YouTube? Video? Ugh. We know—it sounds like just one more thing to add to your to-do list. But what if we told you getting a podcast on YouTube really isn’t a ton of extra work?
If you’re a podcaster, you’ve probably heard all about YouTube + podcasting. (If you’re new, let us be the first to tell you – you should consider uploading your podcast to YouTube.) And it’s not without reason: YouTube is the number one podcast listening platform, surpassing even Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 31% of weekly podcast listeners consume podcasts on YouTube, compared to 21% on Spotify and 12% on Apple Podcasts.
And it’s not just a trend, either. Over the past five years, YouTube has seen continued growth as the primary method of podcast consumption. Outpacing Spotify (Δ10%) and Apple Podcasts (Δ19%), the previous ‘top platform.’
But thinking back to your podcast… starting and managing a YouTube channel on top of all your existing podcast work can certainly feel overwhelming. And we totally get it! Getting a podcast on YouTube is work, but it’s good, useful work that is almost guaranteed to help grow your podcast’s reach and get in front of more listeners.
This blog post will serve as a guide to help get your podcast on YouTube. We’ll cover the essentials for channel management while providing some tips for creating videos that can grow your podcast audience without adding a bunch of extra work to your plate.
Whether you’re launching your very first episode or looking to take that next step with an existing podcast, we’ve got you covered with actionable tips, expert insights, and everything you need to grow your podcast on YouTube.
So – let’s get into it!
Or, if you want to watch or listen along, check out our podcast on YouTube!
How to Start a Podcast on YouTube
First things first. How do you start a podcast on YouTube? Don’t worry. It’s easier than you may think.
Before you start, there are a few things to consider.
Before you get started, however, there are a few considerations to take into account. Your decision will affect how the channel functions and some of the stuff you’ll need to set up your podcast on YouTube.
1. Are you going to record or make video? Or, just keep with the purely audio experience?
While YouTube is a video-first platform, you don’t necessarily need to step in front of a camera or record video.
YouTube supports something called RSS Ingestion for audio-only creators.
YouTube’s RSS Ingestion allows podcasters to automatically upload episodes to YouTube by connecting their podcast’s RSS feed, much like show distribution to podcast players performed by host sites. When a new episode is published in the feed, YouTube converts the audio into a video with a static image.
However, having a video component does offer several advantages, including better support for in-platform and external search discovery, engagement opportunities, and allowing for control over the content (example: adding captions/transcripts, thumbnailing, chapters, etc.).
Fortunately, there are plenty of options available to audio-first creators who want to leverage YouTube. One of the most popular? Audiograms! Audiograms are the perfect tool for audio-first creators looking to convert audio files to shareable video files easily. Tools like Headliner can even automate the entire process, making it very similar to YouTube’s RSS Ingestion. Another option? Use AI to generate a video version of your podcast—or even create an AI avatar of yourself.
2. How much time do you have to manage the channel?
Understanding how much time you have to manage and set up your channel will also ultimately affect your new (or revamped) workflow. (We will talk about all things to consider a little later on in the blog.)
Even if you don’t have a ton of time to spare, you still very well can add YouTube to your podcasting stack with the help of podcasting software.
3. “Why” do you want to get your podcast on YouTube?
Like most things, knowing your ‘why’ ahead of time will help guide and set you up for success. Knowing your why will help dictate things like content types, audience interactions, and strategic growth initiatives.
Okay, now! How to (actually) get your podcast on YouTube
Now that you’ve got the rough road plan, you can start creating your podcast’s YouTube channel!
TL;DR: Check out YouTube’s official podcasting guide to get started quickly.
Here’s how to get started:
- Create a YouTube Channel – If you don’t have one already, set up a dedicated channel for your podcast.
- Create a Podcast Playlist — Podcast Playlists are how you tell YouTube you have a podcast. They not only help to better organize your channel, but Podcast Playlists inform YouTube while providing additional context on channel to content so algorithms and broader search engines can best push your content.
- Upload and Optimize – Upload your podcast videos to your Podcast Playlist using YouTube Studio. YouTube Studio has lots of options to add additional context about the upload as well, just like your host’s metadata! To most effectively leverage YouTube and set your show up for success, make sure you fill out all those spaces by adding SEO-friendly video titles, descriptions, and keywords to improve visibility.
