Podcast vs YouTube 2022: Which is Best for Content Creators?

  

What is a Podcast?

Podcasting, initially being an obscure method of spreading audio information, has now become one of the most popular means of distributing audio content for both corporate and/or personal use. In fact Forecasts suggest that the number of podcast listeners will surpass 160 million in 2023.

A podcast is a program made available in audio format for download over the Internet. It is similar to radio broadcasts, the main difference being that they can be played at a listener's convenience, anytime and anywhere.

A podcast series usually features one or more recurring hosts engaged in a discussion about a particular topic or current event. The discussion or content in a podcast can either be scripted, or improvised.

Types of Podcasts.

There are 5 main types of podcasts namely

Podcast novels.

A podcast novel, otherwise known as a "serialized audiobook" or "podcast audiobook" is a type of podcast that combines the concepts of a podcast and an audiobook. It's similar to a traditional novel, but is recorded into episodes that are being uploaded. Some podcast novels are elaborately narrated with the use of sound effects and separate voice actors for each character.

This type of podcast is usually done by writers or novelists who are either looking for a way to promote their books or just hobbyists who are sharing wonderful books with their audience.

Enhanced podcasts.

Enhanced podcast, also known as a slidecast, is a type of podcast that combines audio information with a slide show presentation. It is similar to a video podcast in the sense that it combines imagery with audio synchronization. This type of podcast is mainly used by educators to make their content easily understood by displaying relevant slideshow images when necessary.

Live podcasts.

This is the type of podcast that is recorded either in total or for specific episodes in front of a live audience. Ticket sales are an addition to monetizing. 

Fiction podcast.

A fiction podcast (also known as a "scripted podcast" or "narrative podcast") is similar to a radio drama, but in podcast form. The story encompasses multiple episodes and seasons, voice actors and is enriched with the use of sound effects, and music.

Video podcast.

A video podcast is a podcast that contains video content. Web television series are often distributed as video podcasts.

What is YouTube?

YouTube has become one of the most popular video-sharing and social networking services created by former paypal employees 2005. It hosts a wide variety of videos across different genres from educational, to comedic. Youtube isn't just a video sharing platform, it is the second largest search engine. And with about 694 billion streams per minute, it's the second most visited website in the world. 

Podcast vs YouTube: What's the Big Difference

You might be wondering which platform is best. We'll show you how podcasts vs. youtube shape up against each other in the following categories.

Start up cost.

Ease Of Use.

Monetization.

Engagement.

Traffic.

Versatility.

Commitment.

Podcast vs YouTube: Start up cost.

We've all heard the saying "you need to spend money to make money" right? But just how much is needed to set up a Podcast or a youtube channel?

YouTube is the obvious winner in this category since you can literally set up a youtube channel with no money at all. While this doesn't apply to all categories, it is definitely a big advantage if you're into education. A good slideshow or screen recording with a voice over is all you need if you don't have any money to spend. 

You can even shoot and edit your youtube videos on a good smartphone saving you more money. Even if you need to spend money on gear for your YouTube channel I won't be as much as you'd spend when starting a podcast. If you want to set up a Podcast you'll need to invest in good gear. 

A good microphone and a laptop is a must have. The latter for recording audio and the former for editing with the use of advanced software like Audacity, GarageBand, or Adobe Audition. Additional gear like headphones and a soundproof room is also recommended. All this can cause anywhere from hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Podcasts vs YouTube: Ease Of Use.

Podcasts win. It's the obvious winner when it comes to ease of use. People can listen to podcasts anywhere and whenever they like. Making it easier for people to multi-task. Although youtube videos can be saved later or downloaded, Podcasts are generally easier to use for people. Some podcast platforms require a subscription to access content but youtube is totally free to use.

Podcasts vs YouTube: Monetization.

Both platforms are equally monetizable with ads, affiliate marketing etc. A podcaster can promote an affiliate offer the same way a youtuber can. So, there's no difference in terms of monetization. But you should note that monetizing youtube content is easier.

Podcasts vs YouTube: Engagement.

Believe it or not, visual information is easily remembered when compared to words or written text. 

User retention is much higher on YouTube than on a podcast.

When someone watches a youtube video, Not only are they able to relate with the content, but they can also build a connection with the creator easily than on a podcast. A youtuber can grab people's attention by doing certain things that are only possible in video format.

Since a podcast relies more on audio information it can be hard to retain listeners.

Remember, the easier it is for people to relate to you and your content the more trust they'll have in you. It's safe to say that YouTube takes the win on this one.

Podcasts vs YouTube: Traffic.

Both youtube and podcasts have an already made traffic source but youtube has an upper hand in the sense that YouTube Content are capable of showing up and ranking in the Search engine result pages(SERPs). This makes it possible for you to drive traffic to your videos through search engines if your videos are properly optimized.

Podcasts vs YouTube: Versatility.

A podcast is in audio format so it can be quite difficult to repurpose it. Sure you could transcribe it into a blog post but that's just it. Youtube on the other hand provides more flexibility. You could cut your videos into bite size pieces and post them on other social media platforms. You can also transcribe it to text for a blog post and guess what? If you just used only the vocals in your video, you've just made a podcast without even knowing it.😁

Podcast vs YouTube: Commitment.

Running a youtube channel or a podcast isn't easy that's for sure. Both podcasts and a youtube channel require the same level of commitment since the whole podcast or youtube channel revolves around the creator. This means you can't run your podcast or youtube channel on auto pilot.

Conclusion.

The question as to which platform is better depends on you. If you're more comfortable speaking then a podcast might be the best option for you, but if you're more comfortable around a camera then you should definitely start a YouTube channel. 

In my opinion I think you should do both after all there's no harm in trying. If you don't have a lot of money then you can start a youtube channel once you're monetized then you can use some of the money to start a podcast.