Adding your podcast on YouTube means putting your show where your audience will easily access it. Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine on the internet? According to Internet Live Stats, Google processes over 40,000 search queries every second on average. And if Google is the Queen, then YouTube is the princess as it receives over 3 billion searches a month.
Leveraging multiple platforms has been proven to exponentially grow your show, and YouTube is one of the best platforms to do this.
In fact, Westwood One’s Fall 2020 Study showed that YouTube is increasingly gaining popularity among most podcast listeners!
But the idea of publishing a video podcast on YouTube can be intimidating. So, how can you effectively podcast on YouTube without missing out on the fun? Read on to find out more!
How To Podcast On YouTube — Table of Contents
- Why Should You Consider Adding Your Podcast to YouTube
- 5 Ways To Podcast On YouTube
- What You Need to Record a Video Podcast
- Tools to Make Video or Live-streaming Easy (While looking professional)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why Should You Consider Adding Your Podcast to YouTube
In addition to having tons of people regularly consuming your content, the following are additional benefits of repurposing your content and Uploading it on YouTube:
Tap into a massive and easily accessible audience
Take advantage of the massive traffic that YouTube receives on a daily basis. A lot of people that consume YouTube content do so mainly because that’s what they are familiar with, and they have no reason to try other platforms. Besides, with the pandemic and all, there has been more acceptance of YouTube podcasting as more and more people are waking up to the fact that video podcasts can actually be interesting.
Increase engagement with your audience
Given that audio podcasts are a one-way conversation, the easiest way to interact with your audience is through the comments section on YouTube. Not only will your listeners feel heard, but also get a chance to provide feedback as they consume your content.
A deeper level of connection
Video podcasts on YouTube give your listeners a chance to have a sneak peek of your recording environment. Unlike the "2 talking heads" video concepts that were poo-pooed as not really interesting, YouTube podcasting, if done right can be really interesting. With the Formula One podcasts, for example, I love seeing the living rooms and facial interactions of the hosts and guests, with occasional cat antics going on in the background :).
Multiple ways to grow an audience
The best part about YouTube podcasting (or PodTubing as sometimes referred to by our friends at PodFest), is that one can grow their YouTube channel alongside their audio-only podcast. This gives you an opportunity to repurpose your content for multiple platforms, hence greater visibility.
YouTube analytical tools
YouTube provides analytical data such as how long your audience watches your content, who is listening, and how they found you. Most of these details cannot be accessed on your audio players. Such information is critical in determining the kind of content that your listeners enjoy.
Five Ways To Podcast On YouTube
So, now that you know why it is important to podcast on YouTube, how can you optimally do it? There are five ways to create videos for your podcast:
1.) Record a video as you record the audio:
This can be done by strategically setting up your camera to record your performance. Not only will this help you create more engaging content, but also help you save time. The best part about video podcasts is that they require minimum editing. I recommend using tools and equipment that are easily accessible to avoid breaking the bank.
2.) Make a presentation into your webcam
This method gives you an opportunity to demonstrate using charts, diagrams, and articles as you record. Be aware that the more visual you are when recording video, the more the pure audio only listeners can feel “left out”. So a good practice is to communicate with your audio only audience, describe, acknowledge or even celebrate the video component.
A fringe benefit: With visual content, it becomes easier to invite listeners to visit your website or YouTube channel. Curiosity and good calls to action will help with this.
3.) Live-streaming:
There is a massive benefit that comes with live streaming - a loyal audience. While podcasts are known to be available on-demand, getting an audience that turns up every week for your live stream means you already have an audience you can rely on to promote what you do. Given that live streams are usually unedited, they may not be the top choice for perfectionists that prefer polished content. A lot of preparation is also required.
4.) Record yourself and your guest as you talk:
If you are conducting your interview through a platform such as Zoom or Google hangouts, simply record a split-screen of you interviewing your guest. This is pretty easy, and also requires minimal editing. Excessive editing that is easily noticeable by your audience will leave them wondering what it is that you took out.
5.) Convert your audio recordings into MP4:
This can be done using a tool such as Headliner or Wavve and only takes a few minutes.
