First, let’s forget the whole ‘all the good ones are taken’ philosophy — because you’re not going to approach the business owners with a ‘gimme some stuff’ mentality. You’re going to approach them with ideas for making their business better. Okay? Okay.

I love supporting local businesses.

I’d rather buy a toy from a local toy store than order online to get the same toy off of Amazon for 1/2 the price. I’d rather go to a locally owned coffee shop than Starbucks. (And a local coffee shop here sells better Salted Caramel Mochas than Starbucks – who knew!?) It’s that sort of ultra-local thinking that is going to help your business grow.

The more you become aware of the livelihoods of the businesses around you and the community that supports them, the more you will be aware of how you can grow BOTH your own business and the local business you’d like to support.

If, for example, you’re used to only shopping at Wal-Mart and Target to buy kitchen supplies, you’re missing out on a host of potential connections that shop at the local kitchen supply boutique.

I’m not asking you to change your shopping and spending habits. I’m just asking you to think locally.

The local community is the one that I want you to reach out to – the one that you can make the most impact by supporting with your cooperation and your dollars.

November and December are crazy seasons, so this is going to be a task for you when January rolls around and your business comes to a screeching halt. But, if you have time to spare — let’s get started!

Think locally. REALLY locally.

Make a list of a group of 10 (or 15 or 20!) locally owned businesses.

If you can, find each of them on Facebook and like their page.

Spend 2-3 minutes on each page and find something about them that you like or something that you have in common with them. Yep, even if you don’t know a thing about them. They own a store – so you actually know more about them than they know about you right now.

Write down whatever it is that you have in common with the business.

Our goal is for you to build a bridge with them – so we need to find a common ground.

Now that you have your list of businesses, you have learned a little something about them on Facebook and you have written down something you share in common – now let’s start thinking about their customers.

What is one thing that you have in common with the people that shop at their store as well as your ideal clients?

This is the hardest part, but I really do not want you to skip this part or de-emphasize its importance. This unveils the motivation of WHY this business can be beneficial to yours. It uncovers the reason you share (or could share!) clients.

Now, find a reason to connect with one store owner (or manager) each week.

Go to the quaint little tea cottage/coffee shop and introduce yourself to the person in charge. Ask them if it is okay for you to meet with your clients there on a regular basis to do ordering sessions.

Obviously, you already know that it’s probably totally cool, but the courtesy of asking permission is just awesome to them (no one is thoughtful anymore- everyone assumes!). Also, they now know that you exist! You just came up with a reason to market yourself in a soft, non-in-your-face way.

And then, every single time that you start meeting your clients there – THANK THEM for allowing you to use the space. Send them a thank you note allowing you to use the space! If I was a coffee shop owner, I’d FLIP if someone did this. Heck ya – I’d suddenly take an interest in this person.

If it’s a boutique type clothing store, get to know the sales staff. Stop in regularly to keep up on what’s new in the store to recommend to your clients for outfits.

Introduce yourself and ask them if you send your customers there, would they be willing to help put together outfits. Styling for free? They’ll be thrilled to play dress-up, and you’ll be thrilled to know your clients are in good hands.

When you send your clients to check them out, make sure they know to tell the store employees that you sent them. If they do help a client out, write a thank you note and stop in to deliver it!

See how all of this is boiling down to face time with each business owner?

If there is a local bakery around the corner, start buying little goodies to gift to your clients with their order delivery. When you place your bakery order, make sure you use the opportunity to tell them why you’re buying. Send them a thank you note when they make something spectacular and let them know your client’s response when you stop in to deliver the note.

Again – thank you notes and face time. Not rocket science. You can do this!

As for other businesses – would they make/do they sell unique client gifts? Can their offerings be arranged, borrowed, or purchased to use in shoots? Would their foods be a nice after-session gift for clients? Find ways to give this business owner BUSINESS and leave the pitching out of it.

Take every opportunity you can to thank the business owner for making your business awesome. Make your experience with the owner memorable – stand out in their mind as being a business above all other businesses.

The more you take time to connect with the local businesses, the more likely you are to have a way to get some of their customers (blow their minds- they WILL talk about you!) sent your way or ways that you can collaborate down the road.

By sending YOUR customers to the shop first, they’ll be much more willing to reciprocate.

Make it your weekly marketing routine to spend 30 minutes per week building relationships and maintaining them. In no time- you’ll feel comfortable enough to ask the store owner out to coffee and maybe lunch…who knows where the relationship can go!