Video podcasts are an effective medium to share narratives, interviews, conversations, and instructional information. Complex or illustrative topics that are challenging to express in audio can be communicated more effectively using visuals, such as graphics or animations.
But adding a visual component to your podcast requires spending more time – possibly a lot more in the editing booth. This guide will help you overcome the challenges associated with producing podcasts. It details all key steps, from setting up your studio to buying equipment and recording your video to promoting it for maximum reach.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
What is a Video Podcast?
A video podcast is often known as a vodcast. It is a podcast with a video element. You may wonder, is a video podcast still a podcast? Indeed, it is! It retains the advantages of a traditional podcast and merely adds a visual component. A podcast’s video component can be a still image, a previously shot video, or a video of you and your guests conversing.
Yes, podcasts were originally solely audio-based. Over time, they have developed to incorporate visual components to enhance the engagement of the content by including emotions, body language, and facial expressions.
How to Produce a Video Podcast?
Do you want to launch your podcast series but don’t know where to start? Following are the main steps required to produce it yourself:
Step # 1 - Video Podcast Studio Setup
Start by setting up your video podcast studio. Following are some of the things you should consider.
Location
The first step should be to select the podcasting location. Your studio setup significantly impacts your video podcast’s audio quality. Select areas with plenty of plush furnishings, such as carpets and rugs. Avoid areas with hard surfaces, such as your kitchen or tiled floors. Soft furnishings and surfaces improve room acoustics.
Size
According to some experts, a decent room size for a video podcast studio should be between 150 and 250 cubic feet (4.25 and 7.08 cubic meters). This translates to roughly 10 by 10 by 2.5 feet (3 by 3 by 0.76 meters) of space.
Sound Proofing
The next step is to add sound treatment. While setting up your studio it is crucial to take audio enhancement measures to reduce the time and effort required to edit the podcast. Use soundproof foam panels to absorb sound, preventing it from bouncing through the room and striking your microphone.
Lighting
Lighting is the next key element in setting up your studio. It takes trial and error to do it right. Shadows are the primary force behind the separation, which is the essence of lighting. Our faces have depth due to the shadows on them, and the depth helps the mind comprehend the features of the face.
Backdrop
An organized, polished background can greatly improve the visual appeal of your video podcast. It can be as easy as a painted wall or a backdrop that has been professionally designed and printed.
Step # 2 - Video Podcast Equipment
Yes, you can make a whole video podcast with just your laptop. However, there are other tools available that can help you produce even better content. Below is a checklist of the necessary equipment for your podcast production to help you get started.
Camera
You may employ a “multi-cam” strategy for your video podcasts, most frequently to record an interview from several perspectives as it’s happening in a studio. You can use multiple cameras if you have the budget and want to offer your viewers an intriguing experience. Otherwise, a single camera can do the job.
Tripod
It is a device that lets you record video while holding the camera steady for your podcast. For optimal video capturing, many videographers would advise using a tripod. You can easily purchase or rent a tripod for video podcast production.
Microphone
Ultimately, audio is the most significant part of any video podcast. Using an external microphone is highly advised to get clear and crisp audio. External mics improve the viewing experience for your audience and are reasonably simple to use.
Headphone
Editing your podcast will be easier if you wear headphones. It captures more sounds than you may hear with bare ears. It enables you to listen to sounds like a gentle wind, an air conditioner, and the buzz of a vending machine while recording to make the appropriate modifications.
Computer
You will need a computer or laptop to run the software to record and edit your video podcast episodes. It’s also necessary for writing show notes, uploading episodes, and promoting your content.
Mixer
A mixer enhances audio quality and enables recording podcasts with co-hosts or guests. Select one with an AUX-out feature and several channels. Unless you use an XLR microphone, this is not a necessary piece of gear.
Audio Interface
Nowadays, most computers don’t have an audio-in port. For instance, Macs haven’t had it in a while. Thus, you require a dedicated audio interface to connect your microphones and other equipment to record sounds on your system.
Pop Filter
You need a pop filter to reduce those harsh bursts of air because plosives, such as Ps, Ts, and Ks, tend to stick out on good microphones. These improve the quality of your audio and are not expensive.
Step # 3 - Choose Podcast Topic and Format
Now that you have set up your studio and purchased the necessary equipment, the next step in your video podcast production will be to choose the topic. Below are some tips to help you accelerate things:
- Select a topic that interests you and will appeal to your target audience.
- Identify the best audience for your material and create content that speaks to their tastes and interests.
- Select the podcast format. It can be solo, co-hosted, or interview-based, based on your preferences and available resources.
- List the subjects, speakers, and main points of discussion for each of your episodes.
