So, should you broadcast your podcast on Youtube? Yes, of course! The question is: how to upload it correctly to attract an even larger audience?
Roadmap
In this blog post, we will first give you some information about podcasts on YouTube. We will review the benefits of including YouTube as a platform you distribute your show too, as well as the potential drawbacks.
Then we will go over how to create and upload your podcast on YouTube. You can either easily convert an audio file to a video file, or your can record a video as part of creating the show. Of course, we will cover how Ausha tools can automatically do many of these steps for you.
Sound good? Great! Let’s start…
Broadcasting Your Podcast on Youtube: Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantages of Youtube for a podcast
If you ask your friends, colleagues, or family on which platform they regularly listen to their podcasts, it is likely that some of them will answer Youtube. 🤔
And for good reason!
According to the latest study by Edison Research and Ad Media, 20% of American listeners listen to their episodes on Youtube, which ranks the platform just after Spotify (25%) and just before Apple Podcasts (16%).
This is not only a golden, free opportunity to increase your audience 📈 it also increases guaranteed quality for listeners. With the popularity of the platform having grown year after year, people may naturally expect to find your podcast on Youtube.
If you don’t have your podcast content on Youtube, it’s kind of like a brand that has no social media networks… a bit scary! 😨
Youtube is the 2nd Most Used Search Engine after Google
The simple fact that Youtube gathers billions of users should be enough to convince you to convert your podcast into a video and to start broadcasting it on this free platform.
Among these people, you will most assuredly reach some who had, at first glance, no intention of listening to a podcast. But because your episodes answered the query they typed into Youtube, they will naturally find it. 🚀
Youtube’s Powerful Algorithm Boosts the Discoverability of a Podcast
Who can say they have never fallen down the rabbit hole of Youtube that pushes you to watch suggested videos? Personally, this is something that happens to me quite frequently… 🙄
When I watch a video on a topic or type of music that interests me, I often find myself watching a second one, then a third one… And if it’s a podcast that slips into my suggestions, I put it aside and make sure to listen to it later. 🎧
Most often, Youtube is the first step towards your podcast. That means that it may be on this platform that potential listeners will discover your show but they will not necessarily stay on your Youtube channel to listen to it entirely. They’ll eventually switch to a podcast listening app to continue listening.
Youtube has Unique Features for Podcasting
In addition to its very effective recommendation algorithm, Youtube has simple tools and features that can increase the engagement of your listeners. For example, it is much easier to leave a comment under a Youtube video than on a podcast app (not all of them actually support this format). 💪
The comments space and the like/dislike system under each video also allows you to interact more easily with your audience, to ask questions, and to respond (almost live) to reactions from your listeners. 👍 👎
Youtube is a Way to Optimize the Natural Referencing of a Podcast 🤖
Remember that Youtube is Google. And that referencing your podcast on Youtube means participating in the natural referencing of your podcast on Google. Have you ever noticed that when you type a query or a question in the Google search bar, suggestions of videos, podcasts or articles are highlighted at the top of the results page? 🤔
These are called Snippets. 🤓
Google determines which content is most relevant to your query and then displays it more prominently than the rest of the results. If you do some SEO work on video podcasts you broadcast on Youtube, you will increase your chances of appearing at the very top of Google’s results. 🙋♀️ And thus reach a wider audience.
The Disadvantages of Youtube for a Podcast
Need to Change from Audio to Video
I’m sure you noticed: Youtube and podcasts are 2 different medias. The first one relies primarily on the image. 📹 The second relies only on sound to engage its audience. 🔊 Transforming an audio podcast into a video podcast is not always easy.
As you will see later in this blog, you can either convert an audio file into a video file or you can change your production to include video recording from the start.
Either way, this is a change in process and may add a lot of work, depending what kind of equipment and tools you have. For example, if you are an Ausha member and you just want to use audiograms, you only need make another click or two than usual so it is easy!
New Competition
While YouTube can bring you new listeners, it also comes with new competition. Rather than just competing with other podcasts, you are competing with literally everything you can imagine on YouTube. 🌏
Some creators on YouTube have been doing videos for a long time so not only have they have perfected their process, they already have a strong presence on the platform.
Your video podcasts will be in direct competition with videos created specifically for Youtube. 😬 Regular Youtube users expect high quality when it comes to the visual content broadcasted on the platform.
