Congrats on starting your first (or maybe even seventh) podcast! Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned veteran, your show could benefit from the use of a trailer episode. Rather than scrambling at the last minute to ensure your show is all set up and ready, take advantage of this often under-used feature to create a seamless show launch!
What’s a Trailer Episode?
A trailer episode is a short episode, typically only a few minutes long, that’s published as the ‘first’ episode of your show. They usually introduce the hosts, the show, and the overall goal of the podcast. The trailer episode serves as both a technical test and a way to build an audience before the official launch.
On RedCircle, you can easily mark an episode as a trailer by using the Episode Type drop-down box:
Easy as one-two-three!
Technical Testing
A major reason to upload a trailer episode before your show, or even new season of your show, launches is to test that everything is set up correctly. Not only can you test the sound quality of your content, it also helps you to ensure that all of the following are up to par as well:
- Any added dynamic audio
- New cover art
- Updated show descriptions
The stakes are lower for trailer episodes which allows you to freely test without worry! You can take care of any issues that may arise without fearing how they might have affected your audience or even advertisers.
Additionally, many listening platforms, like Apple Podcasts, require at least one (1) published episode before they approve new shows. Having a trailer episode allows you to set up your show properly on the dozens of listening platforms and gives you plenty of time to work out any wrinkles.
Building Hype
Posting a trailer episode doesn’t just help to prevent technical troubles on launch day, it can also help to build an audience before your show even starts! A well-crafted trailer episode can build anticipation and draw in potential listeners.
You can post the trailer episode, as well as the links to your show on the various listening platforms, on your social channels. Making it easier for potential listeners to discover your show early on. If you have an accompanying website or newsletter, you can add the trailer episode there to help give your audience a taste of what to expect from your show. The more you talk about your show before it launches, the more likely you’ll have an engaged audience on launch day.
There are numerous benefits to posting a trailer episode before the launch of a new podcast or a new season of your show. From proactively navigating technical trouble to creating an engaged audience from day 1, there’s no downside to creating a trailer episode!
Want to take your podcast to the next level? Check out how RedCircle can help you get there!
