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Podcasts on YouTube and podcasts on YouTube Music are worth using as a distribution method for a show. Especially now that people listen to and watch podcasts on YouTube and even favor the network over other traditional podcast networks, according to Edison Research.
To publish your show here makes sense and is a content distribution strategy worth considering – especially if you already have a video version of your podcast. But it should be noted that YouTube also allows “audio-only” podcasts. So let’s dive into that topic in this article and discuss:
- What are podcasts on YouTube?
- Why they do make sense.
- Where do podcasts on YouTube show up?
- How about podcasts on YouTube Music?
- How to distribute your podcast on YouTube
- How to livestream my podcast on YouTube
- Uploading your video podcast to YouTube
- YouTube podcast analytics
- Should my podcast get its own YouTube channel?
What are podcasts on YouTube?
At the most basic level, it’s a video version of a podcast uploaded or streamed to the platform.
Unlike the traditional podcast version, the most significant difference is that it’s with video.
I say traditional because even Spotify now publishes video podcasts, so there’s a real advantage to having a video version of episodes either way. I wouldn’t be surprised if more podcast channels add video capabilities at some point.
Even the definition of a video podcast can be debated. For example, you could create a video file with one static image and run the audio under that image. I prefer to have the conversation in a moving video, however.
Why it makes sense for podcasters
Platforms evolve and sometimes add new content formats. Podcasts can make sense. Facebook tried integrating podcasts for a bit, but that functionality stopped. In reality, most podcasts can also be published as video podcasts. Seeing the conversation and the facial expressions of the host and guest can add authenticity. And, if nothing else, it’s another channel to distribute your show.
Read next: Should I publish my podcast on television?
Where do podcasts show up on YouTube?
As the Marketing O’Clock experts reported originally, there’s now a specific landing page for podcasts on YouTube at youtube.com/podcasts.
The most popular ones are at the top, but I also like the recommendation section based on my viewing history.
In addition, podcast videos will appear in search results and will be recommended content like any other YouTube video, so make sure you follow best practices for your videos.
Podcasts on YouTube Music
Podcasts also show up on YouTube Music. Here’s how that looks and a link to my podcast on YouTube Music.
How to distribute them
There are two ways:
- Livestream it to YouTube – like through a multistream recording.
- Upload your recording to YouTube without a livestream. You can also consider editing it here.
I would also try to use the same headline and description as the podcast episode is using on other channels. Consider making it clear in the description that this is a podcast to make it easier for YouTube to identify that your video is part of a show. For example, I often say:
So-and-so joins me on this episode of The Business Storytelling Podcast to discuss the topic…
Then upload the episodes to other podcast networks, and also embed the playlist to your website.
How to livestream my podcast on YouTube
Here’s how I do that. I setup my episodes in the Restream Studio. Schedule the episode in there and send it to your YouTube channel by tying the YouTube channel to the Restream editor.
The episode will then show on YouTube and people can click on the notification option to be alerted once you go live.
This also pushes through to YouTube Music at this stage once you set the correct podcast playlist in the YouTube Studio.
When you go live in Restream, this also pushes live to YouTube and all the other platforms that you’ve set.
Setting up your podcast for the first time
If you aren’t streaming live, you can upload your show as well. Log in and head over to the YouTube Studio. Then go to playlists, and designate a specific playlist a podcast. You can change this later as well.
Once you set it, YouTube asks you to fill out some fields to provide more information about the show. You’ll also have to upload a cover image, which has the same dimensions as those on traditional podcast channels.
From there, make sure new episodes are added to that playlist.
Podcast analytics
Once you have created your podcast playlist, you can view metrics. Go to the playlist area of YouTube Studio, and click on the metrics icon near the podcast playlist. That will bring you to this screen with recent analytics.
Should my podcast get its own channel?
That depends on where you are in your YouTube content strategy. For example, if you are creating a podcast for a company that has a YouTube channel, it likely makes sense to add the podcast to that channel and create a playlist.
If you currently have no presence on YouTube but want to add your podcast to more networks, creating an entirely new channel just for the podcast and with the podcast as the name could make sense.
In summary, getting your podcast onto the popular video platform through a livestream or an upload makes sense to me, and I would recommend it. Especially now with these rise in popularity as a podcast network.