Today, it’s rare to find a business that hasn’t dabbled in a form of podcasting. Podcasts are a great way to engage your audience and drive traffic to your site, but often fizzle out of practice because of a lack of time or resources.

When everything you need to start a podcast is laid out in front of you, however, producing your own podcast becomes much less daunting.

According to Edison Research, total podcast listeners grew 37.5% from 2017 to 2020 — and are expected to continually increase over the next decade. Podcast audiences aren’t the only thing growing. The sheer amount of podcast episodes available has exploded over the past few years, with upwards of 43 million total episodes existing across platforms as of January 2021. For those thinking of launching their own, the first step should be figuring out how to stand out from the sizable crowd.

One easy way to achieve this is by employing a video podcast to accompany your audio podcast. With only 17% of all podcasters opting to record a video along with their audio, creating an interactive, visually appealing video podcast could be your fast track to gaining an audience.

Let’s dive in

What is a video podcast?

There are lots of variations, but basically a video podcast is just a traditional podcast where the media format is video rather than audio. Video podcasts can be live or recorded, and they can be as simple as a “fly on the wall” video of the podcast recording process or employ more visual elements like animated storyboards.

Video vs audio podcast: advantages and disadvantages

In comparing video vs audio podcasts, it’s important to weigh a variety of factors, including your podcast’s intent and platform of choice. Audio podcasts and video podcasts each offer their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.

One of the main advantages of an audio podcast is the convenience it offers to users. Listeners can access audio podcasts from anywhere and can listen as they engage in other activities such as braving their commute or hitting the gym. Video podcasts require users to fully engage with the content, limiting their popularity in comparison to audio. With that being said, sometimes the barrier to entry works in your favor — viewers are inherently more engaged than listeners because of the attention required to consume the content. In other words, a video podcast guarantees that all eyes will be on you!

As users tune in to your video podcast, their attention will be more fully devoted to your content, thus increasing the overall engagement rate of your video. There are even ways to tailor your video content to ensure maximum video engagement.

We recognize that video production can be fairly daunting to a newcomer, but once you have the proper video podcast equipment and software by your side, the process is surprisingly straightforward.

Video podcast software

Although your video podcast software needs will vary based on the type of video podcast you choose to create, it is standard that you will require video editing software or tools in order to create well-produced content. Depending on the level of sophistication you hope to achieve, it might be enough to employ video editing software equipped just with the essentials to easily upload, edit, collaborate, and share your video content.

For podcasts that are planning to rely heavily on visuals in creating their podcast, more advanced video editing solutions might be required.

For those who choose to create a remote interview video podcast, you will also need to install software that has the ability to capture multiple webcams simultaneously. The most famous example of this type of video software would be Zoom – where the ‘talking head’ model of video podcast is easily achievable with a simple Screen Recorder. For a more ‘all-in-one’ solution, look no further than Vimeo’s virtual event solution or live stream studio, where users can conduct a remote interview, screen record their conversations, and publish all from the same platform.

Explore Vimeo’s virtual event solution

Video podcast equipment

While it is possible to create an entire video podcast using only your laptop, there are other pieces of video podcast equipment that can elevate your content to a new level. Below we have compiled a brief video podcast equipment checklist to help guide you through your preparation.

Video podcast equipment checklist:

  • High def camera / multiple cameras — Many podcasts employ a ‘multi-cam’ approach to their video podcasts, often in order to capture multiple angles of an interview taking place inside a studio. Though it is by no means necessary to use multiple cameras, it can add an interesting visual experience to the viewers. 
  • Tripod — In setting up a camera to record your podcast, something to enable you to shoot footage hands-free is vital. Most videographers would advocate for the use of a tripod to capture your video podcast effectively. If you don’t want to drop wads of cash on a brand new tripod, peruse our guide to making a DIY tripod on a budget
  • External microphone —  At the end of the day, arguably the most important component to any podcast is the audio. In order to capture the clearest, crispest audio quality, the use of an external microphone is highly recommended. External microphones are fairly easy to use and enhance the experience of your viewers.

Types of video podcasts (and some killer examples)

‘In-Studio’ interview

The ‘in-studio’ video podcast interview takes place within the confines of a sole room between two or more participants. The studio used for the interview might be a professional production studio or, commonly, a ‘DIY’ home studio. 

