How to Start a Video Podcast—Essential Steps for Beginners

Podcasting offers a wide range of possibilities, from sharing information to chatting with friends about interests or news. The first step is setting up. While you can definitely start by recording on your phone, having a special space just for recording can make a big difference

Audio podcasts are popular for people who just want to listen, but the great thing about a video podcast is that it can easily double as an audio-only podcast.

TYX Studios has supported some of podcasting’s biggest names. Now we want to share our knowledge with you, so you can make video podcasts that keep your audience hooked.

Let’s get started!

Table of contents

What is a video podcast?

Imagine your favourite podcast, but with video—there you have it! A video podcast is just like an audio podcast, but with visuals.

You don’t need a fancy setup. Some video podcasts use just a static image, while others have multiple cameras in the studio, typically showing all sides of the table. This way, the audience can see you and your guests.

While adding dynamic visuals can make your podcast more engaging, remember that many listeners have podcasts on in the background. Still, interesting visuals can enhance the experience.

You can record your video podcast and upload it later to platforms like YouTube, or you can go live. Live streaming allows you to interact with your audience in real time.

Audio podcast or video podcast?

If you want to start a podcast, and aren’t sure if it should be audio or video-based, here are some things to consider:

Content

What’s your podcast based on? Some content, like interviews or discussions can work in either format, but if the content is more informational, your video podcasts could have imagery to represent this information. Using video content can also better create a personal bond between you and your viewers.

Editing

Unless your podcast is live, then you can alter it with video editing software after you have finished recording. Don’t worry if you aren’t a master at editing audio and video, most of the time, it’s just down to levelling out the volume. You could add in additional effects if you want, to spice up your podcast.

Length

Editing can take a long time. Depending on how long it is, you might be better off sticking to an audio podcast.

Platforms

There are a variety of platforms that can host your podcasts. Popular options are Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

While audio podcasts are the most popular option, there are still benefits to a video podcast that might help you to reach a larger audience.

Why start a video podcast?

Podcasts are designed to be convenient and easy to listen to, perfect for playing in the background while you do chores or enjoy a hobby without needing your full attention.

You might think a video podcast seems unnecessary. If podcasts are supposed to be low-key, why add video? This is where content comes into play. A video podcast can capture and hold attention more effectively, attracting more viewers and followers.

So, why choose a video podcast over just an audio one?

It’s a growing industry

Starting a podcast without an existing audience can feel daunting, especially in a competitive industry. New podcasts appear on platforms like YouTube daily, making it hard to get noticed.

Most of these are audio-only, which means you have an opportunity. By creating a video podcast, you can differentiate yourself and gain an edge in standing out.

It can be edited and repurposed

One of the best things about video is its versatility. Video editing software isn’t just for fine-tuning your video podcast; it can also be used to create snippets for social media platforms like X (Twitter), TikTok, or YouTube Shorts.

With attention spans dwindling, short, minute-long videos have become incredibly popular. Most people won’t commit to watching a full podcast unless they’re already interested, so creating shorter videos for other platforms is crucial.

These snippets give viewers a taste of your content without requiring them to watch an entire episode. Social media platforms favour video content, so your snippets are likely to perform well and attract more views.

Learn some professional video editing skills to make eye-catching, engaging videos to promote your podcast. With any luck, these snippets will gain a lot of impressions and help grow your audience.

Video podcasts draw in more attention

A YouTube video requires more attention than an audiobook, and the same is true for podcasts. Video podcasting and audio podcasts are in a similar position, they can almost seem like two completely different mediums.

While audio podcasts are popular because they are interesting, whilst not needing too much attention, a video podcast is interesting and draws attention. With more attention, you can hopefully draw in more impressions and engagement that follow through to your other content.

How to make a video podcast—Step-step

If you want to start a video podcast, it’s simpler if you already have audio content that you can splice and edit around video content. Having some audio-only podcasts is great for transitioning over to video, but if you don’t, then here are some tips to help you get started.

Find a video format that suits your style and content

Getting started can be the most difficult part, which is why the first step to anything is having a plan! This is your own video podcast, so you need to come up with all the details yourself, and the best place to start is the topic.

Find a topic that resonates with you, something that you’re deeply interested in. This could be new, general interest, books, movies, games, anything! As long as you feel some passion about it, then your passion will rub off on your audience. You don’t have to stick to a single topic forever either, don’t worry about mixing it up a little.

