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Can a podcast be a video? 

There is some debate on this question within the larger ecosystem of podcasting. 

However, the short answer is yes, a podcast episode can be video content!

Podcasts can be shared as video via RSS feed to multiple platforms. Apple Podcasts is one, though this is only supported by some hosting sites. 

Podcast creators can directly upload the content to Spotify along with YouTube, which has quickly grown to represent a sizable chunk of podcast listenership.

Should my podcast have video? 

Video is certainly not a requirement for creating a podcast, and the medium is still, at its root, an audio-first medium. In fact, many audio-only podcasts continue to thrive and succeed today. 

However, this is shifting as more people embrace video podcasting all the time. 

For many listeners, the growing popularity of podcasts in the past few decades has made them more than just something to listen to during a commute. 

Among many listeners and viewers, podcasts have become a primary source of information, entertainment, and “infotainment”. Some people, in lieu of firing up Netflix after work, may head over to YouTube to put on the video complement of their favorite podcast. 

As such, it can pay to have a video complement, depending on your ambitions for the podcast. 

What podcasts are best for video? 

It can be hard to say, really. Some video podcasts that do really well have fairly minimal, just-people-talking production. Certain podcasts’ video complements are simply recordings of Zoom/Google Meet/Microsoft Teams calls. 

However, feel free to think creatively for a video podcast. For instance, if your podcast is about cooking, then recording it in a kitchen where you can even visually demonstrate making some dishes, could be a fun way to incorporate video. 

Can I do both audio and video podcasts?

Yes, and this both/and option is becoming increasingly popular. 

Podcasting is an audio-first medium built around RSS feed technology. This technology allows you to upload a file to one RSS feed. From there, you can syndicate it across many different podcast directories (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, etc.). 

But you can optionally add video podcasts to enhance the experience, and this trend has been growing massively over the past few years.

For this reason, many podcasters have chosen to offer their listeners and/or viewers the option of one or the other. If they want to listen to the audio version on the way to work or at the gym, then they can do just that. If they want to throw on the video podcast during their lunch break, that is just as fine. 

Can you upload podcasts on YouTube without video?

Yes! As of the end of 2023, you can now submit your RSS feed directly to YouTube. 

From there, YouTube will generate a video with a still-image of your podcast cover art and add it to a special playlist marked as a “Podcast.” 

You can learn how to post a video as audio only or audio and video in this blog from our sister-company Resound.

This can be a good idea for content creators looking to widen their target audience. Many types of videos are on YouTube, and podcast content without video is just one kind. Just as many people go to YouTube just to listen to music, a wide range of people go to that site to hear their favorite podcast hosts.

Another benefit of YouTube podcasts is that the video-progress bar (the one you slide your mouse over to choose a time, rewind, and the like) can have labeled divisions. This functions almost as a table of contents for your podcast, which can allow viewers to choose what bits they want to hear. Though of course most podcasters wish that every viewer listens to the whole podcast, appealing to the ones who just want to watch part can end up growing your audience in the long run.

Does Resonate Recordings offer production for video podcasts? 

Yes, we do! We have expertise in video production and are able to set up professional-grade lighting, sound, and camera angles.

We also use high-end video cameras and other video production equipment. Using our production team for podcasts offers you the opportunity to create professional-grade video podcasts.

Depending on where you wish to record the podcast, we can even come to you to film it. 

For many podcasters who want their video podcasts to look truly great, this can end up being a more economical option. Many video podcasters realize early on that even memory cards can be quite expensive.

Because of this, we are one of the go-to podcast production companies in the Greater Louisville area.

What benefits do video podcasts have? 

Video podcasts provide tons of opportunity to reach new listeners and generate additional content for marketing your show. 

For instance, having video clips of a podcast to put onto social media can be a great way to build an audience from the ground up, or just grow an existing listenership. Resonate Recordings can help you make these video marketing content pieces.

Giving audience members the ability to actually see the hosts can be a huge step in bridging the audience-host gap. A greater connection may be felt.

How much harder is it to have a video podcast, instead of just audio?

The truth is that a video podcast can also require a lot more hard work and post-production. 

If you have the budget or capacity, we highly recommend creating a video podcast strategy that suits your podcasts goals. When you work with Resonate Recordings, a video podcast can be a breeze. All you need to do is show up, have your conversation, while we handle the set-up and post-production. 

Can you monetize video podcasts?

Many video podcasts run ads, which can actually be a bargaining point. If the audience can see visual content related to products and services, podcasters may be able to negotiate higher rates for ad reads. The ads can function almost like explainer videos in some instances.

Once you start your video podcast and are growing your audience, the next step is to start considering how to monetize your podcast.

Doing so will involve familiarity with your podcast’s analytics, which gives you a sense of how well your podcast is performing. 

And of course the benefit for advertisers is that the audience is hearing their marketing content’s pitch from a podcast host that podcast listeners voluntarily listen to.

What else does Resonate Recordings know about video podcasts? 

Need help finding the right video equipment or editing your video podcast? 

Our expertise in video production covers many areas, so if you need help getting your video podcast off the ground, look no further than Resonate Recordings. 

Book a free discovery call with our team to learn how Resonate’s all-in-one podcast services could help you!