YouTube Podcast Growth: Boost Your Audience Growth With Youtube

The podcasting industry is rapidly evolving and exciting. To avoid being left behind, you must stay on top of the growing trends and explore new opportunities. At Q’d Up, we have witnessed a new trend with a lot of potential: podcasts being launched on YouTube. 

YouTube is often overlooked when it comes to podcast growth despite being the world’s second-largest search engine. However, YouTube offers numerous benefits for podcasters, especially podcast-specific discovery and recommendation features.

Podcast discoverability within native platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts is practically non-existent. 

YouTube rolled out a new Podcast Tab for creators, so now is the perfect time to tap into a new audience and expand your reach. 

We cover all the reasons your podcast needs to be on YouTube below 👇🏽

Benefits of Podcasting on YouTube

Increased discoverability

YouTube is the second-largest search engine globally, with over 2 billion monthly active users. Uploading your podcast to YouTube increases the chances of people discovering your show through search, recommendations, and related videos.

Podcast-specific discovery features

YouTube has been working on podcast-specific discovery and recommendation features, making it easier for your audience to find and engage with the podcast content they love – like yours. 

Diverse audience demographics

YouTube attracts a wide variety of users with different interests, allowing you to reach new demographics that might not typically use traditional podcast platforms.

Visual storytelling opportunities

By repurposing your audio content into video, you can create a more immersive experience for your audience, g your storytelling and building a stronger connection with your listeners/fans. There is doubt, audio is one of the most intimate mediums, but video highlights the personal brand behind the mic. 

Monetization opportunities

YouTube offers several monetization options for content creators, including ad revenue, channel memberships, and Super Chat, giving podcasters additional income streams.

Here are a couple of valuable resources to help you get started on Youtube

• YouTube Creator Academy: https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/
• YouTube Help Center: https://support.google.com/youtube/

Repurposing Your Podcast for YouTube ( A few ideas to experiment with…)

Create Video Versions of Your Episodes

Transform your audio podcast into an engaging video experience by adding visuals, such as:

Youtube clips

Create five to ten-minute clips of your podcast. This approach will entice your audience with highlighted clips and is an effective way to introduce video with podcasting.

Slideshows

Create a slideshow with relevant images and text that complement your podcast content. This can help reinforce key points and make your content more engaging for viewers.

Talking head videos

Record yourself (or your co-hosts/guests) discussing the podcast topic. This can create a more personal connection with your audience and increase engagement. You can use services such as Streamyard, riverside.fm, or Squadcast.fm (Use the code PODHOUSTON and you will add a discount of $40 off any pricing plan selected in addition to the free 7-day trial) All of these platforms are great for video and remote recording content. 

Animation and motion graphics

Use animation or motion graphics to create a dynamic experience for your audience. This may require advanced skills, but it can significantly enhance your content’s appeal.

Optimize Your Video Content for YouTube

When uploading your podcast episodes to YouTube, consider these optimization tips:

Create compelling titles 

Write clear, descriptive titles that include relevant keywords. This will help improve your video’s search visibility.

Craft engaging descriptions

Write informative descriptions that contextualize your video and include relevant keywords. Include timestamps for different topics or segments to help viewers navigate your content easily. I’m a big fan of timestamps. 

Choose eye-catching thumbnails

Design custom video thumbnails that accurately represent your content and grab viewers’ attention. Use bold fonts and colors that stand out. 

Utilize tags

Add relevant tags to your videos to help YouTube’s algorithm understand your content and make better recommendations. Use keyword tools such as keywords everywhere, Tubebuddy, or VidIQ. 

Encourage engagement

CTAs matter! Ask viewers to like, comment, and subscribe to your channel. This helps increase your content’s visibility and improve your chances of being recommended to new viewers.

Strategies for Growing Your Podcast Audience on YouTube

Cross-promote Your Podcast

Promote your YouTube channel on your podcast and vice versa. This will help drive traffic between both platforms, increasing your overall audience reach. The objective is to provide both audiences a chance to connect with your content via audio and video. 

Use Youtube Shorts To Promote Your Content

This is the vertical video era, so Youtube shorts have worthy benefits like higher engagement rates overall. By regularly creating and promoting Shorts, you can improve your channel’s overall performance, leading to increased visibility for your entire content library. 

Collaborate with Other Creators

Collaboration is one of the most effective ways to market your show. This can be done through guest appearances, interviews, or co-hosting special episodes. This cross-promotion strategy is one of our favorites since it can help build potential partnerships within your niche, while expanding your podcast.

Leverage Playlists

Organize your podcast episodes into YouTube playlists based on themes, topics, or series. This not only makes it easier for viewers to activate the content, but it also encourages binge-watching. The more they binge on your content, the more Youtube will expose your content to others, while increasing your watch time and audience retention.  

Engage with Your Audience

Interact with your audience on YouTube by responding to ALL comments and addressing viewer feedback in your videos. This is doable, especially in the beginning stages of your podcast. Ignore the trolls and secretly thank them inside for engaging with your content despite the negativity. Even their bad engagement is considered good engagement by Youtube. Focus on building a sense of community and let’s turn those casual viewers into super fans. Another thing you can do is host live Q&A sessions or premieres to engage with your audience in real time.

Utilize YouTube Analytics

Youtube has one of the most insightful analytics databases around. Use this data to refine your content strategy, identify areas for improvement, and discover what resonates with your viewers. Monitor your YouTube analytics to gain insights into your audience demographics, viewing habits, and content performance. This will help you make your content more engaging. 

Promote Your YouTube Channel on Social Media

Share your YouTube videos on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, to increase your content’s visibility and reach new audiences. Create graphics or short video clips to attract users to watch your content and visit your YouTube channel.

Optimize Your Youtube Channel’s Appearance

One common mistake we see is a lack of cohesive branding. Customize your YouTube channel’s appearance to create a visually appealing and consistent brand image. Use your podcast’s logo, color scheme, and other branding elements to make your channel easily recognizable. Create a compelling channel banner and organize your content into sections for easy navigation.

Leveraging YouTube for podcast growth offers many opportunities to expand your audience, increase engagement, and generate additional revenue streams. By repurposing your podcast content into engaging video content and implementing effective growth strategies, you can tap into YouTube’s massive user base and unlock your podcast’s full potential. Remember to take advantage of YouTube’s podcast-specific discovery and recommendation features to make it easier for viewers to find and engage with your content. With podcasts coming to YouTube Music, there’s never been a better time to explore the power of YouTube for podcast growth.

If you need help launching your podcast on Youtube, book a call today, and let’s discuss your goals and objectives for your podcast on Youtube. 🎤🎥