I'm starting to look for STR opportunities in the Blowing Rock, Boone, Banner Elk areas.

The Banner elk, Sugar Mtn, Beech Mtn, Boone, etc. areas attract renters year round.

As I type this response,the banner ad is for a lender. 

Not sure if it's the kind you are looking for, but it's in one of the banners that scrolls through on the home page.

I'm currently working with Banner on another financing strategy, and they appear to be more flexible than any institution I've worked with thus far.

That's an area where you could use $1000 per month to put ads in their local papers or websites, or sponsor some local events where you have a booth and a huge banner and give out flyers.I'm talking small town guerilla marketing - get out there in the areas you want to win and find way to touch THOUSANDS of people in those target areas repeatedly.

I have been doing my due diligence and have gain a large amount of knowledge in REI but still lack real life experience.But what I do have is a lot of knowledge and experience is design and marketing:Build professional websites that run fast, convert, and work on mobileLead generation funnels to help built email listsPremium graphic design like infographics, logos, ebooks, social media banners, etcSEO to rank higher in search enginesFacebook Advertising Product design and developmentSocial Media Management and moreSure you can go the route of using free website builders like Wixs and Sqaurespace, but your sites won't be very professional compared to industry standards.

Between Firefox and the black BP banner, and this white bar, I feel as if I am reading through a viewfinder.  

No banner. 18X24 with mounting holes.Which signage company/website have you used?

Maybe there's a for-rent banner with a telephone number in front of it.