You’re ready to publish your first podcast episode. You’ve mixed and mastered something you’re proud of, and you’re eager to share it with the world. But before you hit that publish button, there’s one crucial step you might be overlooking: writing your podcast show notes.
You might be thinking, “I’ll just jot down a quick blurb and be done with it.” However, if you’re not taking the time to optimize your podcast show notes, you could be doing yourself and your listeners a major disservice.
Why Are Podcast Show Notes Important?
Podcast show notes, sometimes referred to as episode descriptions, serve as the accompanying text for each episode. They give listeners an overview of what they’re about to hear. Still, they are more than just a summary. Effective podcast show notes may include guest bios, cast and crew details, content warnings, links to sources, and any other information that helps with the listener experience. Many podcasters also include a full transcript, which falls under best practices for SEO for Podcasts (more on that later).
Beyond informing listeners, podcast show notes help your show to get discovered online. They allow search engines to better categorize your podcast and improve its visibility. They also help you build trust with your audience by offering transparency about your content and sources. Your auditory brand identity is crucial, and show notes extend your branding further by reinforcing your message.
Podcast Show notes: Why you should be using them
4 Tips for Writing Effective Podcast Show Notes
Write in Your Brand Voice
Imagine you host a ‘90s pop culture podcast. If your podcast show notes lack any references to the ‘90s and are written in a formal, academic tone, potential listeners might assume your podcast is dry and serious, completely misrepresenting what your actual content is about.
In contrast, if you run a news podcast but your show notes are filled with slang and exclamation points, listeners might feel misled by the tone of voice they hear when they tune in.
Your podcast show notes should align with your brand identity. For example, that ‘90s pop culture podcast might have an engaging description like:
“Now this is a story all about how ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ came to be! We’re looking at very special episodes with some of the cast and crew from the original show, talking about the dramatic reboot, and getting fashion tips from Hilary Banks herself.”
This kind of approach sets expectations and helps attract the right audience.
Know Your Character Limits
Many podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, have a 4,000 character limit for show notes. However, platforms like Spotify cut off descriptions at around 120 characters, requiring users to click see more to read the rest.
To maximise engagement, make sure that your opening sentence is compelling and contains all the essential information before the cut-off. Treat it as you would write a meta description for your website or article.
Add Timestamps
If your episodes run long, timestamps are great. They allow listeners to jump to specific sections, such as a particular guest interview or a key discussion point. This is a key element to add to your description that improves the user experience and increases listener retention.
For example:
00:00 – Introduction
05:15 – Interview with [Guest Name]
22:30 – Q&A session
Include a Call to Action
Podcast show notes are a great way to build your audience beyond the podcast itself. But for that to happen, you need clear calls to action. Want to grow your YouTube channel? Direct listeners to exclusive video content. Hosting a live event? Provide a link to purchase tickets.
Instead of a vague “Follow us on YouTube,” try: “Watch exclusive extended interviews on our YouTube channel.”
3 Tips for Boosting Your Podcast Show Notes SEO
Use Keywords Effectively
To improve search engine visibility, include a primary, secondary, and tertiary keyword in your podcast show notes. The primary keyword is the main focus of your content, while secondary keywords offer broader context. Tertiary keywords, or LSI keywords, are related terms that help reinforce the main topic. To find these, search your primary keyword on Google and check the “People also search for” section. This strategy ensures search engines categorize your content accurately and reach the right audience.
For example:
Primary keyword: news podcast for Gen Z
Secondary keyword: Gen Z podcast
Tertiary keyword: Gen Z podcasts on Spotify, best news podcasts for Gen Z, top news podcasts for Gen Z
A great way to find tertiary keywords is by searching for your primary keyword on Google and checking the “People also ask” section. For further tips on optimising your podcast for search engines, be sure to explore Podcast SEO Tips.
Sprinkle Keywords Naturally
More keywords don’t necessarily mean that you’ll rank better. In fact, too many keywords can make you look like you’re “keyword stuffing,” which is a no-no for engines. Google and other search engines penalize pages that have too many keywords. Search engines penalise keyword stuffing, so keep your keyword density around 2%. Tools like MeasureSEO can help you track keyword usage.
Instead of forcing keywords, integrate them naturally:
❌ “Podcast show notes are important for podcast SEO. If you want good podcast SEO, you must optimize podcast show notes.”
✅ “Well-crafted podcast show notes help with discoverability. Optimizing them for podcast SEO makes sure that your show reaches the right audience.”
Include a Transcript
Adding full transcripts to your podcast show notes benefits both search engines and listeners. Transcripts make your content more accessible to those with hearing impairments and improve your chances of appearing in search results.
Transcripts also align with voice search trends. People search using natural language, and having a transcript increases the likelihood that your podcast matches their search query.
3 Tips for Citing Your Sources
Use Hyperlinks Where Possible
Some podcast platforms allow hyperlinks in show notes. If yours does, take advantage by linking to guest credentials, cited studies, or other relevant content. This builds credibility and allows listeners to dive deeper into topics of interest.
Use Written Links When Hyperlinks Aren’t Allowed
Not all platforms support hyperlinks. If that’s the case, include the full URL where necessary or create a dedicated page listing all sources.
For example:
“Read more about the study here: www.example.com/study-link”
If you cite multiple sources, consider creating a reference page on your website and linking to it in your show notes.
Offer Additional Resources
Go beyond your own sources by linking to books, documentaries, or expert articles related to your episode’s topic. If your episode covers mental health, for example, you could link to research papers, helplines and educational resources.
Optimizing Your Podcast Show Notes in 2025
Well thought out podcast show notes are more than just a courtesy to your listeners—they’re a powerful tool for your show’s discoverability, branding, and engagement. They improve SEO and accessibility whilst helping you connect with your audience.
If you’re unsure where to begin, start by identifying the right keywords to improve your podcast’s visibility. Then, start creating informative show notes that keep listeners engaged.
For a comprehensive breakdown of how to write Podcast Show Notes, check out the full guide. If you're wondering why people aren’t listening to your podcast, consider reviewing Why People Aren’t Listening to Your Podcast, where in section 5 we go on about how podcast show notes can impact your audience’s engagement.
