3 Simple Ways to Turn Your Podcast to Video

Podcast to video – convert your catalog and grow your audience

If your podcast is already established and has a growing audience, or if you’re right at the start of your journey, you’ll probably already have some idea of why you need to expand your audience but you may have questions around the conundrum of how to turn a podcast into a YouTube video or around which sort of equipment you’ll need to do it well.

The good news is that it’s not difficult at all! You can also manage it with minimum equipment if you’re on a budget. Plenty of the most successful podcasts out there today began on a shoestring budget and with nothing but a smartphone.  The main ingredient your podcast needs to succeed is excellent content – the technicalities certainly make things more watchable though.

Converting your podcasts to video will instantly mean you’re more visible on search engines and more visibility means more audience.

The beauty of converting your podcasts to video is that you get twice the value from your productions and as this article will illustrate, with a relatively minimal amount of effort! You don’t need to create new versions of your actual body of work – the meat is already there. You just need to present it differently. And there are tonnes of great software programs designed to help you do it in a pain-free way.

Be part of the revolution by switching your podcast to video

It really is; according to these statistics, there were approximately 88 million podcast listeners in the U.S. alone in 2019. Forecasts predict that these figures will rise to over 160 million by 2023.

Check out the latest stats at the time of writing – if you’ve been slow to get started with your push into video, don’t worry, now is the perfect time to begin!

• Podcast advertising revenue is projected to grow to over $650 million this year
• 54% of podcast users are more likely to check out brands they see or hear advertised on podcasts
• There are over 800,000 podcasts today

That’s huge! Consider this – in 2019 Netflix had 61 million accounts registered in the U.S. Podcasts are bigger than Netflix! That’s a lot of scope for content creators! Your audience are out there – all ears – waiting to listen to your awesome content!

Podcasts aren’t only for the car

Traditionally, podcasts have been similar to radio in that people tended to listen whilst they were engaged in some other task. Driving, doing chores, even sleeping – not so much any more.

These days, a growing portion of podcast fans are tuning in whilst relaxing at home. This means that if their eyes and hands are free, then a choice of video content has got to be a good thing.

Another development is that podcasts are no longer such a solo activity with couples, friends and families tuning into their favorite podcasts together. This is of course much like radio used to be in its early days. Very much a family entertainment, a time for bonding over shared interests and passions.

By expanding your podcast to include video content, you could be tapping into an entirely new audience.

 

Styles of podcast videos – which is best for you?

Whether you’ve already got a comprehensive catalog of previous recordings or you want to start from scratch, there are multiple ways in which you can create podcast videos with excellent results.

We’re going to talk you through 3 of the simplest ways to convert a podcast to video or to make a video podcast from scratch.

Some are simpler than others but they all have their own merits. First and perhaps easiest, is to convert existing recordings onto a PowerPoint presentation. You can also do this with a new recording.

1-PowerPoint podcast

PowerPoint offers the option of creating presentations and then saving them in a suitable format for sharing as videos.

It’s a great tool for podcasts because you can create dynamic, informative and educational content which includes animations and infographics. Captions add another useful layer.

The benefit of using PowerPoint to create a podcast video is that you can create a dynamic presentation of your audio content, using timing, animations, laser point gestures, and much more.

It’s a no-fuss route to creating video content that you can share on YouTube and other platforms. It’s a fact that people are listening more and more whilst at home and that does mean that they’re watching as well as listening.

2-Video editing software

Many of today’s podcasters use apps both free and paid to merge images and audio podcast files. The results can be very professional.

Make sure you keep transcripts of all your podcasts – this will be incredibly helpful when you come to use video editing software to create your podcast video with captions.

Some of the best free video editing software is listed below.

• Lightworks – Lightworks offers filters, captions, transitions and more. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and for being completely free.
• Shoctcut – Free, open source, cross-platform video editor suitable for Windows, Linux and Mac.
• VDSC Video Editor – There’s a free and a paid version of this; the free version is certainly good enough but if you decide you want to notch it up, the paid version is still one of the cheapest out there today
• Type Studio – Simple and friendly UI. The free version should be enough for most but they also have paid versions If you do a lot of podcasts.

Check out the various options, watch the tutorials and see which one suits you best.

3-Film as you record

Whether it’s just you alone or you plus guests, this is probably one of the most dynamic ways in which to share your podcasts via video.

People like watching people. You don’t have to be a professional presenter to excel either. The most watchable podcasts are those in which the presenter is comfortable and natural. Your personality should be allowed to shine through because ultimately, it’s that which will bring in repeat views.

