Podcast show notes should be 150-300 words for basic summaries, 500-1,500 words for detailed notes with timestamps, and 1,000-2,500 words for SEO-optimized content. The ideal length depends on your goals: quick reference, listener engagement, or search engine discoverability. Since podcast audio cannot be directly indexed by search engines, show notes provide the text content that makes your episodes findable online.

This guide covers optimal lengths for different show note styles, SEO strategies, and practical templates for efficient production.

Quick Reference: Show Notes by Type

Why Podcast Show Notes Matter

The SEO Visibility Problem

Podcast audio is invisible to search engines. Google cannot listen to your episodes, extract keywords, or understand your content from the audio file alone. This creates a significant discoverability problem: without text content, your episodes exist in a search vacuum.

What search engines can index:

• Episode titles
• Show note text
• Descriptions on podcast platforms
• Your podcast website content

What search engines cannot index:

• Audio content within episodes
• Spoken keywords and topics
• Guest names mentioned only in audio
• Resources discussed but not linked

Benefits of Comprehensive Show Notes

For SEO and discovery:

• Target keywords related to episode topics
• Create internal linking opportunities between episodes
• Generate backlinks when guests share detailed notes
• Rank for long-tail search queries

For listener experience:

• Quick reference for mentioned resources
• Timestamps for specific topics
• Links to products, tools, and websites discussed
• Contact information for guests

For accessibility:

• Provide content for hearing-impaired audiences
• Support non-native speakers who prefer reading
• Enable text-based translation
• Offer alternative consumption methods

Short Show Notes (150-300 Words)

When to Use Short Notes

Short show notes work best when:

• Your podcast is well-established with loyal listeners
• Episodes are conversational without many resources
• You publish frequently (daily or multiple times weekly)
• Time constraints limit production resources

What to Include

Essential elements:

• Episode title and number
• One-paragraph summary (50-100 words)
• Guest name and brief bio (if applicable)
• 3-5 key takeaways or topics covered
• Links to mentioned resources
• Call to action (subscribe, review, etc.)

Example structure (200 words):

Episode 147: Building a Morning Routine That Actually Works

In this episode, productivity coach Sarah Chen shares her
framework for creating sustainable morning routines that
boost energy and focus throughout the day.

Key Takeaways:
- Start with one small habit, not a complete overhaul
- Anchor new habits to existing behaviors
- The ideal morning routine is 45-90 minutes
- Avoid screens for the first 30 minutes

Guest Bio:
Sarah Chen is the author of "Atomic Mornings" and founder
of the Productivity Reset podcast. She has helped 10,000+
professionals transform their daily routines.

Resources Mentioned:
- Atomic Mornings book: [link]
- Sarah's website: [link]
- Habit tracking app discussed: [link]

Connect With Us:
- Subscribe to the show: [link]
- Leave a review: [link]
- Follow on social: [links]

Pros and Cons

Advantages:

• Quick to produce (10-15 minutes)
• Sustainable for high-frequency shows
• Sufficient for established audiences
• Low production cost

Limitations:

• Minimal SEO benefit
• Limited search discoverability
• No timestamp navigation
• Fewer linking opportunities

Detailed Show Notes (500-1,500 Words)

When to Use Detailed Notes

Detailed show notes are ideal when:

• Your podcast covers educational or technical content
• Episodes include many resources or references
• You want better SEO without full transcripts
• Episodes are interview-based with expert guests

Optimal Structure

Target sections:

• Episode summary (100-150 words)
• Timestamped topic breakdown
• Detailed guest bio (50-100 words)
• Key points expanded with context
• Complete resource list with descriptions
• Related episodes

Timestamp Best Practices

Format options:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [05:23] Topic One: Description
• [15:45] Topic Two: Description
• [32:10] Rapid-fire questions
• [38:00] Closing thoughts

Writing effective timestamps:

• Use consistent formatting throughout episodes
• Include enough description to be useful (not just “Topic 1”)
• Space timestamps appropriately (every 5-10 minutes of content)
• Align with natural topic transitions

Sample 800-Word Structure

Episode 147: Building a Morning Routine That Actually Works

[Full Episode Summary - 150 words]
Sarah Chen, productivity coach and author of "Atomic
Mornings," joins us to discuss the science behind
effective morning routines...

