How To Write A Good Podcast Description
Similar to the synopsis you find on the back of a book, or the plot blurb of a film or TV show, podcast descriptions are well-summarized pieces of information that act to encourage listeners to start tuning in to your podcast show, rather than simply skipping to the next one available.
In other words, a good show description is a crucial component in sparking interest, ultimately building your show’s audience, and therefore should be high on the list of your podcast priorities!
But, in the world of sales copy, there is always a balancing act involved — although you want to spark the interest of potential listeners, you don’t want to overload them with too much context.
If you’re already shaking your head in confusion, don’t fret, because we’ll be breaking it all down in this blog post!
Let’s first delve a little bit further into the basics —
WHAT exactly is a podcast description and WHY does it matter?
A podcast description is a written summary of what listeners can expect from the show, and should include main points and highlights, such as the name of your podcast host, details about your target audience, etc.
Ask yourself: What are you bringing to the table that you might have in common with a potential listener who might want to follow along?
Often mistaken for show notes, your podcast description is used to tell your audience about your podcast as a whole, and NOT just a single episode.
Yes, people are quite picky, especially in regards to what they do in their free time, so a thoughtful podcast summary is KEY in convincing new listeners that your show will be worth their time and commitment.
If you’re wanting to attract new podcast listeners, grow your audience and develop a credible reputation, podcast descriptions matter!
HOW do you write a podcast description?
The most important thing to keep in mind when writing your podcast description is that it acts as your show’s very first impression, and will most likely be displayed across your marketing platforms, whether that be social media or website.
Keep it clear and concise, but don’t forget to talk about the show as a whole, what exactly you will be covering, and of course, the names of your hosts. Cover the basics, but also be detailed!
Truthfully, there are no strict length guidelines, however we recommend a blurb between 600 and 900 characters, or 120-170 words to avoid the inevitable ‘cut-off’ by certain podcast apps/platforms.
Insider’s Tip: Need a bit of inspiration or podcast description examples? Write out a list of your favourite podcasts, and then have a look at their descriptions — what do you like/dislike about them?
Treat it as a learning process for your own show’s summary!
And WHERE do you write it?
Your podcast’s description essentially “lives” within your podcast hosting platform, your hosting site is where your podcast description resides permanently. Buzzsprout is our top choice for a hosting platform!
When you first begin to upload new episodes to your podcast hosting platform, you will be asked to submit a description.
Your hosting platform will then add that description into your RSS feed so that podcast directories and apps are able to use it.
If you need to change your description at any time, the media host will automatically update these edits everywhere your podcast appears. Easy peasy!
Let’s talk optimization!
Optimizing your podcast description is essential as it gives you the chance to include more keywords that help people discover your show better, increasing visibility and engagement.
Insider’s Tip: When it comes to keywords, plan accordingly. Choose 2-4 words that you believe will allow your show to rank well in the relevant search results, instead of over-stuffing, and ultimately harming your ranking on certain platforms.
Again, it’s all about keeping your description clear and concise for best results!
On various platforms, such as apple podcasts, there is a character and word limit that hides any extra text behind a Read More button, which means you will want the central chunk of your content to be conveyed above the fold, and without being cut off by this button.
Here are a few questions to ask when writing a podcast description —
Who is your target audience? / Who are you speaking to?
Who are YOU? / Are you an expert within your industry? / What sort of connections do you have for podcast guests?
What topics will you be focusing on? / What will you be offering your audience? / What can they expect?
How do you want this podcast to make people FEEL? For example, are they coming to learn something new, or have fun and ‘hang out’? Or perhaps both?
What is going to keep people listening and coming back every week?
Is there a question that YOU would add to our list above?
Final Insider’s Tip:
When crafting your podcast description, remember the value of consistency. Add in what day of the week podcast episodes will go live, so that listeners know when to expect new content, as well as have something to look forward to! This ultimately builds trust and connection with your audience :)
We hope this blog post has been helpful, and acts as a good starting point for your journey into podcast description writing.
As always, If you have any questions, please reach out to us at The Social Snippet!
Happy writing, friends.