Top Enterprise Podcasting Solutions in 2023
Podcasting is the new frontier and it's poised to become as big as blogging used to be.
In fact, statistics show that the amount of people listening to podcasts is increasing, and the Covid pandemic has only pushed that number up significantly. In fact, according to Convince and Convert, more people listen to podcasts than they have Netflix accounts!
Podcasting as a marketing medium has proven to be an exceptional method of building trust and authority, as well as increasing engagement with prospective clients.
These primary benefits can also be leveraged internally to increase employee brand engagement. This side of podcasting is what’s called enterprise, or private podcasting.
Instead of corporations using text (like email for example) as a communication mechanism to employees, podcasting has become a superior option because audio and video are 500% to 700% more effective than text when you want to communicate information that people will remember.
Since podcasting is still a fairly new concept and not mainstream in all industries—and because it is relatively complex—, it may seem overwhelming to get the wheel turning. So in this article, we discuss what makes enterprise podcasting effective. We’ve also rounded up top enterprise podcasting solutions to help get your company going, no matter your size.
What is enterprise podcasting?
Enterprise podcasting is an effective medium for driving company culture via audio. Due to information overload and stuffed email inboxes, audio has become the preferred method for people to ingest information.
Since 65% of people listen to podcasts on mobile devices, nothing beats the convenience and reliability of podcasts to distribute information to on-the-go employees.
Now, it’s a known fact that the average office worker receives about 121 emails per day, so you can be sure that any office communication email is likely to be ignored until the “real work” is done. It’s also very likely that it will end up in “trash” and never even be opened. In fact, a survey showed that 30% of employees ignored emails from their employer.
If we look at the stats, CircleHD reports that 64% of podcast listeners listen while driving, 49% while walking, and 43% while gymming, so podcasting offers the mobility that employees demand. The statistics tell us that half of all podcast listeners are listening while they’re doing something else, and not while they’re at their desks during office hours.
Instead of text, podcasting offers your staff members a way of listening or watching company updates at their convenience, and not necessarily while they’re at their desks. Enterprise podcasting messages cut through the information overload that comes in text form.
That’s why this audio method of doing internal communication, mobile application or desktop training, employee marketing, and employee updates is an effective way of reinforcing desired company culture.
Why is enterprise podcasting effective?
It’s more likely to be listened to than read
We’ve already discussed why audio and media is more effective than text, but to recap, audio is 500 - 700% more effective than text when you want people to retain information.
Employees demand mobility
Podcast episodes offer mobility to employees and can be accessed on any device. Some platforms even allow episodes to be downloaded via an app for offline consumption. Mobility is essential, because many of your staff will not listen while they’re at work, but rather while they are doing something else, like driving. Providing employees with mobility is key to increasing the number of staff who actually listen to your communication.
Reach remote workers
Internal podcasts can be accessed by remote workers because they can be listened to from anywhere. In addition, audio can keep everybody on the same page and no one gets neglected. The company culture can be carried across to everyone on the team, no matter where they are situated.
The spoken word is more engaging
It may be because there is a real honest to goodness human voice on the other side, but studies show that audio seems to be more engaging than the written word. In addition, if you use a platform (see below) that allows for employee participation, such as commenting, that is also helpful for employee engagement.
Nothing lost in translation
When one of the senses is neglected, such as tone of voice in written content, it is more likely that misunderstandings will occur. When people can hear you instead of read you, the message is more effective.
Engagement can be measured
If you send out an email, you can only measure open and click rates. Podcasting platforms, on the other hand, provide analytics around consumption behaviors and content insights for performance improvements that you won’t get from email. In this way, your team can work to improve listener statistics.
Top Enterprise Podcast Solutions
Podcasting is at the core of what we do, so we’ve used our expertise to research the top enterprise podcast solutions available in 2021.
Most of the solutions listed are platform-only, but we’ve also included the best in terms of consulting, and even complete done-for-you services.
You will notice that most platforms have similar features, but we’ve also included differentiating factors. For example, one platform allows you to embed shows to social media, but another has features for push and email notifications of new episodes.
Tip! Before selecting a service, first decide what it is you wish to accomplish from enterprise podcasting. Let that be your guide as to which services or platforms to consider. You don’t want to end up paying for features you don’t need.
Content Allies
Content Allies specialise in creating revenue-generating podcasts for their clients, and offer a white glove approach to enterprise podcasting.
In other words, they will do everything—all you have to do is the actual communication part of the show.
Content Allies is a do-it-all-for-you service, from arranging guests on your shows if necessary, to all the pre-show and post-show stuff, such as:
Strategy
Scheduling
Show preparation
Equipment
Artwork
Guest research and coordination
Directory submissions (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.)
Audio production
Writing the show notes
Video clips and podcast promotion, including social media
Uploading and publishing
A big plus with Content Allies is that they can also repurpose your podcasting content across multiple channels.
Tip! Younger employees will be drawn to audio or video while older staff may still read written content like blog posts. Repurposing the podcast into written content means that the audio content can be made into text and put onto your intranet, or sent via email to make sure more people see it. Or they can extract blurbs from the show to reinforce messages via social media, for instance.
