Podcast Writing Podcast Show Notes and Descriptions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes an 'evergreen' podcast description?
- One that references today's trending news
- One that remains relevant and useful regardless of when it is read (Correct answer)
- One that is updated monthly
- One that is written in a seasonal style
Correct answer: One that remains relevant and useful regardless of when it is read
Evergreen descriptions avoid time-sensitive references so they stay relevant and continue attracting listeners long after publication.
Question 2: What is the recommended approach when including affiliate links in show notes?
- Hide them within the body text to look organic
- Disclose them clearly per FTC guidelines (Correct answer)
- Place them only in the audio script
- Avoid them entirely
Correct answer: Disclose them clearly per FTC guidelines
FTC guidelines require clear disclosure of affiliate relationships to maintain transparency and legal compliance.
Question 3: Why should podcast show notes use bullet points for resources and links?
- They look more professional than paragraphs
- They make links easier to scan and click (Correct answer)
- They reduce word count for SEO
- They are required by Apple Podcasts
Correct answer: They make links easier to scan and click
Bullet points improve scannability, making it fast and easy for readers to find and click on specific resources.
Question 4: What is the role of a 'guest bio' section in show notes?
- It replaces the episode summary
- It provides context about the guest and builds credibility for the episode (Correct answer)
- It lists all previous episodes the guest appeared on other shows
- It is only needed for video podcasts
Correct answer: It provides context about the guest and builds credibility for the episode
A brief guest bio gives listeners context about the guest's expertise and adds credibility to the episode's content.
Question 5: Which podcast directory truncates episode descriptions most aggressively, requiring the most important information first?
- Spotify
- Stitcher
- Apple Podcasts (Correct answer)
- Google Podcasts
Correct answer: Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts truncates descriptions after a few lines, so the most compelling content must appear at the very beginning.
Question 6: What is a common mistake when writing the podcast's overall show description versus individual episode descriptions?
- Making the show description too short
- Using the same generic text for both show and episode descriptions (Correct answer)
- Including too many timestamps
- Listing resources in bullet form
Correct answer: Using the same generic text for both show and episode descriptions
Using identical or near-identical text for both show and episode descriptions wastes an opportunity to provide unique, keyword-rich content.
Podcast Writing Podcast Show Notes and Descriptions 2
Which of the following best describes an 'evergreen' podcast description?