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Creating an internal podcast is a great way to bring news, updates, and entertainment to a private group.
Successful companies often use these private podcasts. They can create a strong sense of community within a workforce. But what exactly are internal podcats, and how do you start your own? Learning about internal podcasting could help you take the next step with your company’s communication system.
Read on to discover all you need to know about internal company podcasts.
What is an internal podcast?
An internal podcast is simply a podcast that isn’t available to the general public. Companies or organizations commonly use these types of podcasts. They can be shared over internal platforms or made accessible through a private link.
Whether you’re an employee or a CEO, you can use internal podcasts to spread information to members of your company. They are straightforward to make and can greatly impact streamlining communication.
What can you use internal podcasts for?
Internal podcasts have a variety of uses within companies. They include:
- Updating employees on the development of a project.
- Sharing private information, such as future plans for the company.
- Interviewing key figures within the company, such as the CEO.
- Reminding employees of upcoming events.
- Sharing expertise in a specific subject through thought leadership.
The suggestions on this list are not the only things you can do with an internal podcast. You can use it as a versatile platform to contain any information you think people should know. You can use podcasts to educate and entertain, for example, with talks from leading industry figures or interviews with company members.
Why should you start an internal company podcast?
You should start an internal company podcast to distribute information more effectively to your employees. Podcasts trump emails, memos, and even phone calls in that department. They can not only be informative but entertaining to listen. Additionally, they are easy to share with others and can help build a spirit of community and engagement within a company.
Benefits of internal podcasts for companies
Many benefits come hand-in-hand with creating an internal company podcast. Getting your podcast set up may take some time, but the positives are well worth it. Just look at some of the advantages it can give you:
- Create a community atmosphere by regularly keeping in touch with company members.
- Communicate with employees when a meeting is not possible. This can be particularly useful for staff in different time zones.
- Keep the company task-focused and oriented towards current goals. Achieve this by providing reminders and updates in the podcast.
- Show a personal side of yourself or other company members. Build stronger inter-company connections by showing your personality on a podcast.
- Make learning or receiving information an entertaining experience for employees. For example, by adding some humor into the podcast.
- Provide an alternative means of communication. This can be especially appreciated by those often reading emails or staring at a screen.
What do you need to start an internal podcast?
Before you begin recording, you’ll need the right equipment to create an engaging company podcast. You will need a place to record, such as an office. Ideally, you should soundproof this space to increase your audio quality. Your podcast will need a host, though this person could change with each episode.
Additionally, specific hardware and software will be essential in completing your setup. Read on to discover the best equipment for internal podcasting. You can modify this equipment according to your budget – for example, you might buy higher-end soundproof headphones if they are within your means.
Hardware
Microphones
Microphones for each person involved in the podcast are essential for audio quality. It can be hard to know where to begin when choosing a great microphone, but luckily we’ve written a complete guide on podcast microphones.
Headphones
Headphones are another vital piece of equipment for podcasters. Noise-canceling headphones will give you the best sense of what your voice sounds like as you speak. Headphones will also prevent sound leakage, preserving your audio quality.
Cameras
Cameras will be necessary if you want a video recording of your podcast. Although you can record video with a smartphone, a dedicated podcast camera like a Sony a5100, or any of our other podcast camera recommendations, are worth a try.
These three pieces of equipment are essential and will be enough to get you started with your podcast. However, if it’s within your budget to purchase additional equipment, a few added extras can enhance your setup. These include studio lights, which work well in a three-point lighting setup; pop filters which smooth the sounds of plosive letters; and an audio mixer to add live music or sound effects to your podcast.
Software
Podcast recording software
Recording software provides you with a virtual space to record podcast episodes, easily find your footage, and access helpful tools. While a wide array of software is available, we say it’s better to choose software dedicated for studio-quality podcasts.
Riverside is a dedicated podcast recording platform with high-resolution video and audio, plus user-friendly tools for remote interviews. Invite a producer to join your productions behind the scenes without the risk of accidentally recording them.
You can record with up to 10 participants at a time and receive separate audio and video tracks for each person. This gives you greater editing control.
We have a Business plan that caters to bigger companies and offers a shared workspace for a seamless podcasting workflow.
Find out more or start recording the easy way.
Editing Software
You can use editing software once you’ve finished recording to put the final touches on your podcast. These can include: cutting out distorted audio, adding sound effects, and removing long pauses in your recording. These subtle changes make all the difference in how professional your podcast sounds.
Many recording platforms include editing tools. For example, Riverside has a built-in editor with tools for removing unwanted sections, customizing your podcast with your brand, and fine-tuning audio. With our text-based video editor you can make quick precise cuts as easily as editing a text document. Any text you delete in your recording transcript automatically removes the corresponding video and audio in your actual recording. Anyone can create quality podcasts in just a few clicks.
