Helping Families Discover the Best of North Carolina
Thank you for your interest in partnering with Exploring North Carolina!
I’m Melissa, a North Carolina travel writer and content creator with a passion for helping families discover amazing places right in their own backyard. Whether it’s a locally owned restaurant, a charming small town, an unforgettable attraction, or a weekend getaway, my goal is simple: inspire families to put down their phones, hit the road, and create memories together.
If you have a business, destination, or experience you think my audience would love, I’d be honored to hear from you.
Why Partner With Exploring North Carolina?
Exploring North Carolina is more than a travel blog; it’s a trusted resource for families looking to make the most of their weekends.
My readers aren’t just scrolling for inspiration. They’re actively searching for places to eat, day trips to take, hotels to book, and family adventures worth the drive. They come here because they want honest recommendations from someone who’s actually experienced them firsthand.
Every article I write and every Reel I publish is created with one question in mind:
“Would I recommend this to my own family and friends?”
If the answer is yes, I can’t wait to share it.
I specialize in showcasing:
- • Family-friendly restaurants
- • Hidden gems worth the drive
- • Day trips from Charlotte and across North Carolina
- • Weekend getaways
- • Hotels and unique places to stay
- • Seasonal festivals and events
- • Teen-approved adventures
- • Small businesses that deserve the spotlight
Rather than chasing trends, I focus on creating evergreen content that continues helping families discover new places long after it’s published. A restaurant guide or destination article can continue bringing visitors to your business for months, or even years, to come.
If your business helps families experience the very best of North Carolina, there’s a good chance we’d make a great team.
My Partnership Philosophy
I believe the best partnerships don’t feel like advertisements; they feel like recommendations from a trusted friend. That’s why every collaboration begins with a real experience. My audience trusts me because they know I’m sharing places my own family genuinely enjoys.
If we partner together, I’ll experience your business just like any other visitor. If my family loves it, I’ll be excited to share it with thousands of other families looking for their next adventure.
Protecting the trust I’ve built with my audience will always come first and I believe that’s exactly what makes partnering with Exploring North Carolina so valuable.
How I Choose What to Feature
Every restaurant review, attraction guide, hotel recommendation, and travel itinerary is based on my family’s real experience.
Before deciding to feature a business, I ask myself:
✔ Would I recommend this to my friends?
✔ Does this create meaningful family memories?
✔ Is this something my audience would genuinely enjoy?
✔ Does it fit the kind of content I already create?
If the answer is yes, I’d love to learn more.
What Goes Into Every Feature
Creating quality travel content is much more than visiting a location and snapping a few photos.
A typical collaboration often includes:
- • Research and planning
- • Travel to your location
- • Experiencing your business with my family
- • Photography and videography
- • Editing photos and Reels
- • Writing engaging captions
- • Publishing across multiple social media platforms
- • Writing an SEO-optimized blog post
- • Updating existing destination guides when appropriate
Most features represent 6–12 hours of work, often spread over several days. That’s why I carefully choose the businesses and destinations I partner with.
Ways We Can Work Together
Every partnership is customized to meet your goals while remaining authentic to my audience.
Hosted Visits
Restaurants, hotels, attractions, museums, tours, seasonal events, family experiences, and unique destinations.
Sponsored Social Media Campaigns
- Instagram Reels
- TikTok videos
- Facebook posts
- Instagram Stories
- Multi-platform campaigns
Dedicated Blog Features
Long-form, SEO-focused articles designed to help families discover your business through Google and Pinterest long after they’re published.
Destination Marketing
I love partnering with tourism boards, destination marketing organizations, downtown associations, and chambers of commerce to showcase everything a community has to offer.
Long-Term Brand Partnerships
The strongest partnerships happen over time. Multi-month collaborations allow me to tell a deeper story and build genuine familiarity with your brand.
User-Generated Content (UGC)
Need authentic photo and video content for your own social media or website? I create high-quality lifestyle content your business can use across its own marketing channels.
Looking for Complimentary Coverage?
I genuinely enjoy discovering new places across North Carolina, especially locally owned businesses that help families make memories together. If you believe your business would be a great fit for my audience, I’d love to hear about it.
Please keep in mind that complimentary admission, hosted meals, or gifted products do not automatically guarantee coverage. Accepting an invitation simply means I’m interested in experiencing what you offer; it doesn’t guarantee that content will be created or published.
If the experience is exceptional and aligns with my audience, there’s a great chance I’ll share it.
Authenticity is the foundation of everything I create.
What Makes a Great Pitch?
Some of my favorite collaborations include:
✔ Family-friendly restaurants
✔ Local coffee shops and bakeries
✔ Hotels and resorts
✔ Attractions and museums
✔ Seasonal festivals and events
✔ Small businesses with a unique story
✔ Tourism organizations
✔ Outdoor adventures
✔ Experiences that encourage families to explore North Carolina together
The best pitches explain:
- • What makes your business unique
- • Why my audience would love it
- • Any important dates or deadlines
- • Whether you’re interested in earned media, a hosted visit, or a paid collaboration
What Doesn’t Guarantee Coverage
While I appreciate every invitation I receive, the following do not automatically result in a feature:
- • Complimentary meals or admission
- • Gifted products
- • Instagram DMs asking for a quick post
- • Requests for guaranteed positive coverage
- • Experiences that aren’t a good fit for my audience
My responsibility is always to my readers first.
Let’s Create Something Amazing Together
Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, promoting a family attraction, launching a seasonal event, or inviting travelers to discover your community, I’d love to hear your story. Every inquiry is personally reviewed, and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
Thank you for considering Exploring North Carolina as part of your marketing strategy. I look forward to discovering more incredible places and helping even more families experience everything our beautiful state has to offer.
Ready to start the conversation?
I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email at Collabs.MelissaLlado@gmail.com and include “Exploring NC: (Name of Your Business)” in the subject line.