Collaborating With Other Local Businesses (Local Marketing Series)

Winning together is always better. Crack open today's guide to collaboration, learn AI in 5 minutes a day, plus this week's campaigns!

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LJ Barnum & Fahad
March 14, 2025

Hey there, friend. Hope your week was productive! (Or at least, you got something done?)

Winning alone is fine. Winning together? That’s where the magic happens. 

Let’s talk about how local business collaborations can be a game-changer.

Imagine this: you run a coffee shop. The bakery down the street sells amazing pastries. You team up. They sell your coffee, you sell their croissants. Both of you win.

(And we add an inch to our waistline.)

Or maybe you’re a personal trainer. You partner with a local smoothie bar where you get your fix—clients get a discount on healthy drinks after their workout. 

They get fit, and you both get paid.

(See where this is going?)

Collabs = more customers, more exposure, and more sales.

TL;DR – The Benefits of Collabs

  • More exposure—reach new customers without extra ad spending.

  • Builds trust—people are likelier to trust businesses that partner up.

  • Shared costs—split marketing costs and maximize impact.

  • Community loyalty—when businesses support each other, customers take notice.

A Word From Our Friends

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Who Makes a Good Business Partner?

Businesses that complement (not compete with) yours

Two realtors? Nope. A realtor, a mortgage lender, and a home cleaning service? Sounds like the start of a bad joke.

Companies with a similar audience

Notice that a lot of your clients reference a specific restaurant? Link up to get some advertising in their storefront in exchange for some coupons to win over your clients who haven’t discovered the magic.

Brands that align with your values

Sometimes, the goal isn’t sales. Sometimes, its brand awareness or a near-and-dear cause your brand supports.

How to Find (and Pitch) Partners

Collaborating with other local businesses can be a great way to reach new customers, build trust, and increase sales.

1. Identify Your Ideal Collaborators

The first step is to identify businesses that would be a good fit for a collaboration. Look for businesses that complement (not compete with) yours, have a similar audience, and align with your values.

2. Do Your Research

Once you have a list of potential collaborators, take some time to research each one. Visit their website, read their social media posts, and see what content they produce. This will help you get a better understanding of their brand and whether or not they would be a good fit for a collaboration.

3. Reach Out

Once you've identified a few potential collaborators, it's time to reach out. Send them a brief email or give them a call to introduce yourself and your business. Be sure to mention why you're interested in collaborating and what you think you could bring to the table.

4. Be Specific

When you're pitching a collaboration, be as specific as possible about what you have in mind. This will help the other business understand what you're looking for and whether or not they're interested.

5. Be Flexible

It's important to be flexible when you're negotiating a collaboration. Be willing to compromise on the terms of the deal to make it work for both businesses.

6. Follow Up

After you've pitched your collaboration, be sure to follow up with the other business. This shows that you're serious about working together and that you're willing to put in the effort to make the collaboration a success.

7. Get Creative

There are endless ways to collaborate with other local businesses. Get creative and think outside the box. The more unique and innovative your collaboration is, the more likely it is to be successful.

Smart Ways to Collaborate with Other Local Brands

  1. Joint Promotions – Bundle products/services for a better deal.

  2. Co-host Events – Workshops, pop-ups, or community giveaways.

  3. Referral Partnerships – Send clients each other’s way. (Just make sure your client always wins!)

  4. Social Media Shoutouts – Cross-promote each other’s offers.

  5. Content Collaborations – Guest blog posts, podcast features, or email swaps.

This Week’s Campaigns

Retail/e-Commerce

User-Generated Content Highlight

Share customer photos and videos featuring your products, showcasing real-life use cases and building social proof.

Real Estate

Understanding Closing Costs

Break down the often-confusing topic of closing costs, demystifying the process for buyers and sellers.

Therapy

The Importance of Play and Creativity

Encourage viewers to embrace play and creativity as tools for stress relief and personal growth.

Going solo is fine. But when you team up with the right people, growth happens faster (and easier).

Need help setting up local collaborations? Reply to this email anytime.

See you next week!

LJ and Fahad

Photo by DISRUPTIVO on Unsplash