Lyssa-Noel Frater
Why invest in a short-term engagement spike when there’s a long-term option on the table? Homegrown in LA, Company X Marketing has figured out the secret sauce to extend the life of influencer campaigns. Instead of short-term bursts of social media engagement, the founders of Company X Marketing, Ariel Stepp and Brian Lucey, help brands get more bang for their buck when it comes to marketing dollars by coordinating off-the-grid influencer trips designed to provide weeks (or even months) of steady organic and paid content.
Company X Marketing prides itself on curating experiences for some of the biggest global brands, such as Marriott BonVoy, Paul Mitchell, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Too Faced Cosmetics, and more, elevating their digital footprint far past the live experiences they produce. Here’s how:
Creating Content that Lasts
Too often, brands rely on an influencer activation setup that hinges on short-term upticks of visibility. Instead of simply live-posting, brands can turn a three-day trip into multiple stages of content, even when the palm trees are in the rearview mirror. With this model, coverage includes organic posts, collab posts between brands and their influencer partners, and fully produced reels that are authentic, creative, and engaging pieces of content.
Given that 57% of Gen Zers have bought items directly through influencer posts [Shopify, 2025], Company X taps into that energy by extending the life of the branded content from their trips to reach people multiple times over the course of weeks. But to make it work, the content has to be good, and influencers need something to work with!
Making Content That Feels Authentic
Sure, stunning, picturesque photos of a sunset are nice, but everyone knows today’s online audiences truly connect with real moments. Company X has developed a niche in creating unique experiences and uncovering the hidden gems that go far beyond the typical tourist destinations. These special moments get influencers excited to post organic content while living in the moment with their fellow trip guests.
From dining at a secret art gallery in Barcelona to flying in hot air balloons over the ancient Aztec temples in Mexico City to harvesting Tarot at a non-profit mission in Maui, the trips give creators bucket list experiences while forming new friendships and creating authentic content that has digital legs along the way.
They help brands and influencers create mutually share-worthy moments, which only spells more views and conversation for the brand.
Meticulous Planning at Every Level
Naturally, each trip requires extensive planning. Company X Marketing handles every aspect of its trips for brands, from juggling 15 suitcases to meeting each participant’s dietary needs. By the time influencers are carted off to locations like Maui, Rhodes, or Victoria Island, every detail is carefully addressed.
Their extensive background in the celebrity world prepared them to meet the needs of demanding projects with heavy logistics and minute details. Planning for dining experiences on trips brings Company X founder Ariel Stepp back to the days of prepping green juice for MVPs like Al Gore or procuring vegan meals for Woody Harrelson at the Sundance Film Festival. Stepp says, “Anticipating needs before clients have to ask is our secret sauce. We don’t mind doing the heavy lifting and planning if it means clients have a better experience. It’s what makes them trust us and come back for more.”
A Modern Approach to the Influencer Economy
Given how quickly social media has developed in the past ten years, audiences’ and brands’ expectations have also morphed. Companies want more from their influencers, and Company X is focused on making every side of the equation happy.
The royal treatment influencers get on a Company X trip results in content that leaves brands feeling as good as the guests.
Ariel Stepp, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Services, and Brian Lucey, Co-Founder and Director of Client Services, built Company X Marketing to go further than chasing trends. The LA-based brand serves clients worldwide, demonstrating that influence doesn’t stop at one post. Instead, it’s all about creating moments people can’t stop revisiting days, weeks, or months later.
Stepp explained it best: “We’re not just curating content opportunities. We’re curating connection. That’s what brands want: relevance that lasts.”
Follow the latest from Company X Marketing on LinkedIn and Instagram.