Should You Start A Video Podcast?

In this episode, Jordan joins me to talk through the real tradeoffs of starting a video podcast. Together, we break down what adding video to your podcast actually costs you. Most importantly, we bring the conversation back to the question that matters most: what does your audience actually want from your show? 

If you have questions about starting a video podcast, reach out to us on the Podcaster Success team by emailing [e-mail]

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Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [e-mail].

Keep podcasting!

Episode Transcript

Cara Pacetti (00:00):
Welcome to Podcasting Q&A, brought to you
by the people at Buzzsprout.
I'm your host, Cara Pacetti,and I'm bringing you the best
tips and strategies to keep youpodcasting with confidence.
Today we're talking aboutstarting a video podcast.
With video becoming more andmore popular in the podcasting

space, I want to know (00:23):
have you been feeling the pressure to
start a video podcast?
If you are, let me know aboutit.
I want to know if you'refeeling stuck, overwhelmed, or
just plain confused.
Just click the Send Us fan maillink in the show notes and let
me know what's going on.
I'd love to cover this on afuture Podcasting Q&A episode.
Today I'm not answering aspecific listener question, but

(00:46):
instead, I'm answering aquestion that is becoming super
popular in the Buzzsproutsupport inbox.
I want to tackle the question,should I start a video podcast?
This is a pretty broad questionand it's not easily answered
with a straightforward yes orno.
So I want to walk through threethings to consider when it
comes to starting a videopodcast.

(01:08):
To help me with this, I knew Ineeded someone with experience
producing both audio and videoepisodes.
So I've brought in our podcastproducer here at Buzz Sprout,
Jordan.
Jordan, thank you so much forhelping me with this one.
As a successful podcasteryourself, I can't wait to hear
your perspective on this.
And I know our listeners willappreciate it too.

Jordan Blair (01:27):
Yeah, I'm so excited to talk about this with
you.
I have also seen so many postsin like social media communities
and like on threads and inFacebook and Reddit about
starting video.
And I think that people arestarting to see that it's
getting integrated into morepodcasting apps in like
different ways.

(01:48):
And so they're going, oh no,should I start video too?
And it's I think it's like thehot topic right now.
So it's great that we'recovering this.

Cara Pacetti (01:55):
It definitely is.
And even though the options areout there, we need to consider
is it worth the extra work thatgoes into it?
So that's what we're gonna talkabout today.
I want to first start with whatit's gonna cost you.
So not money.
We'll get to that in a second.

Jordan Blair (02:10):
Yeah.

Cara Pacetti (02:10):
I know that's what you're thinking, but no, I want
to talk about the time andeffort it takes to record and
offer a video podcast over maybean audio podcast that you're
already doing.
The first point I want to touchon is think about your
recording space.
This one's funny to me becauseyour recording space needs to be
camera ready if you're gonna beoffering video.
And I know that I've offeredthis advice in the past, but if

(02:33):
you are trying to make yourrecording space suitable for the
best audio quality, you mightbe recording in a closet.
And that's not always cameraready.
And so you need to think aboutthat.
If you have pillows stackedaround your microphone so that
you can get the best audioquality, it's gonna take a
little bit of effort andplanning and time to get that

(02:54):
space to look aestheticallypleasing for these new video
episodes.
So that's something to takeinto consideration.

Jordan Blair (03:01):
I will say that I have noticed Gen Z really
leaning into the authenticitywith their podcasts.
Have you seen the videopodcasts where they're literally
in bed holding theirmicrophones?
Like.
So I don't know.
I guess if you were leaninginto super authenticity and you

(03:22):
just don't care, then that'sfine too.
But yeah, I think forprofessional podcasts, you
probably do want to have alittle bit more of a polished
background than your closet orbedding, like sitting under your
covers.
Right.

Cara Pacetti (03:34):
Exactly.
The other thing that you maywant to be camera ready is
yourself.

Jordan Blair (03:39):
Oh yeah.

Cara Pacetti (03:40):
If you're going in front of a camera, and again,
maybe it's uh more work forothers.
I know for myself, I want tomake sure I am done up, whatever
that entails, but it's gonnatake me a little extra effort
than if I were to just throw onmy mic with nobody around.
I want to be able to bepresentable.
So that's what I mean by justconsidering that your recording

(04:00):
process might be a little moretime consuming than it once was.
Yes.

