Podcasts were a niche channel a decade ago. You could put something out there and get listeners. However, it has slowly and steadily grown as a storytelling medium.
The immense level of growth has also made the podcasting space a much more competitive environment. There are hundreds of millions of episodes out there and the number is growing at a fast clip. Needless to say, podcasters need to try something different to make them stand out.
One of the ways to stand out is video podcasting. It can make a huge difference in the level of engagement and audience size. People are already used to consuming video and when they get to watch and listen to their favourite podcasters on a video platform, they not only watch it but also recommend it to their friends who may not be podcast enthusiasts.
What Is a Video Podcast?
As the name suggests, it’s a podcast in video form. There are several varieties of video podcasts. It could be live streaming from a studio or an animated storyboard or a video made from simple images with the podcast audio in the background or another form.
A big benefit of creating a video podcast is that you can upload it to popular video streaming platforms and reach out to a bigger audience. Audiences are more engaged with video compared to podcast listeners. A video podcast forces users to pay attention which helps in increasing engagement with the content.
Audio Podcast vs Video Podcast
The best thing about video podcasting is that it’s not a zero-sum game. You’re not competing with the audio-only audience. You are creating a completely different channel with the content you already have.
As an audio podcast creator, you already know that one of the main reasons for the continuously growing popularity of this medium is its convenience. People listen to podcasts when driving or when they are relaxing or when they hit the gym. It does not require too much engagement as they can listen to it almost passively.
That is not the case with video podcasts as it requires a lot more attention and engagement. This could be a good or a bad thing, depending on the quality of the video.
One of the biggest advantages of a video podcast is that it helps you reach a much wider audience. While the podcasting community has millions of listeners worldwide, it is also a fact that most people like to watch videos.
With video podcasting, you can get started quickly as you already have the content. The only thing you need to do is record a video. There is no need to put your face on the screen if you’re not comfortable. There are solutions that can be used to create a video with constantly changing images with a voice-over. There is also animation software that can be used to create videos.
Video production might seem like a lot of work but once you get the right equipment or hire the services of an experienced video production company, you wouldn’t need to worry about the production aspects.
5 Reasons Why You Should Start Creating Video Podcast
Still wondering whether creating a video podcast is worth the effort? Here are a few reasons to put good quality video podcasts out there:
1). Put a face to the voice
Podcasts are a wonderful medium for telling stories. When you put a face to the voice, it makes things much more interesting and engaging. It will help you make deeper connections with your audience.
2). Reach a wider audience
As a medium, podcasts have grown steadily over the past decade but nothing can match the reach of popular video platforms. YouTube has more than a couple of billion active users. Also, video is super popular on various social media platforms. Most people like to watch videos and when you put out a video podcast, it should help you reach a much wider audience base.
Video is also a great way for podcasters to break through a plateau. Every content creator hits a plateau in their journey and they need something different to break through that plateau and ride that growth curve. If you’re an established podcaster but have hit a plateau, adding video podcasts to your portfolio should help you grow your audience base significantly.
3). Social media access
Most podcasting platforms already provide a quick way for users to share their favourite podcasts on popular social media platforms. However, most social media platforms allow video uploads. With video podcasts, you can target several social media platforms in one go.
Posting audio clips of your podcast on social media are one thing but these audio clips cannot match the engagement levels of video as social media users are already used to watching videos on the platform of their choice.
4). Better accessibility
Not everybody has a podcast app on their smartphone but most people have YouTube or other similar apps. With a video podcast, you also get to add captions which can help you reach certain groups who may speak different languages or who are hearing impaired.
How to Record a Video Podcast
If you have never created a video podcast, it might seem daunting but it isn’t. The equipment needed for creating videos is super affordable these days. You also have the option of using the services of a video production company to take care of all the work if you do not want to deal with the hassle of creating and editing your own videos.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on creating a video podcast:
1). Choose The Preferred Video Format
Video podcasts can be created in various forms. Some of the common examples include an in-studio video podcast where two or more participants are involved. A remote interview is one of the more popular types of video podcasts where the host interviews guests through videoconferencing software.
Another popular way of creating a video podcast is using a static image with a voice-over of the podcast. You might want to start with the most basic format and once you have gathered some feedback, it won’t be that difficult to transition to a more professional format.
2). Film the Video
After deciding the type of video you want to post, it is time to film the video. If you are doing an in-studio interview, make sure there is proper lighting and good equipment for recording videos.
Most smartphones have good video recording capabilities. If you want to upgrade to better equipment, there are many affordable options out there. Similarly, if you are using screen recording for capturing video, many solutions are available for screen recordings. If you prefer an animated video, there are many affordable solutions out there that allow you to create an animated video.
3). Video Editing
This is the most time-consuming part of the whole process as editing takes a lot of time. Choose an editing solution based on your comfort and familiarity levels. Study popular video podcasts to learn how to properly edit the video. Video thumbnails are a big thing and play a big role in attracting an audience. Experiment with different thumbnails to figure out what works best for your audience.
4). Video Upload
Once the video is ready, create your channel and upload it to social various platforms. There are hundreds of video platforms out there and there are also solutions that allow you to upload to multiple platforms at the click of a button.
5). Video Promotion
Once you have uploaded the video, is time for you to market it in order to maximise its reach. Share the link on your social media channels in order to let the audience know that they can now watch you and listen to you on their favourite video platform.
Final Thoughts
Video podcasts provide the best of both worlds for the audience as well as creators. As an audio podcaster, you are already spending time researching and creating the content. You have already done the hard part.
Adding a video podcast to your portfolio of products is not going to be that challenging. The good news is that you don’t need to do everything on your own. You can use an experienced and reputed video production company to produce high-quality videos that grow your audience, enhance audience engagement, and help you make more money.
Hire a Professional Video Production Company
Inspireworks has been a video production partner to some of the biggest Australian companies in the construction, utilities, consulting, and science & technology industries for more than 21 years. We offer a wide range of services including promotional videos, television commercials, training videos, executive messages, event coverage videos, and a lot more.
We know video as we have been doing it for more than 21 years.
Video podcasting is here to stay. Even Spotify (the biggest podcasting platform out there) thinks video podcasting is the future and many popular podcasters have already added it to their arsenal. Competition is heating up and you need a reliable and experienced video production partner by your side to help you navigate these waters and make you stand out among a sea of podcasters.
Give us a call today at 1300 885 968 or send us a message to learn more about our video podcasting services.