Limited Pilot Opportunity: Only 15 Businesses | Maximum 3 Per ZIP Code
ABOUT EXPLORE WASHINGTON STATE
Explore Washington State helps travelers discover the best destinations, activities, and local businesses across Washington. Our readers are actively planning trips and looking for authentic local experiences.
Our Reach
- 142,000+ pageviews in the last 90 days
- ~47,000 pageviews per month from engaged readers
- 40-85 seconds average engagement time per article
- 89% US-based audience with heavy Washington State concentration
Our Audience
- Primary age range: 25-44 years old
- Top interests: Food & dining, travel planning, outdoor activities, photography
- Top Washington cities: Seattle (14,290 users), Tacoma (915), Spokane (793), Bellingham (583), and 100+ other Washington cities
Our Content
- 194+ destination guides covering cities, towns, and state parks across Washington
- Outdoor activity guides (hiking, foraging, kayaking, fishing)
- Food & drink guides (coffee shops, breweries, wineries, restaurants)
- Family-friendly activities and hidden gems
FOUNDING SPONSOR PILOT PROGRAM
We’re launching a limited pilot program to test website sponsorships with Washington based businesses. This is your opportunity to be an early partner at an introductory rate.
What You Get
Website Sidebar Placement
- Your logo, business description, and clickable link
- Geographic targeting – your ad ONLY appears on content relevant to your region
- Always visible to readers viewing your area’s content
- Mobile optimized
Monthly Reporting
- Traffic statistics for your sponsored articles
- Visibility into how many people are seeing your placement
Local Targeting
- Spokane brewery? Your ad only shows on Spokane content
- Poulsbo coffee shop? Your ad only shows on Poulsbo/Kitsap Peninsula content
- No wasted impressions on readers who aren’t in your area
Pilot Program Details
Investment: $30/month
Minimum commitment: 3 months
Availability: Limited to 15 businesses total
Per-city limit: Maximum 3 businesses per city/zip code
Eligible businesses: Washington State-based only
Why “Founding Sponsor”?
This is a pilot program. We’re starting with a small group of local businesses to:
- Test geographic ad targeting
- Prove the model works
- Build case studies
- Get feedback from sponsors
After the pilot period, pricing will increase to $50-75/month or more for new sponsors.
WHO THIS IS PERFECT FOR
✓ Single-location businesses – Coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, B&Bs, outdoor shops
✓ Businesses in towns we cover – We have detailed guides for 100+ Washington cities
✓ Small marketing budgets – $30/month is an experiment you can afford
✓ Businesses seeking local travelers – Our audience is actively planning Washington trips
Examples:
- Coffee shop in Poulsbo featured in our “Spending a Day in Poulsbo” guide (1,019 views/month)
- Spokane brewery in our Spokane outdoor recreation content (800+ views/month)
- Seattle gear shop in our Seattle hiking guides (4,000+ views/month)
WHY GEOGRAPHIC TARGETING MATTERS
Traditional advertising problem: You pay for everyone, even people who’ll never visit
Our solution: Your ad only appears to readers viewing content about YOUR area
Example: A Bellingham brewery ONLY shows ads to people reading:
- Bellingham destination guides
- Whatcom County content
- Northern Washington articles
Result: Every impression is relevant. No wasted ad spend.
PILOT PROGRAM TERMS
What happens after 3 months?
- If it’s working for you, you can continue at the pilot rate ($30/month)
- If it’s not working, cancel anytime – no hard feelings
- Pilot sponsors get locked-in pricing before rates increase
What if all 15 spots fill up?
- We’ll close the pilot program
- Future sponsors will pay $50-75/month or more
- Your ZIP Code may be waitlisted if we already have 3 sponsors
Can I upgrade later?
- Yes! As we expand sponsorship options (newsletter, social media), pilot sponsors get first access
SAMPLE SPONSOR PLACEMENT
Your article: “Spending a Day in Poulsbo”
Monthly traffic: 1,019 views
Sidebar shows:
Result: 1,000+ people per month planning Poulsbo visits see your business while reading about the area.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Hyper-local focus: We cover places other sites don’t (small towns, individual state parks, hidden gems)
Quality traffic: 40-85 second engagement time means readers are actually consuming content, not bouncing
Washington-first: We only partner with Washington-based businesses – no national chains
Authentic voice: Real exploration and recommendations, not corporate tourism marketing
HOW TO GET STARTED
Step 1: Review this document and our website (explorewashingtonstate.com)
Step 2: Reply to confirm interest – include:
- Your business name and location
- Which article(s) feature your area
- Any questions you have
Step 3: We’ll send setup details and get your logo/info
Step 4: Your sponsorship goes live within 5 business days
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I know this will work?
A: You don’t – that’s why this is a pilot at a low price. Test it for 3 months and track if you get mentions from customers finding you through our site.
Q: Can I sponsor multiple ZIP Codes?
A: Yes, but each ZIP Code counts as a separate sponsorship at $30/month each.
Q: What if I’m not happy with the results?
A: Cancel after 3 months. No pressure to continue.
Q: How do I track results?
A: Ask customers “How did you hear about us?” If they mention Explore Washington State, you know it’s working. We’ll also provide monthly traffic reports.
Q: What if my competitors sign up?
A: We limit 3 businesses per ZIP Code. First come, first served. Different business types can coexist (coffee shop + brewery + hotel all in one ZIP Code is fine).
Q: Will this clutter the website?
A: No. Sidebar ads are clean, minimal, and only appear on relevant content. We prioritize reader experience.
CONTACT
Name: Scott Cowan
Email: Scott@explorewashingtonstate.com
Website: explorewashingtonstate.com
Ready to become a Founding Sponsor? Reply with your business details and we’ll get you started.
Explore Washington State is an independent publication dedicated to helping people discover the best of Washington. We only partner with Washington-based businesses that align with our mission of authentic, local exploration.