Should Your Podcast Trailer Explain or Entertain? With Rachel Corbett of Nova Entertainment

Would listeners rather hear a podcast’s hosts introduce their own show or have someone else sell it for them? Is a fast-moving sizzle reel more effective than a host speaking directly from the heart?Arielle talks with Rachel Corbett, Network Director of Nova Podcasts at Nova Entertainment. Rachel contributed trailers from two Nova shows to the Coleman Insights podcast trailer study: High Scrollers and Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg.Together, Arielle and Rachel play and compare four trailers:A host-read trailer versus a third-person voiceover for High ScrollersA sizzle reel versus a personal explainer for Better Than YesterdayThey discuss:Why listeners preferred the professional voiceover for High ScrollersHow a third-person narrator can make it easier to incorporate clipsWhy being a great host doesn’t necessarily make someone great at selling their own showHow Osher Günsberg’s personal explainer felt like the right choiceHow Rachel’s team is applying the findings to future Nova trailersThe underrated skill of selecting clips that work outside their original contextWhy producers should save strong promotional moments as they editHow independent podcasters can conduct their own small-scale A/B testsThe lesson: Best practices are useful, but the right trailer depends on the show, the host, and the relationship you want to build with the listener.Resources:Download the full podcast trailer studyListen to High ScrollersListen to Better Than Yesterday with Osher GünsbergTrailer Park is hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt. Editing and post-production by AdamFlaherty of Pointmade.studio.Happy trails!