Jordan Blair (04:05):
I know for me, um, one of my podcasts, it's not my
main gig, you know?
And so the thing is, is likesometimes I would record late at
night or first thing in themorning where I still have my
hair up in a messy bun, I'm inmy like pajamas and not lick a
makeup on.
Right.
There is not a chance that Iwould be doing a video podcast
or something like that.
Right.

Cara Pacetti (04:26):
I think that's very relatable, Jordan.
Yeah.
So in addition to getting yourspace camera ready and getting
yourself camera ready, this issomething that you really need
to think about.
And this applies to howprepared you want to be.
You have to come into a videorecording with a different
mindset.
So you can hide behind youraudio-only episodes as far as

(04:49):
body language or facialexpressions.
Nobody's seeing that.
So if you say something wrong,or if your guest says something
that you maybe don't agree with,you've got to watch your
expressions and you've got towatch that body language.
And to me, that is a skill.
So that takes a little bit oftime and a little bit of effort
and definitely someintentionality when you're

(05:10):
recording these video episodes.
Would you agree?

Jordan Blair (05:13):
Absolutely.
There's so many things that youdon't think about when you're
recording just audio that youhave to think about when
recording video.
You know, maybe you aremid-sentence and you put your
hair up in a ponytail, and thenyou realize that you have to cut
all the bits where you'reputting your hair up in a
ponytail.
Well, if you're on video, thecut is going to look like your
hair is down and then suddenlyit's up or, you know, whatever.

(05:33):
Yeah.
But there's just there's littlethings like that you have to
think about.
Absolutely, yes.

Cara Pacetti (05:37):
And that's learning a new skill.
So learning how to be cameraready.
And speaking of learning a newskill as far as the one who is
on camera, Jordan, you are bothon camera and you are the
producer.
So you get the editing side.
What do you think the learningcurve is here for someone who
has been producing an audiopodcast successfully and is now

(05:59):
trying to transition into makingedits to video episodes?

Jordan Blair (06:03):
Yeah, I mean, when you are an audio first
podcaster, which I have been forthe last seven years, you get
used to that and you get used tolike cutting things, and I call
it frankenbiting, like you, yourearrange your audio a little
bit, and you can't do that withvideo as much.
And so I actually had to learna completely different editing

(06:26):
software.
So I think that there'sdefinitely a learning curve with
video and figuring out how tocut things and with time you get
better with everything.
We all we all know that.

Cara Pacetti (06:36):
Absolutely.
You know, that's what we'refocusing on here is the time
that it costs you.
So you may be thinking toyourself that it doesn't
intimidate you the time to learnthe new skill and what that
might cost you, but you areconcerned about what is it
actually going to cost you.
So money.
And so I do want to touch onthat because there is a cost

(06:57):
associated with that.
And if you have to get a newrecording software, if you want
to move to something that'spremium, there's an extra cost.
So yeah, video hosting can costmore.
The video file sizes aresignificantly larger than audio
file sizes.
Here at Buzzsprout, we are ahosting company.
So we see that.
We see the cost to not onlystore those video files, process

(07:20):
them, and also the bandwidthneeded to deliver those video
episodes to your listener.
So it's all a lot larger thanif you are distributing and
hosting audio files.
Yeah.
For example, a 45-minute monoaudio wave file that can range
anywhere between 250 to 400megabytes.

(07:40):
A 45-minute 1080p video filethat ranges typically from two
to four gigabytes.
Whoa.
Yeah.
So that means that your audiofiles can be 10 times smaller
than your video files.
And think about how much spacethat's taking up even on your
computer, too.
Exactly.
So when you put it inperspective like that, now I
know that this is just kind of arange.

(08:02):
There can be smaller audiofiles, smaller video, but just
to give you kind of an idea thatthe video files are a lot
larger.
So to work with them is goingto cost you a little more.
So you may see the hosting feesgo up a little bit.
And that's just something toconsider if you want to go ahead
and move to that upgraded planto now start offering video.
Another cost associated withoffering a video podcast could

(08:26):
be equipment.
But Jordan, with what we knowabout video so far, what would
you say the cost difference isfor getting started with a video
podcast versus maybe gettingstarted with an audio podcast
when it comes to the equipmentthat you would need?

Jordan Blair (08:39):
Yeah, I think that podcasters nowadays are in a
really good spot.
I think if you had asked methis question like five years
ago, I'd be like, ah, it's gonnabe hundreds and hundreds of
dollars.
You know, all these companiesare really making gear that is
for streamers, for contentcreators.

