Learn how to build your personal brand, be unique and authentic, grow your followers, and monetize your travel content. In Part 2 of this interview Nicole Phillip takes us on her professional journey through the world of journalism, including her experiences working at the New York Times on the 1619 Project and as the Social Media Manager for the Daily Beast. She then talks about her transition out of legacy media into becoming an independent travel content creator. Nicole describes her process of finding her voice, stepping into her authentic self, building her personal brand, getting her first 250K followers on social media, and landing brand deals. She then opens up about how she separates ‘having’ vs. ‘documenting’ her travel experiences, and how all of this travel has impacted her as a person. Nicole also shares her tips for Black travelers, teases her upcoming talk at the WITS travel creator summit, and reflects on what travel means to her today. And finally, Nicole names her Top 5 Hip Hop MCs of all time!
Hosted by Matt Bowles
330: How to Pick Your Travel Niche, Find Your Voice, Get Your First 250K Followers, and Land Brand Deals with Nicole Phillip
Episode #330: How to Pick Your Travel Niche, Find Your Voice, Get Your First 250K Followers, and Land Brand Deals with Nicole Phillip
Hosted by Matt Bowles
330: How to Pick Your Travel Niche, Find Your Voice, Get Your First 250K Followers, and Land Brand Deals with Nicole Phillip
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Nicole Phillip
Nicole Phillip is a travel creator, social media strategist, and journalist who left corporate America to explore the world and help others do the same. Born in New York City to immigrant parents from Trinidad and St. Vincent, she grew up mostly in Orlando, Florida and is now a world traveler with over 250,000 followers on social media. Through her content, she empowers Black travelers and people of color to navigate the globe safely and confidently. She’s all about making travel accessible, authentic, and unfiltered, with a dash of wit and a healthy dose of humor. You can find her work in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, ABC News and many other outlets.
What You'll Learn
- How to Get Your First 250K Followers on Social Media
- How to Find Your Voice and Build an Authentic Personal Brand
- Tips for Landing Brand Deals and Monetizing Your Content
Links From the Episode
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JOIN MATT AND NICOLE AT THE WITS TRAVEL CREATOR SUMMIT IN NEW YORK CITY IN MAY 2025 AND GET A $75 DISCOUNT WITH THIS LINK
#1 BOOK THAT NICOLE RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM NICOLE WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKETLIST DESTINATIONS
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MEDIA COMPANIES FOR WHICH NICOLE WORKED
TOP 5 HIP-HOP EMCEES
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Nicole: Orlando, Florida
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
CONTACT AND FOLLOW NICOLE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:18] Working in Broadcast Journalism
[3:44] Working on the 1619 Project at the New York Times
[6:25] Being the Social Media Manager at the Daily Beast
[8:35] Transitioning Out of Legacy Media and Becoming a Travel Content Creator
[12:24] Building a Personal Brand and Finding Your Voice
[21:33] Getting Your First 250K Followers
[23:43] “Having” vs. “Documenting” the Travel Experience
[25:50] Landing Brand Deals and Collabs
[30:14] How Travel Has Impacted Nicole
[31:24] Tips for Black Travelers
[33:08] How to Meet Nicole at the WITS Travel Creator Summit 2025
[35:12] What Travel Means to Nicole
[36:48] The Lightning Round
[41:09] How to Follow, Contact and Work with Nicole
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