"I already have a communications team." Is there a scientist among them? PR, social media, and UX/UI folx expertly build awareness and, depending on your product, bring consumers to your door. But when it comes to stakeholders -- I'm talking funders, regulators, policymakers, community groups, affiliates, enterprise clients -- they want to dig deeper. To check your math, so to speak. These are the people you create reports, briefs, white papers, and proposals for. The ones who want a sophisticated, persuasive document that show you're worth your salt. The ones whose impression of you will determine the impact your initiative will -- or won't -- have. Don't ask your Marketing Lead to proofread your white paper. She's trained in communications, not science and engineering. She'll do her best. But she'll end up skirting around the technical explanations. Or watering down their robustness. (And honestly, she has enough work already.) Don't miss the chance to make a lasting impression on those all-important stakeholders. Get a Science Interpreter. When you see the results (and the TIME you'll not be spending eeking out a report over the weekend) you'll be glad you did.
Anna Funk
7mo
This is so important!! I'd take it one step further and say that even when the client-content you're creating isn't as scientifically technical, it still pays to have a scientist on the team: somebody who is ready to get their hands dirty in your marketing and communications metrics, who knows how to draw conclusions from data. I've met quite a few writers who were afraid of spreadsheets 😅
Co-Founder & Executive Vice President at the Association of Science Communicators, Owner of Broader Impacts Productions, Host of This Week in Science
7moProfessional science communicators aren't necessarily trained in science or engineering, but they definitely need the ability to explain technical concepts in audience appropriate ways. Someone who is a scientist, but doesnt have comms experience, might get too deep in the jargon weeds for even the most critical stakeholder. That said, there are many data-driven people in marketing, too. Find the people who can do the work that will take you where you want to go.