Show Notes Template: Copy-Paste Structure for Every Episode
You don't need to reinvent your show notes layout every week. This template gives you a structure that works for almost every podcast: an intro that earns the click, a summary that scans, timestamps that navigate, and a closing that converts.
The template
Copy the block below, fill in your episode details, and publish:
# Episode Title What listeners will get from this episode in 2–3 sentences. Name the guest or topic up front. (Tip: front-load the most interesting idea.) ## In this episode - 00:00 — Intro and what we're covering - 02:14 — First topic: why it matters - 12:40 — Interview highlight / main segment - 31:05 — Second topic or listener question - 44:20 — Takeaways and next steps ## Links and resources - Guest's website / book / project - Articles or tools mentioned - Your social profiles ## About the show One or two lines about what your podcast covers and how often you publish. Made with Podnote
How to fill in each block
Title. State the promise, not the topic: "How We Grew to 10,000 Downloads" beats "Growth Episode 42".
Summary. Two or three sentences that tell a listener what changed or what they'll learn. Search engines use this as the description, so put the most important phrase early.
Timestamps. Aim for one entry every 5–15 minutes. Each one should say what happens at that time, not just the time. Timestamps double as podcast chapters on Apple Podcasts and Spotify when your host supports them.
Links. Everything you promised, with a short label. This is where most of the referral traffic from your notes lives.
The block most templates miss: a call to action
Tell listeners what to do next — subscribe, leave a review, reply with a question, or visit a page. An episode without a next step leaves its momentum on the table. One sentence is enough: "If this episode helped, share it with one podcaster friend."
How Podnote helps
If filling in a template still feels like admin, Podnote drafts the whole thing for you: upload your audio and get a summary, timestamped notes, chapters, and ready-to-post social copy in minutes. Free plan: 2 episodes a month. Sign up free.