Do you use generics?

If you’re recording and editing your own podcast, you’ll be very aware of how time consuming a job it is.

One of the simplest ways to get a professional sounding show, and save some time in the process is to use generic material in every episode.

Think about the structure of your episodes. Are there parts that you record near enough the same every episode? In most cases, this will be the beginning of the intro, and the outro. But there might also be regular features to introduce, for example.

These generic items should not be long or rambling, but set the tone for the rest of the episode.

To demonstrate, a generic intro should include -

• a welcome

• the name of the podcast

• the hosts name

• how frequently the podcast should be expected

• and the podcast’s strapline

Welcome to the Example Podcast, with me, Emily Crosby.

A weekly podcast where we give you examples of all the techniques you can use to build a successful podcast.

Similarly, a generic outro should include -

• a thank you for listening

• your social media handles

• a call to action

• any credits for your production team

Thank you for listening to the Example Podcast. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram @emilycrosbymedia.
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please like and review it wherever you listen to podcasts, or share it on your social media with the hashtag #ExamplePodcast

This episode was written and presented by Emily Crosby, and edited by Emily Crosby Media.

If you record these elements once, in a high quality recording, you can use them, alongside your theme music and any beds, as your library of material from which to build your episode. Think of the generics as your jingles to be sprinkled throughout each episode, as in a radio show.

A podcast with a repeating format, like an interview show, could utilise this library even further by creating a template for your edit, with each generic element in place. Then all you need to do is edit your additional material, drop it into place, then master your edit and export.

Remember though that you don’t have to fix your generics in stone for all time. Once every so often, have a listen to the generics you are using and make sure that you’re still happy with them. Has your recording quality improved since you recorded them? Do you want to highlight a new social media channel or a hashtag for a campaign? Updating your generic item to suit your current production standards is key to keeping a good quality podcast, so I would suggest reviewing them every dozen episodes or so.