How to write a great podcast episode titles and show notes
There’s an artform to writing good podcast titles and show notes. The title is often the first thing potential listeners see when browsing for podcasts.
Show notes give potential listeners a peek into the content of the episode, helping them decide whether it's worth their time.
If the title is clear, concise and compelling, it should lead would-be listeners to then read the show’s description. And if the description is also intriguing, then listener should want to click to listen to the episode.
TITLES
Building curiosity is the purpose of a good heading, whether it’s for a TV show, newspaper article, YouTube video or podcast episode.
Here are some rules to consider in writing a good title:
Be Descriptive
Your title should give potential listeners a clear idea of what the episode is about. Use keywords that accurately represent the content, making it easy for people to understand what they can expect.
Keep It Concise
Aim for brevity while still conveying the main point or theme of the episode. Long titles can be overwhelming and may get cut off in some podcast directories, and so those words at the front matter most.
Highlight Benefits or Solutions
Most people who seek a podcast do so for self-education. The want to learn something. If your episode offers solutions to common problems or valuable insights, make sure to highlight that in the title. For instance, "How to Boost Your Productivity in 30 Minutes" or "The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom."
Include Keywords for SEO
Incorporate relevant keywords in your titles to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and make it easier for your target audience to find your podcast. Consider what terms your audience might be searching for.
Stay True to Your Brand Voice
Ensure that your title aligns with the tone and style of your podcast. Whether it's humorous, serious, educational, or inspirational, your title should reflect the overall vibe of your show.
Be Honest and Authentic
Avoid clickbait tactics that mislead or overpromise. Your title should accurately represent the content of the episode to build trust with your audience. A click-bait title might work once, but listeners will be peeved for being tricked into listening.
SHOW DESCRIPTION
The limit for the show description, also known as show notes, is 4000-characters, or roughly 500 words. Half of all podcasts use fewer that 163 characters.
Like the show title, your description should be clear, concise and compelling. The most important, enticing information should be at the very top. The first two sentences in the show description are crucial to persuade someone to listen.
Don’t forget that most podcast apps display a limited number of characters in a list of other episodes. For instance, Spotify cuts the show description after 120 characters, Apple Podcasts after 150 characters, and Pocket Casts after 149 characters.
So, don’t begin a description with something like this (like I see so many podcasts do)…
In this episode of the Belt & Buckle Podcast, host John Smith is delighted to speak with a fellow buckle designer who has worked with…
That’s 134 characters already used, and we still don’t know anything about the episode. No thanks, I’ll keep scrolling until I find something interesting.
Think of a catchy first sentence or two, and then describe who you are interviewing. Unless the guest is Michelle Obama, I wouldn’t waste precious space mentioning the guest in the first sentence.
Other things to think about when writing show notes:
Highlight Key Points
Provide a brief overview of the main topics or themes covered in the episode. Highlight the most interesting or important aspects to give listeners a clear idea of what they can expect.
Use Keywords for SEO
Incorporate relevant keywords in your description to improve search engine optimisation (SEO) and make it easier for your target audience to find your podcast.
Stay True to Your Brand Voice
Ensure that your description reflects the tone and style of your podcast. Whether it's casual and conversational, professional and informative, or witty and humorous, maintain consistency with your brand voice.
Proofread and Edit
This might sound obvious, but – for goodness’ sake – before publishing your episode description, proofread it carefully for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A polished and professional description reflects positively on your podcast.
TIMESTAMPS
No matter which podcast host you use, you can include timestamps indicating to the listener specific points within the episode. To do so, simply provide the time in parentheses and the description afterwards. In most podcast apps, like Spotify, the times will be clickable and take you directly to that point in the episode.
An example is this episode on communicating with people with different personalities:
(00:40) Aggressive Communication
(01:02) Passive Communication
(01:33) Passive-Aggressive Communication
(04:30) Communicating with Different Styles
(10:20) Importance of Self-Awareness
SHOW NOTES / MORE INFORMATION
Under the enticing description about the show (and time stamps if you choose to include them), you can offer further information, contact details and links for those who have listened to the episode.
Often this is where you provide contact details of the guest, the books, articles or podcasts they’ve recommended, or anything else you think would be of relevance to the listener.
It’s also an opportunity encourage listeners to take action, whether it's subscribing to your podcast, leaving a review, visiting your website, or engaging with you on social media. Including a clear call to action can help drive engagement and grow your audience.
A legal disclaimer may also be worth considering, depending of course on the content you’re providing, depending on the content of your podcast and the potential legal risks involved. While it may not be necessary for every podcast, there are several situations where including a legal disclaimer can be beneficial.
They include:
Content Liability
If your podcast covers topics that could be controversial, sensitive, or potentially triggering, a legal disclaimer can help protect you from liability. It can make it clear to listeners that the opinions expressed in the podcast are those of the hosts or guests and not necessarily reflective of any organization or entity.
Medical, Legal, or Financial Advice
If your podcast provides information related to medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice, it's important to include a disclaimer stating that the content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. This can help protect you from potential legal claims if listeners rely on the information provided and experience negative consequences.
Guest Contributions
If you feature guest interviews or contributions in your podcast, a disclaimer can clarify that the opinions expressed by guests are their own and not endorsed by the podcast or its hosts. This can help mitigate any potential disputes or liability arising from guest statements.
Sponsorships and Endorsements
If your podcast includes sponsored content or endorsements, a disclaimer is necessary to disclose any financial relationships or conflicts of interest. This is required by advertising regulations in many jurisdictions to ensure transparency and prevent deceptive advertising practices
Copyright and Intellectual Property
If your podcast includes copyrighted material such as music, excerpts from other podcasts, or quotes from books or articles, a disclaimer can clarify that the material is used under fair use or with permission, as applicable.
In general, it's better to err on the side of caution and include a legal disclaimer if there's any potential for confusion or misunderstanding regarding the content of your podcast.
An example of legal advice is from The Money Doctors, a podcast I produce for accounting firm, the Bongiorno Group based in Melbourne, Australia:
The general advice in this series has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of this advice before acting on it. If this general advice relates to acquiring a financial product, you should obtain a Product disclosure Statement before deciding to acquire the product.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS
In Australia – and other parts of the world – it’s becoming common practice for podcasts to acknowledge the indigenous peoples from where the podcast was recorded or produced.
There are no hard and fast rules, but organisations and individuals adopt a similar wording.
This is the wording of acknowledgement for the Social Work People podcast I produce on behalf of the Australian Association of Social Workers:
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
The Australian Association of Social Workers respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the lands on which this podcast is being recorded. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and their families, and to the Elders of other communities who may be listening.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
There a number of AI tools these days you can use for your show notes. I will go through them in another blog shortly.
CONCLUSION
Just remember, in crafting compelling podcast episode titles and show notes, you're not just summarising content, you're igniting curiosity and inviting listeners into your world of ideas and stories. A great title hooks the audience, while a well-crafted description seals the deal, enticing them to click and listen. Remember, brevity is your friend, especially in a world where attention spans are short and options abound.
Happy podcasting!