Exploring North Carolina

Things to Do, Where to Eat, How to Live Like a Local

Work with Exploring North Carolina

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. I’ve been a content creator for over 14 years, and while ExploringNorthCarolina.com is a newer website, my ability to create content that resonates and shows up in search results is solid. Each month my content reaches approximately 330K views on Instagram, 250K on TikTok, and over 1 million on Facebook, primarily women ages 35–65 in the Charlotte/Concord/Kannapolis area who are looking for new places to eat and explore.

If you have a business, destination, or experience you think my audience would love, I’d be honored to hear from you.

Check out what other businesses are saying about Exploring North Carolina!

I use InfluenceKit for influencer campaign reporting, you should always vet any content creators you hire ahead of time and InfluenceKit provides real time data, engagement stats, and audience location so you can make sure you’re hiring the right content creator for your business.

See my stats through InfluenceKit.

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Why Partner With Exploring North Carolina?

Exploring North Carolina is more than a travel blog and social channels; it’s a trusted resource for families looking to make the most of their weekends. My viewers 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.

And when it comes to influencer marketing, I believe businesses should be looking at more than one number.

Follower count alone doesn’t tell you how many people are actually seeing the content. Reach does. Fake followers can be bought BUT the truth lies in the analytics!

A creator may have 10,000 followers, but if a Reel only reaches 1,000 people, that follower count doesn’t tell the whole story. Another creator may have 1,000 followers and create a Reel that reaches 30,000 people; with the overwhelming majority of those viewers discovering the content even though they don’t follow that account.

That’s the power of creating content for today’s algorithms.

Social media platforms are increasingly discovery-based. The goal isn’t simply to publish a post and hope your existing followers see it. The goal is to create content that gives the algorithm enough information to understand:

What is this content about? Who is most likely to care about it? And who should we show it to next?

That means thinking strategically about everything from the opening hook and on-screen text to keywords, location signals, captions, watch time, engagement, and the overall topic of the content.

I put a tremendous amount of emphasis on helping the algorithms properly categorize my content so a restaurant in Concord isn’t simply being shown to my followers; it has the opportunity to reach people interested in restaurants, family activities, things to do in Concord, Charlotte-area day trips, and North Carolina travel who may have never heard of Exploring North Carolina or your business before.

That discovery is where the real opportunity is.

My readers and viewers aren’t just casually scrolling for inspiration. They’re actively searching for:

  • 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. I put a lot of emphasis on capturing the algorithms and showing up in search results so your business stays highlighted for more than the duration of an Instagram reel.

I create content designed to give your business multiple opportunities to be discovered… through Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Google, and ExploringNorthCarolina.com. A Reel can introduce thousands of new people to your business today, while a search-optimized blog post can continue helping families discover you months or even years later. Rather than focusing solely on follower counts or chasing one viral moment, I focus on reach, discoverability, searchability, and repeated exposure.

Because the goal isn’t simply to get your business in front of my followers.

The goal is to get your business in front of the right people.

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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.

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.

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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.

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Ways We Can Work Together

Every Partnership is Customized

No two businesses are the same, which is why every collaboration is tailored to fit your goals while staying authentic to my audience. My community trusts my recommendations because every feature is based on a genuine experience, and that’s something I never compromise.

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Barter Collaboration

For small local Charlotte, NC area businesses, I currently offer a complimentary feature in exchange for a hosted experience for a family of 4 to experience your business (or another mutually agreed-upon barter arrangement).

This includes:

  • One professionally produced Reel shared across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
  • Authentic storytelling designed to inspire my audience to visit your business

This is something I’m able to offer while the Exploring North Carolina platform is still in its early growth stage. As my website and social media channels continue to grow, complimentary collaborations will become much more limited. My content calendar is already booking 7–10 days in advance, so availability is limited. This is only available to small businesses with less than 3 locations.

If you are a larger business interested in a single feature please reach out for pricing.

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Want more than a single feature?

Many businesses choose to upgrade their hosted experience into a sponsored marketing campaign that provides multiple touchpoints over an entire month.

Sponsored campaigns start at $250 and include:

  • An SEO-optimized feature article on ExploringNorthCarolina.com with a link to your website to help improve your visibility in Google Search.
  • Three additional social media features (for a total of 4) published throughout the month, each created with a different strategy to maximize reach, engagement, and long-term discovery.
  • Ongoing exposure that keeps your business in front of potential customers instead of relying on a single post.
  • 30 Day InfluenceKit Analytics Report

This combination of search-optimized website content and strategic social media promotion creates lasting value long after the initial content is published, helping more people discover your business when they’re searching for places to eat, shop, and explore.

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Upgrade to a Giveaway Collaboration

Want More Exposure Without the Sponsored Campaign Budget?

I understand that small businesses don’t always have a large advertising budget… especially when you’re just getting started. That’s why I offer an opportunity to upgrade your Hosted Experience with a Giveaway Collaboration.

Provide a $50 gift card to your business (or the equivalent of admission for 4, or a single service) for me to give away to my audience, and I’ll create a second social media Reel featuring your business and promoting the giveaway.

