Stephanie Kinch

“Can I REALLY hire external resources to do internal communications? Don’t you need to be inside the company to do it well?” The short answer is, YES you can. You can, and probably should. Especially if: - You’ve been advocating for a new hire and can’t seem to get approval. - Your company regularly relies on contractors and freelancers in other functions. - You have spikes in work at certain times of the year, regularly. - You can hire out for an area of expertise you don’t have in your team. - You can get a project complete by off-loading it to an expert in a specific area (even if you DO have the expertise, because your time should be spent elsewhere). Even if a contractor or freelancer is not the ideal state, it’s a good option. The company likely doesn’t want to commit to a long-term role yet, but you need relief and the company needs solid work. Whether it works or not is entirely up to you. Yes, you. Hire the right people, train them in your processes, give them access to those processes, and arm them with the right level of information to do the job well. You can hire freelancers or contractors to do internal comms. for: - Storytelling/ news writing - Executive speechwriting or ghostwriting - Graphic design - PowerPoints (did someone say town hall?) - Videography - Admin or Comms. Operations - Comms. Specialists/Experts in specific projects (DEI comms, benefits comms., sustainability comms., sales comms., IT comms.) And more. It depends on your business' need. But align it with your long-term strategy first and build the case for it in budget. Now, before you skeptics out there think I have something to gain, I don’t. I help company Comms leaders with audits, strategy, coaching and the structure and resources they might need. Then I help them advocate for them. But I don’t hire out the talented professionals to do the day-to-day work, I just help you get to the place where you can. I run a consultant practice, not an agency. So stop waiting. If you’re asking this question, you probably should’ve already hired some external resources to do the internal work. Get your Strategic plan with team structure (including external resources) and budget set, get the OK (if you don’t manage budget directly), then go ahead and hire. If you want help with the planning, budget and structure, drop me a line. I book out in a couple months in advance, so let’s talk now if you want help this fall. Have you hired external resources to help with internal comms work? How did it go? #communications #internalcommunications #corporatecommunications #publicrelations

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What’s your favourite quotation from history? And does it REALLY make sense? See below episode 16 of TeaTalk: The Tea Drinker’s Guide to Rhetoric covering the rhetorical device: epicrisis. Share your thoughts! 😊👍🫖 👇

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I’ve been working on a really cool project this week🍹 So, this agency reached out to me via LinkedIn because their end client was in dire need of magnetic client- attraction copy.💫 The problem was… The agency is Swedish and their end client is Norwegian. So, even though Swedish and Norwegian are mutually intelligable - the written languages are a bit tricky🤔 «We need some copy in Norwegian by XYZ, can you pull that off?» *Me stuck at my day job with my boss breathing down my neck*😥 «Sure thing, no problem! Just send me all the details.» Needless to say I had to pull a couple of all-nighters, but when they got back to me today, their response made it so worth it🍹 I’m still taking very limited Discovery calls👩🏼‍💻 Or DM me to lock in your copy projects for June⚡️ I still have space for 2 more clients. But you better hurry, cause the spots are filling up fast🐝 ——————————————————————— Halla, Christina here 🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m your copywriter sidekick for wellness and beauty brands 💅🏻 🗺️Most businesses struggle to talk about what they offer in a clear way. I’m a copywriter that creates clear and compelling, done-for-you-copy that’ll make your offer stand out with ease. This includes: 🚀Sales Pages 🚀 Landing Pages 🚀Emails 🚀Ads and content. #copy #copywriting #wellnesscoach #lifestylecoach #holisticcoach #womeninbiz #copywritingskills

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Ad | I get loads of DMs asking for recommendations on internal comms tools and intranets.   And I understand why. Because when I was Head of Internal Comms, looking for a new tool was a nightmare.   I felt completely overwhelmed by the number of products available and didn’t have the time to research them all.   Honestly, I wanted a shortcut. Couldn’t someone just explain some of these tools to me and make it easier to figure out what they actually DO?   Well ya know what, I’m going to do that. I’m partnering with Appspace to make it easier for you to understand what their tool does, what you might use it for and why you might like it.   Appspace is one of the internal comms tools I’ve been super impressed with. Which says a lot because I’m fussy and hard to please. It’s a platform for internal comms which combines an intranet, content publishing, a newsletter and digital signage all in one place.   One of the Appspace features I really like is being able to publish the same message across all of your comms channels with one click.   One click!   I’ve lost so many hours of my life publishing to a newsletter, then to a separate blog, then to a separate chat channel, then to a targeted email… the shame when I look back on all that wasted time.   This is a platform that not only makes communications better for employees, but also makes life easier for internal communicators behind the scenes.   👉 Try Appspace for yourself at this link: https://lnkd.in/emv_C42d

