YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for podcasters for us to share our content and reach a wider audience. In this blog, I'll explore why podcasters should consider YouTube as a platform, how to get started, and tips for optimizing our YouTube channel for podcasting.

Why Use YouTube for Podcasting?

There are a number of reasons why podcasters should consider using YouTube as a platform for their content:

Reach a Wider Audience: YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the second largest search engine after Google. By uploading our podcast to YouTube, we have the potential to reach a much larger audience than we would through traditional podcasting platforms.

Boost Our SEO: YouTube is owned by Google, which means that videos uploaded to the platform can appear in Google search results. This means that our podcast could potentially show up in both YouTube and Google search results, giving us more visibility and boosting your SEO.

Engage with Our Audience: YouTube allows us to engage with our audience in a way that traditional podcasting platforms don't. We can respond to comments, create community posts, and even go live to interact with our viewers.

How to Get Started

Getting started with podcasting on YouTube is relatively easy. Here are the basic steps:

  1. Create a YouTube Channel like @girltakethelead: If you don't already have a YouTube channel, create one. Make sure to choose a name and profile picture that are consistent with your podcast branding.
  2. Record Your Podcast: Record your podcast as you normally would, but make sure to record video as well. You can do this using a webcam, a DSLR camera, or even your smartphone. Always let your guest know so they “look good”.
  3. Edit Your Video: Edit your video as you normally would, but make sure to include any relevant visuals, such as slides or images. I’m still learning here but using iMovie for my editing with a Canva designed cover.
  4. Upload Your Video: Upload your video to YouTube, making sure to include a clear title and description.
  5. Promote Your Video: Once your video is uploaded, promote it on social media and any other channels you use to promote your podcast.

Tips for Optimizing Your YouTube Channel for Podcasting

Here are some tips for optimizing your YouTube channel for podcasting:

  • Create a Playlist: Create a playlist specifically for your podcast episodes. This will make it easier for viewers to find all of your podcast episodes in one place.
  • Use Keywords: Use keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to help your videos show up in search results.
  • Add Timestamps: Add timestamps to your video description to make it easier for viewers to skip to specific parts of the podcast.
  • Create Custom Thumbnails: Create custom thumbnails for each of your podcast episodes to make them stand out in search results.
  • Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments and create community posts to engage with your audience and build a community around your podcast.

3 Takeaways:

  1. YouTube is a powerful platform for podcasters like us looking to reach a wider audience and engage with their viewers in new ways.
  2. By following some of these tips, we can optimize your YouTube channel for podcasting and take your content to the next level.
  3. Be patient. Learning a new algorithm is about trial and error. Happy podcasting!