There are roughly 4.5 million podcasts registered around the world. People love to tune in to new periodical episodes with their favorite creators discussing interesting stories, current events, or specific industries, among other things. Podcasting is a great way to garner an audience and create a library of content to share with people wherever they are and whenever they wanna listen.
Maybe you have your own podcast, or maybe you’re looking to start one. Either way, there’s a golden opportunity that many creators have still yet to explore: video podcasting. Only 17% of podcasters include video with their podcast. There are many advantages to starting a video podcast, but many people don’t know where to start. We’re here to help you determine if this is the right decision for your content. Keep reading for everything you need to know about how to start a video podcast.
What is a Video Podcast?
Obviously, this isn’t rocket science. A video podcast is exactly what it sounds like—a podcast with accompanying videos. Most video podcasts show a live feed of the podcaster and their guest(s) as the episode is being recorded, but the visual elements of a video podcast can also be things like a static image, a separate video recording, or even animation. Perhaps the most obvious argument for adding video to podcasts is that it enhances your content by adding another element, but what are the more defined advantages and the potential caveats of starting a video podcast?
Advantages & Disadvantages of Video Podcasts
Since only a fraction of podcasters actually includes video alongside their podcasts, it’s worth taking a deeper look into some of the most impactful differences between traditional audio podcasts and video podcasts. Let’s start with some of the advantages of incorporating video into your podcast production.
Video Podcasts Are Better For Social
Video podcasts are far more social media-friendly than regular audio podcasts. Social media provides a great place to repurpose some of your content, and people are far more likely to click on a video than they are to click on an external link to an audio recording. You’ve probably noticed while scrolling through Twitter and Instagram that video content generally auto-plays without sound. This is because social media platforms are actually optimized for video content. For these reasons, video podcast clips are extremely shareable across social channels, giving you an edge over someone who only records audio for their podcast.
More Engaged Audience
Another advantage of video podcasts is the type of audience you can bring to your content. The audience for podcasts, in general, is already astounding, with over 144 million American listeners in a year. While a video podcast may miss out on the listeners who are “on the go” or just looking for some background noise, there is a whole other segment of more engaged listeners who actively seek out video podcasts. 74% of podcast users listen to podcasts because they want to learn something new. Video is a great option for these listeners as it requires more attention and active engagement with the subject matter of the podcast.
Easy to Incorporate
If you’re planning on starting a podcast or already have one in production, adding video to it is very seamless. You’re already doing most of the work—scheduling, writing, recording, and editing. Transitioning to a video podcast isn’t much of a lift in terms of time and labor. You can add a visual element to your podcast with just a few extra steps and minor expenses.
While the ease of upgrading to video and the potential for growth are great draws for podcasters looking to up their content game, there are some potential drawbacks to video podcasting depending on the type of content you’re creating.
Less Convenient For Listeners
As we mentioned before, a video podcast may miss out on some “on-the-go” listeners who prefer to have just the audio playing through their headphones. For podcasters with important visual content that is somewhat necessary for the flow of the program, this could be an issue. However, you do always have the option to release your episodes both with video and in audio-only formats, giving your audience multiple ways to enjoy episodes. This really depends on the type of content you have planned for your video podcast.
Larger Files and Longer Uploading
Another potential downside of adding video to your podcast rears its head in the post-production process. A video file is much larger than audio formats, so be prepared to house larger files on your podcasting platform or homepage. Video podcasts will also take longer to edit and upload to channels. All things considered, these caveats are a small price to pay for all of the potential benefits of starting a video podcast.
How to Start a Video Podcast
Thinking about starting your own video podcast? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve laid out step-by-step how to take your podcast to the next level with video.
1. Film Your Episode
This will involve purchasing camera equipment if you don’t already have it (phone cameras are great options these days). It’s up to you how nice of a camera you want to use for this, but for podcasting, you generally don’t need something too fancy. You’ll also need a tripod. Travel-sized tripods are great for podcasts since they don’t take up too much space. We’ve recommended the Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A tripod in the past for its high reviews and appealing price. When filming, make sure anyone speaking is on camera while they talk to avoid any confusion among listeners and keep the flow of your video professional.
2. Edit the Video
Once your episode has been filmed, you’ll need to edit. It’s best practice to record your audio with standard podcast gear rather than with your camera to ensure high-quality sound. In post, you’ll need to sync your video with the audio. Many podcasts stream live as they record, in which case you may not need to do much editing, if at all.
3. Create a Thumbnail
After editing your video podcast, you’ll want to create a video thumbnail. This can be a still shot from the episode or a graphic specifically designed for the episode. Seeing as 90% of the best-performing videos use custom thumbnails, we would recommend going this route. You want to make sure your thumbnail is visually relevant to the most important topics of the respective episode so as not to mislead your audience.
4. Upload Your Video Podcast
Once you’ve edited your video podcast and created a thumbnail, you can upload your episode. Where you decide to house your content is up to you. You have options, but we wouldn’t be doing you any favors if we didn’t let you in on Endavo’s tools for creators. With Endavo, you can build your own branded video website, app, and even OTT TV channel to distribute your content and engage with your community anywhere in the world. With our multiple distribution options, you can also choose to have your content placed on existing networks that we’ve partnered with. We offer an abundance of ways to monetize your content, including ads (optional), subscription plans, and virtual tip jars. Rest assured, we’ll help you find (or build) a home for your video podcast.
5. Share the Episode on Social Media
Last but not least, you will want to share your video podcast on social media. One of the great advantages of video podcasts is the sheer volume of reusable content you get from each episode. Post episode highlights and clips periodically to keep your content relevant and engage people who may have missed out when you initially posted your video podcast.
Get Things Started with Endavo
Endavo offers the resources you need to get your video podcast off the ground and into the eyes and ears of your community. Since 2008, we’ve been offering creators tools that empower them to do more with their content. Our video distribution automation (VDA) platform launches your content to success by taking it over-the-top (OTT) and directly to your audience.
Start creating your dream platform for your content today with Endavo. Sign up and try it for yourself free for 30-days. And no, we don’t need your credit card information, just your creative vision. We’re ready to grow with you—get started today.