Below, we see how the Vimeo team used an in-studio video podcast to help engage their audience on Vimeo’s own content production.

Talking heads

One of the most common types of video podcast, particularly with today’s reliance on digital communication, is the ‘remote interview’. Remote interviews involve a podcast host (or hosts) interviewing guests via video conferencing software. This type of interview is useful when podcasts hosts and guests are located in different locations, as it enables a conversation to take place from the comfort of each participant’s home. As the world has gone more and more remote, these forms of podcasts have become increasingly prevalent. Remote interview podcasts, often allowing hosts to reach out to people they might not otherwise converse with, have been a delight to watch blossom over the past few years.

Static image

Video podcasts that feature only a static image are the least involved of all the options. They are typically a simple recording of a podcast that is played over a sole image, or sole animated image, often including the logo of the podcast or company in question. While static image video podcasts may help you reach new audiences (on Youtube, Vimeo, and other video platforms), this format doesn’t promote engagement and attention as well as the other options featured here. Regardless, they can be a good entry point into the world of visual storytelling.

Footage + audio

This type of video podcast features spoken word that is set over visual footage, be it animated or live. Often, these podcasts feature a visual representation of what is being discussed between the participants, from stock footage to animations. 

Above, we see how the StoryCorps podcast effectively utilizes animated video to illustrate a podcast host conducts an interview with her father.

Internal video podcast

Example of an internal video podcast from Vimeo

Internal video podcasts are a lot like talk shows for a corporate audience. Think: sales teams, account management teams, customer support teams, etc. For example, Vimeo’s Technical Proof, is a weekly podcast with the sales engineering team that touches on product updates, technical implementations, and resources to support client-facing teams.

Internal video podcasts are a creative medium to connect with teams on a private and secure channel. So if you’re looking for new ways to share knowledge, engage remote team members, or help build community and nurture your company culture – an internal podcast could be great for your team.

How to make a video podcast: a step by step guide

The steps involved in how to make a video podcast are fairly straightforward once you have your video podcast equipment, software, and other gear prepared. Here, we outline a five-step process to getting your new video podcast up and running:

1. Decide the type of video podcast you want to create.

Choosing the format you want your video podcast to take boils down to what you are hoping to achieve and the audience you want to reach. It is comforting, however, that whichever you choose, it is fairly easy to transition to a new podcast format at any given time.

2. Film or create the video you want to include.

Film it! If you’re recording a live interview, make sure that the lighting is adequate enough to provide for a clear viewing experience. If you opt for a remote interview format, ensure that your laptop has the capabilities to capture top-notch screen recordings or webinars of your conversations. Finally, if you want to record footage or create an animated video to accompany your video podcast, be sure to utilize a video creation platform or production tools that have the capabilities you need to create your perfect final product.

3. Edit the video and create a unique thumbnail.

Incorporating fun edits and effects into your video content is important to creating an engaging atmosphere for your audience. With Vimeo Create, you can creatively and easily customize your video to achieve your desired aesthetic. 
One final step in the video editing process is to customize your video thumbnail to entice users to click through to your video.

4. Upload your video.

Uploading your content to a hosting platform is the final step to getting your video podcast live on the web – but is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sharing and promoting your content.

5. Share and promote your video.

Successful video creators know that the path to digital success does not stop at the point of upload. In order to maximize the reach of your video podcast, content creators must leverage social media amplification on a variety of platforms. Vimeo allows for users to seamlessly share their uploaded content across social media platforms — even including a free video creation template to announce a new episode! Check it out below:

Try this Vimeo create template

Ready to level up? Take your video podcast live

One way to maximize the engagement of your video podcast content is to do an episode that includes live streamed content. Going live with a video podcast episode can allow for an element of interactivity including live Q & As, live polls, and other ways to interact directly with your audience. In order to go live with your podcast, you’ll need the proper software to enable you to live stream your content across a variety of platforms. Some of the factors you might want to consider in searching for a live streaming solution are ease of use, interactive capabilities, and platform compatibility.

Explore Vimeo’s live streaming platform

You’ll also need live streaming equipment to create professional, high-quality live content. Luckily, there are options available for every budget to help streamline your search. 

Lights, camera, podcast!

For those who have dreamed of launching their own podcast, what’s holding you back? With the know-how, software, and a topic you are passionate about, creating an incredible video podcast is well within your reach.

Market your business with video