Should your videos be a podcast?

There is endless talk about turning podcasts into YouTube channels. I even just published a free masterclass with Moneywise producer Jackie Lamport on exactly that. How to make watchable video podcasts.

But here’s what nobody is talking about: Should YouTuber be turning their videos into audio podcasts?

My answer is absolutely yes! Here’s why …

The obvious answer is to give people a choice but the real reason is to stay in people’s feeds.

The power of choice

Think about when you actually watch videos. For most of us it’s during lunch breaks, evenings or lazy mornings. At times when we can lean back and tune in. That’s pretty limited times, right?

But podcasts travel with me. 90% of all my commute time is spend listening to two dudes talking (the most common podcast format). I listen while cooking, cleaning, running. Basically any activity that doesn’t demand my full visual attention.

And honestly I wish I had more choice for what I can subscribe to in my podcast player. Because right now it’s mostly hour long conversations.

But what I love about YouTube is that creators work hard to put as much information in as little time possible while keeping it entertaining. As Jackie put it in our chat:

[…] video makes you a better audio producer as well, because it makes you address things that you would otherwise just say, it's okay. It doesn't actually matter that much.

Stay in the feed

When I subscribe to a podcast, that channel owns real estate in my routine. Every new episode appears in my curated feed, without an algorithm deciding if this is relevant to me. Compare that to YouTube, where even your most loyal subscribers might miss your latest video because the platform had other plans.

You might worry about cannibalizing YouTube views. But think bigger. Would you rather fight for uncertain algorithm visibility, or secure guaranteed access to people's daily routines?

When I discover a new podcast the only way I’ll get more of it is by subscribing to it in an app of my choice and every time that creator publishes it shows up in a feed of shows I selected to listen to.

Should you be a podcast?

Obviously, this works better for educational creators than lifestyle or entertainment channels. So if you are delivering is information that mostly works without visuals it is worth testing.

For example Vlogbrothers, Theory of One or Caleb Ralston would make excellent podcasts without changes.

Whichever route you choose the latest episode of Orbit for Creators is packed with clear and simple strategies that will help you grow as a creator.

💛 Valentin