Many thanks for the reference to our own humble efforts to introduce our clients to web 2.0. A couple of comments about what we are doing in our Fleishman-Hillard Brussels office.

Despite most of us having political experience, affiliation and interests of some sort, FH does not work for candidates, MEPs or political parties here in Brussels. We are non-partisan but politically interested and thankfully so.

In terms of what we are seeking to do with our clients, we agree wholeheartedly with you that online communications is underused in Brussels based (EU focused) advocacy and communications. We are, like you, missionary in our zeal to spread the digital word (hence our own blog and other activities) with our own corporate client base. However, at heart we want to be able to offer our clients a full range of services, from government relations and media relations through to online grassroots and blogger outreach.

In each case, we seek to select the most effective communications tools to help our clients reach their goals. Sometimes this will include online activities, sometimes it will not. The advantage our clients get from coming to a full service agency like ours is that we can help them select the right tactics to get to their desired goal, whether in Brussels or elsewhere in the world.

James

As for my clients – trying to get them to have a website at all is asking a lot. Plus they assume I’m just a designer, not a strategist. If you know any politicians open minded about the web then send them my way!

While it is possible for a politician to hire someone like you who design glorious web pages or a blog, is the real problem that they realise that it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to produce and present meaningful content continuously, especially if they are going to discuss with their commentators?

But, in the end, I suppose that an active web or blog presence is becoming ever more important for almost every politician and at every level.

Each of them should at least look at the blogs of Carl Bildt and Alexander Stubb, and then take the plunge. Is it only a coincidence that these two guys are foreign ministers today?

Perhaps that is the question you should put to your potential clients.