If you've got more of a budget and want more advanced editing, then you can browse dedicated podcast editing software or hire a professional podcast editing service.
Podcast Hosting Platform and Directories
A podcast hosting platform is where you store your content. While you can upload your podcast to a website, it’s much simpler to use a host which creates an RSS feed for you. This is a feed with consistent updates of your content. You’ll then share this link to a podcast directory.
Podcast directories, like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, are places where people can find and listen to your show. If your preference is for the podcast to be private, you’ll need to choose a directory that has options to restrict who can view it.
Read more: How To Publish A Podcast (Beginner’s Guide)
You could also share your podcast on your company website. Many hosts offer features such as embeddable players that enable you to do this. Alternatively, you might prefer a platform dedicated to private podcasts, such as Storyboard. By using this type of software, you can give specific people access to your recordings.
How to create an internal podcast in 8 easy steps:
Ready to get started with your internal podcast? The good news is that the process is simple. Create a private company podcast from start to finish by following these steps:
1. Plan your podcast
Planning is a crucial step in making your podcast. You’ll want to think about the aims of your podcast, such as: sharing training information for new employees, encouraging a team toward their goals, or creating a stronger sense of community in the workplace.
Once you’ve chosen your goals, think about what type of content will help you achieve them. This could include interviews, talks, or training material. Consider how long your podcast episodes will be. The majority of podcasts are between 20 and 60 minutes long. It’s a good idea to aim for this kind of length to appeal to listeners’ attention spans.
From here, turn your plans into an actionable schedule. You can do this by deciding how frequently you want your podcast to be released (once a week is a good ballpark). Mark in a calendar what your first four podcast episodes will be about, so you can see a clear overview of the topics you’ll cover. It’s also a good idea to create podcast scripts.
2. Assemble a production team
Tempting as it might be to try and go the solo route on your podcast, having a dedicated team to help you will make the process much easier. Search for people in your company who have specific skills that could help in production.
For example, a colleague in IT or a tech-savvy employee could assist with setting up equipment or editing your podcast. If you’re not planning to host episodes yourself, look out for a bubbly, friendly person with the confidence to be a great host.
Other production roles include
- Script writing
- Filming and recording
- Analytics management
- Marketing
- Research
Before you go ahead and start recording, consider the best people to help you in these areas.
3. Set up your recording studio
Your recording studio should be a quiet, comfortable space. This will be your base for creating new episodes, so the recording crew must have enough chairs, microphones, and anything else they need. Your equipment should be positioned well, for example, with studio lights facing toward guests.
As well as being furnished and well-equipped, an important aspect of your recording studio is soundproofing. This means reducing background noise and unwanted sounds in the room that can interfere with recordings.
First of all, try to choose a podcast recording room that is not in a high-traffic area. Use carpeting and curtains to absorb sound waves. You can also install soundproofing foam on the walls and ceiling to help with this. Before you record, check for any background noise, like whirring equipment as this can affect your audio quality.
4. Invite guests to join you
Doing a solo podcast can work out well, especially if you want to speak directly to a group or have a talk to present. However, inviting guests to your podcast is a great way to bring different perspectives to your episodes. Your dialogue can engage the interests of listeners.
If you’re keen on inviting a guest or guests to your podcast, consider the best way of doing this. If your guest is available for an in-person recording, fantastic! Invite them into your studio to chat. However, if a guest is abroad or unable to join you, send them a virtual invitation.
You can do this by using recording software such as Riverside. These platforms create a virtual studio where you can invite participants into your recording. As we mentioned Riverside records separate tracks for each of your guests, but it’s important to know that we use local recording. Everything records directly on everyone’s device instead of relying on the internet. This means even though you’re online, your recording quality is not vulnerable to internet issues.
5. Record an episode
Now that your ducks in a row when it comes to planning, scheduling, and inviting guests to your podcast, it’s time to take the plunge and record.
Recording software is the best way to navigate your footage and achieve high-quality results. The recording process varies depending on which software you use. However, you should be able to stop and start your recording with ease. Recording with Riverside is as simple as creating an online studio and pressing the record button at the bottom of your screen.
During the recording, the host should speak clearly and confidently. The focus should be on keeping the audience’s interest. Don’t worry if small mistakes are made, like misspoken words – you can always fix these when editing.
6. Edit your recording
Podcast Editing is an essential stage of podcast creation. This is the time to remove pesky coughs, sneezes, distorted audio, and awkward pauses from your recording. As well as cutting, you can add things to your recording when editing. For example, an intro and outro or other sound effects.
This process can be challenging if you’ve never edited a podcast before. You might prefer to appoint a member of your production team as editor. Alternatively, you can outsource editing to a sound engineer. These experienced individuals have the know-how to polish your recording into a final professional result.
7. Share your podcast
With your podcast complete, it’s time to share it! Internal podcasts are usually made available to a restricted group of people. You should isolate who you want those people to be – for example, the sales team or a group working on a specific project. Alternatively, you might want your podcast to be available to a specific company.
