Oceanside Harbor Restaurants
Oceanside Harbor Village has delicious waterfront dining, fresh seafood, and incredible views. It's the perfect spot for you and your family to have a fun experience in the sun. Oceanside is a beach town in North County San Diego, California with a range of shops, waterfront restaurants, and breweries. Whether you're in the mood for spicy salsa and delicious Mexican cuisine or fish and chips, the Oceanside Harbor restaurants have great food options for your tastebuds.
Oceanside Harbor Village - 280 Harbor Dr S, Oceanside, CA 92054
It's located near cities such as Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, and San Marcos. Oceanside Harbor Village is a cool local spot. You'll find rows and rows of sailboats docked. You'll see people strolling leisurely or grabbing a bite of fish tacos or fresh seafood at one of the restaurants. Oceanside Harbor Village is a buzzing location to spend the afternoon. Forget bringing a snack, eat at one of the local restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner instead.
Parking
There is free parking as well as paid parking in the area. It depends on how close you want to be and if you are good to walk a bit. While you're in town you can visit Oceanside Pier. Click here to read all about Oceanside Pier - nearby restaurants, fishing, parking, everything you need to know!
Dominic's Italian Restaurant
You can find pizza, pasta, subs, soups, salads, spaghetti at Dominic's Italian Restaurant, sometimes also called Dominic's Pizza. Order a dipping sauce: Marinara, Alfredo, Meat Sauce, Arrabbiata, or Pesto. They also have seafood dishes such as lobster bisque and New England clam chowder.
Address: 268 Harbor Drive S, Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone Number: 760-754-1881
Website: Dominic's Pizza / Dominic's Italian Restaurant
D’Vino Cafe & Wine Bar
D’Vino Cafe & Wine Bar offers classic, Italian dining with an awesome view overlooking the Oceanside Harbor marina. It is part of Dominic's Italian Restaurant with the same menu but a different seating area. Grab a bite to eat here or next door.
Address: 262 Harbor Dr, Oceanside, CA
Phone Number: 760-754-1881
Harbor Fish and Chips
This Oceanside favorite is family owned and operated business since 1969. Harbor Fish and Chips is open daily from 11 am but call for their current hours. They serve dishes like fish baskets, chicken tenders, corndog, jumbo shrimp, combos, New England clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, grilled or fried chicken, burgers, fish tacos, and more. They have drinks too: beer, wine, soda, water, coffee, tea. Their patio is dog-friendly.
Address: 276 Harbor Dr, Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone Number: 760-722-4977
Website: Harbor Fish and Chips
Harbor Pelican Deli and Mart
Come to Harbor Pelican Deli and Mart for breakfast or lunch. Breakfast is a choice of omelet, Pelican Burrito, and ham and cheese croissant. Lunch dishes such as the fish sandwich, hotdogs, fresh fish plate, and pizza. You can also buy fresh fish here such as yellowfin tuna, white sea bass, swordfish, and more. They sell drinks such as Red Bull, Perrier, and juice.
Address: 1380 N Pacific St, Oceanside, CA
Phone Number: 760-722-5853
Website: Harbor Pelican Deli and Mart
Joe's Crab Shack
Peel 'n eat shrimp, crispy calamari, garlic bread, spinach and artichoke dip, oh my. Joe's Crab Shack has a pretty extensive menu with appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, crab buckets, cocktails, and believe it or not, a lot more. They have great views of the harbor and happy hour specials Monday through Friday.
Address: 314 Harbor Dr, Oceanside, California 92054
Phone Number: 760-721-1345
Website: Joe's Crab Shack
Jolly Roger - Permanently Closed
Address: 1900 N Harbor Dr, Oceanside, CA
Phone Number: 760-967-6539
Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill
If you're seeking award-winning chefs to create your seafood dishes, Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill is a match made in tastebud heaven. Their specialties are fresh fish from local fishermen, oysters, steak, and dessert. They have a pretty extensive happy hour menu. Due to Covid, they're currently offering dine-in on their two patios, take-out, curbside and online ordering.
