7 PR tips for political events
Whether you’re in public relations or public affairs, you’ll probably have the opportunity to work with a politician or government organisation.
Pulling off a flawless political event is just as challenging as planning any other event. You have to pay attention to meticulous details and a variety of factors that go into event planning. As you begin planning for a political event, it’s important to start with a strategic plan to help you avoid any mishaps.
To make planning your next political event a little easier, here are seven PR tips to get your started:
1. Know your audience.
Understanding your audience is critical to pulling off a political event. Know what your audience values and their expectations. For example if you’re bringing in a speaker, take into consideration what your audience wants. Do they want to learn about the latest political issues? Are they looking for some type of training? Paying attention to your audience’s behaviors and needs will help you develop a stronger plan for your event.
2. Timing is key.
Chances are when you’re planning a political event you’re going to have to plan around other events, too. Squeezing your event into the calendar can be tricky, but it’s not impossible.
Make sure you check the calendar for other government events. The last thing you want is your lobbyists or representatives out of town for the weekend for another political commitment. It’s also a good idea to avoid planning events around important political events such as elections. You should also stay away from planning you event around the holidays, too.
3. Create a timeline.
Your timeline will be your best friend when planning a political event. There are two timelines you’ll need to create – one for logistics and one for the program itself. The first timeline will include start and end times for event setup, catering, and when you need your equipment set up.
The next timeline will be for the program. You will include the times when each segment of your event will occur and even important times for your speaker. This timeline will help you stay on task and focus on the goals for your event.
4. Get the word out.
Now that you’ve planned your event, you need to promote it. Make sure your targeted audience is aware of the event and receives their invitations. For example, if you’ve planned a speaker event for voters, inform your audience via email, newsletter, or social media. If you’re targeting the general public, you should definitely send out a press release. This way, you’ll publicize your event and get people attending.
5. Don’t keep your guests waiting.
Ideally, your event should take off without a hitch, but we know in reality that doesn’t always happen. However, the most important element of your event is to ensure your guests are comfortable.
When the doors of your event open, make sure your guests are immediately entertained. Whether it’s an hour for hors d’oeuvre, have entertainment available to keep guests preoccupied as they are waiting for the event to start.
6. Be prepared for donations.
Whenever planning a political event, expect to receive random donations from your guests. Your guests are going to want to support your cause, so you should be prepared to accept their generosity.
Have a process in place for collecting checks and processing credit cards. You can also use a smart phone app to accept donations. This will help you be prepared for anyone who wants to support the political event.
7. Be ready for worst-case scenario.
The weather and people are two elements of your event that are out of your control. You should always have a backup plan in case it rains, your event setup crew arrives late, or even worse – your speaker doesn’t show up on time. Always be prepared for the worst to happen, so if it does, you already have a plan in place.
Planning a political event is a lot of work, but the careful planning is well worth your dedication. Using these tips during the stages of your planning will help you avoid missing any important details and ensure you pull off a successful event.
What are you best PR tips for planning political events?
