Digital Content Marketing & Press: Looking for a PR agency from Bremen or Berlin?
Published on: June 12, 2021 / Update from: August 4, 2021 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Lobbying – a main field and marketing tactic of the public relations industry
Lobbying is an important business area, especially for large PR agencies. In terms of digitalization and digital marketing, this is a big advantage over those who cannot provide the public affairs service. In addition to PR agencies, there are other groups and associations as well as companies that try to exert a direct influence on politics. There is, among others, Facebook with 20 million US dollars or Amazon with 19 million US dollars in 2020.
Of large companies (500+ employees) in the United States, 46 percent have conducted public relations activities. 19 percent commissioned an external agency to do this. Among small and medium-sized businesses, 31 percent invested marketing dollars in public relations, and 15 percent said PR is the marketing tactic they rely on most to grow their business.
Lobbying is considered one of the main activities within the public relations industry. In 2016, lobbying spending in the U.S. was $3.15 billion, down from $3.52 billion six years earlier, when spending was at its peak. The industries with the largest lobbying expenditures are health, finance, insurance, real estate, and communications and electronics. In 2016, there were more than 11 thousand active lobbyists in the United States, earning an average of $106.7 thousand per year.
Suitable for:
🏢 👨🏻 👩🏻 Digital services for your company - locally and globally
We work in the area of business development and help you strengthen and expand the market. Smarketing, market intelligence, lead nurturing and content development are our tools.
We look forward to seeing you!
🚀 👧🏽 👦🏽 For agencies that can use our help
We support you in strategic questions, regionally and internationally. Project-based or comprehensive. Whether with personalized social, media, SEO, marketing automation or PR such as mail campaigns.
Leading Lobbying Industries in the USA
In 2020, the pharmaceutical and healthcare products industry spent the most on lobbying in the United States, totaling approximately $306.23 million. The insurance industry spent about $151.85 million on lobbying that year.
Which lobbying industry is leading in the US by total spending? (in millions of US dollars)
- 306 – Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare Products
- 157 – Electronics manufacturing and equipment
- 152 – Insurance
- 132 – Real Estate/Real Estate
- 120 – Business associations
- 111 – Oil & Gas
- 109 – Hospitals/nursing homes
- 106 – Other manufacturing and distribution
- 105 – Air transport
- 105 – Telecommunications services
- 105 – Electric utility company
- 103 – Securities & Investment
- 100 – Health Services/HMOs
- 88 – Healthcare providers
- 80 – Education
- 80 - Internet
- 78 – Civil servants/public employees
- 62 – Automotive industry
- 61 – Commercial banks
- 50 – TV/Movies/Music
What is lobbying?
In simple terms, lobbying is when a company or organization attempts to influence the government to create legislation that will benefit the lobbyist in some way. Lobbying can also be carried out in business to create favorable circumstances for the lobbyist. Lawyers and former government officials are often hired as lobbyists because they know how the government works and already have connections within the government. Lobbying is controversial in the United States because large corporations tend to lobby in favor of their business rather than considering the needs of the public.
The NRA and lobbying
One of the best-known lobbying organizations in the United States is the National Rifle Association (NRA), which lobbies lawmakers for gun rights. Still, it only spent around $1.23 million on lobbying expenses in 2020.
Suitable for:
Leading lobbying firms in the USA
In 2020, Akin, Gump et al was the leading lobbying firm in the United States, with expenditures of approximately $49.87 million. The second leading lobbying firm this year was Brownstein, Hyatt et al with spending of $48.37 million.
What are the leading lobbying firms in the US? (according to expenses in million US dollars)
- 50 – Akin, Gump et al
- 48 – Brownstein, Hyatt et al
- 32 – BGR Group
- 28 – Cornerstone Government Affairs
- 28 - Holland & Knight
- 24 – Ballard Partners
- 24 – Squire Patton Boggs
- 21 – Ivariant LLC
- 19 – Forbes Tate Partners
- 19 – Capitol Counsel
- 18 – K&L Gates
- 18 – Mehlman, Castagnetti et al
- 17-Peck Madigan Jones
- 17 – Van Scoyoc Assoc
- 17 – Crossroads Strategies
- 16 – Cassidy & Assoc
- 16 - Covington & Burling
- 15 – American Continental Group
- 15 – Alpine Group
- 15 – Subject Matter
Number of registered active lobbyists in the USA
In 2020, the total number of unique, registered lobbyists actively lobbying in the United States was 11,524. This is a decrease from 2000, when there were 12,540 registered lobbyists in the United States.
Salaries for lobbyists in the USA
Political lobbyists in the United States earn well above average, with the median annual salary for a lobbyist being $58.46 thousand as of October 2019. But even at the lower end of the scale, lobbyists earn respectable incomes, with 25 percent earning $51,000. At the other end of the scale, the top 75 percent of lobbyists earn over $75 thousand per year.
