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Whether you’re thinking of starting a video podcast or have already tried your hand at creating one, there’s always something you can learn from the best in the field.
Video podcasts are slightly different from a conventional podcast format, requiring a few additional skills to produce. That said, making a video podcast doesn’t have to be complicated. In this article, we look at what the pros are doing and how we can take a leaf out of their book.
TL;DR
- A video podcast is a typical podcast with a video element
- Video podcasts are more engaging, help you reach wider audiences, more adaptable for social media, and improve your SEO
- A good video podcast is high-quality, includes closed captions, and has a strong thumbnail
- The main types of video podcast are static-image, in-studio, remote, and b-roll footage/interview
- To record a high-quality video podcast, we recommend using Riverside and getting a high-quality external camera and microphone
What Is A Video Podcast?
A video podcast is exactly what it sounds like: a podcast accompanied by a video. Most podcasters tend to film themselves and their guests as they record their podcast. When it comes to what kind of video content, the world is your oyster. We’ll look at the different types of video podcasts later.
Why You Should Start A Video Podcast
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth pivoting your audio-only podcast to incorporate video or whether you should start one at all, here are six reasons why you should start a video podcast:
1. Video podcasts are more engaging
As a medium, videos are super engaging. That’s not to say that an audio podcast isn’t, but the added visual element offers your viewer additional value, can help reinforce what you’re saying during your podcast, and finally is an effective way of fostering a human connection between you and your viewers.
2. Reach a broader audience on different platforms
Creating video podcast episodes is an excellent way to branch out and post your content to platforms that may not have been open to you before. For example, you’ll be able to publish your video podcast on Youtube. By doing this, you’ll immediately be expanding your reach and making your content available to new audiences. The fact is, some people just prefer consuming video content. So if you want to tap into new demographics, creating videos is essential for growing your podcast.
3. Expand your reach on socials
Videos are the social medium. This is a highly effective way to capture a new audience’s attention and drive engagement with your content. Creating a video podcast means you can create social assets and promotions on Instagram, for example.
4. Video podcasts are versatile
As we’ve seen, video podcasts open up whole new audiences and allow you to expand your reach on social media platforms. In addition, video podcasts are highly versatile content. Once you’ve put in the hard work to film, edit and produce your video podcast, you can repurpose the video for different applications or even just use the audio.
5. Improve your SEO
Video SEO can do wonders for the searchability of your podcast and website. By including the video’s transcript and closed captions, search engines can scan your content for keywords and ensure that you rank highly on relevant searches.
6. Why not?
Lastly, but certainly not least, why not start a video podcast. With Riverside, video content is a no-brainer. Filming and producing a video podcast doesn’t require that much additional effort if you’ve already committed to recording an audio podcast. So from our perspective, nothing is stopping you, why not just try?
Why People Watch Video Podcasts
Exactly why one person watches video podcasts will be different from another. However, generally speaking, people watch video podcasts because they’re more engaging, they want a human connection with their favorite creators, and videos offer insight they just can’t get from the audio.
Although you might be wondering whether people genuinely want to watch a video recording of you sitting in your studio recording your podcast, they do! The added dynamism of seeing podcast hosts and their guests interacting is highly appealing to a lot of listeners.
Characteristics of a Good Video Podcast
High-quality video & audio
The most critical aspect of a video podcast is your video quality. You should be aiming for recording in full HD for a professional-grade video. Since this is still a podcast, your audio quality should be faultless too. If you can help it, don’t settle for any less.
Strong video thumbnail
A strong video thumbnail accompanies all good video podcasts. Video thumbnails are similar to movie posters or book covers, they should advertise to your potential audience exactly what your podcast is about while also giving them an overall impression of your show’s tonality, theme, and subject matter.
If you’re looking for some tips on creating a good video thumbnail, we’ve got you covered with our guide about how to make a YouTube video (the right way).
Closed captions, subtitles, and transcript
Including closed captions and a video transcript is important for three reasons: accessibility, video SEO, and higher engagement.
Accessibility
Including closed captions ensures that your content is accessible to all audiences, whether they’re hard of hearing, deaf, or non-native speakers.
