What are the most effective strategies for communicating with primary researchers?

1 Identify your purpose

Before you contact a primary researcher, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the communication. Do you want to ask them a specific question, request their data, invite them to join your network, or propose a collaboration? Depending on your purpose, you will need to tailor your message, tone, and format accordingly. For example, if you want to ask a question, you should be concise, polite, and relevant. If you want to request their data, you should explain why you need it, how you will use it, and what benefits it will bring to them or their field. If you want to invite them to join your network, you should highlight your common interests, goals, and values. If you want to propose a collaboration, you should demonstrate your credibility, value proposition, and compatibility.

2 Research their background

Before you reach out to a primary researcher, you should do some background research on them and their work. This will help you to understand their context, expertise, and contributions. You can use various sources, such as their publications, profiles, websites, social media, or podcasts, to learn more about them. By doing this, you will be able to craft a more personalized, respectful, and relevant message. You will also be able to avoid asking questions that they have already answered, making assumptions that are incorrect, or using terms that are inappropriate.

3 Choose the right channel

Another important factor to consider when communicating with primary researchers is the channel you use. Depending on your purpose, urgency, and relationship, you may choose different channels, such as email, phone, video call, or social media. Each channel has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should weigh them carefully. For example, email is a common and convenient way to communicate with primary researchers, but it can also be impersonal, delayed, or ignored. Phone or video call can be more direct and interactive, but they can also be intrusive, inconvenient, or awkward. Social media can be more informal and engaging, but they can also be distracting, unprofessional, or inappropriate.

4 Follow the etiquette

When communicating with primary researchers, you should also follow the etiquette of the channel and the field. This means that you should respect their time, privacy, and preferences. You should also use the appropriate language, tone, and style. For example, when sending an email, you should use a clear and catchy subject line, a courteous and friendly greeting, a concise and coherent body, and a polite and actionable closing. You should also check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and attach any relevant documents. When making a phone or video call, you should schedule it in advance, introduce yourself and your purpose, listen and respond attentively, and thank them for their time. When using social media, you should follow their accounts, comment on their posts, share their content, and message them with care.

5 Provide feedback

Finally, when communicating with primary researchers, you should provide feedback to them and seek feedback from them. This will help you to establish trust, rapport, and mutual understanding. You should also express your appreciation, gratitude, and recognition for their work and contribution. For example, you can send a follow-up email, a thank-you note, or a testimonial to them. You can also cite their work, acknowledge their input, or recommend them to others. You can also ask them for their opinion, advice, or recommendation on your work or project. By doing this, you will show your respect, interest, and value for them and their work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?