Extra credit for reading this: “Podcast Audiogram Alternatives For Promotion and Visual Storytelling” is our article covering tools that allow you to create far more interesting content from your audio alone, without
What You Need to Record a Video Podcast
If you have been in the audio podcasting space for a while, you probably know about audio recording and the kind of microphones required. However, for video podcasts, one can get away with anything from recording on their phone, laptop, or a digital camera.
Podcast On YouTube Starter Kit
We have created some starter kits on our Podcasting Resources Guide sister site to get going with.
- Podcast on YouTube Starter Kit — Budget Edition
- Podcast on YouTube Starter Kit — Extended Edition
- Podcast on YouTube Starter Kit — Premium Edition
Really all you need at first are a decent web cam, microphone and lights, and all of this can be super affordable before you start getting attracted to the more expensive gear.
When it comes to video podcasts, lighting is usually the biggest concern. Of course as a podcaster you already care about audio quality, so it is important to ensure that your lighting is good and that both you and your guest can clearly be seen.
The biggest takeaway here is to embrace gear that simplifies the whole process, such as affordable webcams, LED lights or desk-clamp light stands.
While pro-level tools may seem tempting, they can slow you down.
Equipment such as green screens, live switchers, and high-end mirrorless cameras come with an added complexity that anyone that’s just starting out should avoid. Just get started the most simple way possible, and leave yourself room for improvement.
Tools to Make Video or Live-streaming Easy (While looking professional)
The fastest way to create a video podcast is by using the equipment you already have. To further enhance your video podcasting experience, the following recommendations will come in handy:
Recording/Livestreaming Platforms
- Riverside - This is a “double-ender” recording tool that records the participants' audio locally on their computers. This means that your recordings won't be affected even when the wi-fi gremlins strike. The best part about Riverside is that it has the capacity to record both audio and video on separate tracks.
- Squadcast - This is a recording platform that has guaranteed superior quality audio and high-definition video. What’s more, Squadcast also has an added post-production collaboration service that allows for the production of multiple shows at the same time.
- Restream.io and StreamYard are our top picks for streaming. While Restream is known for its ability to allow users to broadcast to over 30 social networks at the same time, StreamYrad allows users to share screens, engage with their audience and simply discuss anything.
Video Editing Tools
- Camtasia - while not as robust as other video editing software, Camtasia is an excellent choice for beginners who are just dipping their toes into the video editing space. However, its screen recording capabilities are unrivaled and one of the best in the market. What’s more, Camtasia works on both PC and Mac, and one can easily hire help from freelancing sites such as Upwork and Fiverr.
- Screenflow - This is one of the easiest video editors that exists for Mac computers. It’s known for its templating and automation options that save a lot of production time.
Outsourcing / Getting Help
Well, while this is not one of the tools that one can use to podcast on YouTube, it is definitely an option to consider.
- When it comes to video podcasting, you’ll realize that a lot of time and effort goes into producing professionally-looking content.
- If you have the resources, consider outsourcing the tasks you don’t enjoy doing or aren’t familiar with and focus on providing the content itself.
A majority of our clients that have video podcasts have greatly benefited from our Youtube Video Production Done For Your Podcast services. If you are just getting started, I’d highly recommend that you check out this service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Does podcasting on YouTube contribute to SEO?
- Yes, it does! Optimizing your topics and episode titles for the search engines by using low competition key phrases is one of the best ways to ensure your show ranks on YouTube.
Q2. Can one podcast on YouTube without video?
- Yes, you can. As mentioned earlier, one of the ways through which one can create video content on YouTube is by transforming the audio recordings into audiograms. Be sure to have details of your show, your guest, and the title being discussed indicated on the episode graphics.
- But, consider that if you are video recording guest interviews, you might as well use the footage!
Q3. Can you make a living off of video podcasts?
- Yes, you can! By selling ad spots, participating in advertisements, offering subscriptions and crowdfunding are some of the ways through which video podcasters are earning on YouTube.
Over to You...
Beginning the podcasting journey on YouTube can seem difficult at first, but is extremely fulfilling once you start building a loyal following. As with any venture, it is important that you invest in the right tools and equipment and thoroughly prepare for the interviews.
If you are already creating content for your audio podcast, consider adding the video element. This can be as simple as an audiogram or as advanced as a full-scale recording of both you and your guest. Be consistent in putting your content out there and watch new listeners discover your content and fall in love with it!
