How To Structure Your Podcast

Every podcast is made of segments, those segments are essentially the framework or outline of your episodes. Not every episode will have exactly the same framework each time, but there are few key segments that you should absolutely include in every episode. It is highly important to know and remember who is listening to your podcast. By understanding who your listeners are, you will be able to create the best experience for them. The best structures are typically the ones that stay consistent from one episode to another, so make sure to always include at least an intro, the main content and an outro. This will help you ground your listeners and let them know what to expect next from each episode.

Here are some simple steps to help you structure your podcast:

Step 1: Choose your podcast segments.

There are three basic podcast segments every episode should have, no matter what: An intro, the main content, and an outro. You might choose to include different segments based on the format of your podcast but generally the structure of your podcast should include these three key elements. We will explain a bit more about each segment below.

• Intro: The intro will tell new listeners who you are, and why they should listen to your podcast. But most importantly, your podcast intro script needs to tell your listeners that your podcast is intended for them.
• Main Content: The primary content of your episode could be a guest interview, a monologue podcast format, or even an audio drama. This content is typically the longest portion of your podcast.

• Outro: Your podcast outro is very important, so don’t skip this segment! In your outro, you should direct your listeners to a specific call to action, such as “rate, review and subscribe to this podcast” or “follow me on Instagram”. This segment is key to building your audience beyond your podcast.

Step 2: Tell a story.

The best content always tells a story. Even if you’re creating content like an episode for ultimate marketing, there’s an opportunity to weave storytelling into your episodes. In sketch comedy a narrative device called heightening is used, basically, you take an everyday situation like “how to record your first podcast” and add a tilt or twist to make it interesting. This is also called the “hook” which you may have heard of in regards to how to title your content. In the main content of your episode, think of the structure starting with the “hook” or “tilt” followed by three heightening beats, a climax, and a resolution.

Step 3:  Always close with a call to action.

The easiest and perhaps the most important of all these steps is to make sure every episode has a specific call to action for your listeners. This essential piece is what will turn listeners into loyal fans. A call to action is applicable to every podcaster no matter what, whether it’s asking listeners to book a call with you to learn about a product or service you’re offering, or if it’s asking your listeners to sign up to become loyal subscribers.  No matter what, you want your listeners to take the next step with you, even if it is just to rate, review and subscribe to your podcast.