Integrating Podcasting & Multimedia with Internal Communications Jan Hester, Employee Communications Consultant 2017 Digital Workplace & Intranet Global Forum October 26, 2017
Overview The Mark Overview Accessibility Key components Our Company Our Work & Collaboration My Life & Career Podcasting Why podcast? Getting started Establishing a podcast network Recording a podcast Video Why we shoot them Where people can view them What topics they cover 2
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The Mark Overview Launched in 2013, first for company since 2001 (estream) Won a 2015 Nielsen Norman Group award for intranet design Features news sliders managed by corporate (for global audience) and customizable by individual business units (for local audience) Accessibility Company computers and VPN Apps available for company devices but can t always access videos/podcasts Still challenges with mobile access, especially for people in the field/on platforms Main sections Our Company: big picture, news, features, stock/commodities info, brand center, publications Our Work & Collaboration: work tools such as IT, travel, expenses; networking; knowledge-sharing My Life & Career: HR content, including benefits, health & wellness; make medical and dental appointments; affinity networks (LGBTA, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Parents Employee Networks) 4
5 The Mark: Our Company (top)
6 The Mark (middle)
7 The Mark (bottom)
8 The Mark: My Work & Collaboration
9 The Mark: My Life & Career
10 Podcasting
Why podcast? Low-cost, high-return investment CPN total equipment cost under $5,000 for studio and mobile units We ve provided mobile units to other groups for about $850 each Works well on digital platform Intranet, dotcom and social media Connects speaker with a broad audience in an authentic way CEO blog very popular Gives voice to middle managers, SMEs and people with personal stories to share Less intimidating to subjects than shooting video Example: Breast cancer patient 11
12 Why podcast?
Why podcast? Saves time and resources Quick way to communicate a message Faster than writing a story or creating a video Easier, quicker to listen to a podcast than read a story Employees can listen while doing something else People listen Approximately 13,000 ConocoPhillips employees worldwide Average podcast gets 2,000 to 3,000 listens Written stories average 1,500 to 2,000 Cancer patient story got 4,000 Some niche podcasts have smaller but committed following 13
Getting started Determine your needs: Where are the people you want to interview? In your office In another building or location At a remote site Identify a studio location Minimum requirements Little or no ambient sound Surface to accommodate equipment Chairs Telephone In a perfect world Designated studio with soundproofing ConocoPhillips In an unoccupied but furnished office with no audible HVAC vents 14
Getting started Purchase equipment Main components Hand-held recorder Microphones Headsets Sound absorbers CPN initial outlay under $5,000 Studio set-up with two sound absorbers Remote recorder with mic Purchase sound-editing software Adobe Audition CC Fairly intuitive, but training helpful Good idea to have one expert Insert photo of studio 15
Recording a podcast Topic/subject Person with a story to tell Ideally someone well spoken and willing to be interviewed Specific topic or message Top-down messages from leadership, such as key initiatives or policies Mid-level experts who don t normally get a lot of air time, including SMEs Human interest, such as cancer patient or flesh-eating bacteria survivor Straight up interview or story approach Story approach requires more production time and editing, works well for human interest stories Script or no script Some interviewees more comfortable with advance questions so they can prepare responses Some prefer a more casual, conversational approach On digital platform, consider supporting with written story For example, an event with photos and/or an article Length depends on topic We ve done 7 to 25 minutes Human interest stories well suited to longer podcasts, i.e., cancer patient 16
Establishing a podcast network Different channels for different topics, sources and audiences ConocoPhillips experience Once we did a few podcasts, it seemed as if everyone wanted their own Remote units Expanded CPN We control the logos and branding We do some of the editing to ensure quality 17
Establishing a podcast network Ryan s Blog Chairman & CEO Ryan Lance speaks directly to employees Roughly 4 times a year re company earnings, noteworthy events and crises, important news Almost everyone listens Audio Edge Topics such as corporate policies, projects, new technology, HR programs CDQ: Teamwork and effective decision-making IT Talk 18
Spirit Audio Audio snippets and podcast links related to spirit Magazine Example: Montney Life at ConocoPhillips Corporate responsibility (philanthropy, environmental projects), human interest, employee networks Walk the Talk Health, safety and environment Often from the field Hear the Ville News Bartlesville, OK, second largest office in U.S. Finance, IT, HR and research labs 19
20 Video
Video Why we shoot them People love them, watch them and tend to retain the information Drone footage has added a new, exciting dimension Between 2009 and 2015, when we started podcasting, we averaged 60 videos per year Since launching CPN, we have reduced number to 30 to 40 per year Where people can view them The Mark Spirit TV: televisions at Houston office buildings, most major office locations worldwide Some external (dotcom and social media) with corporate approvals What topics they cover 50 percent operations, R&D, corporate initiatives 50 percent human interest: employee profiles, day in the life, employee network events Example: dragon boat race 21
Video: Dragon Boat Race 22