Address: 262 Harbor Drive South, Suite 201 Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone Number: 760-433-1900
Nana & Pop’s Sweet Shop
Soothe your sweet tooth with a stop at Nana & Pop's Sweet Shop. Get your ice cream, fresh hand-made waffle cones, old-fashioned candy, taffy town saltwater taffy. You'll find hand-dipped chocolate bananas, shaved ice, and dozens of candy bars.
Address: 280 South Harbor Drive
Phone Number: 760-722-1723
Nautical Bean Coffee Company
Established in 1994, Nautical Bean Coffee Company offers coffee, espresso, cappuccino, Americano, mochas, lattes, hot chocolate, iced coffee drinks, smoothies, and an assortment of teas. They serve breakfast all day with options such as bagel sandwich, oatmeal, muffins, bacon wrap, and more.
Address: 240 Harbor Dr, Oceanside, California 92054
Phone Number: 760-722-4851
Website: Nautical Bean Coffee Company
Oceanside Broiler Seafood, Steaks, and Sushi
Waterfront dining in Oceanside is a must-do, especially when Oceanside Broiler offers happy hour food every day 12 - 6 PM. They have lunch, dinner, kids, and delectable desserts menus. The menu is seemingly endless with fresh seafood, filet mignon, lamb, ribs, soup, salad, tacos, and literally so much more.
Address: 1325 Harbor Drive North
Phone Number: 760-722-3474
Rockin' Baja Lobster
Get a taste of Puerto Nuevo at Rockin' Baja Lobster in Oceanside. They currently offer both outdoor dining and indoor dining as well as to-go orders. They've got weekly specials as well as tacos, enchiladas, burritos, adult beverages, sides, desserts, and more.
Address: 258 Harbor Drive South
Phone Number: 760-967-6199
Stratford at the Harbor
Stratford at the Harbor fosters a family-friendly restaurant atmosphere in hopes that every visitor feels like an Oceanside local. They offer a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, where you'll find omelets, eggs and scrambles, pancakes, bagels, sandwiches, fish and chips, fish tacos, salads, and soup.
Address: 280 S Harbor Drive Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone Number: 760-453-2073
Website: Stratford at the Harbor
Tony’s Bar & Grill
Pop into Tony's Sports Bar And Grill. The menu includes lunch, dinner, beer, and wine. Locals say it's a good joint to sip beer and watch football. Reviewers often mention the 22 ingredient bloody Mary!
Address: 274 Harbor Dr, Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone Number: 760-433-8466
North County San Diego
Come to Oceanside Harbor Village for waterfront dining and to eat fresh seafood! Oceanside is located in North County San Diego near Carlsbad. Click here to discover Things to Do in Oceanside, California: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See. You might also want to check out Things to Do in North County San Diego, California as well as 8 Things to Do in Encinitas, Ca. Encinitas is right next to the Oceanside area.
Oceanside Pier: Restaurants, Fishing, Parking
Each step of the Oceanside Pier of California has entertaining things to see. From fishing to enjoying the scenery, the O'Side Pier is a great place to spend a fun day with family or friends. You're likely to make real memories to last for years to come. You just can't visit without walking the longest wooden pier on the West Coast at least once!
Spend the night near the coast. Dig your feet in the sand. Listen to the waves crash and savor the nature that surrounds Oceanside. Oceanside is a beautiful area to get away for a bit. Stare at the water, enjoy the sun, search for a sport to play, catch fish, and savor the sandy beach.
Scroll down to learn about the history of the pier, the restaurant at the end of the pier, what you can do, places to eat, and where to shop nearby!
* This post has been updated as of September 2022
History of the Oceanside Pier
The historic Oceanside Pier was originally proposed in 1887. At the time the pier was called a wharf. It went through a lot of trials and tribulations, suffering irreparable damage from a storm in 1890. Over the past 100+ years, there have been 6 iterations of the pier. The current pier is 1,942 feet long and was dedicated in 1987. It remains one of the most popular things to do in Oceanside, CA.
