How to Start A Video Podcast

Chances are you’ve heard of a video podcast. If you haven’t actively then you’ve definitely started to notice YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and even LinkedIn feeds being populated with videos of podcasters chatting in a studio. 

Using clips of a podcast to promote it across channels is not a new practice, but it has evolved into full episodes of video podcasts. These may be studio recorded, or they may be enhanced with footage. 

Video podcasting now allows your podcast to reach a much larger audience, and offers a new way to consume content for your audience. If you are looking to boost up your discoverability and reach, you’ll want to learn how to start a video podcast. Luckily, we’re giving you all you need to know here.

Why Start a Video Podcast?

Video podcasting is still far from the norm, it’s true. But it can have some added benefits for podcast growth.
The major benefit to adding a video element to your podcast is discoverability, namely with the use of a YouTube podcast. YouTube is the second-largest search engine, and it has become listeners’ preferred platform for listening to podcasts.

Currently, only 17% of podcasters use video, while 64% of listeners would like to have some visual accompaniment to their listening experience. That may mean that there’s a large gap in the market for you to break into. However, you should also consider that with a video podcast you might not be competing with only other podcasters, but YouTubers as well.

This brings up the question, what makes a video podcast a podcast, and not just a YouTube channel?

A video podcast is still above all a podcast - meaning audio is the focus, and you don’t need the visual element to enjoy the content. The video is just an extra bonus. A video podcast aligns with the audio-only podcast, connects to an RSS feed, and can be distributed on other platforms as audio-only as well. 

Want to hear the Lower Street Team’s thoughts on video podcasts? Tune into our episode of The Podcast Book Club.

Creating a Video Podcast - Before You Start

In some cases you might already have a podcast in the works and just want to ease into video podcasting, others might be deciding to creating a video podcast from scratch. In any case, when considering how to start a video podcast, you need to plan.

How is your video podcast going to look? What are your goals? 

Open up a notebook, or new doc, and let’s get started planning out your podcast.

Here’s what to outline:

• Why are you starting this video podcast? What is your main objective? 

• Who do you want to speak to with this podcast? Who is your main target audience?

• What are your main goals?

• What content will you produce? Consider an initial topic list for episode ideas.

• How will you use video in your new video podcast?

Most of this planning will be the same if you are starting a normal audio-only podcast. The primary difference in your planning process for a video podcast is that you need to consider the visual element.

Do you want to have a front-angle video of the host? Will you have multiple angles, and a full podcast studio to act as a background? Are you hoping to use b-roll footage or historical footage? 

You can always experiment, but it is good to have an idea at the beginning so you know how to create your video podcast setup.

Further Reading: How To Write a Podcast Outline

How To Start A Video Podcast -Your Guide

Planning is very much the first stage of any podcasting journey. And as we explore the full guide on how to start a video podcast, you may notice it’s similar to starting a podcast. The key differences lie in recording setup, editing, and uploading to a video platform. Read on for the a-z of starting a video podcast.

1. Plan your podcast format, idea, audience, outline

As we mentioned above, planning is the first step. Before you buy a microphone, claim a website or record, you need to know what’s this podcast all about. Get a clear podcast outline, know your audience, and get your podcast title, description, and artwork together. And of course, get a few primary episode ideas outlined. Then we can really get started.

2. Get the Right Equipment

Once you’ve committed to a video podcast, and you’ve got your outline, the next question on your mind is probably “what do i need to start a video podcast?”. You’ll have to consider the best podcast equipment and how to record a podcast with video using the best video equipment, and editing software.

For the podcasting element here are your essentials:

• An external USB microphone: Some of our favorites include the Audio Technica AT2005 USB, or the Shure MV7 USB

• A pop filter: if not included with the microphone

• Wired Headphones: not your AirPods, those chunky headphones podcasters use serve a purpose, they let you hear exactly how the recording is going.

• Recording & Editing Software

Further Reading: The Best Podcast Equipment for Every Budget

The equipment you need to record a podcast with video also includes:

• At least one video camera per angle you’d like to have: Apple users, your iPhone can connect to your Mac and act as a higher definition camera for front-angle only. Another option for budget is the Sony Alpha a6000, and a more high-end camera is the Canon VIXIA HF G50. 

• Tripods for said cameras

• Ring Light: Natural light is wonderful, but it’s rare we have it stable at all times, a ring light lets you control the lighting better.

