How to Write Epic Show Notes for Your Episode
If you’ve made a great podcast, then you’re going to want to write great show notes, too. Why? Well, for two main reasons:
Good show notes can bring in new listeners
Podcast show notes are an excellent place to cross-promote content, engaging your current listeners with even more of what you have to offer
Those are some pretty good reasons for giving this process your attention. Still, writing show notes can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before.
Rather than stressing, here are some tips on writing epic show notes so you can get the most bang for your buck.
✴ Summarize with SEO in mind
Tip number one is to summarize--not transcribe--your podcast episode. There are some podcasters out there who do provide full transcripts as their show notes, believing that will get them better results with search engines. If you give away all the details in the show notes, though, why would anyone click on the actual episode to listen?
Instead, write a summary of the episode, giving enough information to intrigue a listener but then tease out the details so they feel they have to listen to the episode to get the answers they’re seeking.
✴ Incorporate keywords
Like any online writing, you’re going to want to keep SEO in mind at all times. You should already know your focus keywords for your general podcast copy, but don’t be afraid to go super niche with your episode show notes. Each episode gives you an opportunity to target new, specific keywords you may not have focused on in your general copy.
Let’s say your podcast is about all things beauty. So your keywords for your podcast description will be broader (while still falling under your niche beauty topic), but your episode show notes can be super direct. Perhaps one episode your keyword phrase is “budget-friendly eyeliner” and another week it’s “luxury skincare.”
✴ Timecodes can entice listeners
If you’d prefer to find a balance between straight summary and some transcribing, you can also provide timecodes to help guide listeners to different portions of your discussion. A quick tip if you use this style: ask a question in the show notes to accompany the timecode stamp (such as, “How do you create a personalized skincare routine?”). This gives the listener a sense of what that segment is all about, and yet doesn’t give away the information they’ll find if they click play.
✴ Bullet points are helpful
Remember your audience generally isn’t sitting down to read paragraphs of show notes. As people, we like to skim. With podcast show notes, in particular, the quicker you can get your point across, the more likely you’ll be to engage with your listeners.
Use bullet points and lists to help streamline your show notes and highlight certain sections of your episode. Your audience will be thrilled they don’t have to sift through large paragraphs of prose.
✴ Link to all your references
Remember how we said you could use show notes to cross-promote your content? This is how you do it. If you mention another episode, reference a resource on your website, or bring up a product you’re affiliated with, these can all be linked in the show notes.
This makes it easy for your listeners to follow-up and click-through links you’d otherwise just be talking about. And you want to always make things as easy as possible for your audience, especially when it comes to them consuming more of your content. So make sure you link to everything mentioned throughout the episode.
✴ End with a call to action and a thank you
It may go against your instincts, but it’s important to ask your audience for more engagement. Whether that’s leaving a review, recommending the podcast to their friends, or simply listening to another episode, it’s better to ask than assume your audience will just do it. People need reminders.
So make sure you’ve also linked to where your listeners can subscribe, review, or interact with you on social media.
And then the most important thing of all: thank your listeners. Perhaps that seems like a no-brainer, but it’s crucial to always let your audience know how appreciative you are of them. You can’t do what you’re doing without their support.
✴ To re-cap
Show notes shouldn’t fill you with dread. They’re a great opportunity to connect with new listeners and to engage with current ones.
All you have to do is write a succinct summary, highlighting the key points of your content without giving away all the details. The best show notes should entice your listener so they feel they have no choice but to hit play right now and learn everything you have to offer.
Feeling like a marketing pro? Check out these other strategies for growing your podcast.
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