Audio Only Vs Video podcasts
Hey Pod Pals!
This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 8:51am CST.
My cold brew coffee is hitting me just right this morning so I have high hopes for this newsletter!
Before we dive in...here's a quick update on my latest experiment.
I hosted my first Content Collaboration Session this past Tuesday and it went GREAT!
We had a zoom room full of podcasters looking for guests and collaboration opportunities.
I've heard from multiple attendees that they got booked on more than one podcast from this single session!
I've got two more FREE sessions on the calendar for May 5th & May 20th.
The goal is to bring about 40 podcasters into the zoom room and look for opportunities to book each other on our shows as guests.
Everyone will get 60 seconds to say:
- Your name and the name of your show.
- Who you are looking for as a guest for your show.
- Who you are a great fit for as a podcast guest.
- How we can reach out and connect with you.
You can grab one of the 40 spots here!
This week we are going to talk about the EPIC debate that is happening right now in podcasting: Audio Vs. Video!!! 😱
I'd like to start off by saying that my goal today is not to persuade you to go audio only like me.
My goal is to help you make an informed decision as to what the best fit content strategy is for you and your show.
There is a TON of industry wide pressure right now to add video content and I'm getting daily freak out emails and DM's from you all....LOL!
BUT....are you actually "missing out" if you don't create any video content?...Let's find out!
📌 Here are two situations in which I think it makes 100% sense to be audio only:
➡️ 1. 83% of podcasters don't make it past episode TEN....
So I think it would be a good idea for most podcasters to do their first ten episodes as an audio only show to help make sure they can cross this milestone.
➡️ 2. I'm a BIG believer in the power of consistent weekly episodes.
I highly suggest that you do an audio only show until you are consistently able to release an episode each week.
📌 When it comes to content creation and editing time, video content is a MUCH heavier lift compared to audio only content.
All of this extra effort with video content seems to lead to even greater expectations of a tangible ROI (growth/monetization) by the content creators.
When that ROI doesn't happen it's easier for content creators to feel disappointment early on, get behind on their content schedule, burn out, and quit.
I think that a BIG part of why only 17% of podcasters cross ten episodes is because they are trying to do audio and video content as they get started.
📌 Next let's consider your primary social media platform(s) and what type of content works there.
➡️ If your main social platforms are video/image focused platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and/or Youtube then creating video content makes sense.
➡️ If your main social platforms text primary platforms like X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Threads, and/or Substack I think you can go audio only.
📌 We also need to consider your overall content flywheel and if video is a necessary component of that.
Here is my content flywheel:
✔️ 1. I create an audio only podcast episode.
✔️ 2. In about 3 months I take my notes from that audio only podcast episode and then I turn it into a newsletter like the one you are reading right now.
✔️ 3. I take my newsletter and break it up into several text based posts for my primary social media platform Threads.
➡️ Audio only podcast > Newsletter > Threads
Here is an example of a content flywheel that includes video:
✔️ 1. You create an audio and video podcast.
✔️ 2. The video is posted to Youtube and Spotify.
✔️ 3. You create social media video clips for IG Reels and Tiktok to promote the episode.
➡️ Audio/Video podcast > Youtube/Spotify > IG/Tiktok
📌 Finally, here are FIVE really important questions that you need to consider so that you can effectively assess whether or not your current content strategy is actually working:
- Am I seeing consistent audience growth?
- Am I getting consistent audience engagement?
- Am I seeing consistent growth on social media?
- Am I building my email list/newsletter?
- Am I getting clients, selling programs, and building my business?
As an audio only podcaster I can answer YES to all five questions above.......so it IS possible Pod Pals!
Now it's time for you to sit down and think about what the best decision is for you and your show.
Remember this: You can always take 30-60 days and just try something different as an experiment....especially if you answered NO to the five questions above!
Maybe you throttle back and do audio only for a few months or hit pause on creating content for a few social platforms.
I hope our little chat has helped you out today Pod Pals!
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🤩 Client Testimonial of the week: My client Grace Stevens has a show called Balance Your Teacher Life.
Check out what she has to say about doing 1:1 consulting with me:
"Adam helped me launch my dream podcast. His real magic lies in the intersection of knowledge, cheerleading, and honesty. He will tell you what you need to hear, and he will do it lovingly. I have no hesitation recommending him!"
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New Content for this week:
🎙️ Podcasting Business School EP 619: Podcast SEO strategies for serious growth (Podcast Growth Audit).
In this episode I invited my Pod Pal Greer Jones onto the show to do a Podcast Growth Audit. We go through my full SEO strategy for explosive podcast growth!
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❤️ If you have been enjoying my newsletter I'd really appreciate it if you would share it with one of your Pod Pals that might get value out of this content!
Just hit that FORWARD button and share it out! 😎
If someone forwarded you this email you can CLICK HERE to subscribe and get a fresh newsletter from me every single Thursday.
Talk to you next week!
Your Pod Pal,
Adam
⭐️ P.S. Ready for some help with your podcast launch, growth, or with getting more clients from your podcast?
Hop on my calendar for a Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call and we can discuss how we can work together.