You could try static image recording, interviews, and studio recording, incorporating different video elements. Whatever you choose, don’t be afraid to experiment. Here are some things you should include in your plan when starting a video podcast:

1. Topic – The most important thing about a topic is your interest in it. If you aren’t interested, people can tell. However, you should still try and make sure it’s something your audience will enjoy too.
2. Audience – Finding an audience won’t happen until you start video podcasting, but you can decide some things before then. Look at similar content to what you plan to make and see what kind of audience they have. Defining your audience can help you tailor your content to what they like.
3. Format – How many video podcasters will there be? Is this a solo podcast? Co-hosted? Do you have guests? Will there be interviews? Find a format that suits you.
4. Video format – The more technical side, what format is it? MP4? FLV?
5. Content plan – Uploading whenever you want is fine, but having a schedule is better. Some content can be looser, but if you’ve got something in mind you want to discuss, you could create a plan, including topics and key talking points.

As you get more experienced and have a defined style, having a structured plan for your video podcasts is less important, but always having some ideas in mind before starting a video podcast can never hurt.

Setup

One of the fundamental parts of how to make a video podcast is the setup. Your video podcast setup takes a lot of planning and, well, setup. Having the best equipment will help your video podcasts stand out, but equipment is also expensive and needs to be considered carefully.

Here is some equipment that you will need:

• Microphone
• Camera
• Lighting
• Recording software
• Editing software

Get the highest-quality equipment that you can get, as it will make all the difference. When it comes to video recordings, there is a lot of editing involved, so your recording and editing software needs to be top-notch so you can get the most out of your video podcasts.

Record your episodes

Having a backlog of content isn’t a bad thing. It means that you have video podcasts ready and waiting to be published to a schedule. But before you can get started on that, you need to make sure you have somewhere to record, here are some things you’ll need to do:

• Make a space – Get a well-lit area, with little to no background noise
• Equipment – Always test it before starting a recording
• Follow your plan – Follow the content plan you made while speaking clearly.

Have a range of video podcasts ready so you can start strong!

Edit your video podcasts

Audio and video are recorded separately, this not only lets you upload an audio-only version of your video podcast, but it also makes the whole thing easier to edit. After you have finished recording, you will need to edit your video footage.

Editing is a great way to add sound effects and other visual elements that can liven up your video podcast. Your podcast audio can be edited to be more level, so there are fewer changes in volume, and your video can be made more crisp and seamless.

You can also add effects like cuts, zooms, and transitions that will improve the overall quality of your podcast.

When adding in effects, keep the kind of content and its audience in mind. The effects shouldn’t take away from the content but compliment it.

Here are some important editing tips and steps:

• Import your files – You can important recorded video files to editing software.
• Trim – Cut out parts that are a mistake, or where nothing is happening.
• Intros and Outros – Even if they are short, having an intro and outro adds quality to your podcast.
• Audio – You can edit the audio file separately from the video, but make sure that it still syncs up together.
• Music – Depending on the podcast and audience, adding background music can improve quality.
• Export – Once you have made your edits, remember to export your file to a suitable format.

Publish and advertise your podcasts

As mentioned earlier, social media platforms play a big role in the success of your podcast, but there are other ways to market your podcast. Here’s what to do when you’re ready to publish:

Find the right hosting platform

YouTube is probably one of the better choices, due to its easy functionality, large user base, and powerful search tools, but there are other options like Vimeo. Finding a platform with a RSS feed is also an option.

After uploading to YouTube, you should also consider uploading an audio version to platforms like Spotify.

Promote your podcasts

Social media platforms are the easiest way to promote your podcasts. TikTok, YouTube shorts, and X (Twitter) are some of the most popular choices. You can also consider email marketing if it’s appropriate for your audience.

Create clips of your content

Platforms like TikTok and YouTube shorts focus on shorter content. Get out your video editing software and create edits from your video podcast. A lot of people create highlights from a podcast that is short and digestible, giving people an idea of what your podcast is about.

Engage with your audience

Responding to comments and getting involved with your community is important if you want to have a strong audience base. With so many content creators out there, the bond you create with your audience is an important part of what makes you unique.

Where should I host my video podcast?

As mentioned previously, there are many platforms that can host your podcast, and there’s no real wrong answer to where you should post it. There is also no limitation to where you can post it.

If you want to reach as many people as possible, then putting your podcast episodes on as many platforms as you can should be your goal. Why only post on your YouTube channel, when you could also upload your podcast to Spotify or Apple podcasts? The more places you upload to, the larger the audience you bring in!

