How to Start a Podcast Channel on YouTube for Free

How to Start a Podcast on YouTube: An 8-Step Guide 

By following these steps for how to start a podcast channel on YouTube, you can establish your presence and engage with your audience through video and audio content. 

1. Choose your equipment and recording software

The first step for how to start a podcast on YouTube is to have your own YouTube podcast equipment. This is the basic equipment and software we suggest you invest in:

• A good quality microphone
• An HD camera, webcam, or even a phone camera can work
• A laptop or PC
• Headphones
• Recording software, like Zoom
• Editing software, like Adobe Premiere Pro
• Podcast hosting software, like Riverside or Streamyard

Extra YouTube podcast equipment and software you may consider includes:

• Tripod
• Mic arm
• Additional cameras
• A lighting kit

You’ll also want to think about your recording atmosphere; if you’re in a studio setting with controlled background noise, your best bet is a microphone with a condenser (which brings out voice richness but is sensitive to ambient noise). If you’re recording outdoors or in unpredictable environments, you can go with a dynamic mic.

Most YouTube podcasters opt for an external webcam for ease and crisper, clearer images than their computer’s built-in webcams. If you choose to record remote interviews, remember to also invest in a quality recording software since many video meeting software options are limited by your internet speed or the quality of your connection.

2. Record your podcast

Before recording, it will be a good idea to plan a podcast script and think about any extra B roll footage you may want to capture if you’re recording video content. Here’s a sample of an outline from GothamCast.

Next, you’ll need to determine your recording method. It’s important to note that there’s technically a difference between a “video podcast” and a static image with audio laid over the top. Many podcasters simply upload their recorded audio with accompanying image(s), but that is not considered a true video podcast.

Record audio-only podcast on YouTube

As a podcaster, you’re likely drawn to audio media. When adding YouTube to the mix, it’s simplest to continue recording audio-only podcast on YouTube and then create background images to accompany your recording. In this scenario, you’d simply convert your audio files to .mp4s (since YouTube doesn’t accept .mp3s) and create a simple background using graphic design software like Canva or Inkscape.

When designing your background image, you don’t need to get fancy. Include things like:

• Your podcast’s name
• Your website URL
• The podcast logo
• The host and guest names for the episode.

Suggested dimensions for YouTube images are 2560x1440 pixels or an aspect ratio of 16:9.

One thing to keep in mind: YouTube podcasts without video don’t get as much listener engagement as video podcasts. If your podcast is primarily audio-based, you can convert your episodes into engaging videos. Here's how to do it:

• Use PodViz: PodViz is a free tool that automatically converts your audio-only podcast on YouTube into video files. Go to RSS.com/podviz and paste your show's RSS feed to convert your episodes.
• Integration with RSS.com: If you host your podcast with RSS.com, you can convert audio episodes into video files directly in your dashboard. RSS.com also syncs with your YouTube channel, automatically uploading new videos.

Record a video podcast using your computer’s webcam

While we suggest using an external dedicated camera and microphone, some might be strapped to start with the bare minimum. In this case, you can record with your computer’s built-in webcam and its built-in microphone or an external mic. If you run an interview podcast, this low-cost setup may be the best solution for you.

Record a video podcast using external cameras

Finally, you may decide to record your podcast with an external camera or two. Many people who conduct in-person interviews or conversations choose this setup. There’s no need to purchase expensive equipment; you can even use your iPhone to record a podcast. It might be worth getting a tripod, but even this isn’t always necessary. 

3. Prepare your podcast for publishing

Once your podcast episode is recorded, it’s time for the post-production stage. While many YouTube podcasters don’t edit their podcast recordings, they still need to prepare the product for an end result. You’ll want to:

• Transcribe your video
• Design engaging graphics or slides to keep your audience engaged, if the podcast is audio-only
• Break up your videos into smaller micro-content for YouTube publishing (more on that later)

If you do choose to edit your podcast recording, you’ll need to use editing software like GarageBand or Reaper. 

4. Set up your media hosting and podcast feed

Remember that you shouldn’t use YouTube as your primary hosting provider — since then, it would just be a YouTube channel, not a podcast. A YouTube channel has its uses, but if you went this route, you wouldn’t be able to maximize your podcast’s reach by pushing it out to other podcast platforms.

Therefore, it’s important to set up your media hosting and feed before uploading videos to YouTube. Decide on a hosting site as a home base for your podcast feed to get started. A few popular sites are listed below:

• Buzzsprout
• Captivate
• Podbean
• Simplecast
• Resonate Recordings

Once you have a hosting site and you’ve uploaded your first few podcast episodes, you’ll need to submit your podcasts’ RSS feed to iTunes and other podcast directories. Then, it’s time to upload your podcast to YouTube.

