How to turn your podcast into a vodcast and reach new audiences

So you want to venture into the world of video podcasting and transform your podcast into a vodcast? This could be the next exciting step which allows you to bring your show to new audiences and engage with people more effectively on social media through the power of video. But how do you go about turning your podcast into a vodcast?

What is a podcast?

In short, a podcast is a series of pre-recorded, spoken word, audio pieces. Usually they focus on a particular theme, topic or subject area and are led by at least one host or narrator. Many podcasts often include the voices of other contributors, guests or co-hosts, but it all depends on the format of the show.

Coming in a range of different shapes and sizes, podcasts can be produced as discussion shows, interview series or in-depth documentaries. The possibilities are truly endless and the format provides an excellent medium in which to explore a topic or theme in far greater depth and detail than short form content would otherwise allow.

What is a vodcast?

The simplest definition of a vodcast is an audio podcast which is presented as a video. Instead of only listening to a discussion or interview, audiences are also given the chance to watch the recording. Allowing them to pick up on body language and facial expressions, whilst also being shown visual aids such as graphics, images or video footage.

Whilst a podcast only records audio during a recording session, a vodcast involves introducing cameras into the mix and capturing video footage of the interview or discussion that you’re having on your show.

Many podcast platforms now allow for audiences to switch between watching or listening to a vodcast, so they aren’t forced to consume your show one way or the other if you decide to make the switch to video.

Vodcasts, like podcasts, can also be recorded in-person or virtually, giving you total creative freedom for designing your production according to your budget, schedule and plans.

What are the benefits of a vodcast?

Aside from bringing your podcast to life visually, vodcasts offer a whole host of benefits which make them attractive to both long-time podcasters and new entrants to the space.

A big benefit is the promotional opportunities for your show. The footage captured as part of the vodcast can be turned into short social videos, which can be easily shared and distributed online. These can include clips of things like key moments, discussion points or highlights from your show. The opportunity here is that you could translate views of these social videos into subscribers for your longer-form vodcast.

Another benefit to highlight are the visual elements a vodcast will allow you to introduce and include in your show. So for instance, if you have a history show where you’re talking about a particular artefact, you can showcase an image or footage of the item on-screen as part of the vodcast, something you wouldn’t have been able to do when it was audio-only. 

Should you turn your podcast into a vodcast

The first question to ask yourself if you are already producing a successful podcast is whether your show is suitable or would benefit from the introduction of a visual element. It might feel like a vodcast should be the ultimate goal of any successful podcaster, but vodcasts aren’t suitable for every show and some would actually benefit from remaining audio-first.

Before deciding on the switch to video, take the time to consider whether your podcast format would work well with a visual element, what you will need to change during the recording process and whether there are benefits for your show if you introduce video.

For example, if you currently record a narrative podcast which relies on one host or narrator reading a pre-determined script to tell a story, you might not feel that there is enough visual interest to film them reading the script in a studio or office. 

A first step you could explore before taking the plunge into vodcasts is filming a few of your podcast recording sessions to turn into short social media clips to share online. This would allow you to test out the potential benefits of using video, help you iron out any issues created by introducing a camera into your recording sessions and allow you to experiment with social media video.

How to turn your podcast into a vodcast

When you first set up your podcast you probably found it quite straightforward. A few microphones and a recording device is typically all you need to get started. But introducing the video element brings with it a few more barriers to overcome.

Find a suitable recording location

Where have you been recording your podcast to date? Maybe you’ve been sitting in the only room you can find that doesn’t have an echo or any background noise, which also happens to be the broom cupboard. Or maybe you’ve been sitting in a room surrounded by blank white walls with only a table and chairs in front of you.

Recording audio for a podcast can be done almost anywhere. Finding a location to film your vodcast however requires more careful planning. Consider how you want to present your show visually. Do you need to film in a professional looking or office-like setting or could you film on a sofa in a living room? 

Practice makes perfect

Introducing cameras into a recording of a previously audio-first podcast is a big step. Whatever your host and guests do will not only be captured by the microphone in front of them, but also the cameras pointed in their direction from different angles. If your host looks bored, your guest pulls a face, or someone turns up in flip-flops whilst everyone else is in work attire, these are all things that can detract from the conversation you’re trying to capture.

Your host will also need time to adjust to the cameras. Do you want them to face them and engage with them directly or will they ignore them and only engage with their guests or co-host? By taking the time to practice you can hopefully identify anything that could cause you issues during the recording process. 

Equip your recording studio

Whether you’re recording virtually or in-person, you’ll need to make sure you have the right equipment to film your vodcast for audiences to enjoy online. 

If you’re recording virtually then your laptop will most likely have a reasonable camera built-in. You might want to consider increasing the quality of this however by purchasing an external webcam to ensure you capture as clear an image as possible. 

For in-studio setups, you have more creative freedom and can arrange a number of cameras to capture various angles of the host and their guests. But you would want, as a bare minimum, at least three camera angles. One showing a wide angle of all the talent, a close up of the host and a close up of the guest(s). This will allow you to easily switch between angles and, in the process, hide any cuts you need to make.

You will also need to consider and plan your lighting setup. Diffused light will ensure that your talent looks their best on camera. There are a whole range of lighting options out there to choose from, but the most important thing to ensure is that it is evenly diffused across your subjects to avoid any harsh shadows and the risk of making your vodcast look amateur. 

Plan your visuals

Introducing video to your show brings with it another step that you’ll need to complete in the planning stage for each episode. What will you be displaying  on-screen during the show? Will you be adding lower thirds on-screen, will you use animated graphics and text, will you be showing images or footage at key moments during the vodcast to show what the host and guest are talking about?

Adding video to your podcast opens up new creative opportunities for the introduction of new visual elements which can further enhance the experience for your audience. Don’t forget however that some of your audience, especially if you’ve been audio-first for a long time, will still want to consume your show in an audio only format. So their needs must be catered for as well. 

Edit your vodcast episode

By filming your show you introduce a new stage into the post-production workflow for which you’ll need to allow additional time and resources.

If you have filmed using multiple cameras you will need to select, if you didn’t do this live with a production switcher, which angles you wish to use at which point during the show. You’ll also need to add any additional visual elements, such as those mentioned previously, including animations, lower thirds and images or video footage.

Share your vodcast

When it comes to sharing your new vodcast episode with the world you’ll have opened up new opportunities with which to experiment and explore. For instance, you’ll now be able to share your show as a video on YouTube, now regarded as the world's largest podcast and vodcast platform.

Take the time to also identify, ahead of launch, which parts of the show could work best as social media videos to further engage and reach new audiences online. This could be a particularly poignant moment in a discussion, an interesting answer to a question or a series of highlights of a few of the best moments.

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We’re Sheeran Media

You might have reached the end of this article and thought that you’d like some help from the professionals to create your next vodcast. 

We're Sheeran Media, a bespoke content production company with expertise in video and audio production. If you have a project you need support with, then get in touch. We’d love to help!