People nowadays look for podcast episodes to get in-depth information about their favorite topics. For the last two decades, podcasting has been skyrocketing as an impactful channel for distributing audio content.
However, since people spend over 19 hours a week watching videos, many podcasters have resorted to using video podcasts to reap the fruits of both digital communication formats.
Visuals leave a lasting impression and enrich audio podcasts to reach a broader audience. If you haven’t considered video podcasting yet, this article will provide reasons to encourage taking that approach.
What is a video podcast?
Basically, it’s a podcast with video content, which can be simple as a static image or a complex recorded video. Adding a video to the podcast engages more communication elements besides the voice tone, such as body language, facial expressions, hand gestures, visuals, etc.
There are various methods of producing video podcasts:
Utilizing static Images
It is the simplest video podcast production method. All it takes is to record the podcast audio file, add an image background or slideshow using a video editor, and export the podcast in video format.
Podcasters create static image video files not because they’re interested in offering video content but in enabling broadcasting their episodes on video streaming platforms like YouTube.
Recording in a studio
Podcasters can record videos in professional studios equipped with all technical requirements like cameras, seats, lights, backgrounds, and microphones. Usually, if guests are involved, video podcasts capture the entire dialogue turning it into an interactive show.
Recording virtual interviews
Virtual interviews have taken the world by storm as it’s easy, affordable, and straightforward. All it takes is a single click, and a platform like Skype, Zoom or Google Meet starts screen capturing the entire online interview. However, the audio and video quality relies on the host and guest’s equipment. In fact, controlling the video podcast quality, in this case, is a bit of a challenge.
Many companies dedicated to podcasting solutions offer online tools to provide studio-quality interviews, enabling recording meetings in a professional, high-quality, and clear sound without spending hours editing the recordings.
B-Roll Recording
B-Roll recording aims to keep the podcast engaging and dynamic by inserting short video clips, photos, and specific wording into the video. The added material is related to the podcast’s content and is often generated by AI solutions. For example, if the host speaks about exotic cars, the podcast video will embody short video clips about cars, along with some relevant photos and headlines.
Why should you start a video podcast?
Before starting a video podcast, questioning if it’s worth the effort, time, and money is really critical to making the right decision. Although the answer relies on the podcaster’s goals, the following are some advantages of video podcasting to consider:
Keep the audience focused
An average human attention span is no more than eight seconds, and video podcasting makes the most of those seconds. Adding exciting visuals to the podcast grabs attention more thoroughly than just listening.
Dr. James McQuivey suggests that a one-minute video is worth 1.8 million words. Therefore, videos enable podcasters to deliver the messages they want efficiently and smoothly.
Build credibility and trust
Humans are visual creatures, and utilizing facial expressions develops emotional context. Therefore, showing faces on a video podcast drives higher traffic and triggers engagement.
Another advantage of showing the podcaster’s face is familiarizing the audience with whoever is behind the podcast, which adds authenticity, and improves connection, bringing the audience closer to the podcast host.
Reach a broader new audience
With more than 2.4 billion users, a YouTube channel will grant access to a massive audience, expanding the podcast’s accessibility and discoverability.
Utilize social media platforms
Social media platforms are optimized for publishing videos, not audio. However, there is no way to ignore its primary role in building awareness, reaching the target audience, and creating a follower base. Video podcasts open the doors wide for new opportunities enabling podcasters to grab more chances for outreach.
Additionally, audio podcasts are only available on audio-only platforms, such as Spotify and Google Podcast, limiting the ability to exposure via social media.
Boost audience engagement
Alongside building a connection and gaining trust, video podcasting increases engagement. Since seeing something once is better than hearing about it a thousand times, people tend to develop a better relationship when they can see podcasters’ faces and look straight in their eyes. Moreover, using carefully selected photos and video clips to create a podcast video drives traffic and fosters users’ interactions.
Record once and publish for a month
Record a long video podcast, then turn it into multiple shorter promos via editing software to feed various communication channels for a longer time. Consistently approaching the audience with quality content keeps them motivated and waiting for the next episode.
Appeal to mobile phone users
Recently, Facebook statistics revealed that 77% of people use mobile phones or tablets to watch online videos, and 1.5x people are more likely to watch videos daily on a mobile phone. Therefore, video podcasting facilitates the process for the interested audience by offering a mobile-friendly likable approach.
Monetize every step of the video podcast
Monetizing the audio podcast is good, with affiliate marketing, sponsorship, etc. But when it comes to video podcasts, it’s more effective as each step of the video recording process can be monetized—for example, recording an interview with the staff before and after the podcast, shooting the set preparation and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, bloopers, and some recordings that didn’t make it to the final edition of the published episode, etc.
Devoted listeners will be super enthusiastic about those videos and won’t mind paying for them. Furthermore, those videos can maximize the revenue of affiliate marketing, sponsorship and referral programs.
The hard work is already done
You have already spent enough time working on the audio podcast to deliver something unique in your own way. How about putting an extra minor effort into placing a camera to record the whole episode, then using the video to produce some engaging video content.
Although hiring professionals to improve the quality of the video podcast is favorable, it’s not a must. Good content will be enough reason for people to watch and engage.
Conclusion
Podcasting is the upcoming era of marketing as more and more businesses, companies, and freelancers are becoming interested in utilizing its advantages. However, as in its audio format, podcasting limits the ability to expand and reach a wider audience. Therefore, video podcasts open new opportunities to enter more marketing channels, get more listeners, be discoverable, and get closer to the audience.
In the search for excellence, podcasters want the best for their episodes in terms of audio, video, and transcription. Podcastle offers the best-in-class, award-winning AI solution anyone can easily use to deliver professional podcasts at reasonable pricing.
