In the year 2020, video was crowned king of content for marketers, and as we moved through the years to 2024, the industry has evolved significantly. Major platforms like YouTube are fully embracing podcast content, and new technologies making video podcasting more accessible than ever.
Many people considering starting a podcast are now faced with a crucial decision: remain audio-only or expand into video content. To help you make this choice, let’s explore the current state of video podcasting and the tools available to help you succeed in either format.
🎬 Video Might Be King, But It Doesn’t Rule All
In his article on Medium in early 2021 when Evo Terra said, “video [is] for work, audio is for an escape.” He explained that after 2020 gave us a year almost everything transitioning from in-person interaction to video only, quite frankly he is sick of video. To him, video is supposed to be for work and audio is his means of escape.
For some people, they simply want to put their headphones in and listen to a podcast host as the only voice in their ears. There is something intimate about the experience that allows the listener to feel drawn in to the message or story they are consuming, and tune out the rest of the world.
He said in his article, “We know that people use podcasting as a way to escape the hustle-and-bustle of their busy lives, either taking some alone-time, getting some education, catching up with current events, or a myriad of other reasons that don’t require their facial expressions to be placed on display.”
Is Evo right? Maybe, maybe not.
The Evolution of Video Podcasting Tools
The technical barriers to video podcasting have decreased significantly with new tools and technologies. RSS.com’s PodViz technology, for example, offers an innovative solution for podcasters wanting to enter the video space without dramatically changing their workflow.
Editing has been made simpler than ever before as well. In a Podcasting Made Simple Live class held in October 2024, podcasting expert Matthew Passy said, “Descript has revolutionized the way we edit…you can expedite the editing process. With it, you can replicate voices, replace words, force eyes to look at the camera, remove filler words like umms and uhs, and even enhance the quality of poor audio in just a matter of seconds.”
Key features of modern video podcast tools include:
– Higher resolution video output
– Custom waveform animations
– Integrated chapter markers
– Visual elements like chapter art
– Automatic transcription display
Podcasters Need a Way to Stand Out
In their article Podcasts Statistics (2024), “What’s the Big Data” reported that the number of podcasts in existence now is more than 5 million. They also said there are more than 71 million episodes live on popular podcast directories as of May 2024 too.
The simple truth is, there are a lot of people competing for a listener’s attention. Having video in addition to audio is looked at as a means to stand out from the competition, and as a way to make themselves open to new audiences.
In their Video Marketing Statistics guide, MotionCue states that 70% of marketers said that videos showed a positive ROI.
Video provides podcasters a new way to connect with listeners on another platform, and to provide some visual flair to their shows that wouldn’t be possible with an audio only experience.
However, it’s important to understand the distinction between two approaches to video podcasting:
1. Full Video Production
- Recording video while podcasting
- Multiple camera angles
- Professional lighting and backgrounds
- Full video editing workflow
2. Enhanced Audio-to-Video Conversion
Using tools like PodViz you can create:
- Visually enhanced audio episodes
- Automatic chapter integration
- Custom waveform visualizations
- Professional-looking video content
Video Makes Repurposing Content Easier
One of the biggest reasons podcasters are opting to create video podcasts is that it makes it a little easier to repurpose their content. Not only can they strip the audio from the video to have podcast content, but by filming the podcast as they produce it they now have two pieces of content created for the time and effort required to create one.
They can take it even further and create an entire menagerie of content including micro-clips of videos that can be shared on social media, blog posts from the transcription, and even “after-the-episode” clips that they sell access to in membership sites or via Patreon. Of course, that is not to say video podcasting is not without its limits.
Should I be Video Podcasting ?
For some podcasters video podcasting is the next logical evolution for their audiences. For others, sticking with audio is the best choice.
What’s best for you? To help you make this decision, try writing out pros and cons to each content method for yourself. And while you’re debating things, ask yourself questions like:
- Am I ready to purchase the additional equipment needed to start video podcasting?
- Will my current listeners enjoy an added way to tune in? (Pro tip – If you already have a decent sized audience, ask them what they think and they might provide the answer for you)
- Are my competitors video podcasting? If so, are they getting enough views to warrant the creation of videos for my own show?
- Am I ready to learn video editing on top of audio editing?
It’s no secret that YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine, and publishing your video podcast on your YouTube channel could help you reach millions of new fans.
If you’re still unsure, you could always give video podcasting a try and see how you like it. You’re the host. This is your show, and what you do is up to you!
