How can a simple interview turn you into the go-to authority in your town?
Conducting "Business Spotlight" interviews allows you to borrow the credibility of established local owners while providing them with massive emotional and marketing value.
This strategy, perfected by Mastermind member Josh, moves you from being a "marketer" to a "local media owner" because it centers on sharing authentic stories rather than just selling ad space.
Instead of just hunting for subscribers one by one, you are building a Rolodex of influential partners who become eager to share your newsletter with their own customer bases.
Why do local business owners want to be featured by you?
Most business owners are tired of being misquoted by traditional media and crave a platform that highlights their positive impact on the community.
Josh discovered that owners often get emotional reading these spotlights because the AI-powered articles represent their hard work and personal journey more accurately than traditional journalism.
The result is a powerful relationship built on trust, which often leads to owners sharing your article link with their entire network before you even start your own promotion.
How do you initiate contact and prepare for the spotlight?
You should start by reaching out to just five initial business owners to request a short interview, then grow exclusively through a self-sustaining referral network.
- Step 1: The Initial Five. Reach out via social media, email, or direct phone calls to local owners you respect to request a brief story-based interview.
- Step 2: AI Research. Use tools like Perplexity to analyze the company's website and generate 10-12 customized, non-threatening questions that make the owner feel seen.
- Step 3: Referral Seeding. At the end of every interview, thank them for their time and ask if they know one or two other "local heroes" who deserve to have their story shared.
What is the best way to conduct the interview?
You can conduct sessions face-to-face, over Zoom, or even through email and messenger to suit your comfort level and the owner's schedule.
- In-Person Mastery: If meeting on location, use an iPad or phone to record the audio using tools like Otter or Zoom so that you don't miss any emotional storytelling details.
- The Introvert’s Option: For remote spotlights, send your AI-generated questions via email or text, resulting in a low-pressure way to capture the same high-value content.
- The Listener Mindset: Act as a helpful guide rather than a reporter; your goal is simply to encourage them to share their "why" and how they overcome obstacles.
How do you turn a recording into a polished local asset?
The process involves transcribing the audio, running it through a specific AI prompt, and manually editing the results to ensure 100% factual accuracy.
Josh typically produces articles between 900 and 1,800 words, often including interactive elements like Google Maps or even an audio version hosted on "Spotify for Creators" to keep readers engaged.
Always send the final draft to the business owner for approval before hitting publish, which gives you the ability to guarantee they are represented exactly how they want to be.
How does being a "connector" lead to long-term wealth?
When you are the common link between all the top businesses in your city, you become a "nuisance" to big media outlets that will eventually want to buy your influence.
As you connect a local realtor with a brewer or a coffee shop owner with a nonprofit, you cement your position as the center of the town's business ecosystem.
Instead of begging for ad dollars, you are building a high-value value fortress that attracts major buyouts because you own the relationships and the attention of your community.