What are the annual salaries for lobbyists in the USA?
- 25% – $51,000
- 75% – $75,000
- Average – $58,460
Political lobbying in the United States
Political lobbying is the attempt to influence the opinions and actions of people in important political positions, usually elected representatives and people on regulatory bodies. This activity is often carried out by professional lobbyists who are hired because of their existing connections to the political establishment. Since 2008, lobbying spending in the United States has averaged about $3.3 billion per year, with an average of about 12,000 active registered lobbyists.
Suitable for:
- Important for PR and content marketing: emailing – newsletter
- Scope and industry types of PR and content marketing
Who does lobbying?
A wide range of groups engage in political lobbying. Corporate interests are clearly well represented, with many well-known companies and industry advocacy groups filling out the list of top political lobbying spenders in 2018. In addition to large corporations, special interest groups can also spend significant amounts on lobbying - often both sides of a public debate contribute large sums. For example, both the pro-gun National Rifle Association and various gun control organizations have spent millions over the last decade convincing politicians to their cause.
Total lobbying spending in the US
In 2020, total lobbying spending in the United States was $3.49 billion. This is a slight decrease from the $3.51 billion spent on lobbying in 2019.
Total lobbying expenditure in the USA (in billion US dollars)
Learn more about lobbying in the United States
Since the turn of the millennium, the amount spent on lobbying in the United States has more than doubled. The intention of companies that employ lobbyists, who in turn lobby government officials, is to gain some influence in the legislative process in the hope that legislation more favorable to their company or cause will be passed. Lobbying occurs at all levels, from local government to presidential elections. The industries that use lobbying as a means of influencing come from a range of sectors, with the largest donors being the pharmaceutical industry, insurance companies, trade associations and the oil and gas industry.
Lobbying and the NRA
The National Rifle Association's lobbying efforts have attracted attention both domestically and globally. Many observers have pointed to the lobbying power of the National Rifle Association in trying to explain the perceived lack of change on gun control laws. Examples such as the National Rifle Association, along with increasing spending on lobbying, have led to greater attention being paid to the lobbying industry and the potential consequences of the industry's increasing influence. Movements such as the Occupy movement and protests against free trade agreements with other countries have called for restrictions on lobbying and the asymmetric power it enables large corporations.
Top Lobbying Expenses in the USA
The top lobbying spender in the U.S. in 2020 is the National Association of Realtors, with total spending of $84.11 million. The US Chamber of Commerce, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, American Hospital Association and Blue Cross/Blue Shield rounded out the top five lobbying spenders this year.
Top lobbying spenders in the United States (in million US dollars)
- 84 – National Association of Realtors
- 82 – US Chamber of Commerce
- 26 – Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
- 24 – American Hospital Association
- 23 – Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- 20 – Facebook Inc
- 20—American Medical Association
- 19 – Amazon.com
- 17 – Business Roundtable
- 15 – NCTA The Internet & Television Association
- 14 – Comcast Corp.
- 14—American Chemistry Council
- 13 – Lockheed Martin
- 13 – Boeing Co
- 13 – Biotechnology Innovation Organization
- 12-CTIA
- 12—Northrop Grumman
- 12 – Raytheon Technologies
- 12 – American Bankers Association
- 11 – Unilever
Current PDF libraries to support your marketing planning and activities
We provide you with further numerous insights into numbers, data and facts that can help you optimize and expand your marketing:
- Customer Demographics Library – Demographics Knowledge Base (PDF)
- Online Marketing Library (PDF)
- E-Commerce Library – Knowledge Base (PDF)
- Social Media Marketing Library – Knowledge Base (PDF)
- SEO Library – SEM knowledge database (PDF)
- Search Engine Advertising / SEA Library – Search Engine Advertising Knowledge Base (PDF)
- Extended Reality (XR) Library (PDF)
Do you need more input on marketing?
- Content marketing: supreme discipline with obstacles and the most valuable types of content marketing
- The most effective marketing channels for leads, the most effective tactics, the most effective early stage engagements, and the most effective channels to increase conversions
- Marketing strategies and trends
- Personalized customer approach is gold
- Marketing challenges. Are you new to the company or is your marketing no longer running smoothly? To do this, you should ask yourself three questions
That’s why Xpert.Digital for Bremen and Berlin! – Digital Content Marketing & Press: PR agency
I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.
You can contact me by filling out the contact form below or simply call me on +49 89 89 674 804 .
I'm looking forward to our joint project.
Xpert.Digital – Konrad Wolfenstein
Xpert.Digital is a hub for industry with a focus on digitalization, mechanical engineering, logistics/intralogistics and photovoltaics.
With our 360° business development solution, we support well-known companies from new business to after sales.
Market intelligence, smarketing, marketing automation, content development, PR, mail campaigns, personalized social media and lead nurturing are part of our digital tools.
You can find out more at: www.xpert.digital – www.xpert.solar – www.xpert.plus