episode, after you’ve thanked your listeners, you could include a few seconds of additional audio content.

A joke from one of your guests that you cut in the edit, bonus content, a promo code, etc. 😁

10. Here is a sample script for a full podcast outro:

“If you are hearing this message, you’ve listened to the entire episode and for that, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

We hope you enjoyed this new episode and if you did, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Please share this episode with others who may be interested in this topic!

Also, feel free to let us know what topics you’d like to see covered in future episodes. Get in touch in the comments or on Ausha’s social media networks.

See you next week for a new episode!”

Closing

People tend to remember things that just happened. It is called the recency effect. In podcasting world, this means that a listener can recall information from outros better than intros. 

That is why good audio and easy call-to-actions are so valuable in this slot. It is also why you want to be sure to keep your outro more on the short side than the long. If this segment is too long, people will start to forget what things were at the beginning of the outro. Even worse, they may start getting tired of your host’s voice!

On the other hand, good outros can boost your listener numbers and make people fall in love with your show! Just put in a little work and you will definitely be rewarded!

Now you know how to write a great podcast outro that spurs your audience to keep listening. Next, learn how to make an effective podcast intro in this article.

Currently writing your podcast? Find fresh inspiration in our article on writing your podcast’s script.

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by Emma
November 19, 2021

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