Crypto regulations, budget and infrastructure planning, and policy measures on Big Tech companies’ practices are some of the vital roles the U.S. government plays in our daily lives. It has become a critical external force that can affect the operations of any organization. As such, a symbiotic government relations strategy is essential in shaping an organization’s communications and public relations efforts.
But what are the key components to building a good government relations program? How can communications teams play a role in effectively sharing their organization’s political stance? How do they reach and influence decision-makers, while clearly defining their position and its impact upon their desired audience?
Here are five strategies to build a successful government relations program.
1. Determine What Matters: Identify Your Policy Priorities
Let’s look at why government relations and public policy matter. We are three-quarters through the year, and there have been almost 9,000 bills and resolutions introduced in the United States Congress. Yet, only 564, or 14.8%, have passed. Which bills and regulations impacted your industry? What is, or should be, your organization’s role in the policies relevant to you, your industry, or your customers? Staying on top of the government and policy issues that matter most or have the greatest impact on your day-to-day business is crucial.
The first step in creating a successful government relations program is identifying your policy or legislative priorities. The second step is to align your goals with your policymakers’ bills to ensure your success.
2. Know Everyone: The Value of a Public Relations Officer and a 360-Degree Network
Your organization’s network is an essential aspect of any communications strategy, and networking is crucial for government relations. While having a dedicated Public Relations Officer isn't always needed, having a team member who can craft consistent messaging and dedicate themselves to developing a network can help government relations greatly.
As you're building a government relations plan, you must identify the lawmakers and lobby groups who support your issues and all the audiences who have an interest in your position and its repercussions. This means building relationships with targeted government officials, directors of research centers, heads of departments, presidents of organizations, and so forth, to create a 360-degree network strategy – one that allows you to listen and learn from all sides, align interests, and combine resources to maximize your outcomes.
3. Build Relationships: The Role of Media in a Public Policy/Government Relationship
Building relationships with government officials and like-minded organizations is an important step to advance your government relations program and public policy efforts. This is also where a little empathy can go a long way. Think of the government's role in industrial relations: using policy to both empower businesses to best serve the ever-changing market and protect the public and labor from over-empowered businesses. Build relationships based on understanding this dual, and sometimes conflicting, mandate and center your messaging on how your agenda serves politicians and policy-makers in finding this balance.
4. Reach Policy Makers: Work with Media to Promote Public Policy News
Having policymakers and public policy/government journalists by your side will inevitably let you foster affirmative public policy decisions on behalf of your organization. View your government relations team as providing a valuable service to your audience. Now let’s talk about how to reach these audiences.
One of the fastest ways to deliver your issues-focused news into the hands of political decision-makers is through Business Wire’s Public Policy Wire. Public Policy Wire was designed to distribute your press release to government, policy, and issues writers and editors at newspapers, radio, and TV stations both in D.C. and around the nation. This distribution method ensures political news and trade media outlets related to Congressional news/views, elections/campaigns, healthcare reform, state/local government, and more see your position and can act upon your news.
Pinpointed distribution options further enable you to send your news directly to the U.S. Congress – including members of the Senate and House of Representatives, House and Senate committees, special caucuses, and significant legislative members such as their chiefs of staff, communications directors, and press secretaries – and reach reporters by their beats – foreign affairs, healthcare, immigration, Supreme Court, and more.
5. Drive Audiences to Act: Government Relations and Social Media Working Together
Over the years, Congress has grown more active on social media. In 2020, members of Congress produced a record high of more than 2.2 million tweets and Facebook posts, and Twitter is now the most-used platform through which they share views on relevant issues and communicate with constituents.
If your organization has an active social media presence, consider further supplementing your news with tailored messages for these platforms. Include a custom tweet with your press release distribution for readers to easily share your message with one click on their own social channels and make it easy for them to find and follow your most active social media platforms.
With new policy measures constantly at play, including a symbiotic government relations strategy as part of your overall communications and PR plan is more important than ever.
Learn more
Business Wire’s Public Policy Wire is ideal for associations, advocacy groups, non-profits, unions, embassies, government agencies, and corporations to share their most important issue-focused news across their entire relevant political ecosystem, making their positions known.
Are you looking to reach and educate U.S. political leaders, writers, and influential audiences? If so, click here to learn more about Business Wire’s Public Policy Wire. With a single push, we connect your news with all of your audiences.
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