We love working with local influencers like Kari and Ashley of Fox Valley Faves! They’re pros at highlighting hidden gems across the Fox Valley and we recently caught up with them to chat all things content, collaboration, and staying true to their voice. Scroll on to hear their advice for brands looking to partner with local creators.

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Tell us a bit about how Fox Valley Faves got started—what inspired you to begin sharing local content?

After college, we both moved to Appleton and quickly found ourselves exploring the area- checking out local spots and constantly texting each other, “You have to try this place!” From restaurants and boutiques to festivals, hiking trails, and pop-up fitness classes, we were always up for trying something new and uncovering everything the region has to offer.

As we shared our own photos and stories with friends, the questions kept rolling in: “Where is that?” “What would you recommend?” That’s when we decided to create a space to share it all.

Fox Valley Faves started as a way to document our favorite local gems and help others discover them too. Whether you're brand new to the Fox Valley or a lifelong local, we believe there's always something new to explore, especially with so many incredible small businesses emerging as the community continues to grow. 

One of our favorite parts of this project? Hearing from you! Whether it's a recommendation we need to try or finding out you loved a spot we posted about. That kind of connection is exactly why we started this in the first place!

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What information or direction is most helpful when a brand/business reaches out to collaborate?

When a brand or business reaches out to collaborate, it’s really helpful for us to understand what their goal is, whether it’s increasing visibility, promoting a specific product or event, or building general brand awareness. That helps us figure out how we can best support them and if the partnership would be a good fit.

We also like to consider whether the experience aligns with our audience and feels authentic to our content style. We’re always excited to highlight places and experiences we genuinely enjoy, so making sure it’s a natural fit is important to us!

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Are there certain types of content (e.g. reels, stories, giveaways) you love creating most for brand partnerships/local businesses - and why?

We primarily love creating reels because they allow us to really capture the full experience way more than a single photo can. Reels give us the space to show off different aspects of a place or event and tell a more complete story in a fun, engaging way.

We also enjoy sharing stories organically and in the moment during an event or experience. It’s a great way to bring our audience along with us and give them a real-time feel for what it’s like.

Giveaways are another favorite- they’re a fun way to connect with new audiences and help spread the word about local businesses, since people often share them with their own followers. Each format has its own strengths, and we like mixing it up based on what fits best!

How far in advance do you typically like to be contacted before producing Content?

It definitely depends on the type of collaboration! For events happening on a specific date/on a weekend, we appreciate being contacted at least a month in advance so we can make sure we're available and plan accordingly.

If the collaboration is more flexible, like visiting a business on a weeknight, then shorter notice is usually fine. The more details we have upfront, the easier it is for us to schedule and create thoughtful content!

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As a micro influencer (10-100k), how do you keep your content fresh and engaging for your audience?

We love following other similar accounts for inspiration- it’s a great way to stay in touch with trends and see what’s resonating with different audiences. We always ask ourselves: Would we enjoy seeing this on our own personal feeds? That mindset helps us stay authentic and create content we’re genuinely excited about.

We also like to experiment with different formats, like adding voiceovers, using more on-screen text, or trying out trending styles and sounds to keep things feeling fresh and engaging. 

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How do you balance authenticity while promoting local businesses?

Balancing authenticity while promoting local businesses is really important to us. We’re selective about our collaborations because we want to make sure we’re only sharing and highlighting places or experiences that we genuinely enjoy and believe our audience will appreciate. Our goal is to keep our recommendations honest and true to our own experiences, rather than just posting for the sake of promotion.

We want our followers to trust that when we feature a business, it’s because we truly value what they offer, not just because it’s a paid partnership.

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What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a business working with an influencer for the first time?

One piece of advice we’d give to a business working with an influencer for the first time is to provide some background information and a few key points you want highlighted, but try to avoid over-producing or scripting the content. When posts feel too polished or scripted, they can come across more like traditional ads rather than authentic, user-generated experiences- which is what resonates best with audiences today.

Giving influencers the freedom to create in their own voice helps keep the content genuine and relatable, which ultimately benefits both the business and the audience.

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Any dos or don’ts brands should know when approaching influencer collaborations?

Dos: Clearly communicate your goals and provide all the important details upfront. Trust influencers to create content in their own authentic style, and maintain open, respectful communication throughout the process! 

Don’ts: Avoid over-scripting or micromanaging the content, as it can come across as inauthentic. Make sure the influencer’s audience and style align well with your brand. Most importantly, respect their time and creative process.

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Why do you think partnering with local influencers, especially at the nano/micro level, is effective for small or regional businesses?

Partnering with local influencers is effective for small businesses because their followers are part of the same community. This local connection makes their recommendations feel genuine and trustworthy, which means those followers are much more likely to become customers!

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