What equipment do you need to begin filming your sessions? Well, you can start with a smartphone or even your webcam, but for a really good result, you should aim for a more studio-like set-up.

What equipment do you need to film a podcast?

There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there and it can be confusing. If you’re just starting out and want your videos to look great, then it’s definitely a good idea to invest in some decent equipment. So if you’re wondering how to set up a video podcast, then we’re about to highlight the basic equipment you’ll need and point out some of the things you might want to invest in later as you build your experience.

The most essential items are a good quality microphone and a computer. When we say ‘good quality’ we don’t mean top of the range but somewhere in the middle. As you learn more, you’ll find your own preferences but it’s vital that you get a microphone that picks up sound in a way that ensures it’s usable. Don’t get a USB microphone – especially not if you’re recording more than one person. And a note on recording more than one person – you’ll be better off with a dynamic microphone rather than a condenser microphone.

A dynamic microphone captures loud, strong sounds well and is also the best option in a live setting with multiple voices, whereas a condenser microphone picks up more delicate sounds or higher frequencies…often used in recording vocals for music.

A computer is the other thing you can’t do without. Whether you use a laptop or a PC is up to you. Choose to work on the device you know best – don’t sabotage yourself by introducing too many new technologies at the start of your journey.

Suggested equipment

• Audio interface – this unit converts the analog signal from your microphone into a digital signal that your computer can use.
• Mixer – a mixer gives you tighter control over sound levels, inputs, outputs, and so on. It’s vital if you plan to speak to guests via telephone.
• Pop Filter – this stops those loud, ‘p’ sounds from becoming too apparent in your recordings.
• Headphones – so you can hear yourself speaking and keep an ear out for interference.
• Microphone stand – really important because with a stand, you can relax and ensure that your posture isn’t being affected by constantly having to hold the microphone.

The list above represents just a small selection of what you could invest in – as with any tech-based activity, there’s always more and always better! Choose wisely and keep things simple at the start. That way you can learn more about how you personally like to create your videos and save yourself from buying equipment you don’t end up using.

Looking good, sounding great

If you’re considering recording your podcast for the first time, you might be nervous about how you appear on camera.

You’ll naturally want to be certain that you create a good impression so that when your audience gets to see you for the first time,  you’re a good representation of your brand.

The worst thing you can do is worry about that.

Tension shows on camera – your face and eyes will mirror what you’re thinking and feeling, fear or uncertainty show up clearly, especially in your eyes!

Do some practice runs – watch the recordings back and take note of how you look. Don’t be overly critical of your own personal habits and speech patterns though. Those things are what make you unique! Just watch out for the technical things. Is your back straight? Chin up? Are you coming over as confident and positive? Work on these elements if you need to.

Don’t forget to warm up before filming! Do some yoga, sing a song, recite some poems – whatever it takes to get you in the mood and feeling relaxed. Drink plenty of water and keep a bottle on hand while you film.

Focus on being confident in what you’re saying and the rest will fall into place.

Lighting

Lighting is obviously an important element but you may not have time or the budget to really go into it in detail at first. However, a good basic lighting set up can take your videos from basic to professional – so consider setting up what’s called a 3-point lighting arrangement.

This consists of a key light a fill light and a backlight.

The key light is the brightest of the bunch and provides most of the light for you or your subject. The fill light takes shadows away and is less intense than your key light, while your backlight separates you or your subject from the background – it stops the shot from looking flat.

To take away

If you’re just starting to convert your recordings or beginning from scratch, take in as much video podcast content as possible. Subscribe to producers who are making things which inspire or excite you – learn from the best. Don’t just stick to subjects you’re familiar with either; watch and listen to a wide range of podcasts and you’ll pick up more tips and tricks.

Alternatively, if you simply don’t have the time, or if you feel you’d do well with support from professionals, then take a look at Speedlancer’s Podcasting Team. We’ve thought of everything necessary to make your podcast compulsive listening, or viewing.

Compiled of a curated line-up of industry professionals, each team gives you a well-planned, well executed product, tailored to meet your needs.

Working with industry professionals even if your business is well-established, will give you an edge. The fact is that podcasting is a specialist area and while it is possible to create extremely successful productions on a budget and without assistance, that usually takes a long time. Various learning curves will occur along the way – teaming up with people who’ve been there, got the t-shirt and understand the ins and the outs of podcasting will mean your podcast will stand out for all the right reasons.