You will need a platform to share your podcast on. This could be a company website. Alternatively, you could use a podcast directory tailored to internal podcasts. The benefit of the latter is that you can create a list of users who can view the podcast. This way, you can control which company members can watch episodes.
8. Promote and track your podcast’s progress
Promote your podcast by letting company members know about new episodes. You could do this through email reminders, bulletins, Slack, the intranet, or messaging. Remember to bring up the podcast in meetings and to co-workers. By spreading the word, you’ll increase the engagement the podcast receives.
Now that you have finished making your podcast, don’t just sit back and ignore the analytics. Monitoring the success of your episodes by checking how many views it’s received will give you a firm idea of how well the podcast is performing. In particular, statistics can give you a sense of the kind of content listeners prefer, such as interviews. Following these trends will increase the popularity of the episodes.
High-quality internal podcasts with Riverside
An essential part of creating a high-quality podcast is using the right recording software. You might not think it, but the type of software you use affects everything from your end result to how smooth your recording process is.
Riverside offers a user-friendly space to create attention-grabbing content. Record both audio and video easily on our website or app.
Our Business plan, used by companies such as TED and Spotify, offers unlimited separate audio and video track recording. This is perfect for individually recording speakers on your podcast. Ideal for companies, this package includes a customer success manager to ensure your satisfaction and the ability to create unlimited productions.
Out Key Features include:
- Local recording so all files record straight in to everyone’s devices and are safe from faulty internet connection.
- Our high-resolution audio and video capabilities help you achieve professional results. Record up to 4K resolution, and high-quality WAV audio at up to 48kHz.
- Separate audio and video tracks put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to editing, giving you more scope to polish your content.
- Have up to 10 participants in a recording session for engaging discussions and multiple perspectives in your podcast.
- Producer mode allows you to invite a producer working behind the scenes to mix your audio, streamlining your recording sessions.
- Operate in a shared workspace by working in our virtual recording studio with participants from anywhere in the world.
- Live and webinar recording capabilities where you can invite up to 1000 audience members. Even invite members to participate with live audience call-ins.
- Text-based Editor offers a time-saving solution to creating polished videos with just a few clicks. We have tools for fine-tuning audio, customizing your clip with your logo and branding and for adding easy captions.
- Magic Clips tool to easily repurpose one long-form recording into multiple short videos, with just one click
- Our Media Board makes adding live sound effects simple.
- We continuously upload the audio and video of each participant, ready for you to download from the cloud afterward.
Best examples of internal podcast to learn from
Many successful companies use internal podcasts. They set great examples on how to use podcasts for effective communication. Learning from these companies can help you feel inspired and motivated about your own podcast.
So, which companies are using internal podcasts? Here are some examples:
Deloitte - The Green Room
Deloitte’s podcast is all about big-picture business concerns. Discussing everything from what a future workplace might look like to the impact of climate change, this podcast asks important questions.
American Airlines - Tell Me Why
This podcast by American Airlines has one specific focus: to update employees on company news. Episodes cover American Airlines’ latest charity-focused projects and give insights into the company’s successes each month.
Netflix - We are Netflix
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the most popular streaming service in the world has strong internal communication. This podcast, hosted by a senior software engineer, features discussions with Netflix employees. It gives a fascinating glimpse into work life at this impressive company.
Spotify - Life at Spotify
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work for music and podcast giant Spotify, this podcast is for you. Available for public listening, each episode looks into the careers on offer, as well as the company’s goals and innovation.
Trader Joe’s - Trader Joe’s (inside)
The Trader Joe’s podcast answers frequently asked questions from customers, like why isn’t there a Trader Joe’s loyalty program? In addition, the podcast is a place to advertise exciting new products. Some episodes celebrate bestsellers by announcing the Customer Choice Awards.
FAQs on Internal Podcasts
How are organizations using podcasts internally?
Organizations use internal podcasts for a whole host of things, from sharing training modules to telling stories from colleagues within the company. The purpose of these podcasts can differ between organizations, but most companies use them to build a sense of community or share important information with a team.
Where can I host an internal podcast?
You can host an internal podcast on your company’s website or on a dedicated internal podcast hosting platform. If you go with the latter, there are several sites to choose from. Check out Storyboard, Captivate, or Podbean as a base to share your podcast from. These host sites offer ways of restricting access to your podcast.
Why are internal podcasts a powerful tool for communication?
Internal podcasts are a great communication tool because they are an interesting way to absorb information. Emails, messages, and even meetings can become boring over time, so it’s difficult to grab people’s attention. Podcasts offer a unique communication method that’s more likely to receive focus and interest from listeners.
Internal podcasts are especially significant these days, with remote working being so commonplace. They are being used as a way to communicate online and accommodate different employees’ schedules.
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