Record YouTube Videos and Video Podcasts

Hey there, fellow creators and online business owners! I’m Meredith, and today we’re diving into the exciting world of recording videos for YouTube and podcasts. Trust me, it’s never been simpler to create talking head videos and video podcasts. In my Crush It on Camera series, I’m on a mission to help you look good, sound good, and feel good on camera because I genuinely believe that everyone can create pro-looking videos that grow your audience and business with YouTube.

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Setting the Stage for Success

Before we hit the record button, let’s talk about the essentials. In a previous post, the first in my Crush it on Camera series, I covered the whole setup process. Now, let’s focus on what happens when you’re ready to sit down and record your YouTube videos or podcasts. I really love using Descript – it’s my go-to tool for recording talking head style videos and solo video podcasts. And if you do an interview-style podcast, Descript owns and integrates with SquadCast, making it really easy to record multiple people remotely.

Scripting Strategies: Your Blueprint for Success

The big question – to script or not to script? Regardless of your choice, being prepared with what to say on camera is the key to a smoother recording and editing process. I share my video structure in the Crush It on Camera guide, providing you with a repeatable process. Whether you script word-for-word or create an outline, having a reliable structure ensures you can hit record on any topic effortlessly. When I work with my clients and students, I teach something I call a “block script process.” The key is to have a structure that’s repeatable for you to use each time. This takes a lot of the guess work out of exactly what to say in your intro and outro to keep your viewers engaged.

Embracing Imperfections: The Editing Truth

Let me debunk a common misconception – even I, with years of experience, mess up and edit a lot. Editing is an integral part of the process, allowing you to refine your content. This kind of takes the pressure off of me when recording videos, because I know I’ll have to edit the videos anyway. So if I need to restart a sentence or cut out part of the video, I can do that. I just embrace the fact that sentences don’t always flow perfectly. I’ll be covering more about recording and editing YouTube videos and podcasts in detail in my Crush It on Camera series, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

Teleprompters: Friend or Foe?

Teleprompters – the eternal debate. I go back and forth between using notes and teleprompters, and it ultimately depends on the day or my mood. Lately I’ve been using the Elgato teleprompter. When using it, sometimes I will script out my whole video and then have my notes in my browser window up on the teleprompter. Sometimes I’m reading some parts from the teleprompter, but usually I’m just glancing at the words to grab a word and figure out what I’m supposed to be saying in that part. It does take practice to make it all seamless and appear natural on camera.

Recording Techniques: Finding Your Flow

Recording YouTube videos and video podcasts can be a matter of personal preference. I often record long stretches at a time, and will just edit it down. Other times I’ll record a sentence or two and stop to take a breath or a drink of my coffee, then start again. I typically record directly into Descript or into my computer using Ecamm. It’s so easy to record directly into Descript, and then edit the video from there. Once I record, I can just edit as I go and I don’t have to go in from the very beginning of the video and figure out where all my mistakes are. From there it’s a matter of fine-tuning everything before you hit publish.

Conclusion

I’ll save all of the editing stuff for the next installment in my Crush it on Camera series, because you might be wondering about things like how I add my logo, or how I create a title screen. And when it comes to making any video content on YouTube to grow your audience, building a library of binge-worthy videos is the most powerful way to do that. And I have a video explaining exactly how to become bingeable on YouTube so that you can attract new viewers and subscribers with every video you publish.