What is Show Notes?
Show notes are written content accompanying each episode—typically including a summary, timestamps, links mentioned, guest information, and resources for listeners. They appear in podcast apps, your RSS feed, and on your podcast website.
Show Notes Components
Essential
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Episode summary | What the episode covers |
| Key timestamps | Navigate to specific topics |
| Guest info | Who appears and their background |
| Links mentioned | Resources discussed |
Enhanced
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Key takeaways | Main points in bullet form |
| Quotes | Memorable lines from the episode |
| Related episodes | Internal linking |
| Call-to-action | Subscribe, review, support |
Show Notes Formats
Basic (feed-friendly):
In this episode, we discuss the future of podcasting
with guest Dr. Jane Smith.
Topics covered:
- The evolution of RSS (3:15)
- Podcast 2.0 features (12:30)
- Monetization trends (28:45)
Links:
- Dr. Smith's website: example.com
- Book mentioned: "Podcast Revolution"
Enhanced (website):
- Full HTML formatting
- Embedded media
- Interactive timestamps
- Rich links with previews
Show Notes Impact
| Benefit | How |
|---|---|
| SEO | Text content for search indexing |
| Engagement | Gives listeners more to explore |
| Accessibility | Alternative to audio-only |
| Reference | Listeners return for links/info |
| Professionalism | Shows preparation and care |
Why It Matters
Show notes bridge the gap between audio and text—making your content searchable, accessible, and more valuable to listeners who want to go deeper.
Why show notes matter:
-
SEO discoverability: Search engines can't hear audio. Show notes make your content findable.
-
Listener value: Resources, links, and timestamps enhance the listening experience.
-
Accessibility: Provides text alternative for key content.
-
Reference destination: Listeners return to find links and information mentioned.
-
Professionalism: Detailed show notes signal a quality production.
Show notes SEO impact:
| Content | Searchable? | With Show Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Episode audio | No | Still no |
| Episode title | Yes | Yes |
| Show notes text | N/A | Yes |
| Transcript | N/A | Yes |
Show notes effort vs impact:
| Effort Level | Time | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal | 5 min | Basic description, few links |
| Standard | 15 min | Summary, timestamps, key links |
| Comprehensive | 30+ min | Full resources, quotes, SEO-optimized |
The reference value: Episode audio is ephemeral—hard to search, hard to reference. Show notes create a permanent, linkable, searchable record of each episode's content.
How to Use This in Dispatch
Add show notes in the episode editor:
Episode description:
- Appears in podcast apps and RSS feed
- Keep under 4000 characters for compatibility
- Use plain text or basic HTML
Extended show notes:
- Full HTML support
- Appears on your podcast website
- No length restrictions
- Rich formatting available
Timestamp linking:
Add timestamps in format [12:30] and they automatically become clickable links in supported players.
Best practices:
- Lead with a compelling summary
- Include all links mentioned
- Add timestamps for key topics
- Use headers to organize longer notes
- Include guest bios and links