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For businesses considering podcasting or already recording podcasts as a marketing channel, the decision to script episodes is an important one. It depends on goals, format, and brand voice. And understanding the role of scripting in podcast production can significantly impact both content quality and return on investment.
When scripts make sense
Some business podcasts absolutely benefit from having a script. Take “Grammar Girl” for example. As mentioned on “The Business Storytelling Podcast,” the host uses a script to ensure all content is grammatically correct. For businesses delivering technical information or representing their brand, this level of precision becomes crucial for maintaining credibility and professional standards.
Scripted shows offer carefully structured sentences and minimal verbal stumbles. That can create a polished presentation. But it might feel too rigid for others, particularly when building authentic connections with customers.
Balancing scripted and organic content
Business podcasts don’t require an all-or-nothing approach to scripts. A minimal script might cover just introductions and outros, while more detailed versions include interview questions and ad reads. “The Business Storytelling Podcast” takes a more organic approach. The podcast is supposed to be a conversation between two people. It wouldn’t nearly be as organic if it was all scripted out. And if it was all scriped out, we could just feed the script into Hey Gen and create two AI clones that then have the conversation for us.
Create your AI avatar now: They can read your scripts
This balance becomes particularly important in interview-based shows. While maintaining structure through scripted questions helps guide conversation, allowing natural dialogue often produces more engaging content. Think of it like a customer support interaction – while key points need covering, authentic conversation builds stronger connections.
Content considerations
Corporate podcasts offering highly technical content can benefit from scripting to ensure accuracy. This approach proves particularly valuable for industries like healthcare, finance, technology, or any sector where precise information is critical. Scripts help maintain compliance and brand standards while ensuring accurate delivery of key messages.
For regulated industries, scripts provide an additional layer of protection. Having pre-approved content helps avoid compliance issues while still delivering valuable information to audiences.
Even technical content benefits from strong narrative structure. Scripts help maintain clear story arcs throughout episodes, making complex information more digestible for listeners. Consider how a software company might explain a new feature – a scripted approach ensures the explanation follows a logical progression while hitting all key benefits.
Read next: Ethical considerations for generative AI use in business
Professional production and resource management
The decision to script affects both production quality and resource allocation. While scripts require more preparation time, they can also reduce editing needs by minimizing mistakes and retakes. For businesses with limited production resources, this efficiency can justify the upfront investment.
Live streaming considerations add another layer to this decision. When using scripts on a livestream, practice so they can be read naturally. No looking up and saying: “Oh, let me start that again.”
Tools and production considerations
You could consider using Hey Gen to have your realist-looking AI avatars present the scripts. I used an AI person – not based on anyone, so not a clone – as the guest on this podcast episode.
For scripted approaches, especially in video podcasts, teleprompters help maintain natural eye contact while ensuring brand messaging stays consistent. Consider using an eye-level camera too. This maintains a professional appearance without sacrificing authenticity. When using teleprompters, proper preparation becomes essential – scripts need formatting for easy reading and proper pacing.
Live streaming adds complexity to script management.
How to produce podcast scripts
There are really three ways:
- The traditional way of outlining manually and then writing the script.
- Using AI podcast script generators
- A mix of the other options. Some tasks are AI-assisted but the entire thing is human-led.
Long-term podcast success often depends on developing efficient content-creation systems. Scripting can help and hurt here – depending on your exact workflow and personalities/skills of the team.
The bottom line comes down to business goals, content type, and brand voice. Whether scripted or unscripted, successful podcasts deliver value while maintaining professional standards and brand consistency.