Grow The Show Podcast Episode 196 Summary
Title: Should Your Podcast Be on YouTube in 2025?
Host: Kevin Chemidlin
Release Date: October 29, 2024
In Episode 196 of Grow The Show, host Kevin Chemidlin delves into a pressing question for podcasters: "Should your podcast be on YouTube now, or is it better to launch a YouTube version in 2025?" Drawing from his extensive experience and recent experiments, Kevin provides a comprehensive analysis to help podcasters make informed decisions about their content distribution strategies.
1. Revisiting Previous Insights on YouTube Presence
Kevin begins by referencing a prior episode where he outlined three stages of YouTube presence for podcasters:
- Stage One: Not on YouTube but feeling external pressure to join.
- Stage Two: Maintaining a minimal YouTube presence without significant engagement.
- Stage Three: Actively leveraging YouTube to complement the podcast.
He encourages listeners to revisit that episode for a deeper understanding but focuses on presenting new insights gained over the past year.
“There are three stages. Stage one, you're not on YouTube at all... Stage two is you're kind of on YouTube... Stage three is you are on YouTube.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [02:30]
2. Personal Journey: Going All In on YouTube
Kevin shares his decision to commit fully to YouTube, dedicating time and resources to integrate it into his content strategy. Over the past year, he has consistently published episodes on YouTube, gaining firsthand knowledge about the platform's dynamics and audience behavior.
3. Distinct Audiences: YouTube vs. Podcast Apps
One of the most significant revelations Kevin discusses is the demographic and behavioral differences between YouTube viewers and traditional podcast listeners on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
“The people who consume podcast content on YouTube and the people who consume podcast content on the listening apps... are generally two different audiences.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [10:15]
He likens these audiences to fish in separate ponds, emphasizing that attempting to engage both without adequate resources can dilute efforts and hinder growth.
4. The Fishing Pond Analogy
To illustrate the audience segmentation, Kevin employs a fishing analogy:
- Two Ponds: Representing YouTube and podcast apps.
- Fishermen: Podcasters trying to engage audiences in both spaces.
“It is like saying you're missing out on fish because there's another pond that has fish in it. Don't you think you'll catch more fish if you focus on getting better at fishing in the pond that you're currently in?”
— Kevin Chemidlin [05:45]
He advises podcasters to focus on one platform unless they can dedicate separate resources to each, much like needing different fishermen for different ponds.
5. Content Consumption Preferences
Kevin highlights that content consumers typically have preferred mediums—some prefer reading, others listening, and some watching. He references a creator who observed an equal distribution of 33% across reading, listening, and watching.
“There's a really famous creator that I follow who... has an almost equal distribution of 33% of people read it, 33% of people listen to it, 33% of people watched it.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [07:20]
This underscores the importance of recognizing that diversifying content across multiple platforms caters to different audience preferences but requires distinct strategies.
6. Challenges of YouTube for Podcasters
Transitioning to YouTube introduces several complexities:
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in video production, editing, and understanding YouTube algorithms.
- Content Adaptation: Tailoring content to suit both audio and visual formats.
- Attention Retention: Maintaining viewer engagement without the multitasking advantage listeners have with audio podcasts.
“On YouTube, you have to keep people's attention even harder... you have to keep their attention visually in addition to the stuff that you're saying.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [15:40]
He emphasizes that successful YouTube channels often require a full commitment to video content, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
7. Content Strategy Moving Forward
Kevin outlines his future approach:
- Selective Video Content: Occasionally publishing YouTube videos that cater to beginners or address foundational topics.
- Exclusive Audio Content: Continuing to deliver specialized content exclusively on podcast platforms for his dedicated audience.
- Balancing Act: Ensuring that beginner-friendly content attracts new audiences on YouTube, while advanced topics remain reserved for audio listeners who are already familiar with his work.
“I'm going to be publishing stuff on this audio feed that is only for you, only for my audio consumers, whereas I probably am not going to publish anything on the YouTube feed that doesn't also hit the audio feed.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [24:05]
8. Final Recommendations for Podcasters
In concluding his discussion, Kevin offers practical advice:
- Assess Your Commitment: Determine whether you’re ready to fully invest in YouTube alongside your podcast.
- Avoid Fragmentation: Focusing on one platform can lead to more effective growth compared to spreading efforts thin.
- Embrace Your Strengths: Whether choosing audio or video, prioritize mastering that medium to maximize your podcast’s potential.
“If you're a podcaster who has an audio podcast, you like being an audio podcaster and you want your show to grow. You don't have to be on YouTube to make it happen.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [27:30]
He encourages podcasters to overcome the fear of missing out (FOMO) by concentrating on strategies that align with their strengths and resources.
Conclusion
Episode 196 of Grow The Show provides a nuanced exploration of the benefits and challenges of expanding a podcast's presence to YouTube. Kevin Chemidlin's insights, backed by personal experience and strategic analogies, offer podcasters a clear framework to decide whether integrating YouTube aligns with their growth objectives. By understanding audience segmentation and the distinct demands of video content, podcasters can make informed decisions to optimize their brand and revenue growth effectively.