PodMov Daily: Friday, April 22

Episode 631: Week Download Complete

Spotify Opens Up Video Podcasts & Subscriptions

Spotify has expanded video podcasting access to creators in the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Video is uploaded through Anchor, and works with Spotify’s podcast subscription program. Platform-native features like polls and Q&As work with video as well, and creators will get specific analytics.

Monetization potential is the focus of this rollout. When video podcasting first arrived (for select creators) in October, the company suggested paywalling it. They’re making it as easy as possible, with a Riverside integration for recording and a bulk-replace option for those who have already made video episodes.

What other options are there for video podcasts? Podnews points to several, including good ol’ YouTube. The company’s podcasting plans were revealed three weeks ago when Podnews acquired a pitch deck. They may include the ability to pull RSS feeds, which provides global distribution that Spotify can’t match.

Vanity Metrics vs. Long-Term Podcast Goals

Vanity metrics are a powerful trap. In podcasting, these surface-level figures (e.g., social followers, download records) sound impressive but usually don’t mean much. Writer, marketer, and developer Julian Shapiro explains how to spot empty trophies — and stop wasting time and energy on the chase.

While ‘vanity’ is necessary to build a business, it’s too easy to get hooked. “Your objective is to keep that vanity from leading you away from your real goals,” Shapiro says. “If you’re proud of how many hours you worked yesterday or how many likes your Tweet earned, ask yourself if you’re proud of the right metric.”

Say you’re determined to boost subscriber numbers. With a costly campaign, you reach a new high score that won’t last with underbaked content. Still, it’s natural for vanity metrics to feel hugely important (thanks, internet). Shapiro offers three questions to consider when you find yourself obsessing.

Swell: Where Short Audio Meets Great Conversations

Swell is a new platform offering the best of social audio with none of the noise. Posts up to five minutes long bring short conversations and interviews directly to a growing community. Podcasters use Swell like bloggers use Twitter – it’s the perfect way to share, engage, and grow your audience.

Unlike live-only platforms, Swell is asynchronous. Anyone can listen to your posts and reply with audio, anytime. With no need to schedule, spontaneous thoughts can reach a wider audience. You can even moderate speakers and replies to keep your conversations on-track. 

Swell is full of interesting people discovering new content. It’s free, fun, and flexible: Your dedicated page and embed widget let you share off-app, without limits. Ready to make great audio in small packages? The world is listening.

Here's what else is going on:

• Cash advance: Today at 2:00 pm ET is “Podcast Budgeting” from Dustlight Productions. Founder and CEO Misha Euceph (Tell Them, I Am) will lead a practical workshop on building fair and standard budgets, including best practices and exercises based on attendee budgets. $75 registration.

• Tapped out: Let’s talk about overcoming burnout in podcasting. This Wednesday at 5:00 pm ET, Arielle Nissenblatt (EarBuds Podcast Collective) will host a much-needed Twitter Spaces session. If you produce any kind of show on a consistent basis, this one’s for you. No account needed to join.

• Answer sheet: If you’re stuck on a podcasting question, PodCraft wants to help. The next season of the long-running “how-to” show is to be based around creator-submitted audio questions. Friendly experts Colin Gray and Matthew McLean will respond with solutions and tips to track your progress.

• Grown up: Podcasting feels more like the film and television industry every day, writes Pacific Content’s Annalise Nielsen, a former producer. “But, from my perspective, that doesn’t seem to be such a bad thing at all.” The important part is to avoid repeating the power structures in that space.