A new day as dawned and a whole new class of politicians have been sworn in - both locally and nationally.  Now is the time to start stalking them.

Politicians hold the purse strings of budgets in the 100's and 1000's and millions and other numbers with a few more 0's on them.  Budgets for their campaigns, for their offices, for the various programs they oversee or ones they sit on committees of.

Sure, you can send a letter asking for a meeting, or donate to their campaign in hopes to be rewarded with some contract down the line, but the best way to get new business is still to develop a relationship with a prospect and earn their trust by positioning yourself as an expert with ideas to help them.

Meeting them is not that hard.  Being known and recognized by your local politician? Well that's where stalking comes in.  Public officials make many public appearances as they want to be seen in the communities they represent.  Their schedules are, for the most part public information.

Call their office and find out what event they will be at.  Who's hand they will be shaking, what scholarship they will be giving out etc. and just happen to be there again and again and again.

An easy mark is a mayor for example.

Mayor's want to show they are pro business and are often seen at "Grand opening" ceremonies shaking the hand of the business owner and cutting a ceremonial ribbon with a big pair of ceremonial scissors.

(You might want to bring a pair of scissors just in case they forget theirs and be seen as someone very prepared and able to rescue the moment)

Besides the mayor and a few representative from the Chamber of Commerce and of course the business owner, not many other people show up.  Here is a prime opportunity to start the stalking process.  Show up 1 time and you get the polite nod and hello and great to see you.  Show up 2 times and you get the didn't we meet at the last ribbon cutting.  Show up 3,4,5 time and all of a sudden the mayor knows your name and what you do.  Now you can introduce a solution you would like to offer the city on a trial basis as a test run - like answering their pothole hotline or their constituent services line etc.

You now have a much better chance of getting a meeting with the mayor or a top person in the administration to discuss your ideas and having them listen as opposed to humor you for 10 minutes before they "really have to take this phone call."

You also might get your picture in the paper a few times with your name and company which is a nice bonus as well.

Now is a good time to start as those politicians just starting out might be looking for some help with solving some issues which you just happen to have the perfect solution for.

Disclaimer:    If the politician takes out a restraining order on you .. you're on your own !!

Join us for the 5th Annual ATSI Owners Forum

Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Fort Lauderdale, FL

January 10th-12th, 2011