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The Power of Video: Why Podcasting is Going Visual

May 23, 2023
  • 756
  • 7 min

In recent years, the world of podcasting has experienced an explosive growth, captivating audiences with its ability to deliver immersive audio content on a wide range of topics. From true crime stories to thought-provoking interviews and captivating storytelling, podcasts have become an integral part of our daily lives. 

But recently, there is a noticeable shift happening in the podcasting landscape – the rise of visual elements. This emerging trend of incorporating video into podcasts is revolutionizing the way we consume and engage with this popular medium.

In this blog post, we will explore the power of video and delve into the reasons why podcasting is increasingly going visual. We will examine the benefits of incorporating video elements into podcasts and how it enhances the overall podcasting experience for both creators and listeners alike. 

So let’s get straight into it!

 

The rise of video podcasting & Spotify 

After ten years of working as an audio-only streaming platform, this year Spotify announced its launch of an under-30-second long video clips feature. What does this mean? Videos are everywhere! 

“They haven’t even thought about making updates or changes to Spotify in the last ten years because they haven’t needed to,” mentions Gayle King in CBS Mornings when talking about Spotify’s launch of Clips feature, a short, 30-second long video clips that will allow creators to promote their content further. 

Although Spotify succeeded even without a video streaming feature, its decision to include video content on its platform proves that in the future, an audio-only format might not be as sought-after as it is now. 

Spotify started getting its hands on video in 2022 when it began allowing users to upload and stream video podcasts on its platform. And as the data has shown: it’s been pretty successful. According to the head of global podcast studios, Julie McNamara, video podcasts mainly appeal to younger listeners and are currently one of the “fastest growing areas of podcasting.” Spotify has around 700,000 video creators, and new podcasters are constantly joining.

Still, some podcasters are skeptical about these changes, as they nonetheless believe that video format is unacceptable for podcasting. However, the truth is that podcasts are not inherently audio-driven or video-driven: they’re both. Podcasting should be considered a separate art form, regardless of the media format it’s being presented through. 

So, podcasters shouldn’t be afraid to open their show for video lovers if they want to stay on top of the competition. Of course, video format might not be suited for every show, but it’s still worth giving a shot. Here are some of the ways your podcast can benefit from having the video element in it: 

Benefits of video podcasting 

  • Increased trust and authenticity

How will your audience know if they can trust you or not? It is hard to feel like you’re friends with someone when you haven’t even seen their face.

Video podcasting makes you seem more relatable and trustworthy simply because you let your audience see you. Just the fact that your listeners can watch you and your guests interact instantly adds more authenticity to your show. 

According to reputable podcast advertising companies, with a video podcast, you can make your audience connect with you more, which means they will be more eager to advise your podcast to their friends or endorse the products you are promoting. 

  • Increased engagement 

Remember those sweet old days when you’d dial a phone number for your favorite radio show to chat with the hosts or respond to their questions? Those moments made the experience of listening to your favorite radio show more exciting. Of course, it is still a thing with radio programs, but what if we took it one step further? 

Imagine calling your favorite co-hosts and not only listening to them talk to you but seeing their raw reactions. Wouldn’t it be way more fun? 

Live video podcasts give you the perfect opportunity to organize calls with your listeners and have them directly engage with your show. The video format will make the interaction more honest and, most probably, hilarious, making your audience crave more episodes!  

  • Better shareability on social media networks

It’s not a secret that social media networks are mainly visual-driven. As the data shows, around 85% of the video content on Facebook is viewed muted. Most of the users consume the content quickly, simply taking a glimpse at the visuals. So, how would you make your podcast appear on someone’s feed? Furthermore, how can you make the user interact with your content and even share it with others? 

You know the answer: you need to have it in video format! 

  • More discoverability 

If you want more people to access your content and enjoy it, then you should make it available on YouTube. YouTube can be considered one of the most significant search engines in the world, so you better get as much out of it as you can! 

The best part about YouTube is its own SEO algorithms specifically focused on video discoverability. It can help you push your video content up in the search results, helping you attract new listeners to your show. 

Another advantage of using YouTube, is that you get access to a large pool of listeners you’d otherwise miss, as they are not considering themselves podcast listeners per se. 

So make sure you open your YouTube channel and make it grow as soon as you can, to make your podcast go viral! 

Different ways to Create video podcasts 

So, how exactly do you make a video podcast? They are different video podcast formats out there that you can try. We’ll mention a couple of them here: 

Video podcast with a static image 

One of the easiest ways to create a video podcast is to put a static image on top of your audio. Of course, you would miss some of the benefits that video podcasts could bring you when not showing your face, and this format would be less engaging. However, it would still allow you to share your podcast on social media platforms and attract new listeners. 

Animations 

A great way to bring your podcast to life is through animation. Animated videos are now pretty popular as they offer a fun and engaging way to interact with content. There are hundreds of animation styles to choose from, so pick one that suits your podcast (and your budget!) the best and stick to it for the rest of your episodes. 

Remote interviews or dialogues 

If you have a lot of guests attending your podcast, you can try the remote interview format. You simply invite your guests over through an online link and record an interesting video interview episode for your audience to watch, and easy for you to make. In other words, it’s a win-win! 

Studio video recording

Finally, if you have a good camera and a fun studio, you can set up your equipment in it and start recording your video podcasts in your studio. Make sure that you have good lighting to make your show look professional. 

Final thoughts

As podcasting continues to evolve, incorporating video elements presents an exciting prospect for creators and listeners alike. The power of video in podcasting lies in its ability to deepen engagement, enhance storytelling, and expand the reach of podcasts to new audiences. So, why not embrace the visual revolution and unlock the potential of video in your own podcasting journey? How do you envision the future of podcasting with the integration of video?

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