Here are some of the most popular video podcast hosting sites:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Podchaser
• TuneIn
• iHeartRadio

There are many different hosting sites to choose from, so finding one that suits you should be easy. Not every hosting site has a large number of visitors, so stick to sites like YouTube and Spotify and don’t stretch yourself too thin.

Types of video podcasts

Before you get started making a video podcast of your very own, you have to understand what goes into making one.

Depending on what you’re going for, you could need anything from video equipment to video recording software. Before deciding on all that, you should work out what kind of video podcast you want to make. Look at these popular video podcast formats:

Static image

This kind of podcast is more or else audio files, with a still image or two to give the listeners some representation of what you’re talking about.

While this isn’t much of a video element, it can still help you reach a larger audience. Even audiobooks usually have a picture of the cover whilst the audio is playing. If you want a low-effort, high-reward video podcast, then you can’t go wrong with a static image.

In terms of being a video podcast though, it’s pretty much just a still image over audio files, which is the bare minimum for posting to a video platform website, so it isn’t very exciting.

If you already have an existing audio podcast, you can easily add a visual element by adding a static image to it. This can breathe new life into your work with minimal effort.

Interviews

You’ll find a lot of remote interviews like like this on video platforms. A remote interview is typically two headshot recordings, one of you and one of the interviewee. Thanks to programs like Zoom, making one of these is easy. Usually, all you would have to is record your screen whilst in a video call. High-quality webcams will make these video podcasts go from looking pixellated to pristine, so be show to invest in some of those.

Make sure you have a stable internet connection and trustworthy software before starting, the last thing you want is to have to start a recording again because of errors and glitches.

Studio recording

A professional studio or any kind of dedicated recording space is ideal for podcast recording sessions. If you want to start video podcasting, you can set up a makeshift studio at home, or find a studio nearby that you can use.

An In-studio recording is fantastic if you have more than one person in the podcast. A studio brings a unique energy to a video podcast that something like a remote interview can’t replicate.

All you really need is a microphone and a video camera and you’re all set! Invest in some good video podcast equipment like a camera and microphone. You might also want some lights so you can get different lighting.

Depending on how many people are involved with your podcast, you could get multiple cameras, letting you capture video from different angles and giving your audience unique perspectives to keep things interesting.

For this to do well, you’ll want to make sure your video and audio quality are to a high standard, otherwise your podcast audience will be put off.

The downside to using a studio is the cost. On top of this, you’ll also need some decent skills with video editing.

With some dedication and time, however, you could see some big results from video podcasting in a studio. It’s up to you, but it could reach a huge audience.

Make your video podcasts stand out

Whether you’re posting to your YouTube channel, Spotify, or any other hosting site, you’ll want to stand out against everyone else. This is easier said than done, most things have already been done in some way or another on the internet, but there are certain things you can keep in mind for your video podcast episodes.

Props are a big thing when dealing with studio podcasts. Having recognisable items can give your audience something interesting to see when watching your podcast, but it will also be something unique to you, and this will make you recognisable when people see clips from your video podcast.

You also should consider your body language. Remember, this is video content, so your audience will be watching you throughout. Don’t stay stationary. Try and find a way to be animated without moving around too much. The same is true for your voice, try and speak in an interesting way, not just monotone and dull.

Consider making a logo that you can put up during your video podcasts. This will help advertise your video content to your audience and help with marketing.

Conclusion

Video podcasting differs from audio podcasting as it requires you to record video, and this can make a lot of difference in terms of time and effort. However, it also gives you two different kinds of podcasts to use across different platforms. You can create audio episodes from video podcasts, giving you more range.

All-in-all, there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to video podcasting, and if you have no experience, you’ll have to learn how to record AND film, whilst also learning how to use software. It’s definitely going to be time-consuming and an uphill battle.

The essence of a video podcast is that it’s something your audience can watch and listen to, but watching shouldn’t be a must. At the end of the day, a podcast needs to be something an audience can listen to whilst doing something else.

Remember, success isn’t guaranteed, so make sure you love what you do. As long as you stay passionate, and produce the best content you can, then your days of video podcasting will be exciting and fulfilling.

TYX London Podcast Recording Studios

Recording your video podcast can be challenging without the right environment. Lighting issues and background noise can distract or ruin your recording. That’s why a dedicated recording space is essential.

TYX London Podcast Recording Studios offers everything a budding podcaster needs. Our state-of-the-art recording booths are equipped with top-notch recording and filming gear, ensuring your podcasts are of professional quality.

If you’re looking for expert advice and a seamless start to your podcast journey, contact us today.