Direct Lobbyists

• Direct lobbyists personally make their case to political leaders and their staff. They know their way around state legislatures and Capitol Hill, and usually provide information and schedule meetings and trips aimed at informing politicians and winning support for their clients. Federal laws set strict limits on the amount of money a lobbyist can spend entertaining a politician or donating to a political campaign. However, lobbyists can arrange donations, events and fundraisers for politicians on behalf of their clients.
  
  

Indirect Lobbyists

• Rather than personal persuasion and direct contact, indirect lobbyists use other strategies such as media campaigns and grassroots organizing to advance their clients' interests. Indirect lobbyists encourage individual citizens to contact lawmakers to voice opinions on legislation and policy. They often stage events, such as rallies and demonstrations, and use traditional and social media outlets to deliver information and raise awareness about an issue. They try to win support from politicians by demonstrating that voters and constituents endorse the causes they represent.
  
  

Hired Guns

• Lobbyists define themselves and their work in different ways, but one of the general types is a consultant who gets a client in the door. Companies and organizations hire either an individual lobbyist or a lobbying firm for help with politicians who have the most influence over a particular issue. These lobbyists work for many clients. Often they do not have any specific knowledge of issues, but they may have relationships with elected officials. Many retired politicians and government policy makers turn to lobbying as a second career.
  
  

In-House Lobbyists

• In industries that face a significant degree of government regulation such as energy, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals, companies often hire their own in-house lobbyists. These lobbyists have an in-depth understanding of issues and can offer detailed explanations of the consequences of proposed legislation and policies. On the non-profit side, environmental groups often have in-house lobbyists who know the issues and are committed to specific causes. However, non-profit organizations have limits on how much they can spend on lobbying, while businesses are free to invest whatever amount they want in trying to persuade politicians to support their interests.