soliciting locals to buy photos

I had an idea when I was trying to justify all the gear I been buying lately and that was to solicit my city, local newspaper, and local businesses with the opportunity to buy rights of photos taken of city building, local businesses and so forth.
Has anyone else done that? I am not that good of a barter so I probably wouldn't go through with it but hey it's an idea right. I just thought an eye popping panoramic, HDR, image of the town square where the court house and statue were was bound to catch some attention from some one.
So what do you guys think? Am I crazy or should I just put them on my website and see if anyone comes to me...

Putting stuff online and sitting on your butt waiting for someone to hand you a load of cash doesn't normally work (unless you're writing Nigerian scams I guess ).

If you for example have that gorgeous HDR pano at dusk of your local town square, get it printed and framed, and walk into those buildings there, ask if they are interested to buy that framed print.

It's a good start and has advantages:

1-) A framed print looks way more impressive than the same photo on a computer screen.

2-) You got it already, if they like it you can leave it right there, not place an order, blah blah

3-) You get to know people, and if they like what they see, they might as well want further photos at some point. ( BRING business cards, and make sure you know a bit on how to charge for your stuff ).

If you walk into a building with a print, you want somebody to buy it, right?
Be prepared to answer the question "How much is it?" without too much "eeerrm....oooohm....u​ahhhh....s"

I see, I thought a well planned out and multi hour HDR print of the court house woulds be worth 1k. I wish. lol I might actually go through with something like that, hell why not.

Should be no reason why it wouldn't be worth 1k, depends on what your market will bear.

Generally waiting around for anything is a bad idea; if you want it - go get it and do what you have to to get it!

I have donated prints to colleges and schools and put my name along the mat along with my phone number ("Want to own a copy of this print? Call....."). It's simple and it works. Getting your name out there by donating is a great way to jump into the community and make it a possibility rather than a "Maybe if they see me on this website...maybe they'll take the time to contact me about a print..."). Think about how many times you have gone on an amazing photographer's website, viewed his work, and then taken the time to call/email/fax him about ordering a print.

K. Johnston...

The nail has been struck on the head! Well put.

yeah our small town just spent a 2Million to add a brick walk-way, a fountain and some old-timie style street lamps, all in front of the court house, surely they would like to have a nice picture to show for there money