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Podcasts are an excellent way to advertise your products, yourself, or build your brand. You can publish your podcast on any number of hosting sites, but did you know you can also start a podcast on YouTube?
We’ve developed the steps to walk any podcaster through publishing podcasts on YouTube. No matter your technical expertise or how much money you can spend, the steps below will show you how to publish a YouTube podcast.
How to Start a Podcast on YouTube – Getting Prepared
Before you follow us down the YouTube podcast rabbit hole (we’re only kidding, we’ll make it simple and fun), let’s walk through a few prerequisites; so you don’t have to start over later.
Helpful hint: You don’t need a sound studio to record a podcast (although it is helpful). Do your best to reduce any external noises. If your audio doesn’t sound very good initially, you may need to tweak some settings, try a new microphone, or a different location.
Things to Know About Podcasting on YouTube
First, you can only upload video files with audio(MP4) to YouTube. You can’t simply upload audio.
Second, you should make yourself aware of YouTube’s Terms of Service. Violating YouTube’s guidelines could land you in hot water, so familiarize yourself with things you can and can’t do on the platform.
Third, before doing anything on YouTube, you’ll need to record your podcast and save it as an MP4 file. Based on our tests, this is where things got a bit tricky. But don’t worry, we figured it out, so you won’t struggle.
Note: For those who already have your completed podcast, skip to the section where we explain how to upload a video on YouTube. However, those starting from scratch should work through this helpful section first.
Gather Your Materials
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on podcasting equipment. Anyone can record a podcast. However, some equipment makes things easier and produces higher-quality podcasts. You’ll need software, a computer, a microphone (or a quality Bluetooth headset like the AirPods), a camera, podcast hosting software, and audio editing software.
Here’s what we used to create our podcast:
Note: We used these specific items to provide options for everyone (regardless of funding and technical abilities). You can also use paid subscriptions and better hardware).
- A good microphone – we used our AirPods for testing, which offer noise cancellation, but you can find better microphones on Amazon too.
- Recording & Editing Software – We used Audacity for our tests. But any software will work as long as you can save and edit your audio.
- Image editing software – If you want a static background image, you’ll need to create one. We used Canva because it’s user-friendly with excellent features for free subscribers (but you do have to pay to get rid of the watermark).
- A YouTube channel – Set up your channel and prepare it for your podcast.
Helpful hint: If you need good podcasting software, check out Podcastle.io or Audacity for PC and Mac. Mac users can also use the Garageband app that comes with their computers. Android and iOS users can search the App Store and Google Play Store for highly-rated podcast recording apps.
Saving Your Audio Recording
For this article, we tested different software and settings to see what was possible and what miserably failed. One of the biggest issues we ran into was file conversion. You can record a video on Zoom or another platform and save it as an MP4 file. But if you prefer to add a static background to your YouTube podcast, you’ll need to record the audio, add an image, and save it as an MP4 file.
Note: If you choose to use Garageband, you’d need to open Finder, right-click the Garageband file, and hit Rename. Then, type .MP3 at the end of the file name and click Use .MP3. However, we still ran into many file conversion issues with Garageband and opted for Audacity instead.
How to Create a Background Image for Your YouTube Podcast
If you recorded a video with audio, you can skip this step. However, if you’re trying to start a podcast on YouTube using existing audio, adding a static background is the easiest thing to do.
As stated previously, we often use Canva for YouTube-related content because it’s user-friendly and has a lot of goodies for free subscribers. But you can use Adobe, Shutterstock, or something else.
Here’s how to create a background image:
Step 1: Create a New Project in Canva
You may need to sign into Canva and create a new image. Click Create New on the upper right side. Then, click Custom.
Note: Your YouTube background should be 1280X720).
Step 2: Design Your Background
Now, click the color wheel at the top to change your background color. Click the Text icon to the left to type your text.
Step 3: Click Share
When you complete the most spectacular YouTube background, click Share in the upper right corner.
Step 4: Click Download
The Share menu gives us the option to download. Click it.
Step 5: Change to JPG
We need to have our image in JPG format for the following section. Choose the dropdown that has PNG selected. Then, click JPG instead.
Note: Ensure your image is 1280X720.
Step 6: Click Download
Finally, click Download at the bottom of the window. Your file will likely save to your Downloads folder on your PC or Mac. But you can also find it in the Recent folder.
Helpful hint: It’s a good idea to rename your image. This makes it easier to find. Especially if you want to use it again in the future.
How to Record Your Podcast for YouTube
As stated previously, you can pre-record a video for YouTube using Zoom or podcast hosting software. But keeping with our theme of ensuring anyone can publish a YouTube podcast, we’re using Audacity.
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Hit the Record Button
After downloading the Audacity software onto your Mac or PC, launch it. Connect your microphone and hit the Record button at the top.
Click the stop icon when you finish. Or click the record button to stop recording.
Step 2: Edit Your Audio
After completing the recorded audio, you can edit your podcast. You can splice audio, remove background noise, trim audio, and more using the edit functions at the top of the page.
Step 3: Export Your Audio
After everything is complete, don’t save your audio. Export it instead so you can get an MP3 file. Click File>Export to save your audio.
Helpful hint: Add Meta information to help others find your YouTube podcast.
How to Convert an Audio Podcast to Video File for YouTube
Now, it’s time to combine your pre-recorded podcast audio with your background image so you can upload it to YouTube.
Step 1: Go to the One Image Video Website
Of course, there are many websites that will help you combine an MP3 and JPG file. But we like the One Image Video website. It’s reliable and free, and there’s no need to create an account.
Step 2: Upload Your Files
Now, upload your JPG file in the first box (hit Browse and select the file). Then, add your MP3 file to the second box. Then, click Upload.
Step 3: Click Download
Now, click Download and double-click on the MP4 file. It will save to your device’s Documents folder or downloads folder.
You can rename the file to make it easier to start your YouTube podcast.
How to Upload a Podcast on YouTube
Now, it’s time to upload your Podcast to YouTube! Perform the steps in this section:
Step 1: Open the YouTube Creator’s Studio
If you already have YouTube open, click your profile icon in the upper right corner. Then, click Your Channel. Or, click this link to go directly to the YouTube Studio.
Step 2: Click Create
Click Create in the top right corner of the YouTube Studio. Then, select Upload a video.
Step 3: Choose the MP4 File
Now, you can choose the file you created using the steps above containing your YouTube podcast.
Step 4: Publish Your YouTube Podcast
Finally, after all your hard work, you can publish your podcast. Fill out the form to include as much information as possible and create a YouTube thumbnail. Then, click Next and proceed to publish.
YouTube for Podcasting?
Google-owned YouTube is one of the best places online to post videos. But it’s great for posting podcasts too! While the steps may seem cumbersome, they’re actually quite simple once you master the concept and gather the right tools.
