Wondering whether to start a podcast or a YouTube channel in 2022? Both channels can get a lot of traction for your content. But, each requires a unique approach to creating and marketing content if you’re to successfully engage with your audience.
To make things easier for you, we’ll break down podcasts vs YouTube channels in this guide. We’ll cover what it takes to build a following on each platform, and how your video and audio content might perform on them.
Let’s get into it!
Why Start A Podcast?
When considering whether to start a podcast vs a YouTube channel, you first need to understand the unique benefits of each.
Podcasts are ideal for a few reasons. First of all, audiences can be active doing something else while they listen. In fact, many try to just listen to YouTube as well, but they face the ads that get them to come back and click the screen to make sure they are still there.
With the many different podcast players and platforms on the market, it’s easier for listeners to find the one that best suits them. YouTube is take it or leave it.
While both formats help you display your expertise on a specific topic, podcasts typically have less distractions. Most podcast players help listeners focus on what they are listening to without a screen littered with links and thumbnails to more enticing content.
Podcasts are also a lot easier to create than a YouTube video. All you essentially need is a quality microphone and recording equipment. You could even just use a video call platform like Zoom, or a smartphone podcast app to get you started. You simply hit record, talk, and the core of your podcast is created. There’s no need for complex video editing or filming.
Right now, there are an estimated 104 million podcast listeners in the US each month. Clearly, you are in good company starting with a podcast.
Why Create A YouTube Channel?
Podcasts may have a lot of momentum but video still remains the most popular and engaging form of content in 2022. According to Wyzowl, YouTube remains the number one choice for marketers, with 96% of people sharing that they have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service. You can’t say the same for podcasts.
Starting a YouTube channel is an excellent way to create highly engaging content. Videos generally attract more engagement through comments, subs, likes, and shares. And while many podcast listeners set aside time to listen to a podcast, YouTube viewers tend to browse videos throughout the day and jump from video to video.
A successful YouTube channel requires more planning and more work to produce. However, it gives you a much higher chance of achieving of the infamous “going viral” phenomenon.
Podcast vs YouTube Comparison
When contemplating a podcast vs YouTube channel, there are many different elements to take into account. Here are some of the main considerations.
Production
Is it more feasible for you to produce a podcast or a YouTube video?
YouTube videos require a fair amount of knowledge when it comes to production. Firstly, you need a camera and to know about filming, recording, editing, and exporting optimized formats. If you aren’t experienced in creating videos, this can be time-consuming and challenging.
Podcasts, on the other hand, are much less expensive and easier to produce, as you are focused on the audio.
Discoverability
When comparing a podcast vs a YouTube channel, it is often easier to grow your audience through YouTube. YouTube has more than 2.6 billion active users. The YouTube algorithm is also great at recommending new content to users. This makes it an excellent way to improve your content’s reach and discoverability.
In contrast, gaining listenership for your podcast on a platform like Spotify or Apple Music can require a more strategic approach. For new users on these platforms, it can also be more difficult to expand your audience compared to YouTube.
You will have to focus more on promoting your podcast and less on relying on the podcast platform’s algorithm to find new listeners. That’s why podcasters use a solution like Wavve to bring their social audience to their podcast.
Marketing
Podcast vs YouTube, which is easier to market?
You are likely to use similar marketing strategies to promote each type of content, so this consideration is pretty equally balanced. For example, you will share clips. You will share on socials. You will embed on your blog. Link from your newsletter.
However, with the work that went into creating your YouTube video thumbnails, and the easily embedded and shareable nature of them, YouTube wins on simply sharing.
For audio content marketing, you have to do a little more work. Podcasts typically don’t have a graphic specific to the relevant topics discussed like YouTube videos. This means you will need to do things like break down clips into trailers, create episode images, and share highlights.
Repurposing
It’s important to consider how you can repurpose and support your content. When comparing a podcast vs a YouTube channel, you have various repurposing options.
You could transcribe the audio to create a blog post to complement your content. You could break down the content into bite-sized social media videos, or even turn your video into a podcast (and visa versa).
YouTube videos can be cut up into shorter videos to use across social media platforms. You could also write about the video and turn it into an article.
The real question here is, would you rather clip and edit video or audio? Video is again, more complex in this area.
Purpose
What do you want to achieve from the content? Both avenues are useful for creating entertaining content, growing an engaged audience, and spreading awareness about your brand.
If your main aim is to build a large audience quickly and you have the video skills, then YouTube is most likely the better choice.
If you want to establish yourself as an influencer quickly and don’t have the video skills, then podcasting is most likely more suitable.
Conclusion
There’s no right or wrong answer to the question of whether it’s better to start a podcast or create a YouTube channel. It really depends on your audience, your brand, your skill set, and what type of content best matches these factors.
Of course, doing both is also an option.
Consider your strengths and what type of content you feel most comfortable creating. And start. There’s no rule that says you can’t try both and see what format sticks.
I’m the CEO of Wavve. I love encouraging creators and entrepreneurs to share their stories and lead with purpose.