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It’s Small Business Month, and I’m raising a toast to the real MVPs of the economy: YOU. It might feel like you’re doing it all, juggling every role, stretching each dollar, and chasing a big dream with limited time and resources. I see you!
But here’s the beautiful truth. What small businesses might lack in budget, we more than make up for in community. And that isn’t just a warm and fuzzy sentiment. It’s a real, tangible strategy that can help you not just survive but truly thrive.
In this episode of the Goal Digger Podcast, I’m sharing 10 real, doable, and powerful ways to collaborate, cross-promote, and build something bigger together. Whether you’re craving fresh momentum, more sustainability, or growth that actually feels good, this is your roadmap.
Let’s dig into the collaboration strategies that can move your business forward in the most meaningful and community-driven way. And don’t forget, our Goal Digger Insiders Facebook Community is filled with small business owners just like you. It’s the perfect place to connect, collaborate, and even try out some of these strategies.
Join us in the Facebook Community right here!
1. Curate and Collaborate on Offers
Big brands may have big budgets, but small businesses have creativity, taste, and agility. One powerful way to grow your audience and revenue is to team up with a fellow business to create a unique bundled offer your shared audience will love.
Think of it as crafting a “we made this just for you” moment that’s tailored, thoughtful, and totally aligned. I’ve seen everything from wellness bundles (like a local spa, juice bar, and wellness coach collaborating) to photographers pairing up with kids’ clothing brands. This is the power of shared promotion, shared value, and shared success.
Collaborative campaigns like this can increase visibility by up to 30 percent compared to solo efforts. Even more, they build lasting relationships between businesses and customers.
2. Bring Back Follow Friday With Intention
Let’s revive a beloved old-school tradition with purpose. Follow Friday. But instead of random tags, be personal. Tell your community why you love someone’s business. Share stories. Be specific. Whether it’s in an Instagram story or a newsletter blurb, your words matter.
Your voice could spark the momentum another business needs. And you don’t need a huge platform to make an impact. Remember, 92 percent of consumers trust recommendations from people they know over any other form of advertising. Your real-life story about a product or service is more influential than you think.
3. Create a Local or Niche Guide
Amazon doesn’t need the promo, but your neighborhood bakery or your freelance designer friend might. Create a guide filled with trusted businesses your audience would love to discover.
Whether it’s “10 Local Gifts I’d Actually Buy” or “The Small Biz Holiday Survival Guide,” you become a curator of great finds. People are craving authentic, personal recommendations, and when you tag those businesses, many of them will share your guide too. That means mutual exposure and community growth.
Not only does it help others, but you’ll also find yourself with a resource you can reuse and reshare all year long. Bonus idea? Post about your guide in the Goal Digger Facebook Community and invite others to share theirs too. Let’s make it a hub of favorite finds and hidden gems.
4. Feature Other Businesses in Your Content
You don’t need to dedicate a full podcast episode or email to someone else’s business, but what if you dropped a quick shoutout in your weekly newsletter or posted an Instagram Story to uplift someone?
Your content can be a powerful spotlight. A quick P.S. in your blog post or a voice note in someone’s DMs can lead to new clients, new followers, and new collaborations. The algorithm might be unpredictable, but generosity is always a winning strategy.
5. Support Launches Like They’re Yours
Be the person who cheers when someone else is putting something new out into the world. Support their launch with visibility, encouragement, and engagement. This doesn’t have to include affiliate links or a financial investment. Sometimes, your support can be as simple as a voice memo, a thoughtful comment, or a repost with your personal thoughts.
That encouragement could be the reason someone keeps going. It could lead to their best sales day ever or help their ideal customer find them. Showing up for someone else’s launch is good business karma.
6. Run a Joint Giveaway or Email List Builder
Want to grow your audience and give your people something fun? Partner with another business on a niche-aligned giveaway. Think beyond the generic gift card and focus on prizes that attract your ideal audience.
An example? A brand photographer and a marketing strategist could team up to offer a “Build Your Brand Starter Pack.” Focus on aligned audiences, not just big ones.
Giveaways like these are not only fun but also strategic when done thoughtfully. And if you’re looking for a partner to brainstorm with, head into the Goal Digger Facebook Community and start the conversation there.
7. Host a Strategy Share or Mastermind
Want to fast-track your growth? Team up with other business owners to share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate wins. This can be a casual monthly Zoom, a Slack channel, or even just a shared Google Doc.
Entrepreneurs in mastermind groups are 30 percent more likely to report business growth year over year. So don’t gatekeep. Generously share what’s working. Whether it’s a local coffee shop meetup or an online strategy share, these conversations can change your business.
And if you’re looking for like-minded entrepreneurs to join forces with, the Goal Digger Facebook Community is full of them. Go ahead and post your idea. See who wants to jump in.
8. Trade Services or Barter Skills
When money feels tight, creativity becomes currency. What if you traded your photography for a website overhaul? Or your coaching session for someone’s branding expertise?
Bartering is a great way to collaborate, save money, and build trust. Just be clear on the exchange. Set expectations and document agreements so everyone feels valued and respected. Sometimes the best partnerships don’t involve money at all, just mutual respect and a clear plan.
9. Host Events or Pop-Ups Together
Live events, whether in-person or virtual, create buzz, connection, and double the exposure. From IG Lives to pop-up booths at your local market, you don’t need a sold-out launch to make an impact.
Try cohosting a coworking day at your favorite café, a brunch with local entrepreneurs, or even a casual run-and-chat event. Loop in your favorite collaborators, and don’t forget to share about it in our Facebook group. You might find even more local connections who want to team up!
10. Be Proud to Be a Small Business
You don’t have to act like a big brand to succeed. In fact, your size is your superpower. Show your face. Tell your story. Let your people know how they can support you best.
Seventy percent of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a business where they feel a personal connection.
That means your behind-the-scenes moments, your team introductions, your customer shoutouts… they matter. And they help you stand out in a world that’s craving authenticity more than ever.
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In a world that often favors convenience over connection and profit over people, small businesses are creating something different. We’re building something meaningful.
This Small Business Month (and every month after), let’s collaborate, cheer each other on, and grow—together. These 10 strategies aren’t just good ideas. They’re business moves. So go ahead and reach out to that fellow biz owner you admire, pitch a collab, start a guide, or launch something powerful together.
Looking for your people? Start in the Goal Digger Insiders Facebook Community. It’s where the conversations are already happening, and it’s the perfect place to make that next meaningful connection!
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