So should YOU be using video in your podcast?
After all, podcasting’s strength lies in its audio-first approach. Whether you are producing an interview-style show, a narrative documentary show, or an audio drama, the imagination and theater of the mind (or ears) add so much to its intimacy and beauty as a narrative form.
Steve Pratt—cofounder of Pacific Content and marketer— wrote the article, Joe Rogan Isn’t A Podcast: Unpopular Thoughts about Video & Podcasting. The main points of the article shed light on some factors that will help you determine whether or not your podcast is a good candidate for video:
What actually works on YouTube
Copy & paste doesn’t. It’s a different medium & you have to tailor your content to be engaging on it.
Good audio doesn’t automatically make good video
We know great sound is critical in podcasts, but are we versed in what makes visuals successful in Video?
Go multi-platform…but be ready to hustle!
A smart multi-platform strategy means your content is “subject matter first” rather than “platform first”. While it’s related, you must have custom content for each channel.
Some podcasts just aren’t meant for video!
As Steve Pratt says: “How could Hysterical, the Apple Podcasts Show of the Year for 2024, be a video podcast? It would have had to be conceived as a full-fledged video documentary from day one.”
The thing about Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan is a video interview show that translates well to audio, not vice-versa.
Zoom recordings are visually boring
Shows that just record themselves talking on Zoom are largely unsuccessful on YouTube.
“The list of popular YouTube podcasts goes on and on, and they all have the same thing in common: they are designed for video first.”
—Steve Pratt
A couple of questions he asks might be helpful in making the decision to include video in your podcast:
- What is the purpose of your show?
- How would you accomplish that if you could only do video and weren’t allowed to have an audio feed?
His bottom line conclusion is that YouTube’s got tons of content. A boring video has zero chance of standing out, so if you want to get traction with video podcasting, you’d better invest in the same standards of quality in your video content as you do in your audio.
On the other hand, Tom Webster of Sounds Profitable says, we must meet our listeners where they are. “YouTube may not be the best place for your podcast, but it is the best place for you as a podcaster.”
In the crowded world of podcasts, video could be your ticket to standing out and building a loyal, engaged fanbase.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to produce full video episodes for every show. You might instead use video to promote your show on social media: a video excerpt from your Riverside interview session, a video teaser in which you speak briefly into the camera, or even a movie-style video trailer for your show.
Find out if Video Podcasting is your thing!
We couldn’t be happier to have Steve on board. He brings with him a wealth of experience in senior roles at renowned networks like HBO, Discovery, and Disney, as well as other entities including the White House and the International Monetary Fund.
Steve brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking to every project. In addition to working with us, Steve also owns Big Wave Media in the DC Metro area.
