The benefits of an internal podcast, and why your company needs one

Are you ready to take your business communication to the next level? Internal podcasting is a game-changer that can engage, inform, and inspire your team like never before. In this expert article, we'll explore the many benefits of internal podcasting and show you why it's a tool you simply can't afford to ignore. Get ready to discover the power of internal podcasting and unlock a world of new possibilities for your business!

What Are Internal Podcasts, and Who Benefits From Them?

Internal podcasting is a form of communication that uses podcasts to deliver messages and updates to employees within a company. Unlike external podcasts, internal podcasts are restricted to a specific audience, in this case, employees of the company. Internal podcasts are password-protected and can only be accessed by selected teams or all your employees within your company.

Internal podcasts are used by companies of all sizes, ranging from small startups to large corporations. Any organization that wants to keep remote or multi-office teams updated can benefit from an internal podcast. Companies with lots of employees will find podcasts to be a highly effective way of communicating with them.

Why Your Company Needs an Internal Podcast

There are several reasons why a company should consider using an internal podcast.

• Delivering a Unique Message: with Internal Podcasts, only one person needs to deliver a unique and consistent message to the entire company. With deliberately presented, well-planned content, everyone gets the same story, and messages won’t get mixed. This ensures that every member of your team is on the same page, and that vital information is communicated clearly and effectively.

• Schedule Flexibility: say goodbye to interruptions to priceless, sometimes elusive productivity bursts. With an internal podcast, your team can listen when it works best for them.

• Culture Building: a company can build its culture by consistently telling great stories about its organization and building stronger relationships with its employees. This can help boost employees’ morale, productivity and satisfaction in the workplace. An internal podcast can for instance feature interviews with executives, managers, and other team leaders. By having these leaders share their insights and perspectives on the company's mission, vision, and values, employees can gain a deeper understanding of what drives the organization and how their work contributes to its success.

• Employee Attraction and Retention: your internal podcast should define what your company does, your values, and the vision you have for your business — all of which can help you attract the right candidates and keep them long-term. Building a strong sense of purpose and keeping your team clued in on decisions and changes will help promote a sense of unity, inclusion, and personal investment that will ensure your best hires stick.

Engaging Your Team with Internal Podcast Content

Internal podcasts have shown the potential to drastically outperform other forms of internal communication with higher engagement rates. Lively, human episodes — with engaging podcast content — that team members can tune into at their preferred time has certainly shown promise to trump a wall-of-text email from your team’s CEO which often ends up forgotten or lost in a sea of daily emails.

Outside of the corporate world, podcasting has taken the world by storm, with a whopping 163 million Americans expected to listen to podcasts in 2023. And with this number growing rapidly, it's clear that podcasts are becoming more popular than ever before. In fact, 38% of Americans now listen to podcasts at least once per month, and this number is only expected to increase.

Successful Internal Podcasting Strategies for Companies

Internal podcasting is a versatile communication medium that can be used for a variety of purposes.

• Onboarding new employees: create evergreen content to welcome new staff and help them get up to date with an onboarding podcast that dives into benefits, policies, team culture, and of course your company’s values, vision, and mission.

• Keep the management and employees connected: make your CEO host or take part of your internal podcast as a guest. This can help break down the walls of mystery surrounding leadership and make employees feel more connected to the top of the company. Keeping everyone involved and engaged can help employees feel valued and connected to the organization as a whole.

• Learning and development: Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and growth by creating an educational podcast so employees can learn new skills. By regularly featuring guest speakers and subject matter experts, you can provide your team with valuable insights into the industry, as well as promote thought leadership within your company.

• Keeping your team up-to-date: A regular podcast can be an effective tool to not only update your employees on the latest industry trends and developments but also to educate and engage them. You can use your podcast to share success stories, highlight achievements, and promote team collaboration.

• Managing changes in your company: Regular updates through this medium ensure everyone is on the same page and understands the rationale behind any changes. It's a great tool for navigating leadership changes, new projects, or shifts in strategy, providing important information while keeping your team engaged and involved.

Hiring a Production Agency for Your Internal Podcast: Benefits and Considerations

While creating an internal podcast in-house may seem like a cost-effective solution, there are several reasons why it may not be the best option for your company.

• Expertise: A professional podcast production agency has the expertise and experience needed to create high-quality content that will engage your employees and effectively communicate your message.

• Equipment and Software: A production agency will have access to the best equipment and software needed to produce a high-quality podcast. Trying to purchase and learn how to use this equipment yourself can be time-consuming and costly.

• Consistency: Creating a podcast on a regular schedule can be challenging for an in-house team with other responsibilities. A production agency can help ensure consistency in your podcast schedule and quality.

• Time Savings: Creating an internal podcast can be time-consuming, especially for a team without experience in podcast production. A production agency can handle the entire process from planning to distribution, saving your team valuable time and resources.

At Lower Street, we are a full-service podcast production agency that has successfully worked with companies of all sizes, including PepsiCo, on their internal podcasts. We have the expertise and experience to help you produce a phenomenal internal podcast that engages and inspires your team. Contact us today to get started!