Grassroots Lobbying vs. Direct Lobbying — What’s the Difference?

In the world of lobbying and public affairs, both direct and indirect lobbying play key roles. While both direct and indirect lobbying strategies aim to shape public policy outcomes, they use different tactics to influence policymakers.

Direct lobbying is aimed at engaging personally with the legislators and government officials who are key to shaping and implementing public policy. Direct lobbying activities are focused on specific laws or legislation and reflect a point of view on a policy outcome.

By contrast, the goal of indirect lobbying is to sway policymakers by shaping public opinion around a policy objective in the hope that this public pressure will impact decision-makers. Grassroots lobbying falls under the umbrella of indirect lobbying.

Understanding the nuances of both approaches to lobbying and how to implement them effectively can help government affairs professionals develop a winning public affairs strategy that best suits their goals and budget.

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