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Three signs you need to hire a communications consultant 👇 1️⃣ You don't have a strategy, so you're constantly putting out fires. 🚒 2️⃣ Team members are burning out and leaving because there's more work than hands. 🆘 3️⃣ There's an urgent need for a fresh perspective and new ideas. 💡 If this sounds like you and your team, I can provide short-medium term support to give you: ✅ A clear strategy, so you can start adding commercial value rather than doing busy work. ✅ Headspace so you can lead and support your team while I help with strategy, delivery, coaching and mentoring. ✅ Different ways of looking at your role and that of your team so you can improve productivity, performance, and wellbeing. If this sounds like you, I currently have limited slots available for short-medium term support. Just DM me or email simon@ruttercoaching.com and let's talk. ----- 📈 With extensive experience on both sides (in-house and independent), I help companies with Communications strategy and delivery to stand out from the crowd, cut through the noise, and get results. 🔔 Follow Simon Rutter for useful, thought-provoking content on Corporate Communications, EVP/Employer Brand, and Employee Experience, and ring the bell icon at the top of my profile so you don't miss any of my posts.   📭 DM me if you're looking for support with your Communications Strategy, Delivery, Coaching/Mentoring, or need a speaker on any of the above topics. Slots open now. #CorporateCommunications #InternalCommunications #CommunicationsCoaching

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🤓 OK, I admit it, I'm a total formatting geek. 🔍 As a communications expert, I know there are bigger things to focus on like strategy, content, and designing and delivering a campaign in three days flat. But I can't overlook the formatting. 📄 Earlier this year, I received a job application formatted in a Word table. It looked neat at first, but when I started filling it in, the table went crazy because it was aligned with spaces instead of tabs. My information was now all over the place and looked a mess... ✅ Reader, I reformatted it and returned it as a PDF. 📥 Good formatting is crucial for clear communication. It might seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in how your message is received. 🚫 (Reader, I also didn't get the job.) #CommunicationsConsultant #AttentionToDetail #FormattingMatters

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What people think I’m doing when I say I’m editing 60+ pages of web copy for a medical research institute: * moving commas * fixing typos * making small, grammatical changes What I’m actually doing: * re-writing entire paragraphs to reflect the business’s new brand voice 📣 * re-structuring pages and leading with what makes them unique – rather than information that readers can find elsewhere 🧬 * getting rid of dry, scientific language and using storytelling strategically 📚 * editing with the reader in mind so all content is suitable for a lay reader with no medical knowledge. If it’s too dry, dense, or confusing, I rewrite it 🚫🥱 * recommending diagrams or illustrations if it would help clarify the copy 🎨 * using inclusive and respectful language, especially around mental health 🫶 * making the content easy to skim and scan – lots of bulleted lists, white space, and sub-headings 🎯 * swapping long, lyrical sentences for shorter, snappier ones 🫛 * using active voice and plain English ✍️ * optimising the copy for SEO 🔎 * plus all the nitty-gritty proofreading I mentioned above! 🧐 It’s a lot of work for each page, but it should make the new website: * clear, compelling, and easy to read * tailored for a specific audience rather than trying to be all things to all people * consistent – so it sounds like it’s all been written by the same person * interesting, useful, and respectful Is there anything you’d like to know more about? I’m putting together a workshop on writing and editing for the web so I’d love to hear about gaps in your knowledge, or areas you’d like to learn more about. #ClearContent #StyleGuide #WritingForTheWeb

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User experience is one of - if not THE - most important part of publishing online. You could create the most beautiful piece of content, but bombard your readership with excessive ads or a clunky UI, your work simply won’t be interacted with. Ad revenue in online publishing is essential, but too often the experience is corrupted for the financials. Guess what? You won’t get any ad revenue at all if people don’t want to visit. #publishing #media #content #design #UI

