Show notes do three jobs. They tell a listener in ten seconds whether the episode is for them, they give search engines text to index, and they save the links and names that were only said out loud. Most shows write them badly or not at all, because writing them after a 60-minute recording is the part nobody wants to do.
This article gives you a structure that works for any show, a template to copy, and a short way to fill it in from the transcript instead of from memory.
The six parts of useful show notes
- A one-sentence hook. What the episode is about and who it is for. This is what shows in search results and in podcast apps, so keep it under 160 characters.
- A short summary. Three to five sentences. Name the guest, the main question and the answer the episode gives.
- Timestamped chapters. One line per topic with the time it starts. Listeners skip around, and chapters are the first thing they look for.
- Key takeaways. Three to five bullet points that stand alone, written so a reader gets value without listening.
- Links and resources. Every book, tool, person and site mentioned, each with its link. This is the part listeners ask about most, and the part hosts forget.
- Guest and host details. Names, one line about each, and where to follow them.
Add a call to action at the end, such as subscribing or replying with a question. One is enough.
Copy-paste template
[Episode title]
HOOK
One sentence: what this episode covers and who it helps.
SUMMARY
[Guest] explains [topic]. We talk about [question 1], [question 2] and
[question 3]. The main answer: [one sentence].
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
03:10 [Topic one]
14:45 [Topic two]
31:20 [Topic three]
52:05 Closing thoughts
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- [Takeaway one, a full sentence]
- [Takeaway two]
- [Takeaway three]
LINKS AND RESOURCES
- [Book or tool name]: [link]
- [Person or company]: [link]
GUEST
[Name], [role]. [Website or profile link]
If you liked this episode, [one clear action].A before-and-after example
Here is an invented episode of a show about small-business finance, first as many hosts write it, then with the structure above.
Before
This week we sat down with Ana to talk about money. We cover a lot of ground. Hope you enjoy it!
After
Why small shops should pay themselves a fixed salary
Ana Kovac, a bookkeeper for independent shops, explains why owners who pay themselves a fixed salary make clearer decisions than owners who draw whatever is left. For owners of shops with up to ten staff.
00:00 Intro · 02:40 The “whatever is left” problem · 11:15 How to set the number · 24:30 What to do in a bad month · 38:00 Questions from listeners
Key takeaways: set the salary from last year’s lowest quarter, not the average. Keep one month of salary in a separate account. Review the number twice a year.
Mentioned: a bookkeeping book, a spreadsheet template, Ana’s newsletter (each with a link).
The second version is longer, but it is the one a listener can decide on, a search engine can understand and a journalist can quote.
Fill it in from the transcript, not from memory
The fastest way to write show notes is to start from the text of the episode. With a transcript you can:
- find the chapter starts by scanning for topic changes and copying the timestamps
- pull quotes word for word instead of paraphrasing from memory
- list every link and resource that was mentioned, with the moment it came up
Podcast To Transcript produces a speaker-labelled, timestamped transcript from an Apple Podcasts or Spotify episode, a YouTube video with captions, or any page with audio, and the AI tools map to the template almost one to one: Micro Summary for the summary, Key Insights and Bullet Points for the takeaways, Notable Quotes for pull quotes, and References & Links Mentioned for the resource list. Some tools need the Pro plan; see the pricing page.
Read the draft before you publish it. AI tools make mistakes with names, numbers and links, so check each link and each spelling against the episode. Our guide to summarising a podcast explains what to check. If you make a show, the page for podcast creators lists what else the tool does for you.
Show notes checklist
- The hook is under 160 characters and says who the episode is for.
- Chapters start at the exact second the topic changes.
- Every resource that was said aloud has a link, and each link works.
- Guest names are spelled the way the guest spells them.
- The same structure is used for every episode, so listeners know where to look.
Frequently asked questions
How long should show notes be?
Long enough for a listener to decide and for a search engine to understand the episode: usually 150 to 400 words, plus chapters and links. Longer shows with many topics can go further.
Should show notes include the full transcript?
Publish the transcript as its own section or page and link to it. Show notes are the summary, and the transcript is the record.
Do show notes help SEO?
Yes. They give each episode page text, a clear title and links, so it can appear in search for the topics you cover. Use the real names and terms listeners would search for.
What is the best title for an episode?
A title that names the topic or the guest and the benefit, in under 60 characters so it is not cut off in search results.
Can AI write my show notes?
AI can produce a good first draft from the transcript. You still need to check names, numbers and links, and to add what only you know. Our guide to transcribing a podcast shows how to start.
