If you’re a Triad local who uses social media, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve seen the Explore Winston-Salem Instagram and Facebook pages within the last year, and have likely become a follower. If so, you happen to be one of thousands of locals and visitors who look to Explore Winston-Salem to find out what’s happening at your favorite local bars, breweries, and boutiques. Although Explore Winston-Salem started out as a social media success story, it has now transformed into a booming business with a popular website, newsletter, and biweekly updates on WXII 12 News. Pretty soon, locals will even have the opportunity to attend events hosted by Explore Winston-Salem as well.

Christy Bellis, the wizard behind the social media curtain, fell in love with Winston-Salem when she and her husband moved to the area after leaving a large city. Accustomed to dealing with heavy traffic and difficult downtown parking in cities such as Charlotte and Washington D.C., she and her husband were pleasantly surprised to find that a seemingly small city carried the charms of a slower lifestyle without sacrificing the fun and excitement of living in a metropolis. She and her husband were ecstatic when they discovered that local hotspots such as Wiseman Brewing in Downtown Winston-Salem had a parking lot onsite, which was a breath of fresh air to the pair, as they were prepared to park blocks away. When Christy realized that there was more to Winston-Salem than initially meets the eye, she saw a need for resources informing locals and out-of-town visitors of everything that Winston-Salem has to offer. Instead of residents constantly checking each business’s website or events calendar online, Christy decided to create the Explore Winston-Salem Instagram account to compile and curate all upcoming events in the area, along with a newsletter that she releases each Wednesday evening at 9:00 p.m. The newsletter notifies subscribers of food truck lineups, large and small local events, festivals, and live music for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Explore Winston-Salem newsletter was first created in December 2020, and is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. After leaving her full-time job and putting all of her energy into her social media venture, Christy’s hard work paid off in record time. In just less than a year, the Explore Winston-Salem Instagram page gained over 10,000 followers, and has accumulated a whopping 12.3K followers and counting as of October 2021. Not only has the Instagram account and newsletter become a staple for Winston-Salem dwellers, but it has also been a fulfilling venture for Christy, who feels more connected to the community than ever. In fact, she has met numerous close friends through Explore Winston-Salem. Whenever Christy receives messages from new residents or individuals preparing to move to the Winston-Salem area who have been inspired by Explore Winston-Salem, she takes solace in the fact that her goal in sharing her love of the greater Winston-Salem area has proven effective.

Much of Explore Winston-Salem’s success can be attributed to Christy’s educational background in psychology and marketing, allowing her to tap into the minds of others. Christy ensures that the majority of the events she advertises will be engaging to her followers and newsletter subscribers, with announcements of new bar and brewery events, local trivia, festivals, and live music in the greater Winston-Salem area being most prevalent. Making sure to show love to nearby towns such as Lewisville, Pfafftown, Kernersville, and more, Explore Winston-Salem takes advantage of the diversity of the Greater Winston-Salem area. Lewisville residents can reach Downtown Winston-Salem in a matter of minutes, while Kernersville events might even draw in the participation of Greensboro locals as well.

When Christy first started her business venture, she was still working a full-time job and found herself working countless hours. As Explore Winston-Salem continues to grow in popularity, she continues to find herself working around the clock, but enjoys being the boss of her own schedule. In the future, she hopes to grow her team and hire copywriters, ambassadors, and offer marketing internships for college students within the next year. Of course, Christy is grateful for her fantastic sponsors who have helped grow Explore Winston-Salem, and is thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community of fellow Winston-Salem enthusiasts.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the Explore Winston-Salem newsletter, you can find the link to sign up by visiting the @explorewinstonsalem Instagram page. For more information and other inquiries, follow Explore Winston-Salem on Facebook and Twitter, and visit explorewinstonnc.com. You can also catch Christy sharing local updates with viewers on WXII 12 News.