Podcast Show Notes That Drive Traffic

Show notes are the most overlooked growth tool in podcasting. Most creators treat them as an afterthought, a quick summary dashed off before hitting publish. But well-written show notes do real work: they improve search rankings, help listeners navigate episodes, and give potential subscribers a reason to press play.

This guide covers how to write show notes that serve both search engines and listeners, with templates and formatting tips you can use for every episode.

Why show notes matter for SEO

Podcast audio is invisible to search engines. Google cannot listen to your episode and index the content. But it can read your show notes.

Every episode page with detailed show notes becomes a searchable entry point. When someone searches for a topic you covered, your show notes page can rank in the results and drive new listeners directly to that episode.

This is especially powerful for niche topics. If your episode covers a specific question or problem, show notes that target that keyword can rank higher than generic articles because they are tied to a unique, in-depth audio resource.

What to include in every set of show notes

Good show notes follow a consistent structure. Here is what works:

• Episode title and number – Clear identification at the top
• Summary paragraph – Two to three sentences explaining what the episode covers and why it matters
• Key topics or timestamps – A bulleted list with time codes so listeners can jump to specific sections
• Guest information – If applicable, include the guest's name, title, and links to their website or social profiles
• Resources and links – Everything mentioned in the episode: books, tools, websites, articles
• Call to action – Tell listeners what to do next: subscribe, leave a review, visit a link, or join your email list

Show notes template

Here is a template you can adapt for your own episodes:

[Episode Number] - [Episode Title]

[2-3 sentence summary including your target keyword]

In this episode:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [02:15] [First major topic]
• [15:30] [Second major topic]
• [28:45] [Third major topic]
• [45:00] Key takeaways and conclusion

Resources mentioned:

• [Resource 1 with link]
• [Resource 2 with link]

Connect with [Guest Name]:

• [Website]
• [Social profiles]

[Call to action – subscribe, review, etc.]

Writing show notes that rank

The difference between show notes that get traffic and show notes that disappear is keyword targeting. Before writing, identify one primary keyword phrase you want the page to rank for.

Include that phrase in:

• The episode title
• The first paragraph
• At least one subheading
• The meta description

Do not force it. Natural placement matters more than keyword density. Write for humans first, then verify the keyword appears in the right places.

Common show notes mistakes

• Too short – A one-sentence summary gives search engines nothing to index. Aim for 200-500 words minimum.
• No timestamps – Listeners want to navigate. Timestamps improve the experience and time on page.
• Missing links – Every resource mentioned should be clickable. Broken links frustrate visitors.
• No call to action – Tell readers what to do next. Subscribe, review, download, or share.
• Copy-paste from transcript – Raw transcripts are unreadable. Edit for clarity and structure.

How Jellypod helps

Jellypod generates transcripts and captions automatically when you create episodes. Use those transcripts as the raw material for detailed show notes. The timestamps are already there—you just need to identify the key moments.

The social clips feature identifies the most engaging segments from each episode. These highlights make excellent anchor points for your show notes structure.

Final thoughts

Show notes are not busywork. They are a growth lever that most podcasters ignore. Every episode page is an opportunity to rank for keywords, capture email addresses, and convert visitors into subscribers.

Build a template, apply it consistently, and watch your organic traffic compound over time.