how to podcast.
Start learning

A little help finding your next step

What are you working on?

A few good places to start.

Start hereWhat is a podcast?A plain-English definition: episodes, the RSS feed, subscriptions and how a podcast differs from a video or a radio show.Start hereA short history of podcastingFrom RSS enclosures in 2000 to iTunes support in 2005, the long quiet years, Serial and the video-podcast era.Start hereSeven reasons to create your own podcastWhy people start shows: expertise, community, a voice, teaching, business, creative practice and long-lived archives.PlanHow to podcast: the four PsThe whole process in four stages: plan, produce, publish and promote. Start here if you want the map before the steps.

Press Esc to close.

Publish

GUIDE 16 OF 17

Writing podcast show notes

A show-notes template that helps listeners and search engines: summary, timestamps, links, credits and a transcript.

Updated

Show notes are the text that goes with each episode: the description listeners read in their podcast app and on your website. Good show notes help people decide to press play, find what was mentioned, and find the episode in search.

A show-notes template

  1. A one- or two-sentence summary that says what listeners will learn or hear. Apps often show only the first line or two, so lead with the hook, not “Welcome to episode 12”.
  2. Three to five key points or questions covered, as a short list.
  3. Timestamps for the main sections, such as (04:12) Choosing a microphone. Many apps turn these into tappable links.
  4. Links and resources mentioned in the episode: books, tools, articles, the guest’s website.
  5. Guest bio: one or two sentences and where to find them.
  6. Call to action: one thing you want listeners to do, such as follow, review, reply or join a newsletter.
  7. Credits: music, with the licence it is used under; editor; producer.
  8. Transcript, or a link to it.

Example

How to sound good recording at home (ep. 12)

Your room matters more than your microphone. Sam, a radio engineer, explains how to find the quietest spot at home and fix echo with things you already own.

(00:45) Why closets make great studios · (06:30) The clap test · (14:10) Dynamic vs condenser mics · (22:05) Listener questions

Mentioned: the two-minute room test, Audacity’s Noise Reduction effect. Music: “Opening Theme” used under a Creative Commons Attribution licence.

Writing tips

  • Write for people first. Use the words your listeners would search for, naturally, in the title and first sentence.
  • Keep the app version short and put long resources on your website’s episode page.
  • Use labels while editing (see Audacity lesson 2) to collect timestamps as you go.
  • Be consistent. The same structure every episode makes notes faster to write and easier to scan.
  • Check every link before publishing, and avoid shortened links that hide where they go.

Transcripts

A transcript makes your show accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people, lets anyone skim or quote it, and gives search engines the full text. Automatic transcription is good enough to start from; read it through and correct names and jargon. Many hosts can attach transcripts to episodes so apps can show them.

Your episode is live. Now help people find it: how to grow and monetize a podcast.