How You Use The Template Below
The template below can be used for the episode description/show notes on all listening apps – Apple, Spotify, etc. AND it can be expanded into full SEO show notes that appear exclusively on your website. The key here is that full SEO show notes would likely include your full transcript so you can meet that SEO word length requirement. For Kajabi users, your episode description and full SEO show notes appear in the same place because your website IS your hosting, you just have to decide how long you want this information to be.
Show Notes Template for Hosting
Below is a template for show notes across all podcast apps. You’ll add this to hosting along with your MP3 audio file and maybe an episode graphic. Addressing each point might be a sentence or two. I wouldn’t make this longer than 500 words.
Call Out Your Target Audience
In this section you will call out your target audience. What struggle are they experiencing that this episode addresses.
Validate Their Experience
Share are little about how you or your guest have been in their shoes.
Tease The Solution
Share how you or your guest knows what it takes to get to the other side and maybe even talk about how you’ll share what held you back.
Three Big Reasons The Need To Listen
This is easy to digest bullet points.
Share The Transformation
Share your final thoughts on the transformation they’ll experience once they listen.
Key Thoughts or Chapters
Give time stamps with key areas where listeners should tune in. When you add a list of time stamps, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple read these and offer clickable sections for listeners to skip to. Keep titles and descriptions for these short so the title is not cut off on platforms like YouTube. The key is not to give away what is talked about at that time stamp. It’s “Explore why you need to XYZ” versus sharing exactly what is shared.
Example:
[05:20] Is It You or Company Culture? The keys to understanding if you are the problem or if the culture you work in is toxic?
Guest Bio
Add your guest’s bio and maybe links to social media.
Host Bio
Add your bio and maybe links to social media.
Next Steps or Free Download
Offer next steps that are either free resources, actions they can take, or promote a related product or service.
Details To ADD To Create SEO Show Notes For Your Website
Below are EXTRA things you can add to your show notes when adding your episode to your website. The items below, plus the template above, will help you meet SEO requirements. SEO wants your post to be around 1,700 to 2,400 words. You’ll easily meet that by adding a transcript.
Embed Player
When adding your show notes to your website, the HTML embed code should be at the top of your episode post before your show notes. You’ll pull the HTML code from Spotify or your hosting for anyone posting on WordPress.
If you use Kajabi, this happens automatically.
Key Thoughts or Chapters
Give time stamps with key areas where listeners should tune in. When you add a list of time stamps, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple read these and offer clickable sections for listeners to skip to. Keep titles and descriptions for these short so the title is not cut off on platforms like YouTube. The key is not to give away what is talked about at that time stamp. It’s “Explore why you need to XYZ” versus sharing exactly what is shared.
Example:
[05:20] Is It You or Company Culture? The keys to understanding if you are the problem or if the culture you work in is toxic?
Related Episodes or Blog Posts
Link to additional material your listener might want.
The Transcript
Add the transcript to the episodes ON your website. Not in hosting (the platform that distributes your MP3 to all podcast apps). Posting the full, cleaned-up transcript is an EASY way to meet the SEO suggestion of 1,700 to 2.400 words.
If you are a Kajabi user, there is an option to upload your transcript. It acts like a download. If you are using the transcript to meet SEO length, it needs to be in the body copy.
Afraid you won’t have enough time to do this each week?
I have a solution. Sign up for Podium to get AI-generated show notes and a transcript. You can do everything listed above, but WAY FASTER. You’ll take what is generated by Podium and get it into a similar format listed above. AI show notes aren’t perfect, but they are great if you are a solo podcaster and need to save time. Keep in mind; you will need to edit your description. It’s almost never perfect, but it is HUGELY helpful.
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