Video Podcasts Pros Cons amp How to Get Started.pdf

Video Podcasts: Pros, Cons, & How to Get Started blog.podcast.co/create/video-podcasts Thought podcasts were audio only? Well, you thought wrong. Sure, podcasts were traditionally audio-based content. But these days, more and more people are making the leap to video podcasts in a bid to attract...

Video Podcasts: Pros, Cons, & How to Get Started blog.podcast.co/create/video-podcasts Thought podcasts were audio only? Well, you thought wrong. Sure, podcasts were traditionally audio-based content. But these days, more and more people are making the leap to video podcasts in a bid to attract new audiences. And they’re doing it on platforms like YouTube. Turning your podcast into video content is beneficial for a number of reasons. There are millions of shows already out there for one (either in production or already available to stream), so being able to offer audiences something extra is great for getting a bit of an edge on the competition. Video podcasting might not be right for you, though. Or your show. So to help you figure it out, this article will cover everything you need to know to make your decision. And that includes: The benefits of video podcasting The cons of video podcasting The different show formats for video podcasts What equipment you’ll need A step-by-step guide to creating stellar video content So grab a camera, fold out the director's chair, and let’s dive in. Our guide aims to give you the tools you need to start creating a video podcast and make it as good as it can be. And don’t miss our example below from our very own Meet the Podcasters series. Tip: We’d recommend watching the full video if you’ve got time - it’s packed with top tips and helpful advice, plus the chapter markers on YouTube make it easy to skip to the most relevant parts of the conversation. Watch Video At: https://youtu.be/3vmuG5_RsPw What is a Video Podcast? Essentially, a video podcast is a podcast which includes some sort of visual asset to complement your podcast. It’s a great way of giving your listeners a face to engage and connect with, as well as enhancing segments such as guest interviews. 5 Benefits of Making a Video Podcast 1/6 We’re not going to sugar coat it. Creating a video podcast takes a lot of work. That being said, there are a number of benefits to doing so. We’ve summed up the 5 main ones below. 1. Engaging Your Audience Picture this. You’ve just tuned into an audio podcast episode and ten minutes later, you’re away with the fairies. And that means you’ve missed every word. Sound familiar? This is where video podcasts come in. Because visually-interesting content is much more likely to keep audiences engaged. Video podcasts also give you more scope to express exactly what you want to say. And studies have shown that over half of face-to-face communication is actually visual, and it rides on facial expressions, body posture, and gestures. Relying solely on audio removes all of those cues. 2. Showing Your Face Showing listeners what you look like creates familiarity. And when your audience feels like they know you, they’re more likely to trust you, stay engaged, and keep coming back for more. But gaining trust isn’t easy. It demands integrity, consistency and a commitment to releasing great content. 3. They're Easy to Repurpose Repurposing podcast episodes gives you the most mileage out of your content. And the best place to upload repurposed content is onto social media. Recent studies have shown that Millenials and Gen-Z spend more than half of their total video-watching time on social media apps. So capitalising on this will help you tap into the new generations of listeners. This might look like audiograms, episode teasers, or highlight reels, for example. That being said, most social media platforms aren’t designed for audio-only content. And the likes of Instagram and Facebook actually mute videos by default. That’s where video podcasts come up trumps. Users will still be able to see them without hearing the accompanying audio. Tip: Avoid using static images on YouTube videos. These types of episodes generally lose approx 90-95% of their audience within the first 90 seconds. When competing for attention on busy feeds, high quality video remains king. 4. Capitalise on YouTube’s Success With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube is easily the most popular platform for online content. There are no two ways about it. Statistics show a staggering 1 billion hours of content are watched on YouTube every day. So it’s no surprise that video content would be a 2/6 valuable asset for your business. Many people like to watch podcasts on YouTube 5. Video Podcasts Are SEO Friendly YouTube videos are far more discoverable from an SEO perspective than podcasts. YouTube is owned by Google, so it has an immediate advantage over podcasting platforms. No extra work is required to get your video to rank in the results pages. As long as your content is good enough, the Google algorithm will do the heavy lifting to help you reach a wider audience. Rogan has virtually unlimited recourses (pull that up, Jamie) 4 Cons of Making a Video Podcast So far, it seems like making a video podcast is a no-brainer. But there are some drawbacks to bear in mind. 1. Cost Investing in the right equipment and software isn’t cheap, and you’ll need to have a sum of cash at your disposal to buy what you initially need. That being said, you don’t need to blow a load of money on top-of-the-line, professional equipment. Obviously, the more professional the better. But there are cheaper alternatives available. Have a look at the equipment list further down the page to get an idea of what you’ll need to get going. 3/6 2. They’re Time-Consuming to Make Video podcasts are much more time consuming to produce than audio-only podcasts are. You can’t just fire up the mic and start rolling through your script. You’ll need to invest time into building your ideal studio setup, make sure everything’s syncing up (audio and video), get the lighting right, and actually prepare yourself to go on camera. Amongst other things. Make sure you’re realistic about how much you can take on before committing to video podcasting. 3. Video Content is Demanding on the Viewer We mentioned above that visual content is more likely to keep audiences interested. And whilst that’s true, it’s worth noting that video content isn’t all too versatile, and it’s actually pretty demanding on the viewer. They won’t be able to tune in from the car, as they would with an audio-only podcast. This can put people off. If your audience isn't immediately interested in giving you their time, don’t be put off. Instead, think of ways to earn that respect and build your relationship with them. 4. Worthwhile Ad Revenue Takes Time It takes a lot of time and effort to start reaping the financial rewards from video content. And before YouTube will start paying you for your work, you’ll need to hit certain milestones. The intricate details of AdSense or CPI can be quite complicated, so we won’t go into the specifics here. In general though, creators typically get around $5 per every 1000 views. Google will also take 32% of all revenue that’s earned through advertising. However, like with audio podcasting, if you’re truly determined and you put in the work, earning money from video content will get easier with time. Recording on Skype or Zoom is easy 4/6 The Different Show Formats for Video Podcasts Pros and cons aside. If you’ve got this far, you’ve probably (hopefully) decided that video podcasting is right for you. The next step is to decide which type of format you want to use: Solo One person, one mic. The rest is up to you. This format is ideal for establishing a personal brand, plus it gives you total creative freedom. Co-hosted Link up with a mate and let the conversation flow (just make sure you’re recording). If the chemistry’s right, this can be a winning format, particularly if you know you’d work well together. Interview A formula that has proven infinitely popular, interview podcasts can provoke interesting conversation. It’s a good way of finding out more about a topic you may not know about, plus you can carry out interviews remotely. Roundtable Alternatively, invite a number of personalities onto your show. Pick out your panel of guests and see where the chat takes you. And you can mix it up however you want, whether it be a new line-up every week or just one new guest to join your regular ensemble. What Equipment Do You Need to Start a Video Podcast? The exact equipment you’ll need will depend on which show format you go for. And our resident Podcast.co videographer Ben is here to help get you started. And you can also find out more details on video podcast equipment here. 5/6 Watch Video At: https://youtu.be/_YpJBWnbr6A. 6/6