Since Content Allies offers a tailor-fit approach, anything you need can be done. And being enterprise podcast experts, they can even advise you regarding your objectives.
Summary of services:
Complete done-for-you enterprise podcasting services.
UStudio
UStudio’s robust media platform offers a private podcasting-for-business platform, and this includes:
A desktop podcasting app for employers and end users to listen to while working. The app features many useful functions like metrics, secure solutions, and playback control.
Podcasting analytics to track employee engagement
Podcast hosting with tight security for content administrators
Live streams
A customisable platform
Other software integration
UStudio’s solutions are for sales enablement, training, learning, internal communications, video streaming and live audio.
Summary of services:
Platform.
CircleHD
CircleHD offers native desktop and mobile support for video, podcasting and slide decks with enterprise-grade security, analytics and AI-powered search that allows the user to search for any spoken words in entire episodes.
With this platform subscription, your company can:
Provide audio and visual training. CircleHD may offer advanced solutions for training because the podcasting platform integrates with their Learning Experience Platform, where you can also create content libraries for knowledge sharing.
Allow external sharing of content
Encourage feedback of content
Analytics systems
Integration with Salesforce
Employees can access content while on the go.
Summary of services:
Platform.
Podbean
Podbean’s enterprise podcast solutions power podcasts for corporations and educational institutions.
Similar to all enterprise podcast platforms, Podbean offers reliable and safe hosting including single sign-on, and a place for managing and team collaboration.
APIs allow corporations to customise the platform with features unique to their needs. It’s a perfect solution for your communications team.
OmnyStudio
OmnyStudio is an advanced platform for enterprise podcasting. While it has similar features to the other platforms, it also has the functionality to publish and share episodes anywhere online, including embedding them on Twitter and Facebook.
You can also:
Backup and search every show
Integrate with your existing membership database
Monetize content
Analyze listenership
Easily edit shows
Add intros and outros
Use transcription
Summary of services:
Platform.
CastDesk
CastDesk allows companies to create their own platform on top of theirs, so you can add your own logos and colours to make it yours. Employees are able to access content from any device, even offline.
The platform comes with a built-in recording studio which also allows you to upload audio from any video.
CastDesk offers a Twitter-like feed that gives employees the opportunity to comment on episodes, and this increases employee engagement.
You can also perform AI searches, host multiple shows, assign managers, schedule content and restrict certain content to specific teams.
Spreaker
Spreaker’s enterprise plan offers similar features to the other enterprise podcast platforms, such as podcasting (with unlimited listeners, podcast catalog and episodes), distribution of the show including customizable RSS feeds, behavior analytics and customisation.
Podcasts can also be monetized, and the platform ensures your data is secure.
Enterprise Podcaster
Enterprise Podcaster is different to the other solutions we’ve listed in that they don’t only offer a platform for podcasting, but rather focus on helping corporations to use podcasting to build their business.
Their services include:
Training and facilitation for teams
Assistance with choosing the right equipment for enterprise podcasting
Consulting services and developing your podcast strategy
You would still need to produce your own podcasts, but Enterprise Podcaster can help you choose the right mechanisms to achieve your podcasting goals.
Summary of services:
Podcasting training and consulting.
Storyboard
Storyboard provides a podcasting platform for companies to customise in order to distribute shows for private teams to access via mobile devices (android, ios) and web players, and make comments on.
As with many of the other platforms we’ve listed, Storyboard offers:
Enterprise-level security
Analytics
Embedding of shows on company intranet sites that can be downloaded via an app
All-in-one production
Unlike their competitors, they offer listener engagement features such as push and email notifications to promote shows and user support. You are also able to revoke user access at any time.
Summary of services:
Platform.
Kaltura
Kaltura offers video solutions for any company of any industry. Their focus is not so much on podcasting, which is strictly audio, but is rather a secure solution for a video cloud platform for communication, TV experiences and education.
For team communication and collaboration, you can use Kaltura’s video platform to control playback and create any video that includes communication tools for a continuous communication experience.
Kaltura podcasts are synced with the Kaltura Video Portal web experience, so this platform solution is ideal if you also plan to use video in your communication efforts.
The Kaltura platform, different to the other solutions we’ve listed, can be used for:
Meetings
Webinars
Virtual classrooms
Town hall meetings of unlimited attendees
Media space video portal
Podcasting
Team collaboration
Knowledge sharing
Online-training
Self-paced learning
Internal and executive communication
Marketing
Sales enablement
Summary of services:
Video and podcasting platform.
The Podcast Haven
Podcasting involves many complex parts. The Podcast Haven’s enterprise package offers services that help companies create and develop podcasts, from strategizing corporate podcast content, to physically setting up for you at the location of your choice, to editing, marketing and even launching.
In addition, if you need help with your podcasting budget, or script ideas, they can help with that, too.
Although you remain in control at all times, there are experts available to assist at any phase.
Summary of services:
Podcasting consulting.