The pier is located in the city of Oceanside, California which is just north of San Diego. You can walk on this long, beautiful pier to get a great view of Oceanside. If you're coming to town, be sure to give it a stroll.
Address location: Pier, Oceanside, CA 92054 at the cross-section of Pacific St. and Pier View Way
Hours: Closes at 10 p.m.
Total length: 1,954 feet (596 m)
Opening date: 1888
Oceanside CA North County San Diego
You can't visit the city of Oceanside, California without walking the Oceanside Fishing Pier. This is one of the most classic things to do in Oceanside. The Oceanside Pier is popular amongst both locals and tourists. You can watch folks fishing or watch surfers pretty much anytime you're there.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
Ruby's Diner
You used to be able to eat at Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier; Ruby's was a 40s-style diner with American classics like fries, burgers, and milkshakes, but it has since closed. Unfortunately. It was such a perfect spot!
As of April 2022, a sign went up to say something new will be opening soon! There's a new restaurant coming to the Oceanside Pier. Stay tuned.
Restaurants Near Oceanside Pier
Hungry for a meal? There are dining options close to the pier.
- 333 Pacific
- Hello Betty
- Camp Coffee Company
- Harni Sushi - Oceanside
- Miss Kim’s by That Boy Good
- Banana Dang Coffee
Fishing
Leisurely stroll your way through to the end of the pier to look out on the Pacific Ocean. While you're strolling the pier, enjoy the wildlife. I've seen a sea lion, a seal, pelicans (on separate occasions not all at once although that would be cool), and of course tons of seagulls and pigeons. I saw some dolphins from afar. The pelicans are known for frequenting the pier especially since they can get some free fish. You might be lucky enough to see the pelican(s) and get a photo or two; they're not always there but they're there pretty often.
Shopping
Oceanside Pier has a small bait shop on it where you can get some convenience items and snacks. There are also restrooms if you need to use them. There're benches placed occasionally along the way if you want to rest or take in the scenery. There are also some shops, vendors, food stands, and picnic tables at the bottom of the pier before you walk on. Since the pier is located in Oceanside 92054 at the cross-section of Pacific St. and Pier View Way, there are plenty of local restaurants nearby to dine at or pick up some food to eat at the beach!
Beachcombing and Walking
The best way to get to know a city is by walking it. Oceanside literally hugs the coast. It's an idyllic spot. I like going for walks and checking out the shoreline. Downtown Oceanside is nearby. Southern California has a lot of beautiful places to visit. No matter what month you visit, from December to summer months like June or August, you'll love the nice weather at Oceanside Pier. There's even a beach amphitheater so you just may catch a band or someone performing. There are concerts there often.
Sunset Views
The historic Oceanside Pier is one of the longest piers in California at 1,942 feet in length and is the longest wooden pier in California. If you enjoy the outdoors and just want to walk around with a beach view, this is a great spot! Plus, it's free, so you can't go wrong there. No matter your favorite place to visit in the city of Oceanside, make sure you add this one for a lovely pier view. Come for a Pacific Ocean sunset as you enjoy a fun day on the coast. The Oceanside Pier is a perfect place to end the day. It's actually open until 10 p.m.
Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor is around 1.5 miles away from Oceanside Fishing Pier, which should be a 10-minute drive depending on traffic. There are kayak rentals and other fun stuff to do over there. You can ride your bike across the area! Read about the Oceanside Harbor restaurants.
When you visit, go to the beach in Oceanside, maybe a couple beaches. There are things to do at any time of day. You walk directly to Oceanside Pier from the beach and then stroll along the coast. Tyson Street Park is nearby within walking distance. You can go surfing the waves, swimming, or hang out on the beach. Spend the day like local residents, enjoying a casual beach day. It's beautiful morning, noon, night, whenever you come.
