Does my podcast need a Youtube channel?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people ask about posting full video episodes via a Youtube Channel for their podcast. Now, don’t get me wrong, video is a very powerful tool- I went to film school, so I’m deeply passionate about the craft. But. If you want to go down this route in a meaningful way, you’ll need to consider the leap in resources it’ll require.

A podcasting strategy and a Youtube strategy are two separate things. They can certainly exist in harmony and feed off each other successfully, but you will be reaching different audiences in very different ways. The content has a single point of creation, but will take very different paths if done properly.

Let's take a ‘chat show’ format for example, a host and a weekly guest. You record the interview with a single camera and two microphone setup in a conference space, and then it’s a wrap.

For the pure audio only approach: The audio files will get mixed, taking out pauses, hesitations, pops and unwanted mouth noises. Crafted with music, intro and an end call to action for a personal listening experience. It’s ready to post with a title and show notes. 

For the Youtube approach: The video files (and raw audio) will get edited, typically very differently as a good editor will use alt angles and B-roll to cover unwanted or unflattering moments. You’ll add lower thirds, maybe some titles, giving it a branded feel. Then you need to mix the audio of this locked cut, color and grade the images, prepare a description, tags, thumbnail and title.

You’ll notice that I’m suggesting the podcast audio and the video audio should be separate things. They are very different processes if you care about your audience. If you really understand the pure audio listener experience, you’ll get that just ripping the audio off a video is not going to make your content shine. Also, if you're posting both video and audio unedited, then I hope you have the exceptional on-screen charisma to pull it off. Even the most experienced celebrity hosts understand the power of a good edit.

So as you can see, to have an effective podcast and Youtube strategy launch in sync, you may need to double or triple the budget. However, there is a third path we often recommend to clients.

We believe that video is an important part of promoting your podcast and further developing your engaged audience. Filming your podcast, even just as a single shot on a webcam, is incredibly worthwhile. Except we focus on using the best moments, repurposing them to create short, punchy content for social media.

And I've got news for you. Having a Youtube channel using that same short-form content can also be a winning strategy for Youtube. Yes, it’ll create a little more work, but way, way, way less than trying to roll out your full episodes as long-form videos. Mr Beast already hit 1.4 billion views using the new Youtube Shorts platform, so it’s an exciting space to launch your podcast in.

This 3rd way means your time and energy is freed to make content that is relevant to way more platforms than just Youtube. So think hard about your Youtube strategy or get in touch with us if you need any help!