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When was the last time you put one together? How confident are you at getting it right and building great relationships with your chosen editors? If you're not confident or competent, there is another option... I'll leave you to work that one out. #pressreleases #freelancewriter #businesscommunications #greywingcreations #businessnews

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Yesterday I talked again with this group on 2 topics: • 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 • 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 The perspective was both from researchers delivering presentations as well as from PIs and supervisors trying to help researchers do this critical work.  Sharing in comments links to what we covered.   Both are past newsletters I've written. The next newsletter comes out Tuesday and will be about "better visuals"  -yup there's a theme: delivering better research presentation is my raison d'etre. The newsletter is free: here's the sign-up link: https://lnkd.in/eb9kYBmx

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Sustainability folks: when was the last time you had a 1:1 with your marketing / comms leads? If it has been more than a month, drop what you're doing, and set this up. Likewise, marketing / comms leads: do you know your sustainability team? If not, send them a note today to get acquainted. Simple connection does wonders for breaking down siloes and creating opportunities for some great sustainability storytelling.

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In-house internal communicators - I've got news for you. Your team is not getting bigger any time soon. 😮 According to VMA GROUP's Inside Insight 2024 Report (link in comments), 59% of teams have no plans to grow in the next year, and 23% don't know. 😬 That's a staggering 82% of teams who are struggling to cope with a list of demands that is becoming longer and more complex by the day. 😱 In these times of headcount freezes, hiring an extra pair of hands via a contractor can give you much-needed: ✅ Space to think and plan strategically. ✅ Keep delivery on track so stakeholders are happy and your team aren't burnt out. ✅ A fresh perspective and ideas that can set you up for future success. If you and your team need this type of help, I have availability from mid-May. Just DM me on here 📲 or email simon@ruttercoaching.com ----- 📈 With extensive experience on both sides (in-house and independent), I help companies with Communications strategy and delivery to stand out from the crowd, cut through the noise, and get results. 🔔 Follow Simon Rutter for useful, thought-provoking content on Corporate Communications, EVP/Employer Brand, and Employee Experience, and ring the bell icon at the top of my profile so you don't miss any of my posts.   📭 DM me if you're looking for support with your Communications Strategy, Delivery, Coaching/Mentoring, or need a speaker on any of the above topics. Slots open now. #EmployeeExperience #EmployerBranding #CorporateCommunications #InternalCommunications #ChangeCommunications #EVP #EmployerValueProposition #CommunicationsCoaching

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I can admit when I am wrong. Ordinarily before I start working with a health-tech or sustainability startup, I establish who my day-to-day contact will be. It is always a PR or Marketing team member who is senior enough to sign off content. But one CEO told me he doesn't have a marketing team yet which is why he wants to work with me. And he would be my day-to-day contact. I was ready to end the conversation there. From experience, I can tell you most startups in this scenario would not get the results they need because CEOs are too busy to read, edit and sign off copy. They cannot drop everything to review a Q&A that needs to be submitted in the next hour. But this CEO was adamant that he would make the time. So we're trying it. And truth be told, it's going really well. Everyone has their processes and preferences. But every once in a while, a client will come along who will challenge them and make you reassess if there are other ways to work.

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The Physics of Communications (1) This is the first of three posts on communications as physics. Welcome any additional equations to play with. I’ve always maintained that communications is as much an art as a science. A dark art, perhaps, but an art nonetheless. But what if I’m wrong? What if communications is, in fact, physics. A collection of equations or rules which should shape the way we understand, develop and execute our campaigns or programmes. For example, p=f/a is the equation for pressure. Pressure equals force over area – the greater the force applied on the smaller the area, the greater the pressure. Which is why, if someone steps on your foot wearing stiletto heels it hurts more than if they are wearing flats. The force is the same but the area is smaller. Why is this relevant? Arguably, communications largely intends to bring pressure to bear on a decision point. This might be lobbying government officials to change regulation, persuading companies to back your initiative or convincing individuals to buy your product. In each case there is a decision (or multiple decisions) to be made. And each of these decisions is where we can apply pressure. As per the equation, to apply the pressure requires understanding the nature of the area (and therefore the audience). Is it small and focused (one or two individuals) or large and diffuse (a large public group)? Depending on the answer, we would need to think about the nature and volume of the force. Do we need to demonstrate compelling public opinion via a national poll, or will a well-reasoned argument appealing to self interest suffice? Or do we need to combine several elements to reach the necessary level of pressure? Either way, understanding the three variables in the equation help us be more precise when planning our communications. If nothing else, taking this approach has helped me explain what we do to engineers. Useful especially for those who, heaven forbid, think we're making all of it up as we go along. Two more equations or laws to come. In the meantime, any to add? #corporatecommunications #reputationmanagement #PR FleishmanHillard UK FleishmanHillard

