The podcast is something to listen to, right? That's exactly the success of the medium. There is almost nothing more intimate than hearing someone's voice in your ears. Your ears are the only sense being triggered. You visualize what the person in your ears is saying. Talk about making an impact!
But... video content is hot. Video is everywhere. On social media, on YouTube and, of course, on your TV. Since we humans are visually inclined, Which is why Spotify is now offering this new feature: adding a video to your podcast on Spotify.
No risk, no glory
It is now possible to upload your video podcast on the platform through Springcast. We are one of the first hostings who offer this feature. This is because we've been working with the Spotify API link from the beginning and not via Spotify Passthrough.
Say what? Yeah, we're about to get a little technical.
What is Spotify Passthrough?
Most hosting platforms use Spotify Passthrough. This bypasses Spotify's caching, allowing you to stream your audio file through your own server. Spotify will then no longer make a copy of your hosted audio files.
When Springcast became a Spotify Licensed Partner, we had the opportunity to connect to Spotify's then new API (Application Programming Interface). By doing so, we chose to bet on the long term and connect to new technology.
We took quite a risk with that when it came to our Analytics. Spotify's data was not always easy to measure. But now the API is stable and we can respond faster to Spotify's new innovative features, such as this video tool! And we are so excited, because how cool is it that you can now use this feature!
Four reasons to add video to your podcast
But why add a video to your podcast? Shouldn't you just listen to a podcast? Sure, but adding a video to your show is very valuable. You're just connecting to your audience in a different way. By offering video on top of audio your extending your reach. In addition, a video adds a new dimension to your show.
Spotify lists four reasons why adding a video to your podcast is a good idea. Let's take a closer look!
#1 Video content is a hit
Video is just a very effective way of communicating with your fans. Look at yourself. How often do you watch short clips on social media or YouTube? Or stream a vlog on TV? We humans are also visually inclined and enjoy watching video content. And... we just really want to know who's talking.
A video podcast fulfils this need and ensures that creators don't have to create completely new content. You produce an episode and then use it to serve two channels: audio and video. Adding video just makes your show even more exciting than it already is.
#2 Your fans choose their favourite medium themselves
A video podcast is under no circumstances competition for your audio podcast. After all, your listener chooses which medium suits him or her best at that moment.
If your listeners spend a lot of time in the car, or like to listen to a podcast while walking, they will always opt for the audio version. But for your followers who enjoy consuming video content, the video is a great addition.
#3 Show your followers what you're talking about
If you often talk about an article, product, photo or video in your show, the video podcast is a great tool to provide context to your followers. Your viewer get's to see your body language and facial expression. He or she then feels more connect to you when they see you talking about it.
#4 Better visibility on social media
As you know, social media is a powerful medium to tap into new fans for your podcast. But... these are highly visual platforms. It can be difficult to engage people when they are watching an audio-only clip. Our tool Springs is a great solution for this. It lets you create short video snippets of your podcast, perfect for teasing your episode!
Adding a video to your podcast is yet another great way to satisfy the appetite for video content. When you make a video of your podcast, you can easily edit short snippets of it and then share them on channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. Just be sure to link to your full episode (video and audio), of course 😎
Before you start...
Although the audio of your podcast is stored on servers in the Netherlands, we cannot guarantee this for the videos you upload to Spotify. This is because that part is provided by Spotify. Also: when you upload a video, the original audio file will be overwritten by the audio of your video. Make sure you use the podcast audio in your video edit.
How does it work?
Now that you know the benefits of the video podcast, it's time to try it out. What do you need?
- A Springcast account
- A Spotify For Podcasters account
- Video and audio recordings of your podcast
If you host your podcast via Springcast and have registered with Spotify, you're set. If you're not hosting with Springcast, but you do want to use this option? Sign up for a free trial with Springcast now!
All done? Now you can add a video to your podcast. We've written a step-by-step article on how to do that👇🏼
Ready, set, go
Now that you know how it works and why video content is a valuable addition to your podcast, it's time to try it yourself. So... are you recording a video while podcasting? Let's start uploading!
Are you still recording your podcast with audio only, but curious about the possibilities?
Try recording a podcast with a video camera. This can be easily done with your phone, but it is even better to use one or more good cameras.
Want to know more? Our support is always happy to help.
Happy Videocasting 💚
