Podcast Notes: Template & Examples
If you've ever listened to a podcast, you've probably heard the host say something along the lines of...
"You can find more information on that in the show notes."
But what exactly are podcast notes? And how do you write them?
Good thing you've got us. Those are two of the big questions we're covering today.
What are Podcast Notes?
Podcast notes (also known as show notes or podcast show notes) are a summary of a podcast episode. They outline the episode's main talking points, introduce the guest, and link to any resources mentioned.
Podcast notes accompany every podcast episode. These summaries help listeners decide whether or not they want to listen. They also offer more information to access after the episode if listeners want to learn more.
Why Do Show Notes Matter?
There are several purposes of podcast notes that make them worth paying attention to.
- They can entice people to listen to the episode.
- They can feed your podcast's SEO.
- They can cause a listener to take more action.
Enticing Listeners
Believe it or not, some people read these things. Show notes are especially important when someone is considering whether or not to listen to an episode. As a podcaster, you obviously want to intrigue a person enough so they hit Play.
[READ: Just starting out in the B2B podcasting world? Learn everything you need to know in this ultimate guide.]
Opening your podcast notes with a hook is definitely a best practice. Oftentimes, the first line of the show notes is displayed right underneath the episode's title. So, consider them just as important as the title.
Feed Your SEO
You can find more about podcast SEO in this post. When it comes to show notes, there's quite a bit of room for optimization.
If someone clicks Read More, they'll be able to see an episode's entire description, like this. ☝
If you optimize your podcast notes for search engines, your podcast can pop up as a result for specific search queries. For example, the show notes above might help this episode rank in Google for "podcast SEO." And, since Google has gotten more podcast friendly, your optimized episode has a better chance of gaining organic search traffic.
Calls to Action
Your podcast notes are an additional opportunity to call listeners to take an action.
That action could be simply to subscribe to your show. Or, it could be to subscribe to something else, like your newsletter. Maybe it calls them to download a report or a different content offering.
The CTA in your show notes could be a number of things. Just make sure not to squander the opportunity. Because, if people listen to the episode and are interested enough to look back at the show notes, chances are they'd be willing to take that action.
Podcast Notes vs. Description
A podcast's notes and its description commonly get mixed up. They're very different things, though.
Podcast Notes: Podcast notes are descriptions of every individual episode. They summarize what was talked about, who the guest was, and any additional resources that were mentioned. Each episode needs its own set of show notes.
Podcast Description: The podcast description sums up the entire show It outlines the show's purpose, common topics discussed, and other things listeners can expect. Typically, a podcast description includes the host's name and publishing frequency.
Where Do Podcast Show Notes Show Up?
Podcast show notes appear underneath each episode title. In any podcast directory -- aka, playing app -- there's room for show notes. That's why it's important to make use of the space.
In any of the major podcast playing apps, podcast notes are going to display something like this:
How to Write Podcast Show Notes (w/ Examples)
As you write your podcast show notes, there are six things to keep in mind:
- Keep it under 700 characters (about 105 words).
- Start with a hook.
- Introduce the guest.
- Give a short but intriguing summary.
- Include additional resources mentioned.
- End with a call to action.
How Long Should Podcast Notes Be?
Good podcast show notes are no longer than 700 characters or about 105 words. The more you can squeeze into the least amount of words, the better.
Make sure that the show notes are long enough that it looks like you put some effort into them. At the same time, don't overwhelm the listener/reader with every little detail of the episode. Keep it high level.
Start w/ a Hook
Any writing class is going to teach you to start your piece off with a hook. Podcast show notes are no different. It's like a little story about the episode.
[READ: Want copywriting tips from a real copywriter? Get 10 of them here.]
Many times, it's only the first sentence that shows up before the show notes are truncated in podcast player apps. Make it count. Use a gripping quote or anecdote from the guest. Start it off with an amusing one-liner or a thoughtful question.