[Timestamps]
[00:00] Introduction and Sarah's background
[03:15] Why most morning routines fail
[08:42] The anchor habit technique
[15:20] Ideal routine length (45-90 minutes)
[22:35] Screen-free mornings: the 30-minute rule
[28:10] Listener Q&A
[35:45] Sarah's personal morning routine
[40:00] Wrap-up and resources

[Detailed Guest Bio - 100 words]
Sarah Chen is a certified productivity coach with over
15 years of experience...

[Key Points Expanded - 400 words]
Why Most Morning Routines Fail
According to Sarah, 87% of people who start ambitious
morning routines abandon them within two weeks...

[Resources - 100 words]
Books discussed, apps mentioned, guest contact info...

[Related Episodes - 50 words]
Episode 89: Sleep Optimization with Dr. James Park
Episode 112: The Evening Routine Blueprint

SEO-Optimized Show Notes (1,000-2,500 Words)

The SEO Opportunity

Podcasters often underutilize their website for search traffic. Each episode represents a potential ranking opportunity for relevant keywords. SEO-optimized show notes transform episodes into content assets that drive organic traffic.

SEO benefits of longer show notes:

• More opportunities to include target keywords naturally
• Better chance of ranking for long-tail queries
• Increased time-on-page from comprehensive content
• More internal and external linking possibilities

Keyword Strategy for Podcasters

Primary keyword placement:

• Episode title
• URL slug
• First paragraph
• H2 headings
• Meta description

Secondary keywords:

• Topic subheadings
• Timestamp descriptions
• Resource descriptions
• FAQ sections

Example keyword mapping:

For an episode about morning routines:

• Primary: “morning routine for productivity”
• Secondary: “morning habits successful people,” “best morning routine,” “how to wake up early,” “morning routine ideas”

Content Structure for SEO

Recommended sections (1,500-2,000 words):

1. Episode overview with primary keyword (150-200 words)
2. Timestamped outline with descriptions (200-300 words)
3. Detailed guest introduction (100-150 words)
4. Key topics expanded as mini-articles (600-800 words)
5. Comprehensive resource section (150-200 words)
6. FAQ section targeting related searches (200-300 words)
7. Related episodes with context (100-150 words)

When Full Transcripts Make Sense

Benefits of full transcripts:

• Maximum SEO potential (every keyword spoken is indexed)
• Complete accessibility for hearing-impaired
• Content repurposing (quotes, social posts, articles)
• International audience support

Challenges:

• Time-intensive to produce (2-4 hours manual, or transcription costs)
• May overwhelm readers looking for quick info
• Raw transcripts need editing for readability
• Longer page load times

Hybrid approach: Combine SEO-optimized show notes (1,500-2,000 words) with a collapsible full transcript. This gives readers a scannable summary while providing complete text for search engines.

Platform-Specific Requirements

Apple Podcasts

Best practices:

• Front-load episode descriptions with key info
• Apple truncates after ~160 characters in preview
• Include keywords naturally in first two sentences

Spotify

Best practices:

• Spotify allows more space; use it for SEO
• Links in descriptions are clickable
• Format with line breaks for readability

YouTube (Podcast Video)

Best practices:

• First 100-150 characters appear in search results
• Include timestamps for chapter markers
• Add relevant links above the fold

Podcast Website

No character limits apply to your own website. This is where comprehensive, SEO-optimized show notes provide the most value. Target 1,000-2,500 words on your site, then adapt shortened versions for podcast platforms.

