Podcast Sponsor Read Checklist: How to Review an Ad Script Before Recording

Seven Checks Before You Record A sponsor read should be clear, authentic, and documented. The safest process begins before recording. First, identify the ad as sponsored material. Confirm that the sponsor and episode owner approved the final wording. Verify every factual claim, offer, deadline, and price. Make sure the language will be understandable to your audience. The read should sound like a real host speaking. Identify every script, take, and final audio file. Complete another review after assembly but before publication. If any check remains unresolved, pause recording or publication. This workflow does not replace legal advice. Broadcast radio and television may also be subject to Federal Communications Commission sponsorship-identification rules. Build a Campaign Brief Use one working document or project folder for each campaign. Name it with the sponsor and episode so files remain unambiguous. Within that folder, separate working, approved, and published material. Create a campaign brief before approving copy. Record the sponsor name, product, objective, and target audience. Add host instructions, required talking points, and prohibited claims. Include offer details, expiry date, URL, or promo code. Note required disclosure wording and the final approval deadline. Also record the per-read fee or agreed compensation terms. The brief becomes the reference for later decisions. Flag any important missing detail before reviewing the script. Control Script Versions and Approvals Give each script draft a date and revision number. Do not overwrite approved copy without preserving the earlier version. A shared document can work if its comment or version history is used. Avoid exchanging files with names such as final. Record which version was approved. Note who approved it for the sponsor and for the show. Capture the approval date, time, conditions, and change deadline. Approval must cover the entire read. That includes the offer code, URL, pronunciation notes, and disclosure. If only host delivery varies, confirm that the sponsor permits a normal performance of the approved copy. Review Claims, Offers, and Disclosure Review the script in layers, beginning with accuracy and evidence. Check performance figures, prices, discounts, eligibility, availability, and comparisons. Also examine free, unlimited, best, health, financial, and superlative claims. Ask the sponsor for supporting evidence and record where it is stored. Request a precise replacement when a claim is ambiguous. Next, check the promo code, URL, expiry date, time zone, and eligibility rules. Confirm purchase requirements, shipping limits, and customer exclusions. Use a clear spoken disclosure before the sales message. For independently produced podcasts, the segment should at least make clear that it is paid or sponsored. Check Audience Fit and Delivery Read the copy aloud to one listener, not as a sales page. Ask whether a first-time listener understands the offer. Check product pronunciation, acronyms, jargon, credibility, and host comfort. Rewrite each claim as a plain sentence during the review. If the rewrite becomes vague, seek a clearer fact instead of more promotional adjectives. Ask the sponsor for talking points as well as finished copy. The brief should explain what must, can, and cannot be said. Mark pronunciation, emphasis, and required phrases in the script. Do not add personal claims or endorsements the host has not verified. Even genuine host experience should pass the same accuracy check as sponsor-supplied claims. Record, Assemble, Track, and Publish Before recording, confirm the approved script file. If the sponsor changes a word or offer detail, pause and create a new version. After written acceptance, record from that version. Label takes clearly and keep earlier takes as fallbacks. Save the final approved audio separately from working files. Then listen to the ad within the assembled episode. Check the disclosure, qualifications, sponsor name, code, URL, expiry, and tone. Confirm that episode notes and transcript agree with the audio. Track the episode, sponsor, script version, approvers, filename, placement, expiry, status, and published URL in a manifest. Answer the pre-publish questions in writing. If any answer is no, hold the episode or assign an owner and deadline. The original article provides the complete checklist and related production workflows.