How much is parking at Oceanside Beach?
Parking in Oceanside is fairly affordable and there is plenty of metered parking. You can find free street parking as well as one free parking garage. If street parking isn't available by the time you arrive, consider using pay lots out of convenience. No matter where you park, read all signs in the parking lots carefully as parking restrictions are subject to change at any time. There are parking lots such as Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 28 Parking lot (351 The Strand N), Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 30 (Betty's Lot) Parking lot (101 The Strand N), Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 21 Parking lot (214 Surfrider Way), and more.
Are there any beach restaurants in Oceanside? What are the best places to eat in Oceanside?
While there aren't any restaurants directly on the beach, there are some close to shore. Definitely within walking distance and of course more if you drive the coast. Things to Do in Oceanside, California: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See! Oceanside, California is a city with a rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and outdoor adventure located in North County San Diego. For residents and tourists alike, Oceanside boasts an array of activities. Of course, you can head south to San Diego too.
Soak in the amazing scenery of the Pacific Ocean or watch a surf competition as you stroll your way to the end of the pier. Eat at a restaurant, grab a craft beer, and enjoy the view from San Diego's iconic landmark. There are plenty of events that occur throughout the year so you can check the Oceanside Welcome Center or browse online! They even have surf competitions.
Related reading:
Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee Shop in Town
North County San Diego offers plenty of friendly coffee shops to explore. Whether you're searching for the perfect breakfast menu for a family gathering or local restaurants to grab a fresh cup of coffee, there are so many amazing options near Encinitas.
Best Coffee Shops Near Me in Encinitas!
This town is really the perfect location to find a cool cafe especially if you love beach vibes, cool breezes, and the smell of salt in the air. Want to eat in or get takeout? You can always enjoy a cup of coffee in this fun beach town.
This list covers some of the best coffee shops in Encinitas, with locations in Downtown Encinitas, Leucadia, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
I’ll be adding more great locations to this list in the future.
*Updated as of September 2022
Better Buzz |
Better Buzz Coffee Encinitas
Better Buzz offers quick single-origin drinks like macchiato, latte, cortado, to name a couple. Their handcrafted beverages, served hot or cold, include options such as Best Drink Ever® (classic americano with their signature creamy vanilla), Honey Latte (espresso, creamy vanilla, honey, steamed milk), and more things to sip on. This cute shop also has teas, smoothies, sandwiches, fancy toasts, and cold brew on tap. Free Wi-Fi, open for takeout, dogs are allowed, vegan options too.
Address: 578 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 487-5562
Website: Better Buzz Encinitas
Coffee Coffee
In this space, you'll find organic coffee roasted on-site by Revolution Roasters. Gotta love a quality coffee roast! The aroma smells delicious. Get a quick bite to eat from Coffee Coffee's breakfast menu with food such as the Jose Especial made with scrambled egg, spinach, tomato, red onion topped with avocado and feta. Pick between the housemade salsa fresca or choice of bread. lox bagel, acai bowl, avocado toast, breakfast wrap, and a lot more. They serve lunch too if you want to come for an afternoon meal.
Address: 970 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 436-2233
Website: Coffee Coffee
Related reading: Things to Do in Encinitas: North County San Diego Gem
Encinitas Cafe
This cafe has a long history in town, originating in the 1930s as Fred's Cafe, then known as Zim's cafe into the 1950s. By 1960, the name was The Coffee Mill. The Encinitas Cafe name has stuck since 1989. If you're on the hunt for food, as in a full-on breakfast brunch, lunch menu scenario, this is the perfect spot to check out. Encinitas Cafe has an extensive four-page menu filled with breakfast classics such as delicious eggs benedict, mimosa, scrambles and lunch items like burgers, soup, salads, and hot open-faced sandwiches.
