Module 2 · New Team Member Training
What to Say When Approaching a Business
You are the face of Local City Network. One friendly sentence is all it takes — the flyer does the rest of the explaining for you.
Your goal
Every conversation has one job: leave the business feeling good about us.
- Be friendly — smile, greet them, use a calm voice
- Be short — one simple answer, then get to work
- Be clear — say what we are doing and that it is free
- Never pressure anyone into anything
- Never argue, even if they are rude
💡 REQUIRED: Friendly, short, simple. If your answer takes longer than a breath, it is too long.
Drop the flyer first — then start shooting
REQUIRED: Before you take a photo
🚶 The order that works
- 1Walk in and drop a flyer at the counter with the business
- 2The flyer says what you are doing — it does the explaining for you
- 3Start taking your pictures and videos right away — don't ask for permission
- 4If someone asks, give your friendly answer (Step 2) and keep going
✅ You do not need a speech, a meeting or a signature. The flyer is very clear about what you are doing.
Say it in 3 parts
REQUIRED: Who we are · What we do · What it costs
Who we are
We're with Local City Network — the LOCAL site for your city.
What we're doing
We're visiting local businesses to add them to our community business directory with free photos and short videos.
What it costs
The basic listing is free — we're simply helping residents discover and shop locally.
👋 Sample introduction
“Hi! We're with Local City Network, and we're visiting local businesses to add them to our community business directory. We're offering free photos and short videos to help local residents discover businesses in their area. There's no charge for the basic listing — we're simply helping promote local businesses and encourage people to shop locally. I've left a flyer at the counter that explains everything, and I'll go ahead and take a few photos and two short videos.”
Keep it friendly, short and simple
REQUIRED: One answer, then get to work
✅ DO
- Smile and greet them when you walk in
- Use their name or "your shop" if you can
- Give one short answer, then start shooting
- Point at the flyer if they want details
- Thank them before you leave
❌ DON'T
- Talk for minutes or repeat yourself
- Read the script word for word like a robot
- Over-explain the company or the website
- Ask permission before taking photos
- Argue, correct them, or get defensive
Short and friendly beats long and perfect — every single time.
If they ask about cost
REQUIRED: Lead with FREE
💰 If they ask about cost
“The basic listing and photos are completely free. There are optional upgrades available for businesses that want additional exposure, but you don't need to purchase anything.”
The money rules
- Say "free" out loud — basic listing, photos and videos
- Upgrades for extra exposure are always optional
- Never make a business feel pressured to buy
- Never mislead them about what is free
If they want to know more
REQUIRED: The digital phone book answer
📖 If they ask what this really is
“We're with LOCAL (your city) — the city on the flyer. We're taking photos and videos for an online directory of businesses, and it goes digital on social media too. It's like the phone books back in the day — this is the digital version.”
Keep these three in your pocket
- LOCAL + the city printed on your flyer
- An online directory of businesses
- Digital on social media — the phone book, updated
💡 If you don't know an answer, say: "I'll have someone from our team follow up with you." Then tell your supervisor.
If they say no
REQUIRED: Stay cool, move on
🚫 If they say no, stop. Do not argue, do not ask again, do not keep shooting.
How to exit nicely
- 1Say: "No problem at all — thank you for your time!"
- 2Leave the flyer at the counter anyway
- 3Put your phone away and walk out calmly
- 4Mark the business as declined and move to the next one
- 5Tell your supervisor if anything felt off
If security or management comes over, stay calm and professional — the full script is in the Area Selection Guide.
Conversation checklist
Run this on every single visit. Tap each item as you go.
Before you speak
While you talk
The 5 most important things to remember
Flyer first
Drop it at the counter — it explains what you're doing.
Three parts
Who we are, what we're doing, what it costs.
Short & simple
One friendly answer, then start shooting.
Free means free
Basic listing costs nothing. Upgrades are optional.
Respect the no
If they say no, thank them and move on.
Our overall goal
We are building a local business directory that helps residents discover businesses in their own communities. Every friendly conversation makes the directory — and the town — a little stronger.
Be the friendly face of LOCAL. Then go capture the photos.