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Check out my latest 🎙️bletherings in my series about internal communications! Ever wondered why internal communications sometimes fall short? 🤔 Let's dive into my top 3️⃣ reasons: ⭐️Unclear Expectations: During times of change, it's vital for employees to know what's expected of them. They need to understand how upcoming changes will affect their roles, what actions they should take, and why these changes are happening. When everyone sees the bigger 🖼️ picture, they can make informed decisions and actively contribute to organisational goals. Let's empower 💪 our teams to make smart choices and drive results! ⭐️Information Overload: Ever feel bombarded by messages from every direction? 📨 It's like trying to navigate through a jungle of 🙉 noise! When communication becomes overwhelming, it's easy to feel lost and disengaged. We need to streamline our communications to cut through the clutter and ensure our messages are heard loud and clear. Let's make sure our comms stand out amidst the noise! 🎧 ⭐️ Post-Implementation Strategy: The journey doesn't end when the project is complete! Failing to follow up with a post-implementation communications plan can lead to confusion 🤷and missed opportunities. Without clear guidance and support, employees may struggle to adapt to changes, leading to decreased morale and productivity. Let's learn from our experiences, 📝 gather feedback, and pave the way for future success. Together, we'll ensure our projects reach their full potential! 🤨 Why do you think some internal communication plans to miss the mark❓ #CommunicationChallenges #InternalCommsStruggles #EngagementHurdles

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Want to know a simple PR trick to increase your readership? * Don’t send attachments. * This image is an email from a government agency inviting reporters to an event. Their emails normally go to my inbox; this one ended up in my junk folder. The only difference is that pesky attachment - which just shared info that could have been in the body of the email. Your press releases don’t need to be on your fancy letterhead. That’s the ‘80s and ‘90s talking. And you can just send a link to your photos on Flickr or Dropbox rather than attaching them. Attachments are often toxic when sent to a large group of people - like a media list. Many smart companies recommend against opening attachments from unknown sources for security reasons. And attachments force reporters to take an extra step just to find out your news. If you want to know why no one’s responding to your news, it just might be because of how you’re sending it. Info in the body, always. #publicrelations #pr #mediarelations

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People don’t want to hear that they have been doing or thinking something wrong all their lives, but communication on #sustainability often gives them this feeling. For example, CO2 calculators aren’t very effective in getting people to change their habits. Usually, the feedback they receive is quite brutal, people feel that they are not able to do big enough changes to make a difference, so they will not do anything at all. However, accumulated small #habits can also bring about a big change. So how can we motivate people to #change their habits in a positive way? During the European Green Capital year in Tallinn, we developed with @Rohetiiger a different type of digital game for measuring peoples’ environmental impact and changing habits— the Green Compass. The principle is simple. We ask people what are their everyday habits on four topics—energy, consumption, home garden and mobility. After they have told us about their current habits, we thank them from already helping the environment and offer them choices of further habits they could adopt. Last year we managed to collect over 15 000 pledges from people and hopefully at least some of these were also kept. 😊 The compass is still active, so if you are interested, then give it a try and add your pledges: https://rohekompass.ee/en/

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A comment left on my YouTube channel today: "I was struggling with the concept of discount rate but you made it soooo easy to understand! Thank you!" ❤️ I love, love, LOVE getting comments like these on my videos! It makes the hours I spend researching, scriptwriting, visualizing concepts, drawing out the storyboard, recording and editing all worthwhile. This comment was left on a video I made in 2021 about the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC); what it is, how it was calculated throughout the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, and why it's an important number for policy makers and industry professionals to know. Here is a link if you want to check it out!

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