Choosing the right platform for your podcast is important since it affects the way listeners consume your content. YouTube podcasts and audio podcasts are both great options. However, you might not know which is right for you or if you should start a podcast only on YouTube or on other audio-based platforms.
Fortunately, both choices are great, and you can even have a podcast both on YouTube and on audio platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the same time so there’s nothing to worry about. Sure, there are key differences between YouTube and podcasts that can help you make a decision. For instance, the production time (and money) may be a little higher for video. On the other hand, YouTube does have a huge audience that is likely larger than some of the audio podcast platforms.
In this post, we’ll compare six key factors to help you wrap your head around YouTube podcasts and audio podcasts. Let’s get started!
YouTube vs Podcast: 6 Factors Compared
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between YouTube podcasts and audio podcasts.
1. Equipment and Skills
Starting a podcast undoubtedly requires a lot of work. You’ll likely have to develop new skills and invest in some essential podcast equipment.
For an audio podcast, you’ll need a high-quality microphone to record with and editing software (at a minimum). You might also have to purchase additional materials to soundproof your recording space.
However, if you opt for a YouTube podcast, there are plenty more factors to consider beyond the equipment you need for an audio-only podcast. Since your podcast has a visual aspect as well, you’ll want to think a lot more about the production value of your show:
That means you’ll need to consider the picture, lighting, angles, and more. At the very least, you’ll need a camera, lights, and video editing software (and of course, a good microphone). All of this can be more expensive than basic audio equipment.
On top of that, the visual nature of YouTube means that you may have to think more about the way you present yourself, the visuals of the room you’re recording in, and more. You can record an audio podcast from your bed and your audience would be none the wiser. With a YouTube podcast, you’ll need to consider your appearance, body language, and overall ‘stage’ presence.
2. Podcast Apps
Before deciding between YouTube podcasts and audio podcasts, it’s important to consider the podcast apps you want to use. This determines how listeners will find and consume your content.
On the whole, some of the biggest podcast apps support video too, but their use isn’t really as common. For example, Apple Podcasts has supported video podcasts for a while, but it doesn’t put much emphasis on them:
Meanwhile, Spotify made the move in 2020. Since video is still a relatively new option on Spotify, it’s not widely-used. For this reason, many podcasters still upload their podcast videos to sites like YouTube which fans are more familiar with.
While this might work for some users, it may translate to unwanted extra effort for others. Moreover, if you’re switching from audio to video, you could alienate some pre-existing listeners. By contrast, audio podcasts can be enjoyed across many apps. The numbers are a little hard to estimate, but YouTube’s traffic alone can beat a lot of the podcast apps even if you combine those. That being said, if you’re a serious podcaster and want your show to succeed – putting it out there on as many platforms as possible is key. Regardless of if you have an audio podcast or a YouTube podcast – you can easily create a beautiful website for it on Podcastpage. It integrates with YouTube and Podcast Feeds to automatically import all your episodes at once and save precious time.
3. User Experience
First, let’s discuss your audience experience. One of the best parts about audio podcasts is that they can be consumed anywhere. People can listen to them as they drive home from work, walk the dog, or wash dishes. This makes them super convenient to listen to in many different types of daily situations.
On the other hand, YouTube podcasts need to be actively watched. They need to be a little more engaged and actively focus on the screen most of the time:
There are some benefits to this, of course. For example, you can make your podcast more entertaining with visuals. Your appearance and set can also help you make a stronger impression on your audience.
At the end of the day, you need to think about the best for your potential audience. How would the enjoy your show best? Is audio-only good enough or does video help communicating your message?
If you do choose to have your podcast both on YouTube and on podcast apps, just keep it in mind that some people won’t actually see what you’re doing. You have to juggle between keeping both worlds satisfied if you do choose to focus on both.
4. Podcast Guests
Another factor to consider is the involvement of podcast guests. Audio podcasts are super easy to join since they can be recorded remotely and as far as your listeners are concerned, you could have been recording in the same room with the guest.
While video podcasts can too be recorded remotely with a split screen, it may look a little off when you see a few people with headsets talking with each other. (Zoom call fatigue anyone?)
If you do have a proper studio and want to bring guests in for interviews – that could look much better, but it does have some limitations; It can make some people self-conscious. That’s because it leads to additional concerns like thinking about what to wear, how to sit, where to look, and more.
Additionally, if you’re hosting a video podcast, it requires guests to join you physically at your location. As you can imagine, requiring an in-person meeting adds another layer of commitment, which might deter some guests.
5. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is key if you want to grow your podcast over time. Nowadays both YouTube and podcast platforms results appear quite high on search engines. The best idea here is to create a dedicated website for your podcast. Either you’re doing a video or audio podcast (or both), a platform like Podcastpage.io will created SEO-friendly pages for all your episodes, and connect with your feeds to import future episodes automatically.
Having your own website can help a lot around SEO – you can apply best practices for keyword optimization, tags, and podcast descriptions, add transcripts for each episode and more. It’d help you communicate with your audience directly, and have a way for them to contact you.
You’ll be able to offer both video and audio, so it’s really up to your audience to choose their favorite medium.
Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to add your own custom domain and optimize your podcast for social media. Additionally, you can access our state-of-the-art Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve your site’s loading times.
6. Monetization
Finally, let’s compare monetization strategies for YouTube podcasts and audio podcasts. With both, you can use podcast advertisements to make money from your show. Generally, you’ll earn more from podcast advertisements than you will from ads on YouTube.
If you’re a small or new podcast with no audience, it can be hard to grow your audience organically and monetize your show. That said, once you have a larger audience, monetization can really become easier to scale.
Many podcast platforms offer built-in ads that’d generate money for audio based podcasters. The situation is somewhat similar on YouTube, assuming you surpass their threshold of minimum views/subscribers for your videos/channel in order to get paid.
Spotify found that 81 percent of listeners have taken action after hearing an audio ad during a podcast. Meanwhile, some respondents stated that audio ads provide a “short reprieve from active listening time”.
But, on YouTube, a study found that 76 percent of viewers will skip ads automatically:
If users skip over your ads right away, you won’t get paid. Plus, YouTube can be slightly more unpredictable. For example, your earnings might fluctuate based on the content you produce and the demand for those viewers.
However, besides advertisements, there are plenty of ways to monetize your show. For instance, you can get started with affiliate marketing, set up a swag shop, or partner with podcast sponsors. These opportunities are accessible to both audio podcasts and YouTube podcasts.
Conclusion
YouTube and podcasts are both great ways to publish content, build a community, and earn an income. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that can help you make a decision.
For example, with YouTube podcasts, you might need to invest in expensive filming equipment and spend more time on production. However, the audience on YouTube is really huge. On the other hand, audio podcasts may be more appealing to podcast guests. Plus, they tend to be more accessible and convenient for your listeners.
Remember – it’s smart to choose based on your own preference and how you think your audience will consume the episodes. You can always do both YouTube and a podcast, it may require a small effort beyond doing just one, but it can help spreading the word faster.
While both platforms have their benefits, you’re best off creating your own podcast website regardless. Podcastpage makes this easy, giving you access to beautiful templates, automated episode imports, a customizable audio player, and more!
