Sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do is explain what you do in simple and relatable terms.
“I’m sorry. What do you do again?”
Didn’t I just tell you that?
Avoiding this type of conversation can be difficult when explaining your line of work and this goes doubly true if you occupy the tech sector. In these instances, it can often be a Sisyphean task to explain tech to a layman. Sisyphus was the guy who had to roll the boulder up that steep hill only to have to do it again the next day. Because, you know, the boulder rolled back down the hill.
That’s what explaining tech can feel like.
Even Einstein said it. In his words: “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.”
If you don’t think you have what it takes to be a genius but would like to know a few tips to make sure your message isn’t falling on deaf ears, we’ll give you a few ways you can sharpen your skills at speaking tech talk to the layman. Of course, you can always enlist the services of an experienced tech PR firm like Interdependence Public Relations. We can help you craft easy-to-understand (yet compelling) content, too.
Don’t Get Too Dense with Jargon
Don’t assume that people know what a GUI is or a cross-platform app. When you use insider terms try to explain what it is and how it affects them on a daily basis. Essentially you need this journalist to go off and write a compelling piece about you. So they need to have a little bit deeper of an understanding about what you do, which puts you in a teacher sort of role. So enjoy it!
And, when you can, use those ten cent words instead of the million dollar ones. A good tech PR firm will have writers who take your information-dense copy and turn it into tight, punchy content that drives readers to action.
Find Out What They Know and Don’t Know
Ask if anything about your line of work is unclear to them right off the bat. That way you don’t have to cover what they already know and waste both of your time. You can go deep on the stuff they don’t understand to where they become much more well-versed in what they didn’t know. Help them write more compellingly about what you do!
Speak with Enthusiasm
If you’re not excited about it, they won’t be either. If the reporter is interested in the conversation they’re much more likely to remember more accurately and write a more favorable piece.
Use Metaphors or Diagrams
Or picture books! (Just kidding). But seriously, tech becomes less difficult when you can tell a story or compare your concept to something they already know. Using visuals also helps!
Don’t Give Too Much Info
There’s certain things you can probably leave out that a large percentage of media people will know. And, on the flipside, you don’t have to go to too deep on really complex topics or microscopic details that aren’t going to be important for their piece.
If this sounds like stuff you don’t want to deal with, hiring an experienced tech PR firm is worth consideration. Contact Interdependence Public Relations for a free consultation today. We’ll worry about the stuff you don’t want to.