Video SEO
Video transcripts and closed captions are essential for video SEO. To ensure that your video is searchable and ranks highly on search engines, you’ve got to make sure to include at least closed captions or subtitles. Google reads your closed captions or subtitles, scanning for keywords, which strengthens your search engine ranking.
Higher-engagement
Unfortunately, we live in an era of short attention spans. To capture the attention of social media users, closed-captions are essential. More often than not, your audience will be scrolling their feed, and the only reason they’ll stop for more than a second on your video is that the closed captions grabbed them.
If you want to read more about how you can add captions to video, check out our quick guide.
Different types of Video Podcast
Static Image
Static video podcasts are the most low-effort format of all. You don’t have to make any changes to your production process, instead, simply record your audio as usual. Then, to upload to YouTube or other visual-based platforms, simply save your audio file in video format with a static background image.
In-studio
When you think of a video podcast, this is probably the format you’re thinking of. In-studio video podcasts simply consist of a video of the podcast host and guests recording the audio podcast. This is a highly effective and fairly low-effort format.
Remote
Remote footage is similar to in-studio video podcasts, except instead of all hosts and guests being in the same location, you’re all joining the recording from different places. In a COVID context, remote recording has become especially common. Again, it’s a fairly low-effort format that can reap serious benefits.
B-roll footage & Interview Format
B-roll footage combined with an interview format is a far more effort-intensive production format. These kinds of video podcasts include videos of the host interviewing the guest, as well as b-roll footage interspersed within the dialogue.
Our Favorite Video Podcasts
Joe Rogan Experience
The Joe Rogan Experience is comedian Joe Rogan’s long-form conversation podcast. Episodes consist of Joe Rogan (the host) conversing with various guests, including comedians, musicians, authors, artists, and more.
Although the Joe Rogan experience is currently distributed exclusively to Spotify, you can still find examples of the video version of the podcast on YouTube.
Format: In-studio
Why We Like It?
The Joe Rogan Experience podcast is one of the most popular podcasts of all time, and it’s not difficult to understand why. The dialogue feels authentic and genuine, the show’s guests are all excellent, bringing real value to the podcast’s content.
What Can We Learn From It?
The Joe Rogan Experience is a great example of how the in-studio simple video format can be highly effective. In terms of the video itself, there’s a real sense that the video isn’t over-produced in any way. Though the video quality is good, it’s not intended to be the central aspect of the show. Rather, just a different way to enjoy the important bit: the dialogue. This is indicative of just how low-maintenance producing a video podcast can be: simply go about recording your podcast as usual, but video yourself doing it.
The H3 Podcast
Ethan and Hila Klein host the H3 podcast. Most of their content consists of reaction videos and sketch comedy.
Format: In-studio
Why Do We Like It?
The H3 Podcast is simple but effective. Their video and audio are high-quality, and they ensure to capitalize on the video format to deliver value to their viewers.
What Can We Learn From It?
The H3 hosts play around and make the most of the video format, wearing different costumes and changing up their backdrop, for example. These simple touches add interest to the visuals and make the video more engaging.
They also make the most of the ability to share their screen and include other media that they can react to and show their viewers.
The Trash Taste
Trash Taste is a podcast that focuses on anime, manga, and otaku culture hosted by The Anime Man, Garnet from Gigguk, and Connor from Cdawgva.
Format: In-studio
Why Do We Like It?
The Trash Taste has a niche focus topic and runs with it. Their editing and production value is impeccable, and means that the overall video podcast is highly effective. They’ve invested in their studio backdrop to match their branding, and this gives a professional edge to their overall production.
What Can We Learn From It?
The Trash Taste really invests in their editing. Though they too use the simple in-studio format, they cut between hosts, as well as playing with visuals and animations. Combined with a sleek studio backdrop, the result is a high-production value, professional video podcast.
The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast
The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast is a comedy podcast hosted by comedians Cody Ko and Noel Miller alongside various guests.
Format: In-studio & remote
Why Do We Like It?
