How to audit your internal comms channels
Free internal comms channel audit template included below…
You think your internal comms channels aren’t quite doing the job. Maybe people aren’t engaging. Maybe you’re posting into the void. Maybe it’s all just too… noisy.
But a hunch won’t help you fix it.
A full-blown comms audit might be the dream but not everyone has the time, budget or energy for that. So here’s your quick and dirty, no-fluff guide to auditing your internal communications channels in a way that still gives you real insight, helps you make your case, and points the way to smarter internal comms.
Why bother auditing at all?
Because guessing doesn’t cut it. If you want change, things like better tools, more resources, sharper content, you need evidence to make it happen. This doesn’t have to mean a six-month research project (although it’s great if you can do that). But it does mean pausing to look at what’s working, what’s not, and what’s missing.
Here’s a six step simple process for your DIY internal comms audit:
Step 1: Start with the problem you’re trying to solve
Before you go all spreadsheet-happy, ask:
What’s the issue I’m trying to prove or disprove?
Is it that no one reads the newsletter? That line managers aren’t sharing updates? That the intranet is just a black hole?
Write it down. Keep it front of mind. Your audit should help add weight to that.
Step 2: List your current channels
It sounds super obvious, but it’s easy to forget what’s out there. Jot down everything: email, Teams, Viva Engage, posters, All Hands, WhatsApp groups, even that rogue whiteboard in the kitchen. And don’t forget, it’s not just comms from comms you need to worry about. It’s the comms from IT, from HR, from sales, and so many others, too.
Step 3: Ask some simple questions
For each channel, take a look at:
What’s it for? (And is that clear?)
Who’s using it? Who’s ignoring it?
What kind of content is going out?
How often?
Any stats? (opens, views, reactions, even (and especially) anecdotal feedback counts)
How much effort is going into it vs. what you're getting back?
Step 4: Quick pulse check
You don’t need a full-blown survey. A couple of 10-minute chats with real humans can tell you loads. Try:
“What’s the one comms channel you actually pay attention to?”
“When you miss something important, what do you wish had happened differently?”
Step 5: Look for gaps, overlaps and dead weight
This is where the magic happens.
Are you duplicating effort across platforms?
Is anything being ignored entirely?
Is something doing a job it’s not meant to be doing (e.g. the Teams chat acting as your unofficial newsfeed)?
Is there an obvious gap, like a need for manager briefings or visual content?
Step 6: Wrap it up with a few punchy takeaways
End with 3–5 bullet points you could share with a leader or stakeholder, like:
“Our monthly newsletter is taking two days to produce and getting less than 10% open rate.”
“There’s no consistent way for frontline teams to receive updates.”
“We’re using six different channels to share the same thing - no wonder it’s not landing.”
So, what are you left with?
A simple overview of your current comms landscape. Not perfect, not polished, but packed with enough insight to help you challenge assumptions, back up your instincts, and start conversations that lead to better, more effective internal communication. It gives you the language to say, “Here’s what we’ve got, here’s what’s happening, and here’s what we need to fix.”
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting clarity, backing up your gut instinct, and having smarter conversations about improving internal communication.
Even a quick internal comms audit can go a long way.
And if you’d like help making sense of your channels or turning insight into action, just drop us a line. We’d love to help.