This should not intimidate you! As long as you know the challenge, you can strategize your way to success!
The Consumption Habits for a Podcast Can Be Different on Youtube
Generally speaking, listeners often consume podcasts while doing something else. However, as a platform, YouTube assumes that the user is sitting down, watching a video.
Clearly, it is very rare that a listener would sit down and just enjoy a podcast.
This can play out in small ways. For example, YouTube ads might not flow well with a podcast. Ads that are specifically made for podcasts are generally quieter and shorter. A native YouTube ad might be much longer, louder, and depend on visuals. 📣
These small differences can have a big impact the listening behavior of your audience, so just be aware of them!
For a head-to-head comparison, check out our blog post “Podcast vs Youtube.”
Options for Making a Video for a Youtube Podcast
Now that we have walked you through the pros and cons of publishing your work on YouTube, we are going to give you instructions on how to make it happen! 😎
There are many ways to turn your podcast into a Youtube video. Depending on your time, ambition and ideas, pick which one works best for you.
Make a Filmed Podcast
A video recording of you podcast is the most sure way to excel on YouTube’s algorithm. However, it can also be the most difficult ways to podcast. For example, now you have to do video editing on top of audio editing.
The good news is that vast majority of podcasts are interviews, and they are relatively easy to capture and edit. Plus, filming your exchanges with the guests you are hosting, and seeing their reactions live can add real value to your audience.
(Anyone who has never seen the face of the person speaking in a podcast episode, raise your hand! 😉 )
The world’s adjustment to COVID has also spawned a new way of podcasting. Today, physical distance is no longer an obstacle for doing quality interviews. Many podcasters use video software like Zoom or Skype. And for each interview, with the audio tracks also comes the image file of these exchanges.
Just like that, you have a video podcast episode that is ready for Youtube! 🤩
To learn more, read our article on how to record a podcast remotely.
Use Audiowave Images
If you don’t have a lot of time or images to create an exclusive video for your podcast, you can also post the cover of your show or episode with audiowaves (or waveforms).
You know those pretty little waves that oscillate with the sound! 🌊 Kind of like waves in the ocean. They give some visual life to your audio file. Plus they are easily recognizable and understood by most YouTube listeners.
With Ausha, you can create your Youtube video automatically and add audiowaves very easily, in just a click or two. 💜 We will cover how to do that in detail in a the “How to Upload Your Podcast on YouTube with Ausha” section below.
Post a Still Image with Audio from Your Episode
While this last way of turning your podcast into a YouTube video is the most tempting (because it’s simpler and possibly faster), it’s also the one that’s least likely to perform well.
Remember: Youtube is first and foremost a video platform! 🎥 A still image won’t manage to interest Youtube users for very long.
Plus it can be confusing and off-putting. The audience will probably wonder if there are going to be multiple still images or just one. They may question if this is really the podcast’s channel or if this is just some kind of ripped, pirated version.🏴☠️
But if you really want to get your video up quickly, or are unsure of what other content can accompany your audio, you can choose this option. You just need to take your audio file, add a still picture to it, and convert it into a video.
If you choose this option, make sure that your picture(s) go with your podcast content so that those watching don’t get confused! 🧐
How to Upload Your Podcast on Youtube with Ausha
Now that we have gone over what kind of visual content you can use, let’s cover how to upload your podcast on YouTube with Ausha, specifically.
With Ausha, you can automatically upload your new podcast episode on Youtube just like you upload it on traditional podcast listening platforms. In just a few clicks, you can create a Video Clip with great audiowaves and boost the discoverability of your show!
The process is super simple. You just have to do these things, step by step:
- Connect your Youtube account on the Ausha hosting platform.
⚠️ Make sure your Youtube account is verified so you can post videos longer than 15 minutes!
- Go to the episode page on Ausha for the one that you want to upload.
- Check the box that says you want to publish your video on Youtube. ✅
Note: If your podcast is scheduled to be posted on the listening platforms, the Youtube video will be generated automatically and publish at that scheduled time. ⏰
- Click to save your changes and your video will be generated and uploaded automatically! 🙌
Seriously, it is that easy! Our engineers have worked really hard to provide this kind of super powerful, easy to use tool to our podcasting community. Three cheers to them 🥳
A Few More Tips for Special Situations:
If you’ve already posted your podcast episode to the listening platforms and then decide to post it on Youtube later: Go to that episode’s page and update the settings by checking the box that says you want to publish your video on Youtube. Once you click to save changes, Ausha will automatically generate the video and post it on Youtube.
