Where podcasts were once a new phenomenon used by individuals and businesses to discuss topics of interest and educate listeners, they are now common practice. Brands, influencers, celebrities and more are getting involved, offering a wide variety of podcasts to suit all kinds of audiences. With this relatively new surge in popularity of the podcast, professionals are taking it even further by offering both audio and video - known as a video podcast, videocast, or vidcast (if you’re down with the lingo).
The ultimate goal with podcasting is to make money or generate an ROI, whether you are looking to do this by educating and building an audience or highlighting new products or services. To compete in the world of podcasts though and achieve your goals, you must have a strong idea of what your audience wants and how to achieve this. Zidivo is here to provide a quick overview of how to stream a podcast and nail the concept of the video podcast that is so popular today.
First things first, you need to decide on the type of video podcast you plan to offer. You may want to keep it simple and record video content of you/your speakers sat in the studio discussing topics in great depth at the same time and place every week. This is easy to do, you will just need somewhat entertaining and knowledgeable hosts with plenty of material and information to share. Creating a detailed content calendar is essential to ensure your video podcasts can be planned and promoted in the right way.
If you want your videocasts to offer your audience more variety in terms of insight into certain topics, inviting people to take part in interview podcasts is another popular option. With these types of video podcasts, you can interview different people each week, either from your own studio setup or remotely. While there is more risk involved in interview videocasts in terms of what can go wrong, hosting different professionals/individuals each week is far more dynamic for viewers and can be a huge success when generating attention and building audiences.
The good thing about video podcasts is that the visual side of things isn’t the main focus. If anything, offering video with your podcast is an added bonus for your audience. It’s also important to remember that people listen to podcasts usually to educate themselves or for entertainment when out and about, not for the video side of things. Despite this, you should aim to offer the highest quality of video content that your budget allows.
A decent DSLR is advised, however for businesses or individuals working under strict budgets, a smartphone camera can do the trick! Think about your audience and how much importance they would place on the quality of your video, before investing in top of the range camera equipment. Whichever type of recording equipment you decide to go for, make sure there is plenty of memory space on your card or phone to avoid your podcast cutting out halfway through.
Of course, the sound quality when recording podcasts is the main event. People shouldn’t have to strain to make sense of or hear what’s being said - it needs to be crisp and clear, without viewers having to ramp up their volume. Invest in a quality and reputable external microphone that suits your budget and is compatible with your other device, whether you’re using a computer, laptop or even tablet to manage the recording of your podcast. By rule of thumb, you should never rely on the built-in microphones of your cameras or smartphones as these simply can’t provide the level of sound quality required for effective podcasting.
Some microphones that are popular in the podcasting world are the Blue Yeti USB mic, the Rode Podcaster mic, the Samson Meteor mic and many more!
If you are offering your video podcasts on demand, you will need to familiarise yourself with some editing software. You may have editing software downloaded already if your business has tried their hand at graphic design or video creation before, such as Adobe Creative Cloud or GarageBand. Use this stage to edit out any aspects of your video or sound recordings that don’t add anything or provide value. You can also brand up your content using introductory frames and ensure there are smooth transitions between each focus of discussion. Many podcasters record unique jingles to use as a signature for their company/brand.
Recording and editing your video podcasts is one thing, but how you share your videos is the final piece of the puzzle. There are free options available for sharing on-demand or live video podcasts, or you can opt for a professional platform to ensure you maintain all the rights to your content.
Zidivo is a professional video platform allowing users to host or stream video content from any device or webpage. Their wide range of features allows businesses or individuals to customise the look of their HTML5 players and embed video podcasts on as many pages as required. Their packages allow users to pay for storage based on their needs, whether you’re an individual looking to get started with video podcasting or are an established company that wants to implement a large-scale podcast series onsite.
The benefits of using a professional video platform like Zidivo is you can choose whether to stream your video podcasts live and unedited, or opt for more polished and high-production podcasts available to your audience on demand.
Overall, when deciding whether to offer video podcasts and how to do so, think about your target audience. Would they appreciate a high-quality and professional-looking setup? Or, do they listen to your podcasts for the entertainment and fun factor? Think about your audience’s priorities to make sure your videocast represents your image and once you’ve gauged the ideal setup, keep it consistent.
Zidivo’s platform offers a free 30-day trial, so you can make the most of our hosting or streaming features to share video podcasts and show your target audience the value you have to offer. Get in touch with our team today to discuss our video platform further or simply create an account to get started.
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