BENEFITS OF HIRING A SMALL LOBBYING FIRM

Text has been edited. Original Source ' Top 10 Reasons smaller lobbying firms are better' Authored by Cansler Consulting (USA)

For the majority of organizations that don’t have large lobbying budgets, a smaller more specialized lobbying firm can be more effective due to the enhanced focus they offer and it comes at an affordable price.

1. Lower Costs due to Lower Overhead

Small firms have no need for an elaborate phone system to maintain: they have a smart phone to connect to the client directly. Small firms can solve their IT problems in minutes with a phone call to independent technical support technicians. They have no need for an IT Department.  Small lobbying firm’s office is anywhere the laptop, smartphone or I-Pad can go. If a small lobbying firm needs a Board Room they can rent it out hourly.

2. Lower Costs due to More Efficient Manpower

With a smaller lobbying firm, there is no top-side heavy management. In fact, the client may have more influence in the management of lobbying activities. Key players in a smaller lobbying firm will always be up to speed on the client’s issues and account without having to be briefed in meetings that eat up more of client’s budget. Mega-firms tend to throw multiple resources (man-hours) at problems which drive up their billing hours, whereas smaller lobbying firms focus on getting results as affordable as possible. Simply put, money spent on support departments and staffing is money not spent on advancing client’s cause. 

3. Lower Costs due to Adaptability

Smaller lobbying firms are willing and eager to embrace and quickly adapt to changes occurring in most professions and industries. Monitoring and then welcoming shifts help smaller firms position client’s issues to stay on top of the latest trends. Not unlike other professions, Generation Y is now the predominant staff offering counsel to MPs, MEPs. Generation Y relies on technology to perform their jobs.  With smartphones, I-pads, laptops and other gadgets, Generation Y is plugged-in 24 hours, 7 days a week.  Generation Y prefers to communicate through e-mail and text messaging, webinars and other online technology.

Mega-firms tend to have personnel specialize whereas smaller firms have each team member wear multiple hats and be proficient in a variety of areas. Personnel specialization means bringing a variety of additional people in client’s account, which means more man-power billing costs. 

4. Conflicts of Interest Are More Prevalent in Large Firms

In the last few years conflicts of interest have arisen among clientele of large lobbying firms and the firm splitting up into multiple, separate firms. Oftentimes, when conflicts of interest arise among a large lobbying firm’s clientele, in most cases its the smaller client that gets parceled out to another firm or dropped altogether.

5. Genuine and More Focus in Client Industry

Mega-firms handle a variety of industries which scatters their focus. Diversifying their customer portfolio is a business practice that most large lobbying firms engage in as it ensures their own survival. But it is not necessarily in the best interest of their clients. 

6. Greater Focus on CLIENT needs

Large firms may have dozens of clients and a given client needs may only represent a small portion of their revenue. As a result, the client’s needs will only benefit from that same small percentage of their focus. Even if they have 30 times more clients, and only 10 times more associates, the client still is only getting the benefit of their lobbyist-to-client ratio. The bigger a percentage the client’s account represents to their survival, the harder they will work for the client to get results. 

7. Smaller Entrepreneurial Lobbying Firms are More Agile

Enacting legislation in the policy decision-making process  can take time. A smaller lobbying firm has less bureaucracy, less meetings and is less locked  than a mega-firm. Smaller teams move more quickly and effectively than larger teams. 

8. More Experienced

While mega-firms have a larger arsenal of associates they can throw at client’s issues (and bill the client for), a smaller firm may have more experience in the client specific industry.

9. Smaller Lobbying Firms are Connected

Large lobbying firms are slower to utilize technological connectivity until their IT departments can set up a policy and roll it out company wide. But more and more government is now embracing new technologies and social media such as Facebook and Twitter as the tech-savvy Generation Y enters the workforce. Smaller firms are able to embrace these channels that government is using with minimal cost and no need for laborious roll outs or policies. Twitter and Facebook are now major components in every campaign and often make the difference. 

10. Smaller Lobbying Firms use Technology for Client

Smaller lobbying firms use new mediums to communicate with their clients and to promote their clients viewpoints, as well as tools for promoting and creating grassroots groundswells. Blogs, smart phone connectivity, video conferencing, email campaigns, virtual meetings can all be used to communicate cheaper, faster and more effectively. Lobbying is simply marketing views, arguments and policy needs to lawmakers that can enact laws and/or change regulations. 

11. Smaller Lobbying Firms Get Results

Smaller lobbying firms understand both relationships and competition. Oftentimes in Brussels or in Member States it’s relationships that matter.  But lobbying is becoming more price competitive.  Association board members and corporate Boards of Directors are asking, “How much are we paying those lobbyists and what have they done for us lately?”  “How much are we paying to rent this office space?”  “Why are my membership dues going up?” “How can we save resources and remain effective?”

Smaller lobbying firms understand that now more than ever results matter!  And, if the smaller firm does do not accomplish the client’s legislative and regulatory needs, a replacement will get an opportunity to do so at the time of contract renewal, or before.  

Recommendations

1. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that knows how to maximize results with minimum euros. Lower overhead costs mean lower prices for you.
2. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that maximizes results-oriented advocacy for your hard-earned euros.
3. Pick a smaller lobbying firm where team members focused on your account will have a wide spectrum of experience to avoid multiple consultants eating up your budget.
4. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that will not throw you under the bus while chasing higher paying clients.
5. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that is genuinely focused on your industry and issues.
6. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that your budget and issues means more to. They will be more driven!
7. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that will anticipate and adapt to changes more quickly.
8. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that specializes in your needs, not EVERYONE’S.
9. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that embraces and utilizes social media to stay connected to rapid changes in government.
10. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that embraces and utilizes social media and new technology as another tool in its arsenal.
11. Pick a smaller lobbying firm that works harder to earn your business day after day and doesn’t take renewal for granted.