diff --git a/.zenodo.json b/.zenodo.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fea9cca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.zenodo.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+	"title": "My Research Software",
+	"version": "0.11.2",
+	"publication_date": "2021-10-13",
+	"keywords": ["amazing software", "research"],
+	"license": {
+		"id": "AGPL-3.0"
+	},
+	"upload_type": "software",
+	"description": "This is my awesome research software. It does many things.",
+	"creators": [
+		{
+			"name": "Doe, John",
+			"orcid": "https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8888-9999"
+		}
+	],
+	"access_right": "open",
+	"related_identifiers": [
+		{
+			"identifier": "10.5281/zenodo.123456",
+			"relation": "isVersionOf",
+			"resource_type": "software"
+		},
+		{
+			"identifier": "10.5281/zenodo.123457",
+			"relation": "isIdenticalTo",
+			"resource_type": "software"
+		}
+	],
+	"communities": [
+		{
+			"identifier": "your-community-here"
+		}
+	],
+	"notes": "If you use this software, please cite it using the metadata from this file.",
+	"repository": "https://github.com/USERNAME/REPO_NAME/"
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 55376df..756c56c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ npm run prepare
 - [ ] [protect](https://help.github.com/en/articles/configuring-protected-branches) the main branch to enforce a [fork and pull](https://gist.github.com/Chaser324/ce0505fbed06b947d962) workflow
 - [ ] search and replace `FULLNAME`, `USERNAME`, `REPO_NAME`, `SHORT_DESCRIPTION` `[INSERT CONTACT METHOD]` in [CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md), [package.json](package.json), [README.template.md](README.template.md), [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md)
 - [ ] change `CITATION.CFF` according to [citation-file-format.github.io](https://citation-file-format.github.io/)
+- [ ] change `.zenodo.json` according to [zenodo.org](https://developers.zenodo.org/?python#add-metadata-to-your-github-repository-release)
 - [ ] setup the [Zenodo integration](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/archiving-a-github-repository/referencing-and-citing-content)
 - [ ] add `ZENODO_RECORD` to [README.md](README.md)
 - [ ] add favicons to `./`, e.g. via [favicon.io](https://favicon.io/)