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As the world becomes more connected through the internet, being in a specific physical location to do work has become less and less necessary. People from anywhere can do work everywhere and often do. No office. No store. This has given rise to the term digital nomad.

Digital nomads are a type of people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner. Such workers often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles.

This phenomenon is catching on by workers and businesses globally. Here are 5 ways to make money as a digital nomad.

5 Ways To Make Money as a Digital Nomad

Sharon Gourlay How to Make Money From Blogging

We highly recommend Sharon Gourlay’s “How to Make Money From Blogging” – She details strategies for monetization and the exact methods she uses to make an annual $150,000 income.  

Click to Learn Sharon’s Secrets

Blogging

Not that long ago, blogging was considered journaling, but in an open digital format. People wrote about their cats, their problems and worries and nobody really read their posts except their mom and friends.

However blogging has evolved to the point where it is a seen as a professional digital platform, with influencers scooping traditional news media on stories, outperforming conventional entertainment sources and providing quality education resources.

Blogging has become much more than rants to your inner circle. Because of this, it has also become an industry, where people can make money through advertising and leveraging their site for search engine optimization clients.

Both methods provide the opportunity to create a work situation that can be fulfilled anywhere there is an internet connection. And the ease of establishing a blog site through user-friendly companies like Shopify, have made the process so easy, you barely need to know what technology is, let alone be highly technical.

Blogging Sydney Blog Computer Laptop

Freelance Writing

Writing is becoming more and more of a gig and less and less of a job today. Instead of companies hiring writers on their payroll, writers are often paid per story or article.

This model allows the companies the efficiency of only paying for work completed and provides writers the freedom to work for multiple employers and produce at their personal pace. Freelance writing can be done anywhere you have an internet connection to submit your work and apply for assignments.

Freelance writers are also becoming a part of the growing need for search engine optimization via blogging. These industries work hand in glove and the potential of both spill onto the other.

Day/Swing Trader

The days of trading stocks merely on the floor of the exchange are long over. Through services like Etrade and Scottrade you can buy and sell stocks in real time, allowing you to leverage your skills as a trader from anywhere there is an internet connection.

Because of the significance of when you buy and sell, it is important your connection speed is adequate, otherwise you can find yourself upside down on some transactions. However, this is work that can not only be done anywhere, there is an romantic benefit to making stock exchanges in a hammock strung to two palm trees.

One disadvantage to this work comes from time zones. If you want to trade stocks on the American stock exchanges but live in Thailand, you might have some crazy hours. This could actually be an appeal for those who are nocturnal, however.

fashion-legs-notebook-working

Teaching/Tutoring/Support

There is no reason for any discipline to require in person lessons anymore. Teaching can often be done via video, where the lessons are done ahead of time and subscribers can watch at their leisure or they can be done live via video conferencing.

This is particularly true if you have a skill that is in high demand and people everywhere want to gain from your expertise. The internet is increasingly creating a reality where the need to be local is disappearing. The tools to do work from anywhere are available, cost-effective, powerful and ubiquitous.

And employers are increasingly opening up to the idea that they can pay for production and not hover over the shoulders of their employees. As this reality develops, the line between a vacation get-away and a daily job will continue to blur.

Sharon Gourlay

Sharon Gourlay makes a living teaching Digital Nomad Wannabes how to make money using online platforms. Photo: Digital Nomad Wannabe.

Online Store Owner

Selling stuff online has become so simple. Site providers like Shopify allow you to find a domain and setup an internet storefront in minutes and begin selling your stuff around the world. Because your customers can live anywhere, why can’t you? It is the world wide web afterall.

This is not only a freeing way to do business, because you don’t have to be tethered to a physical location, it is cost-effective as well. Instead of paying for a brick and mortar store, you simply pay for your website and the cost of shipping your goods or providing your services.

And sites like Shopify also make it easy to take money, ship goods, and easily deliver services so you don’t have to sit at your computer waiting for transactions.

TOOLS EVERY DIGITAL NOMAD NEEDS. CLICK TO AMAZON ↓

Apple 13.3″ MacBook Air Laptop

SONY ICD PX333 Digital Voice Recorder

Moleskine Classic Notebook

INSPIRED? PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

If you enjoy getting social, you can follow their journey on FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterest and Instagram.