Address: 531 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 632-0919
Website: Encinitas Cafe
GOODONYA® Organic Eatery
Find organic coffee and tea, such as a classic coffee to the Repair latte with collagen, lucuma, raw honey. From breakfast scrambles to organic sandwiches and salads, GOODONYA® offers a variety of organic, non-GMO goodies. This is one of those restaurants that has a little bit of everything. Open for delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, sit-down dining, indoor and outdoor seating, you name it. Great place to eat outside or grab a quick coffee by the coast.
Address: 1051 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (858) 264-8550
Website: GOODONYA® Organic Eatery
Lil Jungle Java
On a mission to support small businesses? Then this Encinitas coffee shop is worth your time. Available in the drive-through/takeout only, you can pick up a quickie drink before heading to work or on your next errand. Located in Encinitas Village Square II, Lil Jungle Java is a local favorite and hidden gem because it's a coffee stand versus a larger shop.
Address: 1500 Encinitas Blvd
Phone: (760) 917-5589
Related reading: Carlsbad Coffee Shops: Best Coffee in Carlsbad, California
Lofty Coffee |
Lofty Coffee Company
Lofty is a popular spot with multiple locations in San Diego County. I also included Lofty Coffee in my Carlsbad Coffee Shops guide: Searching for the Best Coffee in Carlsbad, California. This coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating too. They serve fresh coffee, tea, pastries, hand-rolled croissants, muffins, and cookies. Who doesn't love a quality cookie?! They have yummy things such as their house coffee, Kyoto-style cold brew, Iced Hibiscus Lemon Grass and Blood Orange Tea, baked from scratch pastry and dessert such as almond croissant. Eat outside and enjoy the great scenery.
Address: 90 N Coast Hwy 101 #214
Phone: (760) 230-6747
Lofty Coffee Encinitas Roasting Works
Address: 97 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 230-6747
Website: Lofty Coffee Encinitas
Related reading: Things to do in Oceanside, California - visit here to read!
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters |
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters
Order ahead to takeout and pick up at the counter or stay around to enjoy your beverage at this locally-owned Encinitas coffee shop. Ironsmith Coffee Roasters is a fresh, independent coffee shop and roastery that sells espresso beverages, specialty drinks, tea, chai tea, hot chocolate, and retail bag coffee to purchase to make at home. Roasts on pour might range so be sure to ask what they have or check their current menu.
Address: 458 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (626) 429-6397
Website: Ironsmith Coffee Roasters
Bump Coffee
This little coffee shop is located in Cardiff by the Sea park; it has a hole-in-the-wall vibe that you might just walk by on accident. Bump Coffee selects ingredients from geographically diverse regions in South America. Come for the coffee but stay for the empanadas.
Address: 126 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
Website: Bump Coffee
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
Pannikin has been serving the local community with coffee, tea, and other baked treats since 1968. This family-owned and operated business based in the heart of Leucadia, California roasts coffee and bakes daily for all four Pannikin locations in San Diego County. The Encinitas CA Pannikin is located in a historic Santa Fe Railroad Station built in 1888.
Address: 510 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 436-5824
Website: Pannikin Coffee & Tea
Peet's Coffee
You might have heard of this coffee shop chain that sells handcrafted espresso beverages, freshly made coffee, Mighty Leaf teas, as well as warm breakfast. Peet's Coffee in Encinitas Village Shopping Center has the Peet's standard range of menu including hot coffee, seasonal drings, hot tea, iced drinks, and more.
Address: 1486 Encinitas Blvd
Phone: (760) 274-1280
Website: Peet's Coffee
Philz Coffee
Philz Coffee has quite a few locations throughout California as well as Chicago and the D.C Metro area. They serve some pretty interesting drinks in their featured creations, from Iced Coffee Rosé smooth and sweet iced coffee, topped with subtle rose cream to the Tesora, original coffee blend, which they recommend with cream and honey.
