Podcast Production: Should You Do It In-House or Hire an Agency?
How do you decide between producing your podcast in-house or hiring an agency? What factors should influence this critical choice for your business’ content strategy?
Choosing the right production path for your podcast can drastically affect its success and sustainability. For businesses, especially those in the B2B sector, this decision hinges on balancing resources like time and money with strategic objectives. Producing in-house may decrease costs and provide you more control, but the complexities and demands of high-quality podcast production often call for specialized skills that only experienced agencies can offer.
Considering aspects such as aligning podcast goals with business outcomes, the expertise needed to achieve high production values, and the potential ROI can guide companies to make an informed choice that supports their long-term content strategy.
1. Evaluate Your Resources and Priorities
Before deciding on podcast production, assess your available resources — specifically time and money. If you find that your business has more time than financial resources, and podcasting is more of a supplementary activity rather than a core function, DIY might be a practical approach. This stage involves understanding your team’s capabilities and whether you have the necessary skills and equipment to produce a quality podcast internally.
2. Consider the Importance of Podcasting to Your Business Strategy
If podcasting is integral to your business for generating leads, networking, or branding, consider the benefits of professional outsourcing. Agencies bring expertise in technical production and strategic insights that enhance content quality and engagement. Analyze how podcasting aligns with your business goals and whether an expert touch could significantly impact your outcomes.
3. Analyze Costs Versus Potential ROI
Discuss internally the true cost of DIY podcasting — not just the immediate expenses like equipment or software but also hidden costs like training time, potential errors, and opportunity costs of diverting staff from their primary responsibilities. Compare these costs against hiring an agency, which, while initially more expensive, may provide a higher quality product and better ROI through professional strategies and efficiencies.
4. Determine the Need for Strategic Guidance and Accountability
Evaluate your team’s need for external accountability and strategic guidance. Agencies not only manage the technical aspects of podcast production but also help maintain a consistent publishing schedule and strategize content to align with business goals. If your internal team lacks experience in consistent content creation or strategic planning, an agency can provide valuable support to keep your podcast on track and evolving.
5. Assess the Long-Term Commitment and Scalability
Consider whether your podcast needs might change as your business grows. DIY solutions can initially seem flexible and economical but may only scale well with significant additional investments in skills and equipment. A professional agency can adapt more fluidly to increased production demands, offering scalability that supports your business expansion without requiring you to invest in new equipment or training continually.
6. Look for an Agency That Practices What They Preach
When selecting an agency, ensure they have robust experience and actively engage in the practice they promote. Check if the agency produces podcasts for others and successfully runs their own. This experience is indicative of their expertise and commitment to the craft, which translates into better service and insights for your business.
