YouTube is set to roll out several new features that will benefit podcast creators. One of the major enhancements is the ability to create a new podcast directly within YT Studio. In addition, creators can designate an existing playlist as a podcast, which will help to streamline the podcast upload and management process. These features will separate podcast uploads from video clips and make it easier for creators to manage their audio content. Furthermore, the introduction of Podcast Analytics will provide creators with deeper insights into their podcast performance. This feature will allow creators to track their podcast’s listens, engagement time, and subscription rates, giving them valuable information to help them grow their audience and improve their content.
Youtube gets into podcasts
“Podcast-specific analytics will be available for podcasts. This is distinct from current analytics offered. Metrics include aggregated metrics across videos in a podcast playlist, insights on how viewers find your podcast, demographics and revenue analytics.”
YouTube has been gradually developing more podcast tools to align with the growing interest in audio-only content. YouTube Music now has more than 77 million paying subscribers. And with many popular users also running their own podcasts, it makes sense for YT to expand in this direction and provide a more comprehensive media offering for its users. These new podcast features will be rolled out to all creators this week.
Creators will also be able to download their videos from the mobile version of YouTube Studio, making it easier to manage content on the go or cross-post to other platforms via native apps.
“Up until now, Creators have been able to download their own videos in Studio on desktop, but have not been able to do so on mobile. We’re happy to announce that we are launching the ability for Creators to download their own videos in MP4 format from the video list, to their device, in Studio Mobile and YouTube Mobile.”
However, it’s important to note that Shorts downloaded this way will come with a watermark to limit cross-posting to TikTok and Reels.
Youtube Creator Music library
YouTube has also added a shortcut link within Studio to its Creator Music library, making it easier to find licensed tracks to use in videos. Filters will help find relevant tracks, and fees paid for the licensed music will be shared with musicians.
In addition, YouTube is experimenting with suggesting hashtags to include when publishing long-form video clips, which can improve discovery and categorization. This will initially be available to a small number of creators in the US.
“Shorts creators have been testing this feature with video titles for over a year now and we’ve heard positive feedback from the experiment group, so we are bringing the experience to long-form videos as well. Creators in the experiment will see suggested hashtags appear in the upload flow on mobile. The suggestions will be custom to the channels in the experiment as they are based on content they have previously uploaded to YouTube.”
Overlay ads are being retired
YouTube has recently announced that it will be phasing out the overlay ads format in favor of other ad formats, such as sponsored cards and video discovery ads. The overlay ads format, which appears as a semi-transparent banner over the bottom portion of a video, has been a staple of YouTube’s advertising options for many years. However, the company has recognized that this format can be disruptive to viewers, and may negatively impact the overall viewing experience. By removing this format, YouTube aims to create a more seamless and enjoyable viewing experience for users, while still providing effective advertising options for content creators and businesses. This change is part of a larger effort by YouTube to improve its advertising offerings and create a more sustainable ecosystem for creators and advertisers alike.