Address: 1060 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 230-6880
Website: Philz Coffee
Queenstage Coffee House
Coffee, pastries, breakfast, lunch
Address: 190 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Website: Queenstage Coffee
Surfdog's Java Hut - Temporarily Closed
Address: 1126 S Coast Hwy 101
Woodsy Coffee
This cute spot features menu items such as the beet hummus toast or the buttermilk biscuit served with maple butter and local jam. They have specialty lattes like honey lavender and salted maple, coffee drinks, tea, and smoothies too!
Address: 875 Santa Fe Dr
Phone: (760) 452-6380
Website: Woodsy Coffee
Zumbar Coffee & Tea
Established in 2003, this San Diego boutique coffee roaster has locations in Sorrento Valley and Cardiff. Zumbar Coffee & Tea sells, you guessed it, coffee and tea: espressos to 16 oz. cold brew coffee to pastries such as locally baked almond croissants. People tend to love the friendly service and good prices.
Address: 111 Chesterfield Dr #115, Cardiff, CA 92007
Website: Zumbar Coffee & Tea
Coffee, Tea, and More in North County San Diego
Experience coffee with a view! Grab a cup of coffee then head near Moonlight Beach to watch the waves ebb and flow. Encinitas CA is close to Carlsbad/Carlsbad Village. You can also find a range of cafes in the area as well. These are more than what you'd consider an average coffee shop. L’Atelier de Paris is popular for its drool-worthy desserts. Visit a couple of the best coffee shops in Encinitas and savor the gift of caffeine. Click here to visit Encinitas Visitors Center website.
What are your favorite Encinitas coffee shops? Do you have a go-to order?
San Diego Influencer: What is Influencer Marketing? What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
I'm a blogger.
I'm an influencer.
I'm a social media manager.
I'm a blogging coach.
I'm a freelance writer.
I'm all of the above!
There are so many buzzwords these days - blogger, influencer, influencer marketing, engagement - but what does it all mean? Well, some have different meanings, some are similar, & some are industry words much like you'd view on a resume. I don't go around introducing myself as a San Diego influencer in all instances.
I've written over 500 blog posts & hundreds of posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, over the years. I've had a blog since 2011, long before I ever had an Instagram page. I majored in journalism & decided I didn't want to spend my life at a newspaper, the next best thing was a lifestyle blog. In 2011, it wasn't about followers, it was about finding a place on the internet where you felt at home. What a different time! In 2017, I quit my corporate job to find the next step for me: freelancing, remote work, writing, social media management.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
Hanging out & hiking in Julian, California. |
When I do social media management for small local businesses & other clients, I'm a social media manager. What does a social media manager do in a day? Read here. When I'm completing contracted writing for magazines, I'm a freelance writer. If I'm invited to a restaurant opening in San Diego, it's probably because of my blog or social media accounts, so in that case, I'd call myself a San Diego influencer.
I remember attending a press trip for Visit El Paso in 2018 & talking to a man in his 50s. He was on the press trip too, but more on the event planning side, I was on the blogger side. He asked me about the term "influencer" & asked if that's what young people refer to themselves as these days. It was a good question.
Click here to contact me. I'd love to learn more about you & your top business needs.
Related reading: Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager from April 2020
What Are Influencers vs. Bloggers?
Influencer marketing isn't just in San Diego or the United States, it's all across the world. There are influencers everywhere, from San Francisco & Los Angeles to New York & Paris & Warsaw, Poland. Overall, being a top blogger, influencer, etc. really depends on the person & what they want to be called. Generally, a blogger has a literal blog. Whether on WordPress, Wix, BlogSpot, SquareSpace, what have you, a blogger is a blogger because of a blog.
Someone who blogs is a blogger; someone who knits is a knitter; someone who plays basketball is a basketball player. It's more about the action, not about semantics.
Read this post for a whole exercise on how to find blogging inspiration & blog ideas.
An influencer might not have a blog but instead has a social media presence, such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, the list goes on. PS, read this blog post for tips to increase your Facebook reach. So because an influencer could be on any/all social channels, the term influencer is a general description of what we do. Social media influencers have influence because of the followers & online presence they've created, similar to a blog, but in a different capacity.