5. Decide on a video format for YouTube

YouTube podcasters have a few different options for uploading content to YouTube. What you choose (or whether you choose a combination) depends on how much time and energy you have to put into extra editing and organizing — not to mention your video marketing goals.

Let’s look at creating a podcast on YouTube with three of the options below.

Upload whole episodes

The simplest method is to upload each full episode straight to your YouTube channel. With this option, there’s no extra planning or editing necessary. It’s also easy to automate using apps like Repurpose.io and Podbean.

But it does come with some downsides:

• If they can watch your whole episode on YouTube, your audience won’t need to find you on iTunes or Spotify. This means fewer subscribers to your podcast’s RSS feed, which can hurt your sponsorship numbers.
• People may not want to sit through a long video. Many podcasts are over an hour, but your audience may not be inclined to watch the entire thing in one sitting. This will create video abandonment rates that might hurt your SEO even further.

Keep in mind that if you choose to upload videos over 15 minutes, you’ll need to verify your Google account with YouTube.

Stream live

You can take questions, do mini-interviews, and interact with your viewers in real-time. YouTube streaming allows for a more interactive experience for your audience. 

Transform into micro-content 

The most advisable course is to break apart your recorded podcasts and use them on YouTube as micro-content. You can upload clips of your episodes as more easily-digestible videos that are also easier to title for SEO purposes. These minute-long videos are geared for increasing reach and attracting new audiences.

However, producing micro-content requires more editing and uploading time.

6. Create a YouTube podcast channel

Under your account settings, select "Create a channel" and provide the requested information, including your country, date of birth, gender, and preferred privacy settings. After this, click the "All done!" button to complete the setup. If you're struggling with choosing a channel name, you can use a YouTube name generator.

7. Upload videos to your channel

On your channel's homepage ("youtube.com/yourchannelname"), click the "Create" button to begin adding videos. You'll see an option to "Upload Video." Follow the prompts to add your content to your channel. 

8. Create a podcast playlist

Once you've uploaded a few episodes, it's a good idea to create a podcast playlist. Go to your YouTube Studio and click "Create" on the top right, then select "New Podcast." You can either create a podcast or set an existing playlist as a podcast if you already have one. 

Repurpose Your YouTube Podcasts Into Shorts With vidyo.ai

YouTube Shorts are a great tool to reach more people and grow your podcast channel. A smart strategy is to repurpose sections of your existing YouTube podcast for Shorts, saving you at least $1,000 monthly that would otherwise go into outsourcing it to freelancers on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.

Although YouTube's built-in editor for YouTube Shorts is straightforward, it lacks the creative controls needed for a viral video. A great alternative for creating micro-content is vidyo.ai. Offering versatile features such as jump cuts and virality score, our online video editor provides more editing flexibility than YouTube's built-in editor.

vidyo.ai is specifically designed for podcasters and utilizes AI to add emojis, apply scene change detection, and trims and resizes your YouTube podcast into Shorts. Our subtitling feature not only adds captions automatically but also edits them in the style of Alex Hormozi and Grant Cardone. 

To get started, visit vidyo.ai, follow the simple instructions to copy and paste your YouTube video link, and watch as the software generates a viral score and provides valuable feedback on enhancing your content's engagement.

Takeaway

Now that you know how to start a podcast channel on YouTube and the best practices for standing out with your YT Shorts, the final step is to use a YouTube Shorts maker like vidyo.ai to make the video creation and editing process easier. 

Shift your focus towards amping up your posting consistency on YouTube by signing up for a free vidyo.ai account today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it better to start a podcast or a YouTube channel?

Both podcasts and YouTube channels have their advantages. Podcasts are ideal for building a loyal audience, while YouTube can help you reach a broader viewership. Consider creating a video podcast to enjoy the benefits of both.

2. Is YouTube good for podcasts?

Yes, with over 2 billion users, YouTube is an excellent platform to grow your podcast audience and enhance searchability. Repurposing your podcast as a YouTube channel can open up new possibilities for growth and monetization.

3. Can you turn a YouTube video into a podcast?

Yes, you can convert a YouTube video into a podcast format by using online converters. Consider recording separate audio and video tracks for greater flexibility.

4. Does YouTube offer money to podcasters for creating videos?

While YouTube has offered money to some podcasters, most creators can explore monetization options through the YouTube Partner Program, which provides opportunities for ad revenue, channel memberships, YouTube Premium Revenue, and merchandise sales.