(09:00):
And so I don't think it's thatmuch more, especially if you
have a good laptop or even likea tablet or a phone.
Nowadays, some of the bestcameras we have access to are
actually like in our pockets.
My iPhone can record 4K videoat like 60 or whatever frames
per second, which is insane.

(09:22):
That's like cinema level.
And so it's so cool because Ialso have a Samsung Q2U that has
a USB port that I can actuallyplug directly into my cell
phone.
So I could potentially just usemy Samsung and put my phone up
on a pile of books or somethingand record a video.
So I think that you could spenda lot of money to start a video

(09:45):
podcast, but you also mighthave the tools necessary
available to you right now.
Yeah.

Cara Pacetti (09:51):
Okay.
That's good to consider.
The fact that you could getstarted now makes it a little
more easier to accomplish.
So we've talked about the costwith your time and your effort
for learning a new skill, theactual cost of the equipment
setup or maybe your hostingfees.
The third thing that I want youto consider is is video
something that your audience isasking for?
So would offering video benefityour listeners?

(10:15):
Jordan, what type of podcast orpodcast audience would benefit
from now shifting this audiofirst podcast into a video
podcast?

Jordan Blair (10:25):
Yeah, I definitely think that we need to put a lot
of emphasis on this sectionbecause what the audience is
looking for and what theaudience needs is going to
dictate a lot of your podcastingexperience.
In the video realm, I thinkthat podcasts that would benefit
from a visual aspect couldabsolutely do well with video,

(10:51):
especially if you're someone whowants to have more of a social
media presence.
You want those talking headvideos, and you want to have
visual elements.
So we're talking about likehistory podcasts, um, maybe tech
podcasts, or I think that a lotof like pop culture and society
podcasts could also benefitfrom visuals.
Yeah.
Um, you know, if you'rereviewing, for example, like red

(11:12):
carpet looks at the Met Gala,right?
Oh, yeah.
Like that would be really niceto have that and you can talk
about it because there's plentyof podcasts where they discuss
visual elements, the ability tohave like a video version of it
that could really lend itself tobenefiting your audience.
I have a bedtime storiespodcast.
It does not make sense for meto have video because my

(11:35):
listeners are going to sleep.
Why would I have video for mypodcast?
That doesn't make any sense.
This is an audio only sort ofthing.
You know, one of theconsiderations is are you
creating video just for the sakeof creating video?
Because you're feeling likeother people are creating video
and you don't want to get leftbehind.
Well, you know what?
Podcasting is amazing becauseit can go to the gym with you.
It can come with you on yourcommute to your drop your kids

(11:59):
off at school or went to groceryshopping and stuff like that.
And it doesn't need video justfor the sake of having video.
But if there is a visual aspectof it, if you want it for
promotional items andrepurposing, go for it.

Cara Pacetti (12:11):
I absolutely agree.
You know your audience best asthe podcaster.
So you know what they want anddon't let that pressure of,
okay, now that video isavailable, I have to do it.
Now, yeah, if you areconsidering it and you're kind
of on the fence, you're likethinking to yourself, how could
I incorporate this?
Ask your listeners.
Ask for feedback.
Yes.

(12:31):
Throw a call to action at theend of your episodes.
You know how you'recommunicating with your
listeners.
You can ask for fan mail, youcan put a poll on your social
media accounts.
So however you get feedbackfrom them, which I recommend
doing often anyway, if video issomething that you are
considering, I would definitelystart with asking your listeners
and then also give it a try.

(12:51):
So there's nothing wrong withjust testing out a couple of
episodes here and there, maybeas in the form of a bonus
episode, or, you know, justgiving it a shot and just
testing the waters before youfully commit to that.
If you have an audio podcastthat you've been doing for years
and it is successful, you havea successful workflow and it's
not going to add you stress totry to throw in a new element to

(13:14):
see how you like it, then goahead and try it out.
But I would definitelyrecommend checking out your
audience, checking in withyourself.
Where are you in yourpodcasting journey?
If you're still learning theropes, do not add pressure to
yourself thinking that you haveto do video.
Master what you're doing nowand then incorporate video along
the way.
Fully agree.
All right.
But if you do have specificquestions about starting a video

(13:35):
podcast or the new process ofgetting your videos to Apple
Podcasts, reach out to us on thePodcaster Success team by
emailing [e-mail].
Jordan, thank you so much forbeing here.
I love hearing your opinion onthis.
And I know our listeners aregoing to have a lot to take away
and to think about.
Be sure to join us every Mondayto kickstart your week.
Thank you so much forlistening.

(13:56):
And as always, keep podcasting.