There are many different ways to build a personal brand or promote your business these days. But two of the most popular methods are starting a podcast or launching a YouTube channel, and both of these forms of content have their own unique benefits and place in a marketing strategy.
So, which one is right for you? It really depends on your goals and the type of content you want to create.
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between podcasts and YouTube channels, as well as their own advantages and disadvantages, to help you decide which one is best for your personal brand or business.
Podcasts
Let’s begin with a basic definition. A podcast is a digital audio file made up of a series of episodes that can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or mobile device. Podcasts are usually based around a central theme or topic, and new episodes are typically released on a regular basis (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.).
Podcasting has been growing in popularity over the past few years, and there are now hundreds of thousands of podcasts available on just about every topic imaginable.
Like other forms of content, podcasts can be a great way to build a personal brand or promote your business. They offer a few key advantages:
Easily Consumed
One of the great benefits of podcasts is that they can be consumed just about anywhere, at any time, while you’re doing any activity, such as commuting or working out. This makes them much more convenient than other forms of content, such as YouTube videos, which require more attention and focus to consume.
If you create a podcast, your listeners are likely going to have more opportunity to listen to your content in a podcast format, than they would content on your YouTube channel.
Multiple Platforms
Podcasts are also available on multiple platforms, which gives you more opportunities to reach your target audience. In addition to being able to listen to podcasts on a computer or mobile device, they can also be consumed on smart speakers like the Amazon Echo or Google Home.
And, of course, there are many popular podcasting apps, such as iTunes, Stitcher, and Pocket Casts. YouTube channels are just that – YouTube, and nothing else.
Great For Long-Form Content
Podcasts are usually much longer than YouTube videos, which means they’re great for in-depth content that can’t be covered in a short video format. If you want to create long-form content on a particular topic, starting a podcast is a great option.
It’s also worth noting that people are more likely to listen to a podcast all the way through than they are to watch an entire YouTube video, since it’s easier to consume while doing other activities, as mentioned above.
Requires Less Equipment to Get Started
Another advantage of podcasts is that they require less equipment to get started than YouTube channels. All you really need is a microphone and some recording software, and you’re good to go.
Of course, if you want to create higher quality content, you can invest in some additional equipment, such as a mixing board or pop filter. But to launch a podcast, you don’t need nearly as much equipment as you would to start a YouTube channel.
What are the down sides to podcasting?
Podcasts also have a few drawbacks that you should be aware of before starting one:
Less Engaging Than Video
Although podcasts are convenient and can be consumed while doing other activities, they’re not as engaging as video content. It’s often easier to hold someone’s attention with a video than it is with an audio file. This means that it can be more difficult to build a large following for your podcast than it would be for a YouTube channel.
Not As Visually Appealing
Podcasts are also not as visually appealing as YouTube videos because the simple fact of the matter is that they are audio files. You can include music or sounds, or even have strong cover art for each episode, but they’re not going to be nearly as engaging or attention-grabbing as video content.
Takes More Time to Produce
Podcasts also generally take more time to produce than YouTube videos. This is because they require you to record and edit audio files, which can be a fairly time-consuming process.
Difficult to Track Reach
It can also be difficult to track the reach and analytics of your podcast, which makes it harder to determine whether or not it’s actually being successful. With YouTube, you can see how many views each video gets, as well as other important metrics, such as engagement rate and average watch time. But with podcasts, it’s much more difficult to track these things.
YouTube
Now that we broke down the pros and cons of choosing podcasting over YouTube, let’s take a look at what this form of content has to offer. After all, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, so it’s definitely worth considering for your business or personal brand.
Advantages to creating a YouTube channel
Let’s dive into some of the main pros of choosing to create a YouTube channel over a podcast series:
Potentially Larger Audience
The first and most obvious advantage of YouTube is that it has a much larger audience than podcasting. This is because YouTube is one of the most popular websites in the world, with billions of users. So if you’re looking to reach as many people as possible with your content, YouTube is definitely the way to go.
More Engaging Than Audio
This was conveyed earlier in the post, but it’s worth mentioning again because it ultimately is one of the core benefits. YouTube is also more engaging than audio because it’s a visual platform.
As we mentioned above, it can be difficult to hold someone’s attention with an audio file. But with a video, you can include things like graphics, animations, and even footage to keep people engaged.
Allows You to Showcase Your Products or Services
Another great advantage of YouTube is that it allows you to showcase your products or services in a way that podcasting simply cannot. This is because people can see your products or services in action, which can be a great way to generate leads and sales.
Recommended Read: Does Video Content Matter?
Disadvantages to starting a YouTube channel
Now that we’ve gone over some of the main advantages of YouTube, let’s take a look at a few of the down sides:
Requires More Time and Effort
The first disadvantage of YouTube is that it requires more time and effort to create than podcasting. This is because you have to film, edit, and upload your videos, which can be fairly time-consuming. You also need to give more consideration to the locations of where you’re filming, or the clothes that you’re wearing, whereas when podcasting, you can wear absolutely anything you feel comfortable in from the same location every time.
Requires More Equipment & Investment
Another disadvantage of YouTube is that it generally requires more equipment than podcasting. This is because you need a camera, microphone, and lighting, and in time, you may need more equipment, such as a tripod, green screen, or even a professional video editing software.
All of this equipment can be expensive to purchase and maintain, which is something you need to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to start a YouTube channel.
In Conclusion
Podcasting and YouTube are both great platforms for business or personal brands, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. It really comes down to what you want to achieve with your content, and which platform is going to be the best fit for you.
Sorrentino Media is a full-service boutique production company that offers both video production and podcast creation services. Whichever you choose for your own business or personal brand, we are here to help make your dreams a reality. Contact us to learn more about getting a consultation with our team!