- Pro Tip: Rename ALL your files! You don’t need to get super creative here. Be clear, descriptive, and concise when naming your files (you can just copy and paste the episode title, too). File names are often one of the first things YouTube looks at to learn about channel content, as it cannot index video contents.
- Pro Pro Tip: Avoid using the word “podcast” or “episode.” If you are using a Podcast Playlist, YouTube understands the video is a podcast. Try using that space to include more keywords that inform YouTube about the contents of your video.
- Engage Your Audience – Once you’ve uploaded your podcast videos, make sure you check in on the channel every once in a while. Respond to comments and encourage engagement to help build your channel’s following.
- Pro Tip: Engagement goes a long way in YouTube’s algorithm. By encouraging and following up with engagement, you are signaling to YouTube that people find your content valuable and interesting, which encourages YouTube to push your content.
Pro-est Tip: You don’t need expensive video equipment to start. Many successful podcasts on YouTube are audio-only, leveraging audiograms or posting very simple video recordings of the show. Need an example? Check out these channels:
Audiogram:
Simple video:
Why YouTube is a Great Podcast Discovery Platform
If you’re looking to get more listeners for your podcast, YouTube is the discovery tool.
Unlike Spotify and Apple Podcasts, which rely on curated recommendations and charts, YouTube operates as a search-first platform. That means people actively searching for content related to your podcast topic can discover your episodes organically through direct YouTube searches and indirect web searches.
Having the ability to index content on web searches is, in our opinion, one of the largest advantages to uploading a podcast on YouTube. That and the 2.53 billion monthly active YouTube users.
How YouTube’s Algorithm Helps You Grow
We’ve said YouTube is great, but why specifically is YouTube great for growing podcasts? It’s because of the algorithm.
This section will explain a little of how the algorithm works as well as give you some actionable takeaways for your podcast’s YouTube.
YouTube’s Algorithm in a Nutshell
Unlike traditional search platforms, YouTube’s recommendation algorithm is weighted more heavily in engagement. YouTube essentially acts as a recommendation engine.
YouTube’s algorithm is built to keep people watching. Instead of only promoting big channels with lots of reputation (digital street cred), it recommends content based on what individual viewers are likely to engage with—making it easier for smaller channels to get discovered.
Shorts take this even further. The algorithm rapidly tests short-form content across different audiences, and if engagement stays high, it spreads fast. That, paired with all the video metadata, makes YouTube a prime platform for discovery.
How to use YouTube’s Algorithm in Your Favor
You don’t need a massive following—you just need to be intentional with your channel.
Here are some tips any podcaster can use to help grow a podcast on YouTube while being algorithm forward:
- Optimize for SEO: We really cannot emphasize this enough — use keywords! Think about what someone who would be interested in your podcast might search for. Are there any common words or phrases that come to mind? Try adding 1-3 of those bad boys to nearly every part of your metadata (and mix and match, too!)
- Be Consistent: Just like with your podcast, be consistent with your channel. Uploading regularly helps build momentum and starts loading the channel down with all sorts of extra context! Plus, as a recommendation engine, YouTube looks at things like channel activity. This does not mean you have to start uploading a bunch of videos, though! Just stick to a manageable schedule, like uploading a video every time you release a new episode.
- Add Shorts: Creating YouTube Shorts is a super easy way to add an extra piece of relevant content to your channel. It also creates an additional touchpoint for a broader cohort of users (people on YouTube Shorts).
- Check Your Data: Consider looking at your YouTube Studio page to get more in-depth insights on your videos’ performance. Looking at things like watch time, likes, and comments may be a good indicator to help you identify what people want. And if you truly want to use the algorithm to your advantage, checking your data is a great place to learn. After all, the algorithm follows audience behavior—so should you.
Pro Tip: Adding YouTube Shorts in addition to your full-length podcast gives your platform more diversity, which, in turn, helps you reach a larger pool of potential listeners. Creating YouTube Shorts is super easy, too! You don’t even need to do anything new – just grab your full-length URL and drop it in a video clipper, like Headliner.
How to Actually Grow Your Podcast on YouTube (aka The Guide Part)
Okay, if you’ve made it this far, you’re likely seeing the draw of YouTube and want to actually get going with creating a channel to grow your podcast. Decision = made! Awesome, but what can you do to really support your channel and help your podcast grow on YouTube?
