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
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..Does the thought of knowing your verbs from your adjective... Read More
There's still time to review your public relations program like... Read More
Is your business looking for new and creative ways to... Read More
Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More
Successful buisnesses know that media attention reaches consumers better than... Read More
It happens to business, non-profit and association managers when their... Read More
You've probably noticed, if you live on this planet, that... Read More
Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More
What is the one thing that all of the best... Read More
Attracting new business: sometimes it happens by luck, sometimes by... Read More
When a group of outsiders behaves in a way that... Read More
Publicity is an important and often overlooked tool of creative... Read More
Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR... Read More
Unlike some professionals like lawyers and doctors, financial planners aren't... Read More
How you answer questions depends on many factors. Example what... Read More
Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio... Read More
How do you make a good relationship with a newspaper... Read More
Almost assuredly you do, especially when your most important external... Read More
Individual financial planners can outscore bigger competitors and gain market... Read More
A press release is often your only chance to make... Read More
Question: Why should your business issue a press release? Answer:... Read More
Years ago when my Dad owned a group of local... Read More
Yes, that's what public relations really is when it tracks... Read More
You are a senior business, non-profit or association manager. So,... Read More
? Don't wear all black. You'll look as though you're... Read More
cleaning help near Bannockburn ..A press release telling about "Stevie, the Water-Skiing Squirrel" will... Read More
Aren't you tired of hearing how extremely easy it is... Read More
As the comedian Steve Martin once said, "some people have... Read More
Ideally, you will have two types of quotes in your... Read More
For a business, non-profit or association manager, they could be... Read More
Years ago when my Dad owned a group of local... Read More
Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
They know they had better do something positive about those... Read More
?2004 Jeffrey DobkinSixty dollars doesn't go a long way in... Read More
When ABC News anchor Peter Jennings announced he had lung... Read More
As the practice of public relations in China continues to... Read More
If you don't have a grip on public relations, how... Read More
Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More
When do you use the newspaper for publishing announcements for... Read More
Are you working as hard as you can in your... Read More
They'd hate to admit it, but the media is pretty... Read More
Yup -- it's hot and sticky and you don't feel... Read More
There's the old joke about the two buzzards sitting in... Read More
Everyone has something that drives them up a wall. You... Read More
Managers, please take a minute and read two sentences: People... Read More
You know, where you do something positive about the behaviors... Read More
And hurt bad if you are a business, non-profit or... Read More
Obviously, it hurts when a promising business project you backed... Read More
As eyes look forward to a new business year, many... Read More
Some folks see the word "strategic" as a needlessly tiresome... Read More
Public Relations |