Building Relationships With SMEs

TL;DR:

Strong relationships with SMEs are crucial for creating accurate, user-friendly technical content. Clear communication, respect for their time, and ongoing collaboration ensure that you bridge the gap between deep technical knowledge and content that's accessible to everyone.

Why Are SMEs So Important?

I've learned that the accuracy of technical content is everything and that subject matter experts (SMEs) must be part of the plan to maintain a high degree of precision. They're the gatekeepers of the knowledge, and without their input, even the best content creators can miss critical details or misunderstand the process entirely.

But, as with all good things, there are challenges. Most SMEs are busy bees and balancing 100 people pulling them in different directions.

If you want to create quality content, you need to get them on board, build trust, and work in a way that makes them want to collaborate with you. Do that, and not only will the content creation process become smoother, but you'll also ensure the needs of the field are being met.

Here are the steps we take at HF Innovations:

Set Clear Expectations Right Out of the Gate

Before starting the first draft, ensure the SME knows what you need. Not a vague "I need some input here," but a clear, specific outline of what information is required and why.

Respect Their Time

Be organized. Be efficient. When you've got face time with an expert, maximize every second by having a plan. Even a little bit goes a long way. SMEs appreciate this and will be more willing to engage with you the next time you need their help.

Ask the Right Questions

Dive deep and translate complex, technical information into something clear and actionable for the end user. Understand how the details create the full picture.

Follow Up

New developments will come up. Just mark the content as "Final," and you'll know these words are true. Maintaining knowledge is just as important as creating it. Check in regularly to confirm that the content remains accurate and update the content as needed to keep the material relevant.

Building trust with SMEs takes time, but it's a necessary investment. When SMEs trust that you'll represent their knowledge accurately, they're more likely to share space on their calendar with you. And with that improved collaboration comes better content, faster turnarounds, and fewer last-minute revisions.