For example, at one point in May 2020, I had up to 2.2 million monthly viewers on my Pinterest profile. Is Pinterest social media?
A blogger might also have an active social media presence, & an influencer could have a blog. Because there isn't a magical exact preciseness to it all, each person might refer to themselves as something different! You can view examples of what a person calls themselves on their blog or social media channels, sometimes in their email signature.
Have questions about influencer marketing in the city of San Diego? Click here to contact me.
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What is Influencer Marketing?
Both the top influencers & bloggers create content, write (whether it's captions or blog posts), take photos, negotiate, & so much more. Whether you are a therapist, beauty brand, or a beach towel company, there are ways to improve engagement, get a follow or two, increase visits, increase page views to your contact page, & more.
Influencer marketing is basically like user-generated marketing for the brand; they essentially hire the influencer to do work, ie. content or photos & then share it with their family, friends, audience that they personally developed.
Sometimes I'm a lifestyle blogger, travel influencer, travel writer, social media consultant, the names change because I'm all of them. It depends on who I'm speaking to or what I'm doing! When I went on that press trip in Texas, it makes sense that I'm a California blogger/San Diego influencer since I'm coming in with a California perspective & California viewers make up one of my biggest percentage of followers.
Want to contact me? Click here.
What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
Lifestyle influencer marketing revolves around things people use, eat, or experience on a regular basis, such as tea or a toothbrush or a short trip with family. After the Texas press trip, I created content on my blog. I found a particular aspect about El Paso that I loved & felt my followers & Google searchers would be interested in or would search for later. I wrote a blog post about Franklin Mountains State Park & then shared that content on my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TripAdvisor).
Going on the press trip gave me content to write about; it gave me experiences, memories, & furthered my own blogging/influencing career by being part of a full-on fly me out, pay for my hotel room type of press trip! In return, the influencers/bloggers create content, take photos, or tag the brand, link to the website, generate interest, views, website clicks, or bookings, etc.
A lot of times a top influencer becomes an influencer by being themselves. For example, I wrote a post about rainbow eucalyptus trees in Balboa Park, San Diego (which you can read here) & it started getting organic search traffic from people Googling fun things in San Diego or where to see rainbow eucalyptus in San Diego.
As an influencer or blogger, you don't work for someone else, it's your platform to use as you wish. As an influencer, it becomes a business that the person chooses what's best. They can choose if they want to work with fashion & style, news, beauty, travel, food.
And remember: it's not always about the number of followers, how much reach do they get? How much engagement?
For example, I had a campaign with Del Taco to promote the Beyond Meat range of burritos & tacos. As someone who has been meat-free for 15 years, I was already buying this product. It made sense to me when the email popped in my inbox about doing a sponsored post on Instagram to talk about it. Make money talking about something I already used, ate, tried? Yes, please. Take a look at my Instagram post!
If you'd like to contact me, click here.
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Examples of San Diego Influencer Marketing Events I've Attended
- I went to an event at Home & Away Encinitas for Thorn Beer. They invited foodie influencers to attend. These are regular people. Most of them have a day job, a life other than influencing. These are people who love food & probably post about it frequently, perhaps they use certain hashtags to find new followers. Take a look at my Instagram post about the event & experience here.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
- I was invited to the opening of the Scripps Ranch location of Juneshine. View my Instagram post from that event. This event was a bit younger, more modern, & fresh. Most influencers were young, under 40. It's all about the brand, Juneshine is a hard kombucha, which might have a fun, fresh young audience compared to a craft beer brand. The influencers you invite to your event should reflect your brand!
- I attended a mindfulness app launch party in San Diego a few years back at the start of influencer marketing. There was a range of professionals - not just bloggers. Each professional might have a different niche & audience, whether influencer or other local business representatives.
Is Influencer Marketing Free? What Does it Cost?
