Host-read ads work when they sound like you. This template gives you a structure for each slot length, a sheet for everything the sponsor sends, and a must-say and never-say table so you hit the brief without reading it like a robot.
What you get
Host-read structures for a 15 to 30 second pre-roll, a 60 second mid-roll, and a post-roll
A sponsor fields sheet for talking points, promo code, URL, offer, and disclosure line
A must-say and never-say table plus prompts for your own experience with the product
A pre-recording checklist, as an editable CSV and a branded PDF
How to use this template
1
Fill the sponsor sheet first. Copy every detail from the sponsor's brief into the fields sheet. Check the promo code and URL spelling against the brief before you write a word.
2
Write from the structure. Pick the slot length and fill in each line of its structure. Put the promo code and URL in the last 10 seconds so listeners hear them right before they act.
3
Add your own experience. Answer the personal prompts and work one real detail into the read. If you haven't used the product, don't claim you have.
4
Get approval, then record. Send the draft to the sponsor if the contract asks for approval, then run the checklist and record two takes.
What's inside
Here's a preview. Unlock the free download to get all 5 sections (4 more below).
Host-read ad structures
Each slot follows the same order: disclosure, problem, product, your experience, offer, and call to action. Longer slots get more room for the experience line. Times are approximate.
Slot
Length
Structure (line by line)
Example
Pre-roll
15 to 30 sec
1. Disclosure and sponsor name 2. One-line what it does 3. Offer + code + URL
This episode is sponsored by Acme Mics. They make USB mics that sound clean without a mixer. Get 15% off at acme.com/show with code SHOW.
Mid-roll
About 60 sec
1. Disclosure 2. Problem the listener has 3. Product as the fix 4. Your experience 5. Offer 6. Code + URL, said twice
Today's episode is sponsored by Acme Mics. If your audio sounds like a bathroom... I switched to the Acme USB last spring and... Go to acme.com/show, code SHOW.
Sponsors buy access to an audience, not a download number. This pitch template helps you frame your listeners, package ad slots, and price with CPM so you sound like a media business, not a hobbyist asking for money.
A podcast media kit is the document a sponsor forwards to their team. It needs audio-specific numbers: downloads per episode over a set window, where those numbers come from, and ad formats priced on CPM. This template lays all of that out on one or two pages.
Most creator disputes come from vague agreements. This checklist walks every clause that should be nailed down before you sign — scope, usage rights, exclusivity, payment, and approvals — so you avoid scope creep and unpaid work.
Start with a clear disclosure and the sponsor's name, name a problem your listener has, present the product as the fix, add one true detail from your own use, then give the offer, promo code, and URL. Say the code and URL near the end, and twice in a 60-second read.
How long is a podcast ad read?
+
Pre-roll and post-roll spots usually run 15 to 30 seconds. Mid-roll spots are usually around 60 seconds, sometimes longer for a host-read integration. Your contract should state the exact length.
Do podcast ads need a disclosure?
+
Yes. In the US, the FTC's endorsement rules apply to podcasts, so listeners need to know when content is paid. A plain line such as "This episode is sponsored by" at the start of the read is the common approach. Check the rules where you and your listeners are based.