Entice the user to tap on Read More or -- better yet -- Play.
Example: One serendipitous relationship led him to start a company & change his life forever.
Introduce the Guest
Obviously, this is only necessary if you have a guest. If it's a solo episode, skip to the next part.
Don't keep the reader waiting too long before you introduce the guest. Their introduction should come soon after the hook.
Include the guest's name, job title, and any recent achievements they may have, like publishing a book or starting a podcast.
Example: James Carbary, Sweet Fish founder & author of Content-Based Networking, is on the show today.
Give a Short Summary
Next, give a short but intriguing summary of the episode.
Highlight the main talking points and any interesting statistics that may have come up. Let the reader know what they can look forward to hearing about. Pick out any actionable advice that you know your audience will be interested in learning.
Also, try to naturally squeeze in key phrases that your ideal listener may be searching for. In the example below, "how to start a podcast" and "how to build a network" are potential targeted keywords.
Example: James shares his unorthodox road to entrepreneurialism & how anybody can engineer life-changing relationships. He also shares how to start a podcast, how to use your podcast to meet anybody, & how to build a network of ideal customers in 6 months.
Include Resources
If you or your guest mentioned any additional resources during the episode, make sure to include those in the show notes. You'll also want to include contact information for the guest, whether it be an email address or social media handle.
Most of the time hyperlinks won't show up in major podcast directories. So, make sure to include full URLs for any resources.
Example: Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Content-Based-Networking-Instantly-Connect-Anyone/dp/1544503962
Connect w/ James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescarbary/
End w/ a CTA
Lastly, end on a call to action. If the listener enjoyed the episode, they may be willing to take further action.
Your CTA could be to subscribe to the show, download a content offer, or anything else you think listeners would be interested in. Maybe it's to subscribe to your newsletter or YouTube channel.
Whatever you choose to call out, make it just one CTA. Too many can cause your listener to take no action at all.
Example: For more B2B podcasting tips, subscribe to B2B Growth on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Podcast Notes Template
Now that you know everything that you should include in your podcast show notes, let's put it all together. Use this template to get it right every time:
Start with a Hook: Begin your podcast notes with a gripping quote, anecdote, or question.
One serendipitous relationship led him to start a company & change his life forever.
Introduce the Guest: Include the guest's name, job title, and any recent accomplishments.
James Carbary, Sweet Fish founder & author of Content-Based Networking, is on the show today.
Give a Short Summary: Include main talking points and key phrases that will appeal to your ideal listener.
James shares his unorthodox road to entrepreneurialism & how anybody can engineer life-changing relationships. He also shares how to start a podcast, how to use your podcast to meet anybody, & how to build a network of ideal customers in 6 months.
Include Additional Resources: Feature links to any resources that were mentioned as well as the guest's contact info.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Content-Based-Networking-Instantly-Connect-Anyone-ebook/dp/B082VWVQRY
Connect w/ James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescarbary/
End with a CTA: Include one call to action at the end of your show notes.
For more B2B podcasting tips, subscribe to B2B Growth on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Put it all together for show notes under 700 characters:
One serendipitous relationship led him to start a company & change his life forever.
James Carbary, Sweet Fish founder & author of Content-Based Networking, is on the show today. James shares his unorthodox road to entrepreneurialism & how anybody can engineer life-changing relationships. He also shares how to start a podcast, how to use your podcast to meet anybody, & how to build a network of ideal customers in 6 months.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Content-Based-Networking-Instantly-Connect-Anyone-ebook/dp/B082VWVQRY
Connect w/ James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescarbary/
For more B2B podcasting tips, subscribe to B2B Growth on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Be a Show Notes Pro
You've got the examples and you've got the template -- time to make your own podcast show notes. Just remember a couple of things:
- Don't miss out on SEO opportunities.
- Keep it under 700 characters.
- Always include a CTA.
Considering outsourcing your podcast production to an agency? Learn about the 7 services your podcast production agency should be offering.