• Remote Recording Software: If you are recording remotely, you’ll need a recording software that will support the quality you are looking for. Yes, Zoom is an option, but frankly, not one we’d recommend. It’s well worth it to invest in Riverside or SquadCast for a better quality recording both for audio and video. 

• An editing software that supports video: find our favorites below.

For more insight, have a look at our blog on how to create a video podcasting setup.

Additionally if you plan on incorporating stock footage, or even sound effects into your video podcast, you’ll want to look into royalty-free sound, and footage services.

When it comes to editing software, there are loads of options for creators of every skill level. If you are a single creator, looking for a software that does the basics, Descript might be a good option. You can edit video and audio side by side by editing the text of the transcript directly. You can insert basic effects, adjust audio, and insert footage. However you don’t have a lot of control over the finer details of sound and video editing.

If you’d like more control, Adobe Audition + Premier work side by side for editing sound and video. DaVinci Resolve can also be a great option that has a free version, as well as a paid version with more extensive features.

3. Set up your Hosting

We could say your hosting platform is your last essential piece of “equipment”. If you want to launch a podcast, you need a podcast RSS feed, that’s the objective of a hosting site. There are many to choose from. When looking into it you should compare the monthly cost, the upload limits, and the distribution connections (where can the hosting site distribute your podcast). Our top recommendations are PodBean and Transistor.

Both of these have a fair monthly price, and allow you to distribute your podcast to Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and many, many more, they also have monetization features. 

Many hosting platforms are beginning to offer video podcast hosting as well. If you’d like your videos to be on more platforms than just YouTube, say Spotify for example, then you’ll want to look for these. PodBean does offer this service currently.

How To Start A Video Podcast on YouTube

While your hosting site is where your podcast and the audio-only episodes will live, you need to set up a home for your video podcast. And where else would it go but YouTube!

We’ve already covered that YouTube is the second largest search engine, but really it is the place for video content.

You can upload your video podcasts to Spotify as well now and potentially have a TikTok to promote clips. But full episodes should most definitely live on YouTube.

If you already have an established brand presence on YouTube, you can keep your channel, and create a Playlist as a podcast. Just make sure that the content, tone of voice, and overall branding of the current channel aligns with your podcast.

If you’ve never had a YouTube Channel, or if your podcast isn’t aligned with your current channel, then it’s time to create a dedicated channel. This is fairly easy. Head over to YouTube, sign up with your Google credentials, and start setting it up. 

Your URL and Channel title should be the same as your podcast. You should include a brief podcast description in the “about”. You should also create a cover image and profile picture that align with the podcast. 

The Profile image could be a variation of your podcast artwork, or it could be a brand logo, or the hosts’ own photo, whichever will fit with the branding. The cover image should include the name of the podcast, a one line summary of it’s purpose and content, and text saying when new episodes come out.

Additionally, when it comes time to upload, you’ll still need to set up a playlist, and be sure to click “Set as a Podcast”. You can do this by clicking the three dots to the right of the playlist and selecting the option on the drop-down menu. This is crucial as it pings YouTube to let them know this content is a podcast, allowing them to place it on their podcast page, in the podcast tab in YouTube music, and suggest it to users interested in podcasts.

Further Reading: Podcasting on YouTube

4. Make a Calendar, and Outline your first episodes

Your setup is good to go, you’ve got the equipment, and your hosting and channels are set up, but… what are you going to record? Don’t just wing it. Come up with a podcast calendar, and outline your episodes or interviews ahead of time. 

There’s no magic number for how many episodes you need to have ready ahead of time, but planning in monthly batches can really help with time management. It also is good to stay ahead in case any unexpected situations arise and you can’t record.

5. Record 

Ok, you now have our blessing, you can hit record and get podcasting! This step is going to look different for all of you depending on the format you have gone with for your show. 

Just a little tip, make sure you test all your equipment and filming angles beforehand. Especially your mic technique, and the focus on your cameras. 

6. Edit

Time to take that raw recording and transform it into compelling podcast, or video podcast content. Upload your files into your editing software and get started. You’ll want to edit for technical quality: making sure the audio levels are where they should be, background noise has been taken care of, and the lighting or colors of your video are where you want them.

Then you’ll edit for creativity and flow. Cut any parts that were “off-record”, mistakes, and long pauses. Then you’ll want to cut for content value - make sure whatever you’ve got is serving your audience, if you go on a long tangent about the coffee you’re drinking, or your dog’s walk this morning…maybe cut it. But hey, it depends on your podcast, your format, and your audience -you know them best so make the right choice!

