Video has long been the Internet’s favorite form of media, but with recent global events putting the majority of the world’s population in temporary isolation, video streaming popularity has gone through the roof. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, families around the globe have sequestered themselves indoors in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Safe inside at home, people are consuming more content than ever before, catching up on long-anticipated seasons of their favorite television shows, recent blockbuster releases, and streamed content from their favorite YouTubers, influencers, and social media stars.
Despite an increase in the consumption of video entertainment, podcast downloads are down 20% since the outbreak, and Spotify has reported an 11% decrease in music streaming. But why are podcasts losing listenership if listeners have more time on their hands?
How COVID-19 is Impacting Audio Streaming
The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted individual podcasters in different ways, with some reporting no change in their listenership and engagement, and others reporting both decreases and increases. While individual experiences of audio streamers may vary, the overall podcast market has seen a drastic decline as a direct result of the rapidly spreading virus. Despite having more time on their hands to consume content, audiences are now primarily consuming web-based and video content rather than their usual podcasts.
The reason for this phenomenon is likely due to the change in routine caused by COVID-19, now keeping audiences inside and in front of screens almost 24/7. Podcasts are most frequently consumed by listeners on their commute to work, at the gym, or during transitional periods throughout the day. Now, stuck at home and without their regular commutes, listeners are deferring to other sources of entertainment, leaving podcasts by the wayside.
Are Podcasts Disappearing?
Don’t worry, podcasts are not in any danger of disappearing. Despite global disruption as a result of COVID-19, the demand for podcasts is not going anywhere. Though people may not be consuming as much audio content as they were two months ago, this is not necessarily an indication of the future of podcasting. As life returns to normal and major areas reopen up for business, as usual, people will return to their daily routines and return to their favorite forms of on-the-go content like podcasts.
While podcasts may not be in danger of extinction, concerns over lost revenue and listenership due to COVID-19 are still a real and present issue. While listening to podcasts may not be the hottest trend at the moment, there are some exciting ways podcasters can make their content more findable and compelling to their audiences during the COVID-19 shutdown, and that is with video.
Competing with Video
Video has always been hard to compete with, dominating media since its inception more than a century ago. Movies, television shows, web shows, YouTube videos, video advertisements, and other forms of video media have always performed better than their purely visual or audible counterparts, and this trend does not seem to be going anywhere. Well, as they always say: if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Now, with video more popular than ever before, it is the perfect time to start experimenting with vodcasting. Vodcasting refers to the practice of filming the recording of your podcast, then sharing the podcast in video form as well as audio form. Vodcasting can help you make your podcast stand out online, encouraging more clicks, listens, follows, and general engagement than audio podcasts alone.
Guide to Vodcasting
If competing with experienced video media creators sounds like a daunting task, don’t worry, vodcasting is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. You no longer need to go to film school to produce high-quality videos, and with new technologies and easy-to-use programs coming out each and every day, the world of video has never been easier to enter. If you are a podcaster, chances are you already have all the equipment and resources you need to start sharing high-quality vodcasts with your audience.
Equipment
One of the biggest reasons many podcasters are hesitant to enter the vodcasting space is because they believe they will need to purchase expensive and complicated equipment. While some vodcasts are filmed using high-tech cameras and complex recording tools, there are plenty of easier and far more cost-effective ways to record your vodcast. Skype and Zoom are particularly useful tools for podcasters just venturing into the vodcasting space, and can easily be used to record podcasts with just one click of a button.
Skype and Zoom are readily available online applications that can be run on virtually any computer, and feature built-in video and audio recording capabilities. Once finished, your recorded file will automatically sync audio with video, negating the need for you to go back and cut together media from separate recording devices. Most importantly, for podcasters hosting guests on their shows, Skype and Zoom automatically switch between speakers, so you will never need to cut together separate footage.
Where to Share
Once you have recorded your vodcast using Skype or Zoom, you will have a full video recording of your vodcast episode right on your computer. From here, you can easily upload to video sharing sites like Vimeo or YouTube, or other video hosting sites where audiences may be likely to come across your content. YouTube is particularly useful for sharing vodcasts since 43% of podcast listeners already turn to the popular video platform first for new episodes of their favorite shows.
Create Clips, Add Subtitles, and Promote Your Podcast
Once you venture into the world of podcast video, we know you will be hooked, and you will constantly be on the lookout for new ways to share your video content! With Headliner, you can easily create short promotional videos and clips to share with your audience on social media in order to get the word out about your show. With your full vodcast downloaded to your computer, you will be able to upload the footage to Headliner in order to easily select clips you want in your promotional videos.
Once you have set your preferences, Headliner does the rest, carefully formatting your podcast videos for your preferred social media platforms, inserting graphics and waveforms, and even automatically including subtitles to improve viewer engagement. Best of all, you can share your promotional videos and short audiograms to social media directly from Headliner. Headliner is optimized for sharing to all major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more, enabling you to reach audiences wherever they hang out on the Internet.
Basically, the moral of the story is, vodcasting does not need to be any more difficult than podcasting, except that you will definitely need to be wearing pants while you record!
Want to learn more about promoting your podcast in the age of video? Check out the Headliner App to discover the easiest way to create promotional podcast videos, and be sure to follow our blog for updates on the latest Headliner news, tips, tricks, and advice for successful podcasting, and much more.