Your Giveaway Collaboration includes:

  • A second Reel highlighting your business, shared across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
  • A $50 gift card provided by your business and awarded to one winner
  • A giveaway designed to generate excitement and encourage engagement with your business
  • An opportunity for entrants to discover and connect with your business’s social media accounts
  • Additional exposure beyond your original Hosted Experience

The goal is simple: your first Reel introduces my audience to your business, while the giveaway gives me a reason to put your business in front of them again, while creating excitement and encouraging potential customers to connect with you directly.

Investment: One $50 gift card to your business, A family 4 Pack of Tickets, or a Single Service valued at $50 or more

This option is available as an add-on to select Hosted Experience collaborations and is perfect for small businesses that want additional exposure but aren’t quite ready to invest in a Sponsored Campaign or Retainer.

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Monthly Retainers: Stay Top of Mind with Consistent Local Exposure

Update: These spots are filling up fast! I only accept a limited number of Monthly Retainer Clients and spots are almost gone.

Best for: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Farmer’s Markets

The businesses that see the greatest results aren’t the ones that post once; they’re the ones that consistently show up where their customers are looking. My monthly content retainers are designed to keep your business in front of my highly engaged audience while providing a steady stream of fresh, authentic content that showcases what’s new and gives people a reason to visit again and again.

Each month, I’ll visit your establishment to capture updated photos and videos, highlight seasonal offerings, new menu items, events, promotions, or simply remind my audience why your business deserves a spot on their must-visit list.

Every monthly retainer includes:

  • One hosted on-site content creation visit each month
  • 4 social media posts per month shared throughout the month across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
  • 2 Instagram/Facebook Stories per month with direct links to your website, promotions, or special events
  • Fresh photo and video content captured during each monthly visit to keep the marketing current and engaging
  • Monthly analytics report showing how the campaign is performing across social media

Retainers start at $250 per month plus one hosted experience each month.

Available contract options:

  • 3 Months – Build awareness and momentum
  • 6 Months – Grow recognition and customer loyalty
  • 12 Months – Establish your business as a local favorite through consistent, year-round visibility

Instead of relying on a single viral post, a retainer creates repeated exposure that helps your business stay top of mind with local families actively searching for places to eat, shop, and explore.

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Quarterly Retainers: Consistent Visibility Without a Monthly Commitment

Best for: Salons, Family Activities, Boutiques

Not every business needs a monthly marketing campaign and that’s okay. If you’re looking for ongoing exposure but prefer a more budget-friendly option, my Quarterly Retainer offers the perfect balance. It’s designed for businesses that want to stay visible throughout the year without the investment of a monthly retainer.

Rather than relying on a single feature that fades over time, a quarterly retainer keeps your business appearing in my audience’s feeds consistently, helping build familiarity and encouraging repeat visits.

Each Quarterly Retainer includes:

  • One Reel every month shared across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
  • One hosted content visit each quarter to capture fresh photos and videos
  • Updated content highlighting seasonal offerings, new menu items, events, or promotions
  • Evergreen, search-friendly content designed to continue reaching local audiences over time
  • Quarterly InfluenceKit Report showing how the social content is performing

Quarterly Retainers start at $250 per quarter.

Because this package is designed to build long-term awareness, a 12-month commitment (four consecutive quarters) is required. This allows us to create fresh content throughout the year while keeping your business consistently in front of potential customers during every season.

If you’re ready to move beyond a one-time feature but don’t need monthly content, a Quarterly Retainer is an affordable way to keep your business top of mind all year long.

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Event Promotion: Campaign Create Buzz Before Your Event Begins

Best for: Pumpkin Patches, You Pick Farms, Holiday Events, Fairs, Festivals, Limited Time Activities

Some experiences only happen for a short time and they need people walking through the gate while they’re happening, not months later.

Whether you’re promoting apple picking, pumpkin patches, holiday attractions, seasonal festivals, fairs, special exhibits, or limited-time experiences, my Event Promotion Campaigns are designed to create excitement before your event opens and keep the momentum going throughout the season.

Unlike a single post that quickly disappears, this package combines search engine optimization with a high-volume social media strategy to maximize visibility when it matters most.

Event Promotion Packages include:

SEO & Website Exposure

  • A dedicated SEO-optimized blog post on ExploringNorthCarolina.com featuring your event.
    • The blog post is designed to become an evergreen resource that can be updated each year, helping your event continue building authority and visibility in Google Search over time.
  • Priority inclusion in my seasonal roundup articles whenever relevant, such as “Best Indoor Family Activities in Concord, NC (Updated for 2026),” “Best Pumpkin Patches Near Charlotte,” or “Holiday Events in North Carolina.“ These roundup posts continue driving traffic long after they’re published.
  • Analytics Report at end of campaign to see how it performed across social media

Social Media Campaign

Your event will receive an intensive promotional campaign across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, including:

  • 3 Reels per week for the two weeks leading up to your event
  • 2 Reels per week throughout your event (up to four additional weeks)

That’s up to 14 social media posts over a six-week campaign, strategically timed to build anticipation before opening day and keep attendance strong throughout the event.

Event Promotion Campaign investments start at $550.

If your goal is to generate the maximum amount of awareness in a short period of time, this is my most comprehensive promotional package. By combining search-optimized website content with a consistent social media presence, your event receives repeated exposure exactly when people are deciding what to do with their weekends.

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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. These types of promotions are much more in depth and have many moving pieces. Please reach out to me directly for more information.

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Testimonials

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? Email me at Melissa@ExploringNorthCarolina.com