Headlines

Ads Are Dead. Tell a Better Story.

Storytelling: The Last Ad Format That Still Works

Ads Are Dead. Tell a Better Story.

If you live in Ballantyne and run a business, chances are you’ve already thrown money at digital ads. You know the drill: pay-per-click, boosted posts, and banner ads that vanish into the abyss of scrolling thumbs. What you may not know is that there’s a smarter, quieter revolution happening in digital marketing—and it doesn’t shout. It tells stories.

Storytelling: The Last Ad Format That Still Works

Branded storytelling is more than a buzzword. It’s the method successful local businesses are using to cut through the noise and connect with real humans, not just impressions.

You’re not renting space. You’re owning narrative real estate on a local platform your neighbors trust—StrollingBallantyne.com, a hyperlocal extension of The Charlotte Mercury.

Where traditional ads chase metrics, branded stories foster memory. In fact:

  • 70% of readers skip ads entirely
  • 47% use ad blockers
  • But 65% of consumers say a brand’s story influences their purchase decision

That’s why our Community Partner Package includes:

  • A branded feature article
  • Acknowledgement in our weekly newsletter
  • A custom social media spotlight
  • A “Support Local News” badge for your brand

And it’s all powered by a team that lives and works right here in Charlotte.

📈 It’s not advertising. It’s content that performs like it.

Get featured where it matters. Explore the Community Partner Package

Thanks for reading!

This is Nell Thomas, senior writer at The Charlotte Mercury and contributor to StrollingBallantyne.com. I write with one hand and sip cold brew with the other. If you’re still reading, we’re probably already best friends.

There’s plenty more where this came from: 🧠 local politics, 🐶 charming pets, 🏡 real estate trends, 🍷 Ballantyne’s best hospitality, 🏀 high school sports, 🧘 community events, 🗳️ CMPD updates, and even the occasional goat on the greenway. Seriously. Check it out:

📸 Got a great Ballantyne moment? A neighbor who deserves a shoutout? A dog that should be famous? Send it to us at ballantyne@strollmag.com. Everyone has a story worth sharing.

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— Nell

(Senior Writer, Charlotte Mercury, Freelance Cold Brew Critic, Full-Time Word Nerd) ☕✍️