Step # 4 - Film the Podcast
Set up a calm, well-lit area with few outside distractions, and test your equipment for the best possible audio and video quality before you start recording. This is certainly essential if you are planning to livestream.
Adhere to your content plan, talk clearly, and keep eye contact with the camera during the production to produce captivating and polished video podcast episodes.
Step # 5 - Edit the Podcast
You should record your audio separately even though video cameras can record audio. It guarantees clear, sharp audio, free from excessive background noise.
Create your video podcast by synchronizing the audio and video elements in your video editing program after editing the audio file, as you would for a regular podcast. Your video will look unprofessional if the audio doesn’t match the lip movement or visuals on the screen. Incorporating additional visuals, audio, video, or materials into your episode makes it more appealing and engaging.
Try tweaking the color grading in your video editing software if the video looks flat or washed out. It will produce a pleasing visual appeal. If you have any graphics or B-roll films, integrate them in. Use cuts, zooming, and transition effects to improve the production value and to be inventive.
Step # 6 - Create a Video Thumbnail
Before publishing your video podcast, you should create a custom thumbnail. On video platforms, a thumbnail is the image that entices users to click. You can control what appears to viewers by making your thumbnail instead of letting the video platform select a random frame from the video.
The ideal method to make an engaging thumbnail is to take a screen capture of a well-represented video. Include your brand and some attention-grabbing text in a readable font.
Step # 7 - Publish and Promote Your Podcast
You’ve filmed and recorded your podcast, synced the audio and video, and created an attractive thumbnail. Sending it out into the world is the last step left. YouTube has the largest audience and a powerful search function. However, regardless of where you upload it, make sure to share it on all leading social media websites.
Select a Hosting Platform
Choose a video hosting service such as Libsyn (which includes an RSS feed) or Vimeo to publish your podcast. Besides, there are now possibilities for storing videos on the two well-known podcasting services, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Optimize Your Video
According to the platform’s instructions, include a title, description, and tags for better reach.
Advertise Your Podcast
Share your podcast episodes using email marketing, social media, and your website to reach a larger audience.
Repurpose Your Content
Instagram and TikTok are great venues to share memorable experiences or attention-grabbing hooks that will attract new viewers. Additionally, you can post snippets from your full-length video to YouTube Shorts right from your YouTube upload.
Engage with Audience
While creating and promoting your podcast, remember to be persistent and patient. Building a following may take some time, but with perseverance and high-caliber material, you’ll eventually see development.
Improve Accessibility of Your Podcast Video
A podcast’s accessibility is crucial to ensure that its content reaches a wider audience. Besides, it promotes inclusivity and diversity in the digital content world. It is a question of social responsibility since it ensures that those with disabilities, such as those with hearing impairments, can enjoy and benefit from the information.
Discussed below are a few tips to help you improve the accessibility of your video podcast:
1. Ensure An Accessible Website
Your website is one of the finest locations to advertise your podcast. It can be through calls-to-action on blog posts or a callout in your header navigation. Here are some tips to improve a website’s accessibility for better podcast reach:
- Make your forms navigable through the keyboard if you plan to start an email list to notify subscribers about new episodes.
- Organize your content with headers to make it easy to access audio and video content.
- Use precise and clear anchor text, like “click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.”
2. Add Captions
Captioning your video podcasts makes it accessible for viewers who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Besides, you can use closed captions (CC) to provide song lyrics for any soundtracked videos and to indicate when music is about to play.
Another benefit of captioning podcasts is that you can translate these captions into other languages to reach a global audience. You can get professional video captioning services if you do not want to do it yourself.
3. Publish With An Accessible Media Player
Using an accessible media player is integral in making sure podcasts are accessible. People with impairments can easily interact with the content by incorporating elements like keyboard navigation player controls or screen reader functionality. Additionally, these controls must have clear labels to facilitate straightforward user experiences.
Besides, providing a direct download link enables listeners to hear episodes offline, meeting the needs of those with specialized playback software or limited internet connectivity.
4. Podcast Promotion and Social Media Accessibility
Undoubtedly, social media is a good tool for promoting video podcasts. However, you must follow the accessibility standards when sharing updates and advertising newly released podcasts.
Incorporate the same accessibility guidelines for podcasts as you will for website content to maintain consistency. Users with vision impairments can benefit from increased accessibility through alternative text. Most social media sites, such as Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter), let users add alt text to their photos.
Conclusion
We hope the steps we have shared in this guide for video podcast production will help you start your career in this industry. But, you should avoid rushing things, as it may take time to gain a good viewership. Start it as a learning process, and you will see improvement in your content quality and followers over time.
If you are tight on budget, you can start small. For example, instead of setting up a studio from scratch, find a spot in your home that is less noisy. Besides, you can skip buying costly equipment and start recording podcasts on your mobile device or laptop.
