• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Shop
  • Jobs Board
Campaigns & Elections logo

Campaigns & Elections

  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Articles
    • Industry News
    • CampaignTech
    • Creative
  • Videos
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Reports
  • Expert Database
  • Events
  • Awards
    • Reed Awards
    • CampaignTech Awards
    • Rising Stars
  • Consultant Directory
  • Become a Member
  • Shop
  • Job Board
  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

10 Reasons Businesses Should Ramp Up Grassroots Outreach Ahead of the New Congress

As preparations for the next Congress get underway in DC, businesses need to remember that corporate grassroots is a necessary tool to mitigate political risk.

Having an effective grassroots program of employees, consumers, and influencers can directly halt not only attacks from legislators and regulators, but a robust program can also ward off competitors seeking to use government intervention as a trojan horse to gobble up market share.

Corporate grassroots is also a defense mechanism against backlash from the media or the general public. Whether conservative or progressive in nature, corporations and collections of small businesses should invest resources to build grassroots programs for a variety of different reasons that lead back to their bottom line.

Grassroots, when done properly, can be not only a defense but reinforcement for corporate communications that are going on the offensive. The volatile nature of modern politics and the rise of populism makes grassroots outreach a requisite for a sound government relations strategy.

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As companies prepare for a new Congress in 2019 and divided government, they should consider ramping up grassroots outreach to:

1) Positively affect their bottom line

2) Address corporate social responsibility needs

3) Add a tool to their crisis communications team

4) Mitigate political risk and respond to political risk with action

5) Diversify their corporate voice on government relations issues

6) Remain competitive against industry foes that are scaling grassroots resources

7) Defend against media or public backlash

8) Provide a vehicle to assert influence in advocacy beyond halls and walls lobbying

9) Increase the reach of corporate communications messaging

10) Provide a greater sense of authenticity to corporate messaging

The barrier to entry into the grassroots space for corporate entities is low when it comes to actual cost. But there’s still a sense of fear in certain sectors to take the leap into building a proactive grassroots program. By its very nature, grassroots is centralized communication by decentralized voices.

It requires the acceptance of some risk in order to offset greater risk. It requires some cost and nurturing to get a greater rate of return. Corporations should meet with the plethora of vendors in the advocacy software space to assess the right fit. There are many options ranging from a few thousand dollars to $100,000-plus, coupled with consulting guidance.

Corporate grassroots makes sense for a variety of different reasons and companies that have not already ridden the wave, should get on board for the 116th Congress. Political risk at the local, state, federal, international, and regulatory level exists and corporations need a response plan of action that includes grassroots.

Joshua Habursky is assistant vice president of advocacy at the Independent Community Bankers of America, chairman of the Grassroots Professional Network, a contributing editor at Campaigns & Elections, and an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

Share:
FacebookTweetLinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

By
Joshua Habursky
11/12/2018 12:35 PM EST
FacebookTweetLinkedIn

C&E Creative Summit 2023 Countdown:

Get Tickets

Most Read

  • Digital Organizing

    How Digital Can Help Thread the Needle in Virginia

  • Sponsored

    Combine Digital Advertising With Direct Mail, The SMART Way

  • Sponsored

    Political Comms Is The Premium Peer-To-Peer Texting Platform

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Become a member and get access to exclusive content.

Join Today

Footer

Upcoming Events

  • September 21

    Campaigns & Elections Creative Summit

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

For the latest in campaign strategy & tactics plus industry news and analysis, subscribe for free today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow us

Follow Campaign and Elections for more daily content.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Political World Communications, LLC

Advertisement

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.