Here is Headliner’s guide to optimizing your podcast for YouTube.
1. Use a YouTube Podcast Playlist
YouTube classifies podcasts differently than regular videos. Creating a dedicated podcast playlist signals to YouTube that your channel has a podcast without actually ever typing the word ‘podcast.’ This not only informs your audience but also helps you leverage both YouTube’s native search capabilities as well as potentially landing your show on the site’s coveted Podcast Page.
Creating a Podcast Playlist also helps your show appear on YouTube Music’s dedicated podcast section. Again, this opens your show to a wider pool of potential listeners on the mobile listening app.
2. Rename Your Files
One of the simplest but most overlooked SEO tricks is renaming your files (video, thumbnails, and transcripts) before uploading.
File names are one of the first things YouTube and search engines look at to help understand what’s going on in a video. Having a thoughtful file name like“How_to_Grow_a_Podcast_on_YouTube.mp4”) is going to be a lot more meaningful and impactful than the auto-generated “Untitled_12564.mp4” we so often save to our machines.
This tiny step takes no time at all and can be very impactful in terms of discovery.
3. Add Transcripts for Podcast & Channel SEO
YouTube can’t index (watch) videos, but it can super speed-read text. Uploading a transcript ensures that YouTube can index every word spoken in your podcast video and loads your channel down with all sorts of metadata nuggets.
Pro Tip: Need a free transcript? Try Eddy by Headliner! Eddy can automatically transcribe podcast episodes or create accurate transcripts from your old YouTube videos. (It also renames all your files to contain keywords…and gives you up to 20+ keywords!!!)
4. Use Thumbnails
Thumbnails are one of the first things a viewer sees before clicking on a video. Thumbnails can be powerful communicators that set the expectations early on and be an easier identifier for your podcast’s brand.
Outside of being informative to viewers, thumbnails can impact a video’s CTR (click-through rate). Good thumbnail drive clicks increase CTR. This signals to YouTube that ‘hey, this video is worth recommending!’
5. Try YouTube Shorts
With over 70 billion views per day, YouTube Shorts is quickly becoming a top platform for discovery via short social video.
Shorts help you get discovered by new viewers and drive traffic to your full episodes (add links or list related videos in the description!). YouTube Shorts are a low-effort, high-reward tool that drives podcast discovery more and more.
Pro Tip: Create multiple Shorts from each episode to create a steady content stream and to learn what clips resonate most with viewers. Tools like Headliner can help you batch-create up to 10 clips in just one click.
6. Do Keyword Research
Including 1-3 keywords in your titles, file names, and thumbnails is going to load you down with some bonus data nuggets to really define your content. Free tools like Google AdWords ‘Keyword Planner’ can help you research and identify keywords to target.
Adding relevant keywords to your titles, descriptions, and video files tells the algorithm what your content is about. Targeting the right keywords makes it easier for new listeners to find you through search.
Pro Tip: Free tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find what people are actually searching for. A few well-placed keywords can go a long way in boosting visibility and growing your audience.
Not sure what keywords are already in your video? Eddy by Headliner gives podcasters up to 20 relevant keywords based on a video’s transcript. So, no biggie if you don’t have time to figure it out beforehand – there’s no time like the present!
Why You Should Upload Your Podcast to YouTube
Let’s be real—managing a podcast is already a lot. But uploading your podcast to YouTube doesn’t have to mean doubling your workload. In fact, if you use the right tools and take a strategic approach, YouTube can become the easiest, most effective way to grow your podcast audience.
YouTube isn’t just another channel (ha ha, get it)—it’s a place where people are actively searching for content like yours and indirectly find your content based on searches. The platform is optimized for discovery.
YouTube gives podcasters something other platforms don’t: visibility. And all you need to do is show up consistently with content the algorithm can understand, recommend, and serve to the right people. If your goal is to grow your podcast, YouTube is one of the most reliable paths forward.
This is your sign—upload your podcast to YouTube. Start small. Be consistent. And watch your podcast find the audience it deserves.
Need help getting your podcast on YouTube? Try Headliner! Headliner offers an easy-to-use toolkit designed to help get your podcast on YouTube quickly, easily, and optimally.
*This blog was made with the help of AI but was written and edited by a real human.