The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast is a professionally produced podcast that maintains unique character and personality. They’re also agile with their video podcast format. Some episodes begin as in-studio recordings, then seamlessly incorporate a remote guest halfway through.
What Can We Learn From It?
The Tiny Meat Gang traverses different formats effortlessly. Their in-studio episodes benefit from quirky but on-brand studio setups that draws you into the world they’ve created for their audience. Their remote episodes are no-less professional and boast high-quality audio and video. They also frequently play with different camera angles, cutting between individual shots of the speakers and wide shots of everyone.
Dear Hank & John
Dear Hank & John is hosted by YouTubers and authors John and Hank Green. It is a life-advice style format where John and Hank answer questions and offer advice.
Format: Static
Why Do We Like It?
Dear Hank & John opts for the most simplistic ‘video’ format of all: static. This is an excellent example of harnessing the agility and flexibility of video podcasts without actually making video.
What Can We Learn From It?
Dear Hank & John is exemplary of the fact that you don’t need to make videos to produce ‘video’ podcasts.
Tools And Techniques For Better Video Podcasts
Use Riverside to record your video podcasts
Riverside is the must-have tool for creating a video podcast. Riverside is explicitly designed for podcasters and aims to make the content creation process as easy as possible. Whether you’re opting for an in-studio or a remote interview format, Riverside has you covered.
Local recording in full HD
All your video footage and audio is automatically recorded locally in full HD. This ensures you capture the maximum quality possible.
Remote Guests
Easily record your HD video podcast with remote guests. Simply send them the invite link and wait for them to join your browser-based studio.
Wherever they’re joining from, your remote guests will be recorded locally on their computer, so you don’t have to worry about dodgy internet connection affecting your final recording.
Media Board & Screen share
Riverside’s Media Board makes live mixing super intuitive and easy. Include different media, add jingles and sound-effects, and more. Sharing your screen is also incredibly straightforward. Any media you use during your recording is automatically recorded to a separate track to choose how you use it during post-production.
Text-based Editor
Riverside’s Text-based Editor takes the hassle out of editing by helping you get your video podcast ready in moments. We use Ai transcriptions so you can edit your podcast as easily as editing a text-document. Customize the template and branding, and capitalize on the power of the AI speaker view to ensure that whoever is speaking is always in frame.
Automated Video Transcription
As we saw earlier on, a video transcript is essential for video SEO and producing subtitles or closed captions. That’s why Riverside does it for you. We offer Ai transcriptions available in over 100 languages. Our transcriptions use AI speech to text software with unmatched accuracy so you can spend less time fixing your transcripts, and more time on using them to boost your content.
Record from the mobile app
Riverside also now offers an iOS and Android mobile app so that you can record a video podcast whenever inspiration strikes, even if you’re on the go.
Film using more than one camera
Though this option is less budget-friendly, using more than one camera can increase your video podcast’s production value. You’ll be able to shoot from different angles, play with your videography, and more.
What You Need To Make A Successful Video Podcast
Every podcaster has its notion of an ideal podcasting setup. However, there are a few essential pieces of equipment that no podcaster can live without:
High-quality camera
If you’re going to be recording video, you’ll need an external camera of some sort. Although the type of camera you get will come down to your budget and personal preference, we would definitely advise investing in a camera to ensure you capture your video in the highest quality possible.
You can find the perfect camera for your setup using our guide to choosing the best podcast camera.
Microphone
While the video is important, ensure you’re recording in the best quality possible by investing in a microphone. Browse our recommendations to find a podcast microphone that works for you.
Recording software
You’ll need podcast recording software. Ideally, you’re looking for one like Riverside that allows you to record both HD audio and video, as well as include remote guests. This will give you the maximum flexibility for recording your podcast.
Video editing software
Lastly, you’ll need video editing software to get your video podcast ready for publication. Though, as we’ve seen, most video podcasters opt for a reasonably straightforward video structure, the ability to edit your video and add some flair is definitely advisable. Riverside’s integrated Text-based Editor makes it quick and easy to get your episode ready, without having to invest in additional software.
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