The days when YouTube was a place for cat videos and homemade pranks are over. Not only is YouTube a dominant streaming platform, it is leading the way for podcast discoverability. Up to a billion people a month consume podcast content on YouTube, making the algorithm a valuable tool in your podcast’s growth.
Regardless of whether you already have an audio-first podcast or are embarking on your video podcast journey, it’s important to understand the benefits of creating a YouTube channel for your podcast.
There Are 3 Types of Podcasts:
Audio-first podcast: A traditional podcast with an audio recording distributed via RSS feed.
Video podcast: A podcast that is recorded as a video, usually in a studio. Video podcasts are designed to be watched as the primary form of consumption.
Hybrid podcast: An audio podcast that uses video clips on social media as a marketing strategy.
As an experienced podcast producer, I’ve put together this guide to help you set up your podcast’s YouTube channel. It contains information that is often overlooked by beginners and experts alike, including the importance of podcast SEO and why you should always align your podcast content with your video platforms.
Be aware that success on YouTube will require a different skillset to your other production and marketing efforts.
YouTube’s algorithm requires consistent engagement, whereas audio-first podcasting is often a passive activity that accompanies activities like commuting. That’s why creating interesting visuals, even if you don’t have a video podcast, is essential.
The Podglomerate has produced and monetized over seventy chart-topping podcasts with 30 million monthly downloads over the years. While this guide is designed to help you develop your YouTube podcast channel on your own, we can support you at any stage of your production and audience growth. Connect with our team for a free consultation.
First, What Is Your Channel’s Identity?
Wait! Before you upload your first podcast episodes, you need to establish your brand identity for your YouTube channel. Surprise, surprise, your YouTube identity should closely align with your podcast’s brand identity.
If you want more help with the early podcast development process, we’ve written extensively on this topic. Check out our Ultimate Marketing Guide to take you through the step-by-step audience research and brand design process. For now, we’ll move on to the differences between your podcast and your YouTube channel.
Your podcast’s image formatting on YouTube, including thumbnails and headers, will not be the same as the assets you created to host your podcast on apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Not only will you need to adapt the sizes, you may need to alter your assets to grab more visual attention. Consistent visuals and messaging will help your podcast stand out and attract new viewers.
Use Your Podcast Name in Your YouTube Handle
We can’t emphasize enough the importance of using your podcast’s name as your YouTube username to ensure consistency across platforms. Secure a YouTube handle (@YourPodcastName) that matches your branding and share it with your network.
Make Your Podcast’s Channel Stand Out
So, you want to get some attention on YouTube? Your profile picture should be your podcast cover art or a recognizable brand element, such as your logo or the face of your host.
When viewers click on your YouTube channel, your banner should feature eye-catching visuals in the same color palette as your branding. Consider adding your upload schedule and where listeners can find your show to the base of your banner.
These elements can be thrown together in free graphics platforms like Canva, though we suggest hiring a professional to create the core design.
Get Noticed By Future Listeners With SEO
Your future listeners need help to be able to find your show. For example, you need to write a compelling channel description that explains your podcast’s theme and what it offers.
Make sure to add some keywords to help listeners find your show. Include links to your website, social media, and podcast directories (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.). These SEO techniques will make you more discoverable on Google, too.
Step Two: Designing Effective Thumbnails
Thumbnails are the first thing your potential viewers see, so they should be visually appealing and encourage clicks.
Never Judge a Podcast By Its Thumbnail. Wait, Too Late…
Most viewers pay attention to thumbnails as a way of gauging whether a piece of content insterests them. Bright, contrasting colors will help your thumbnail stand out in search results, but make sure to add your own unique touch.
The colors you choose may depend on your niche or genre. For example, business podcasts like Diary of a CEO tend to opt for black backgrounds and bold lettering, whereas culture podcasts go for different shades of oranges, pinks, and blues.
Viewers are naturally more attracted to faces. Close-up images of hosts or guests with expressive emotions will drive engagement to your video, regardless of whether it is an audio-based podcast or a video-based show.
We recommend adding 3-5 words summarizing the episode topic in large, bold fonts. Overall, avoid serif fonts. It truly depends on the aesthetic. Some listeners will appreciate an aesthetic touch like personal design details, while others may find the design cluttered and distracting.
Finally, make sure to develop a uniform style across your podcast thumbnails to make your episodes instantly recognizable. Why not trial different thumbnail styles and track click-through rates to determine what works best for your audience? This is called an A/B test.
Podcast Thumbnail Examples:
Finally, add some interesting intro and outro graphics. This is where you would prompt your listeners to subscribe to get more episodes and add clickable links to your website or podcast.
Step Three: Crafting Compelling Titles
Your video titles should be optimized for both searchability and engagement.
Incorporate relevant keywords to improve SEO, such as “How to Start a Podcast – Beginner Guide”. We use this technique all the time, and it really works. We suggest avoiding overly long titles. Instead, aim for 50-70 characters.
Should You Avoid Clickbait?
Clickbait can be effective. However, if you want to be taken seriously, we suggest using other attention-grabbing techniques. Generate curiosity with questions or statements, such as “Why Your Podcast Needs a YouTube Channel!”
Avoid headlines like “This one mistake made this podcast fail.” Negativity isn’t a good look. If you want to build a genuine audience, it’s important to be interesting without misleading or provoking your future viewers.
Step Four: Time to Make Some Playlists
YouTube video playlists help keep your podcast episode content organized – and if you group them thematically, they also encourage binge-watching! This technique can turn your casual listener into an avid fan. Group episodes by topic, guest type, or series.
“Podcasting Tips” and “Interviews with Experts” are some of the themes we use on our own branded show Podcast Perspectives.
Remember to Auto-Add New Episodes
Set up rules to automatically categorize episodes into relevant playlists. Netflix and other streaming giants use this technique to keep viewers engaged.
Step Five: Engage With Your Audience
If you want to build a thriving YouTube channel, it isn’t just about posting videos. It’s also about building community. Make sure to reply to comments and engage with your viewers. While it makes sense not to feed the trolls, your real fans will be more likely to return for more if you connect with them.
Another tip is to give your YouTube audience a shout-out. Ask them to comment with a unique prompt, such as their favorite food, book, or even podcast episode. Finally, consider hosting a live Q&A session with your audience. Just like in-person meet-ups, they can be a great way of reaching out to your listeners.
Setting up a YouTube channel for your podcast requires strategic planning, time, and effort – but the rewards can be significant. By optimizing your thumbnails and adding podcast SEO keywords, you can create an engaging channel that attracts and retains viewers.
Stay consistent, experiment with content formats, and engage with your audience to grow your podcast on YouTube successfully.
Have questions? Interested in having The Podglomerate help you with production or video podcasts? Learn more about our production capabilities or contact us to learn more about our video production services.
