Mark Wolters was an early social media influencer — he created his YouTube channel, Wolters World, in 2009; since then, he’s uploaded more than 2,300 travel videos and racked up more than 227 million views and nearly 1 million subscribers. In 2014, he was named the No. 1 independent travel videographer by USA Today.

And when Wolters isn’t documenting his travel endeavors on YouTube, he’s a professor of marketing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business.

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Wolters provides a crash course in social media marketing and advises travel businesses looking to build their brand and grow a following online.

Listeners will hear Wolters reflect on his own path to success, why he chose to feature honest travel advice (that shows both the good and the bad sides of traveling), the importance of remaining authentic online and the main challenges that wannabe influencers may face when starting out.

This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Follow Mark Wolters on Social Media

Youtube:

Wolters World

Wolters World Eats

Wolters World Shorts 

Professor Wolters

Wolters World on Facebook 

Wolters World on Instagram

Wolters World on TikTok

Wolters’ Favorite influencers:

Megan Daily

Rob from Trip Hacks DC

Samuel and Audrey: @thatbackpacker

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.