If you’ve uploaded your video to Youtube, but made changes to the podcast: First, delete the video from your Youtube channel. Then go to the Ausha platform. Make sure your updated version is uploaded for the episode. Then prompt Ausha to automatically generate the video, just like you would if it were a new episode.
Remember: This is because Youtube doesn’t automatically update podcasts in the same way as traditional listening platforms. On traditional listening platforms, you do not need to go and delete an episode and upload an edited one. Instead, because of RSS technology between hosting and listening platforms, listening platforms will automatically switch out the old episode for the edited one once you add the edited one to your hosting platform.
So What Will my Ausha Generated Video for Youtube Look Like?
The video that Ausha’s hosting platform automatically generates for you will have:
- Your episode’s image (or your show’s image if you don’t have one just for that episode)
- Your show’s name
- Your episode title
- The audiowaves that follow the sounds of your episode
If you want, you can change the color of the audiowaves. It is a great idea to use your brand’s colors. You can do this in the Youtube settings on Ausha’s site 🌈 . But remember, this only works for your future episodes. Anything that you have already posted to Youtube will not be updated with the new audiowaves color.
How to Upload Your Podcast on Youtube if You Create a Video Recording
Let’s say you do not choose to go with Ausha’s automatically generated audiogram. Instead, you want to make a video recording of your episode itself. Here are the basics.
Equipment
This process starts all the way back at making sure your have the right recording equipment and tools 🎥:
- The most important thing you need is a good microphone and a good mic stand/arm! 🎙 Not only do you want to record excellent audio, but you want it to look good on camera. It is important that you are able to adjust the microphones and arms so the camera can capture you and your guest’s face.
- Check out our blog psots on the best podcast microphones and the best podcast mic stands.
- You need headphones to monitor the audio 🎧
- Here are our top 18 pairs we think you should check out.
- Next, you need a good camera 📹. It needs to be able to run for at least the length of your average taping, keep you and your guest in focus, and create files that can sync with your audio recording.
- Yes, we have a blog post for this too! Check out ‘How to Pick the Best Podcast Camera.’
- Don’t forget to check if you need a lighting kit for where you record. You might be fine without one if you and your guest are able to sit close to a window with a lot of natural light. But if not, you probably should invest in one. You want your viewers to see your pretty face clearly! 😍
- You also need an editing software such as Audacity or GarageBand for your audio content and a editing software like iMovie or Premier Pro for your video content. 🖥
Recording Setup
Find a quiet and well-insulated space to try and limit the echo when you start to record.
And if you are recording with a camera, make sure you have a nice background, so clear out that clutter! Or at least hide it from us! 🙈
Grab your computer, get your microphone and camera ready, and have a test run! 🏃♂️
A test recording is good to make sure that everything is set and working properly, and that your audio and video quality are up to your liking. 👍
Edit
Once you have recorded your podcast content, it is time to edit! 🎞️
Remember, you cannot simply cut out the “umms” like you would a non-video podcast. It will make your video look very jumpy and erratic. You can lower the volume of the “umms” so the audience will still see the person continuously, but they will not hear the filler term.
Editing video is a different skill than editing audio alone so be patient with yourself as you learn and practice! 🧘
Final Word
Starting a video podcast to publish on a YouTube channel might sound intimidating at first, but it appears that is the future of podcasting. 🔮
Even if you do not want to do a video recording, you can capture some of the power of Youtube with audiograms or even still images. It never hurts to put your content in front of a new, bigger audience!
Our final tip is that you should watch the video content that other people make to see what you like and what you do not like. And never be afraid to ask questions!
Remember, you are not alone. All podcasters are facing this new challenge and we can succeed together! 🧑🚀 💜
If you want to read more about how to automate the broadcasting of your podcast on Youtube with Ausha, you can go to the Ausha Podcasters Help Center. Sarah and Myriam have made a special article that explains how to turn your podcast into a Youtube video.
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