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There's a lot of talk about YouTube, and I always say, well, yeah, if you want to be on YouTube and you have the desire and the budget and the time, by all means, be on YouTube. But other people go, well, is it really any more work? Don't you just talk into a camera and pull the audio out? Well, let's talk about that. Welcome to youo Podcast Consultant. Small lessons with big value. With more than a decade of experience and millions of downloads, this hall of fame podcaster is a featured speaker, author, and mentor to thousands. Now he wants to work with you. He's your podcast consultant. Dave Jackson. How can it be more work to start a YouTube channel? Sure, there's more gear. There's your camera, there's your lighting. Want to make sure you have good audio as well. Don't forget about the audio. The audio is actually more important than the lighting when it comes to video. But I hear people like, you're crazy when you say it's more work to be on YouTube because you just record your show in video and that's done. And when you edit it, you edit the video. And when you're done, you know, you just take out the audio and there's your podcast. And that seems very logical on paper. Except if you really want to grow on YouTube, it's not so much about the content. So there's a great tool, I have a subscription to it called Vidiq, that helps you grow your YouTube channel. And they have a short on their channel. And I'm going to play you what this person says, like why the most YouTubers fail and what they need to focus on. And you'll notice here it's kind of the content, but kind of not. Here we go.
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I think the four pillars of any video are the idea, the thumbnail, the title, and the first 30 seconds. I would recommend spending 75 to 80% of your time and effort on those aspects of a video to begin with, because that's where 100 people see your thumbnail and title. 5% actually watch the video, and then you lose another 30 or 40% in the first 30 seconds. So I think that's why you should really focus on those first points. Return viewers as well. I think that's a really important metric, turning viewers into loyal fans, whether or not they become subscribers. But beyond that, you're looking at the marginal gains. You're looking at, how can I improve my content? 1% here, 1% there. And those are the things that once you start building a team and you're. You're an expert on YouTube that you want to start focusing on now, for
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the record, I agree with a couple things. The title important even if you're not doing video. Thumbnail isn't as important as it is on video. But I think if you have the time, make separate artwork for each episode. And a hook is definitely important in audio as well. And then he throws in the idea. And I know a lot of YouTubers will make the thumbnail and the title before they make the video. It helps them keep focused on that promise that the title delivers. And that's the same with audio. The title of your episode is a promise. And the sooner you get to that promise, the more they're gonna like your content and be likely to share with it. But I just wanted to point out that if you're thinking, well, I just talk into the camera and then release the audio, he said 85%, I think it was. Or 80% of your time should be sent working on not the content, but the title and the thumbnail and the hook and then, yeah, the idea as well. So that's the part that's more work. Now, you could say, but, Dave, I am working on the title for my audio and the hook, so it's not more work. But that thumbnail on YouTube is a huge thing. And there, yes, you can use AI to design the thumbnail. And I always say AI is a great way to make something that is probably better than you were going to do, but probably in some cases at least, mediocre. So keep that in mind. But it is one of those things where if you really want to be successful on YouTube, it is about the title and the thumbnail. I don't care what guru you're watching. They all agree on that. And so a, as you're starting off in audio, really work on that title so that it shows the benefit of listening. Because who doesn't want to benefit? Like, here's what you're going to get by clicking on Play. And sometimes, you know, people get a little clickbaity. Well, the reason for that is being a little clickbaity isn't bad as long as it's just not a blatant lie. And then when you make a separate piece of artwork for your show and I realize you're like, ugh, something that's going to take more time. It does show your audience, ooh, this episode is different because it looks different than the last one. So that's something I do. I use Canva, and it's almost a template that I use. I just pick a different background color and a different picture and change the title just so it looks a little different. So keep in mind again, I'm not anti video. You know, I'll go on yes, audio, outperforms, video 15 to 1, et cetera, et cetera. That there's actually more a bigger audience per podcast than there is per YouTuber. Even though YouTube has this gigantic audience, there's also a ton of people on YouTube, so there's more competition. But if you have the desire and the budget and the time and you want to be on YouTube, you really are going to have to make sure there's time in your schedule to work on your thumbnail skills and to really come up with a great hook and to come up with a great title. SchoolOfPodcasting.com start is where you can go to sign up for either a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription. Don't forget to use the coupon code listnr to save on that. It does come with a 30 day money back guarantee and I've been doing it for 20 years. It's what I love to do. Help podcasters. And if you need help, come see me because I want to be your podcast consultant. Want more podcasting tips? Join the 1700 people who read my newsletter at podcastingobservations.com that's podcastingobservations.com.
Podcast: Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting Mistakes
Host: Dave Jackson
Date: July 17, 2025
Episode Length: <9 minutes
In this concise and practical episode, Hall of Fame podcaster Dave Jackson tackles the widespread myth that starting a YouTube channel for your podcast is as simple as “just talking and going”—that is, turning on the camera, talking, and pulling the audio for your podcast with minimal extra effort. Dave deconstructs this belief, outlining why true YouTube growth requires much more strategic planning, particularly around titling, thumbnails, and the all-important hook at the start of your video.
On the myth of low-effort YouTube podcasting:
“You just record your show in video and that’s done. And when you edit it, you edit the video. And when you’re done, you know, you just take out the audio and there’s your podcast. And that seems very logical on paper. Except … if you really want to grow on YouTube, it’s not so much about the content.”
— Dave Jackson (00:48)
On title and promise:
“The title of your episode is a promise. And the sooner you get to that promise, the more they’re gonna like your content and be likely to share with it.”
— Dave Jackson (03:23)
On focus for YouTube creators:
“I think the four pillars of any video are the idea, the thumbnail, the title, and the first 30 seconds. I would recommend spending 75 to 80% of your time and effort on those aspects of a video…”
— Vidiq Guest (01:56)
On clickbait:
“Being a little clickbaity isn’t bad as long as it’s just not a blatant lie.”
— Dave Jackson (04:35)
Dave closes, as always, with an offer to help podcasters, and a plug for his newsletter (skip details; outside of content).