    22 Comments

  1. I like this article because it really highlights for me the need for a blogger to have a portfolio career. When people say ‘do you live from your blog’ the answer is no – but I do live from some of the things associated with having a blog…

    • Absolutely – one of the biggest keys to creating a sustainable income as a digital nomad is to diversify your income streams; many influencers use their blog as a platform for other gigs, like freelance writing, outreach, SEO, teaching others how to blog etc :)

  2. My husband has considered being an online-teacher at a college while I blog. There are some places were a BS in a math related field (his is physics) will allow you to teach developmental math (i.e. below college level) to incoming college students. The pay is consummate with adjunct professors in physical classrooms but it is location independent. He was even thinking about getting a MS just to make sure all the boxes are fully checked.

    • Sounds like an awesome opportunity Jenn – it really is amazing the opportunities which are available online these days, the traditional working world as we know it has been completely transformed by advances in technology and the internet.

      Shows you that there really are opportunities out there in every field for people who don’t want to be tied down to any one location.

  3. This a great post with realistic suggestions for those curious about what it means to be a digital nomad. I get asked this question a lot, I know where to direct people now so they can get some clarity.

    • Thanks Natasha, and we’re more than happy for you to direct curious minds here :)

  4. I have made money in 3 out of these 5 ways you’ve mentioned. When I was much younger, I used to tutor students for the tough college entrance exams and that was certainly a very fulfilling job but now I am a full time marketing professional and I love that too :) I do freelance writing sometimes, if I find myself between jobs and that also earns me a decent living. Blogging is something I’m doing right now and although I do make little bit of money here and there, I’m yet to see a good amount of ‘moolah’ coming from it :)

    • Awesome Medha, very cool that you’ve dabbled in quite a few of these. And awesome that you have a job that you love – ultimately that’s what it’s all about – whether it’s 9-5 or a location independent gig online – the biggest thing is waking up every day to something which you love :)

  5. I love how we now live in an age where this is possible! I didn’t know of all these options when I first ventured into travelling while wanting to work and love seeing these unique possibilities :)

    • Isn’t it incredible! The landscape of employment has literally been transformed – the internet wasn’t even really available when I was growing up, and now I make a living because of it. It’s crazy to think about the type of possibilities technological advancements will open up next!

  6. After three years as a digital nomad, I actually find this really helpful. It’s refreshing to look at how you present blogging, and I definitely need to boost those other four methods of monetizing my lifestyle. Pinned!

    • Thanks Skye, I;m glad we could give you a fresh perspective – feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions :) Appreciate the share on Pinterest :)

  7. Day trading requires a special mind-set- and a volatile stock market. I would put that choice the lowest of the five.

    • For sure, day trading requires the most technical skill on the list, and you definitely have to have a particular mindset. I like to include it in the possibilities though :)

  8. It is amazing we can work any where now, as long as we have an internet connection. Blogging has opened a new world to me and I never thought I would get work from starting blog! Now you have got me thinking about opening an online shop.

    • Isn’t it! Incredible how 10 years ago these possibilities didn’t exist, but due to the WWW the whole landscape of employment has completely changed. So glad to hear that your opportunities have opened up from starting a blog – an online store can easily be integrated into a blog, and an especially great idea if you already have an audience :)

  9. I know about only one (Blogging) because that’s what I do, but there is certainly so much more potential in exploring others as well. I think to be a truly sustainable digital nomad, one has to dabble in multiple things and make the most of available opportunities. ‘Online store owner’ is something completely new to me – I need to learn more about it!

    • I agree, one of the biggest keys to success as an online freelancer is to diversify your income and dabble in multiple industries. But they tend to all tie into each other, for instance, I make money through my blog primarily, but it also acts as a platform which attracts freelance writing, consultancy etc. And an online store is definitely something you can branch into as a blogger – especially if you have a very defined niche :)

  10. I work full time and already getting bored of it! This blog is just the motivation I needed. Though I have already started blogging, I know it is going to take quite a while to actually start monetizing it. Trying my hand at share trading currently and hoping to learn it well. Somehow never thought of it as a full time option to make money; but maybe now I will. Thank you so much for this post!

    • Glad we could give you some motivation Sneha! There are many different opportunities out there, the trick is finding the thing which works for you :)

      Trade sharing can be one of those which can be really profitable, but you definitely need a specific head for it. I hope it proves successful for you!

  11. Thanks for the tips Meg!
    I just created my travel blog (http://mcfollowsthesun.com) and you really motivated me to become a digital nomad :)
    I will use your tips.
    Thanks!

    • Congrats on launching your blog! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions along the way :)

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