.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Sometimes the stars align. Just as the spotlight turns to our generous supply of downtown office space, Forbes magazine declares Des Moines No. 1 in the United States among the Best Places For Businesses and Careers.

Have you e-mailed a copy of that article to your friends, business associates and everyone you’ve ever met, all across the country? You should.

These lists may be just a bit subjective, but it’s like sports competition. All that matters is the “W” you get behind your name when you win. Once the list exists, it’s an objective piece of data at your disposal.

Whenever you find an opportunity to encourage a company or an entrepreneur to come here, this list should be one of your primary sales tools.

For years, it has been said that our biggest recruiting challenge is getting people from other parts of the country to visit Central Iowa in the first place. Telling them that this is the best place they could find in which to do business ought to help.

But a magazine article only goes so far. As a part of the business community, your responsibility is to set the hook and reel them in after they get here.

We’ve heard developers say that the key to sparking interest is to drive visitors through West Des Moines’ Jordan Creek Town Center neighborhood.

Fine. But there’s more to a top-notch metro area than shopping and restaurants, and a smart booster tailors the pitch.

Debra Salowitz, who operates Strategic Relocation Solutions, is in the business of showing her adopted hometown of Des Moines to prospective residents. One example of her approach: Salowitz learned that a potential resident was seriously committed to helping animals, so she gave a tour that included all of the appropriate stops.

Put that kind of strategic thinking to work on old friends, new friends, your college network, industry partners …