Chat shows and dialogue-focussed content is enjoyed by millions, but should you be making podcast videos too? We’re taking a look at the benefits.

In terms of content creation, podcasting is an art in itself. Being able to entertain and engage an audience through audio alone, without relying on flashy imagery or visual production, means you need to have your podcast idea nailed.

There are many ingredients that go into cooking up the perfect podcast. You need a solid premise, a format that will entertain and engage your listeners. You obviously need great chat, and some interesting guests. Also, you need to add great music to your podcast.

Once you’ve sorted all of that, it’s time to think about the technical side of things. Podcasters need to have all the essential gear covered. This includes things like microphones, as well as software to edit the podcast on. There’s even podcast hosting to consider. Which leads me onto my next point…

You should start recording podcast videos.

With regular hosting, you can share your podcast on platforms like Spotify, Audible, or Apple Podcasts. On these platforms, as Spotify says, listening is everything. But, there’s a fantastic opportunity for easy multi-platform content production here.

Making Podcast Videos

Companies are recognising the vast popularity of the podcast as an entertainment format, and trying to make it work for them. To illustrate this point, in March Spotify began testing a podcast discovery feed. The following month, the company shared that it would be enabling even more creators to make videos of their podcast sessions available to fans.

Also in March, YouTube reportedly started paying creators to shoot podcast videos. Since more equipment, like cameras and video editing software, is required for producing quality video, funding from platform’s like YouTube is a great incentive to make the multimedia move.

But, if you’re comfortable making audio-only podcasts, why start creating videos on top of this?

There are a few benefits to podcast videos, that can help your career as a content creator.

Better Storytelling

Professional podcasters are pretty good at remembering their audience can’t see them. They compensate for this, by being more descriptive or adding commentary to what someone might be doing.

However, there are undoubtedly times when a raised eyebrow or comedic knowing look passes by, unseen by the audience. These minor gestures and interactions can go a long way in telling a story or adding impact to what’s being said.

By adding a video element to your podcast, you can ensure that listeners never miss these small but mighty moments. As a creator, you also open up a whole new realm of storytelling ability by making visuals something you can play with.

Reach New Fans

Podcasts aren’t for everyone. Whilst someone might hear a breakdown of your podcast and feel intrigued, they simply might miss the stimulation that comes from visual content.

When you shoot podcast videos, you’re opening up your content to these sorts of people. An entire new audience is unlocked, ready to have your podcast shared with them.

Flexibility for Audience

People love being given a choice. Lots of people opt for podcasts because it suits their lifestyle. They can enjoy content whilst driving the car, or working at the office, or doing chores round the house. But, sometimes these people have a minute to give their full attention to things.

This is when offering an extra dimension to your podcast, through the form of video, is perfect. It also gives the opportunity for video lovers to still enjoy your podcast whilst they’re busy with other tasks.

Increased Revenue Options

As an independent content creator, you should take advantage of every means of revenue available to you. YouTube offers lots of opportunity for earning money, largely through sharing popular video content. Whilst there are ways to earn money though podcasting, they can be a little more convoluted.

If you share podcast videos to YouTube and garner a decent audience, you could earn passive income through ad revenue without lifting a finger.

You just need to reach 1,000 subscribers and accrue 4,000 hours of watch time over a 12-month period before you can start earning money.

Interaction & Engagement

Lots of content creators credit their audience as inspiration and the reason they do a lot of what they do. In podcasting, there aren’t as many bridges between audience and creator as there are in video content.

Once you share your podcast videos to platforms like YouTube, or even social media channels like Instagram, you enable interactions with your audience.

Viewers can like (or dislike) the content you share, giving you an immediate indication of whether what you’re sharing is a hit with your audience or not. They can also leave comments. This is a great way of getting direct feedback or praise. These kinds of interactions can help you determine where you take your content moving forward, as well as generate new ideas for episodes or features.

Fans enjoy feeling part of a community, and if you engage back with your audience, you’ll earn serious brownie points. Replying to comments, or even simply liking them, can help you foster a loyal fanbase that will keep coming back to your podcast for more.

When Does a Podcast Become a Vlog?

You might be wondering, as soon as you share a 40-minute video of two people chatting into mics at a table, doesn’t it stop being a podcast?

Vlogs can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, including conversation-based videos recorded round a desk or in a casual setting. Once you take away the visual aspect, and leave only the audio, you could just as easily label this a podcast.

Content creator and podcaster, Marques Brownlee chatted to the YouTube blog about how podcasting helped him succeed in today’s creator economy. During the discussion, Brownlee raises the question of what defines a podcast. Interviewer and Chief Business Officer at YouTube, Robert Kyncl makes an interesting and freeing point:

“For me, a podcast is a podcast if the creator calls it so – I don’t think it’s YouTube’s role to define what is and isn’t a podcast.”

An appreciation is felt for creators who innovate and redefine the terms used within content creation. You can move from one format to a multi-platform approach, blurring the lines and pushing the boundaries. Becoming a multi-platform creator can help launch your career, give it a timely boost, and ensure it continues in a sustainable and exciting way!