CASE STUDY

First in Fright

  • Visit NC is the official state-funded tourism entity for North Carolina. They are always looking for new ways to make North Carolina the #1 preferred travel destination in the Southeast among travelers.

  • Haunted tourists represent a highly motivated audience who connect deeply with destinations year-round. But to reach and influence the haunted tourism audience, we need to go deeper into the platforms where people are discovering and being recommended content while still ensuring we are still in pursuit of observing and building on KPIs.

  • A fully integrated content strategy across paid, borrowed and owned platforms showcasing the most compelling creative components of the First in Fright campaign, including a new podcast rich with the haunting tales of the Old North State. 

To hear it is to fear it.

The First in Fright podcast explores all things paranormal in North Carolina. 12 episodes share stories behind the strange, giving consumers the supernatural scoop on NC’s scary true stories, unsolved mysteries and urban legends. In 2024, the strategic release of this podcast yielded placement on a Top 50 chart on Apple Podcasts and Top 30 on Spotify.

A haunted hub

A robust First in Fright campaign landing page and strategic system of content housed a variety of trip inspiration.

  • A custom interactive “Haunted Trail” helps to connect the dots, highlighting points of interest and connecting travelers with rich storytelling.

  • Eerie full-width imagery and a custom user-generated social gallery set the scene and allow travelers to truly visualize their creepy retreat to the spookiest state.

  • Custom region-specific itineraries, blogs and points of interest were developed to satisfy consumer curiosity and maximize SEO/AEO opportunities.

Scary good results

43k

plays across listening platforms

3,495

Spotify followers

109,215

page views on web

14k

dedicated email leads

Gold Honor, Shorty Awards 2025

Communication Arts 2025 Shortlist

AWARDS

CREDITS

Agency: luquire

Glen Hilzinger – CCO

Mash Ashley – Group Creative Director, Art Direction

Ryan Coleman – Group Creative Director, Copywriter

Nancy Landesberg – Head of Production

Rebecca Henderson – Senior Digital Strategist, Copywriter

David Fisch – Motion Editor

Maggie Carpenter – Social Media Strategist

Aliza Rosen – AYR Media/Executive Producer

Cooper Thornton – Podcast Host/VO

Bronwyn Gruet – Illustrator

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