The easiest way to meet city council members is to meet them at an event. Usually city council members have a phone number that is listed. Many will not ever answer the phone, but events they must be cordial and open to all. Explain who you are and your business and thank them for some endeavor they feel strongly about in the city. If they are too busy to talk with, then make friends with everyone who talks to them and make sure they get a business card too.
If you make friends with all their neighbors and they see you, you will obviously make an impression. A perception - politicians are always dealing with perceptions. So turn the tables a little. Other ways to meet city council members is to find out things about them from neighbors such as:
What service clubs they belong to
What school their children go to
What church or temple they attend
What pet projects they like
If your city is set up with a Mayor, city manager and council people you will additionally have to meet them all. To meet your city manager this requires a completely different approach. City managers usually rely on many vendors and special relationships that go way back. It is important to know the movers and shakers of the town especially those 'Good ol' boys' who do contract consulting with the city. A good city manager can usually get someone to do a report that shows figures any way they want.
You should be doing business with those companies who support the city through contract consulting or major contracts. Also builders, shopping center owner/managers and large employers are generally on the city managers list of close contacts. One idea is to try to get on the Mayors Task force of small businesses, there is a time commitment, but it is worth it. If you find difficulty getting on the board of such a group look to your chamber of commerce to assist, no matter how large the group everyone needs volunteers and people who can get stuff done. This is serious politics. Be friends with everyone. Never take sides. If anyone asks you how you feel about an issue simply say:
"I think that's very important."
If forced into an issue, listen, ask questions and agree 100% with the side and opinion of who ever you are talking to. It's not lying. It's surviving and it's a taste of their own medicine. They deserve it. All politics is local and they are all scoundrels anyway, if you can't throw them very hard, the trust ought to be about the same distance. Think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
reliable home cleaners Glencoe ...If a reporter was writing a story about you and... Read More
This is the ending to my previous article, How to... Read More
The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those... Read More
Media management has become one of the strategic tools for... Read More
Layout1. 1-2 pages in length.2. Double-space.3. 1.5 to 2 inch... Read More
Recently I had a craving for... Read More
Yes indeed! If you are a young person who has... Read More
Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You... Read More
Managers ? the business, non-profit and association sort ? really... Read More
What you are about to read is a step by... Read More
Anything that lets managers achieve their managerial objectives is a... Read More
In these days of every increasing demand and competition, there... Read More
Only two media in Spanish speaking countries offer RSS: the... Read More
As a business, non-profit and association manager, how satisfied are... Read More
Leaders in the business world need public relations big time,... Read More
Prior to a TV interview it is guaranteed the journalist... Read More
You never want to inundate a reporter with information, but... Read More
Maybe you've seen another financial planner on TV, and thought,... Read More
You're a business, non-profit or association manager who needs to... Read More
I believe this about public relations.People act on their own... Read More
Media kits include a combination of information whether created for... Read More
For financial planners, getting publicity, in the end, isn't about... Read More
In fact, here are three really foolish goofs made by... Read More
You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company... Read More
PRESIDENT BUSH TELLS A STORYOn March 18, 2005, President Bush... Read More
tidy up service Glencoe ...Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
For financial planners, getting publicity, in the end, isn't about... Read More
I define public relations failure this way:key audience perceptions are... Read More
When your book is mentioned on television, sales go up.... Read More
It's not unusual for clients of service providers to insist... Read More
One of the most misunderstood and most underutilized promotional tools... Read More
In an ideal world, your business would be overflowing withnewsworthy... Read More
Layout1. 1-2 pages in length.2. Double-space.3. 1.5 to 2 inch... Read More
Every reporter, from the cub at the small town paper... Read More
Do you dream of being on Oprah Winfrey's television show?... Read More
Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on... Read More
Only two media in Spanish speaking countries offer RSS: the... Read More
In last year's animated film Shrek II, a giant gingerbread... Read More
The Acai Berry is starting to gain world wide recognition... Read More
Writing an effective press release is a way to draw... Read More
Recently, I told a friend (who's a business owner) that... Read More
Imagine you're in the breakfast cereal business. You make the... Read More
Simply that the behaviors of their most important outside audiences... Read More
Sure, as a manager, you have a talented member of... Read More
Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you.So when you... Read More
Radio is a powerful publicity tool. Most stations offer news... Read More
Shooting from the hip always creates anxiety.Especially when managers order... Read More
Just about anyone who has been in the public eye... Read More
1) Do you NEED solid, consistant media exposure...week after week,... Read More
It seems difficult to believe at the dawn of the... Read More
Public Relations |