Show Notes Template

Use this template structure for consistent, efficient production:

# [Episode Number]: [Episode Title]

## Episode Summary
[150-200 word overview with primary keyword in first sentence]

## In This Episode
[00:00] Topic 1: [Description]
[00:00] Topic 2: [Description]
[00:00] Topic 3: [Description]
[00:00] Closing thoughts

## About [Guest Name]
[100-150 word bio with credentials and links]

## Key Takeaways

### [Topic 1 as H3]
[150-200 words expanding on this topic]

### [Topic 2 as H3]
[150-200 words expanding on this topic]

### [Topic 3 as H3]
[150-200 words expanding on this topic]

## Resources Mentioned
- [Resource 1]: [Brief description] - [Link]
- [Resource 2]: [Brief description] - [Link]
- [Resource 3]: [Brief description] - [Link]

## Frequently Asked Questions

**[Question 1]?**
[Answer in 1-3 sentences]

**[Question 2]?**
[Answer in 1-3 sentences]

## Related Episodes
- Episode [X]: [Title] - [One-line description]
- Episode [Y]: [Title] - [One-line description]

## Connect With Us
- Website: [Link]
- Subscribe: [Link]
- Social: [Links]

Common Show Notes Mistakes

Writing too little: Many podcasters write 50-word descriptions that provide no SEO value. Even an extra 100 words can significantly improve discoverability.

Forgetting timestamps: Timestamps improve user experience and can appear as chapter markers on platforms like Spotify and YouTube.

Missing guest links: Guests share episodes that feature them well. Include their website, social handles, and relevant product links.

No internal linking: Link to related episodes on your site. This improves navigation and boosts SEO through internal link structure.

Generic descriptions: “In this episode, we talk about productivity” tells neither listeners nor search engines anything useful. Be specific about topics and takeaways.

Publishing audio-only: Podcast platforms have limited SEO reach. Always publish show notes on your own website where search engines can properly index them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should podcast episode descriptions be?

For podcast platforms, aim for 500-2,000 characters. For your website, 1,000-2,500 words for SEO-optimized show notes. Shorter versions (150-300 words) work for high-frequency shows with established audiences.

Do show notes help podcast SEO?

Yes, significantly. Podcast audio cannot be indexed by search engines. Show notes provide the text content that makes episodes discoverable in search results. Longer, keyword-rich show notes perform better for SEO.

Should I include full transcripts?

Full transcripts maximize SEO potential and accessibility but require significant time investment. A hybrid approach (SEO-optimized summary + collapsible transcript) offers the best of both approaches.

How many timestamps should I include?

Include one timestamp every 5-10 minutes of episode content. A 45-minute episode typically needs 6-10 timestamps covering major topic transitions.

What’s the minimum show notes length for SEO?

Aim for at least 500 words to see meaningful SEO benefit. Under 300 words provides minimal search value. Ideal SEO-optimized show notes range from 1,000-2,500 words.

Can I use AI to generate show notes?

AI tools can help draft show notes from transcripts, but always edit for accuracy. Review mentioned resources, correct any errors, and add your authentic voice and insights.

Key Takeaways

• Basic show notes need 150-300 words; SEO-optimized notes need 1,000-2,500 words
• Podcast audio cannot be indexed by search engines, making show notes essential for discoverability
• Include timestamps every 5-10 minutes with descriptive labels
• Apple Podcasts allows 4,000 characters for episode descriptions; Spotify allows 10,000
• Publish comprehensive show notes on your own website, then adapt shorter versions for podcast platforms
• Link to guest resources and related episodes to maximize SEO value

Conclusion

Podcast show notes serve dual purposes: helping listeners navigate your content and making your episodes discoverable through search. For casual reference, 150-300 words with timestamps and links suffices. For serious SEO benefit, invest in 1,000-2,500 word show notes that target relevant keywords, expand on key topics, and provide comprehensive resources. Your website should host the longest version, with platform-specific adaptations for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Try our free letter counter → to ensure your show notes hit the right length for your goals.