These aren’t transcripts of conversations I’ve had, by any means, but not too far off.
Co = consultant Cl = client (existing or prospective)
1. Being an online comms agency/consultant
- Cl: Could you build this cool new flashy online gimmick for us please?
- Co: Why? What are you selling? Whose opinion are you trying to shift? Who are you mobilising? Where does this fit in?
- Cl: Ummm. I just want the gimmick. You’re an online agency/consultant, right?
- Co: Yes, but we should figure out what we’re trying to do first, then think about the tools later.
- Cl: But I’ve got a proper agency that charges €900 an hour to do strategy. Can you not just build the gimmick?
- Co: …. (lost for words).
2. What’s the point of campaigning?
- Cl: We’ve got a really contentious issue, but we should own it. We’re doing the right thing, we’re safe, we provide jobs and growth, we’re cutting edge.
- Co: But politicians are screwing you?
- Cl: They know we’re right, they’ve told us so. But the issue is super political they say. The public thinks we’re scum because pressure group X has done a really good job and the media has eaten it up. They need to keep their constituents happy. Politics, what can you do?
- Co: Shouldn’t you campaign..?
- Cl: No we lobby. We don’t need to campaign: we know all the relevant legislators and other stakeholders, so they know where we stand already.
- Co: Clearly that’s not working though. Why not mobilise people in your industry? Answer people’s questions, alleviate their concerns? Try to shift the debate? Use the web more: why not bring all your arguments, 3rd party endorsements and relevant external content together in one place online and market it heavily to constituents?
- Cl: Ummm. I told you, we don’t need to show politicians our arguments. They know them already. And anyway, politicians aren’t on Facebook (snigger, snigger).
- Co: …. (lost for words).