It’s not all cutting, this is the moment to add in sound effects, and extra footage if you planned on it.

If you are filming a front-angle single-host video podcast, that doesn’t mean you should skip video editing all together. Changes in zoom, and subtle frame changes like closer angles can add a lot of effect, and keep audiences paying attention. Even throwing up an image to explain a point you discuss can enhance the final video podcast episode.

Lastly, round out your podcast with the essentials. You’ll want to include an intro, an outro, and chances are a little theme music. If you are looking for more engagement, a cold-open teasing part of the episode can be a great way to get listeners hooked. When it comes to this stage, you’ll want to have a look at our blog on How to Edit a Podcast.

7. Upload

Your video podcast is READY. Well ok, there are few details to cover as you upload your new video podcast episodes. First, don’t forget the audio of your podcast. Export your final episode in both mp3 for your RSS and mp4 for your video.

Prepare your episode title and show notes. These should be relevant to the topic, but also aim to use SEO keywords in both to maximize reach. 

Your audio-only episode can then be uploaded to your hosting site and either published immediately or scheduled for later. 

For YouTube there’s one more step to prepare: your Thumbnail.

The YouTube thumbnail is incredibly important. It’s what most users skim when deciding to watch a video or not. You should make it visually appealing, while incorporating elements of the podcast branding.

Once this is all ready, head to YouTube, head to your Podcast Playlist and click the “New Video” button. You’ll be prompted to upload the mp4 file, enter the title and show notes, add tags, and upload your thumbnail. This video can then be published immediately or scheduled for later.

A Note on YouTube’s RSS connection: You can connect your RSS feed to YouTube so that episodes automatically load. However this will only connect the audio-only episodes with your cover art as a static image. It will copy over the title and show-notes as they are on your RSS feed. You can still do this and have them available as Audio-only episode, but make sure you edit the description on YouTube to clarify that this is the audio only. Then link the video episode in the description, and as a “card” on your YouTube video.

8. Share & Promote!

With your podcast out there and ready for listeners, you might want to look into ways of promoting it. A big step you can do to help your discoverability is using correct podcast SEO tactics to make sure your podcast is showing up in the right searches. 

For your show description and episode description make sure to choose 5-10 keywords that you will then use in the text. Use them as much as you can, while staying relevant, don’t just stuff them without clear reason. If you need help finding relevant keywords for YouTube, you can always use web tools like Google Keywords or Ubersuggest, or you can use TubeBuddy which specifically focuses on YouTube keywords.

Within YouTube you can use a few extra features to help promote your podcast. You can live stream episodes, you can use the community tab to connect with your audience, or you can create clips of episodes and publish them as shorts.

Beyond the sphere of YouTube you can start using classic, but proven strategies of podcast growth. These include cross-promotion by collaborating with other podcasters or other leaders in your niche, using social media channels to share clips, growing a newsletter, and launching a podcast website. 

Further Reading: How To Promote Your Podcast

If the goal was video podcasting, rather than share your podcast RSS link, you can link your YouTube channel to all your social media, your email signature, and anywhere else you’ll be spreading the word.

Other Considerations about Video Podcasting

By now you know how to start a video podcast, but your podcasting journey doesn’t end there. Chances are some of your objectives with launching a podcast revolved around growth, and/or monetization.

We’ve covered a few ways to promote your podcast, but one last consideration is to always keep track of your podcast metrics. Keep an eye on the analytics to see which topics are more enticing to listeners, what style thumbnail seems to get more clicks, and how long are people watching a video for. You can get most of this information directly from YouTube. It also helps to compare it to your audio-only podcasts to see how they are each performing.

When it comes to monetization, video podcasts can still take on sponsors like audio-only podcasts. You can still include host-read ads. The only big difference is that once you are eligible, you can sign up for YouTube’s monetization and earn through ads.

Further Reading: How to Monetize a Podcast

Final Thoughts on How To Start A Video Podcast

I hope this step-by-step guide helps you feel much more confident when considering how to start a video podcast. As you can see, if you’ve already been podcasting for a while, the only new thing you’ll have to experiment with is creating compelling videos, and getting familiar with YouTube.

Ultimately, Video podcasting should still be about the core content. While visual effects and footage can be a bonus to your audience, the valuable information should be the center of your focus. Make content your audience loves, that’s what it all comes down to.

If you’d like to get into video podcasting for your brand podcast, the Lower Street team would love to help. Get in touch, and let’s see how we can bring your video podcast to life.