I've been invited to events across San Diego County. Sometimes a public relations company contacts me via email or sometimes you get a quick Instagram message about something from a brand itself. Each company or event is different. Sometimes there are no requirements for a particular event, they just invite you to feel free to post or not post. Sometimes they want you to post a couple Instagram Stories & other times it's more involved. This is where certain influencers have the leverage to have sponsored posts, posting fees, or other requirements, especially if a lifestyle influencer has a large following/reach. And yes, sometimes there is payment, depending on the campaign or type of sponsored collaboration.
Contact me or see about Coaching, Consulting, & Management for your small business.
On a press trip in Lompoc, California with Explore Lompoc. I wrote Fun Things to Do in the City of Lompoc, California on my blog. |
Finding an Influencer for Your Business
From La Jolla, Balboa Park, Del Mar, all the way up to Julian, there are events, restaurant openings, local businesses all around San Diego that could use lifestyle influencer marketing. It's all about finding the correct person for your brand. One influencer might offer daily posting on Instagram about local eateries to try in San Diego County while another might share home decor tips. Follow a few to get a feel for who's out there.
Related reading: How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
You made it all the way to the bottom so what's the next step? Sometimes you have to take a leap & see what happens. If you need some help, I work with businesses on their engagement, blog writing, social media content, & more.
Whether you live in the city of San Diego or somewhere else, your business might benefit from influencer marketing. Have a question about social media influencers or small business influencer marketing? Contact me. Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Testimonials
“Very good job going above and beyond my request for stats. Appreciate you putting your critical thinking hat on when looking at the data and extrapolating actionable insights. This is excellent as we continue to test and tweak.” - R.W.
"Carmen helped me prioritize my goals for my brand as a whole. She provided me with skills to improve my decision-making in everything from blog topics, gauging my audience, and making my personality really shine through in my work." -K.S.
"I have so much more clarity about the direction we are headed in--and we are already seeing results! I implemented her SEO strategy a few weeks ago and in the past week we have started to see more referrals through Google. Most importantly, these are quality referrals that have booked with us right away and been eager to pay our full fee. Carmen keeps me accountable to my goals and also provides feedback on my marketing. I send her 90% of our content before it goes out, and she always thinks of ways to make it better." - C.A.
Want to hire me for social media management, consulting, or something else? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Things to Do in North County San Diego, California
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
Remember this post is more for future reference as travel starts to open up again. Please be safe. Socially distance yourself from others whenever possible. Wear your mask. I went on a hike & nearly everyone wore a mask. There weren't many people on the trail, but each person put their mask on as they passed by, especially in narrow areas of the trail where you can't distance yourself. It's like sunscreen, hat, water, it's protection! Why wouldn't I protect myself?
What is Considered North County in San Diego? What Towns are North of San Diego?
Things to do: What is There to Do in North County San Diego?
Beaches
Hikes
Water Activities
Gardens
Grab coffee or tea at one of the many coffee shops in Carlsbad, Oceanside, etc! |
Coffee & Tea
Breweries in Vista
Don't miss the craft beer & brewery scene in North County; Vista has a lot of breweries! |
Breweries in Carlsbad
Breweries in Oceanside
Wineries
Other Adult Beverages
Lots of hiking & nature in North County SD, such as in Escondido! |
Parks
San Diego Zoo
LEGOLAND California
Shopping at Westfield North County
Schools
Outdoors and Other Things
Oceanside, California
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Encinitas, California
Del Mar, California
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
Rainbow in San Marcos, California. |
Travel outside of La Jolla & the most well-known parts of San diego & really visit up north. There are literally so many things to do. Adults, teens, & kids alike can find several great opportunities in North County San Diego. From shopping local boutiques on a weekend to heading to a dive bar with friends at night, there's always something to do. You'll have a good time. What is there to do in San Diego today? See for yourself! I hope you get a chance to travel to North County. Do you have any new information? Leave a comment or email.