Have you ever wanted to work from home?
Have you ever wanted to work from a comfortable hotel room or from cute coffee shops in cool cities?
For some, the ability to work from anywhere with WiFi is a dream. There is a sense of freedom that comes with knowing that you aren’t tied to a cubicle or a boardroom, that you can work in your pajamas with your dog at your feet.
Digital nomads are those of us that longed for this freedom and went after it. Digital nomad careers are ones that are independent of location as long as you have your laptop and a connection to the Internet. These jobs give you the ability to travel and to spend your time at home more intentionally.
Though the laptop lifestyle is not always as glamorous as it might appear on Instagram, there are definitely some major benefits to a career where you can work from anywhere. One of the most challenging and rewarding ways to be a digital nomad and work from anywhere in the world is to freelance or start your own business. This allows you to be your own boss, make your own schedule, and have more control over your income.
I have done just that as a medical copywriter and would love to share some career inspiration with you. Let’s look into some examples of how you can use your skills and passions to carve out a career that’s flexible and fulfilling. The last career option is my personal favorite 😉
Creative Careers
A fun way to become a digital nomad is to start honing creative skills that others will pay you for. Similar to other types of careers, it may take a few years of working for someone else or in a company setting before you can venture out on your own and be your own boss. There are countless options under this umbrella, but let’s look into two specific examples of creative careers.
Photography
Some photographers choose to put down the roots of their business in one city. However, being talented behind the lens might be your ticket to traveling while you work.
Social media tools like Instagram make it easy to share your work with people all over the world and connect with potential clients regardless of location. Say you’re a wedding and elopement photographer. If a couple likes your style enough, they’d be more than willing to pay you to travel to take the photos for their big day.
You may also choose to bring your camera on your travels and get paid by selling photos. Regardless, this career offers a lot of freedom. You can decide how far you are willing to travel and even get your expenses paid for making this a great option for the wannabe digital nomad.
Website Design
The ability to design websites and website templates is a huge asset. Anyone can learn this skill and if you take the time to get good, you can make really great money creating websites for other people.
This is an in-demand job where you can work with a variety of clients like entrepreneurs or small business owners. In addition to developing websites, you may also help with branding, logos, and some graphic design.
Every business needs a professional-looking website, and the more experience you gain, the more you will be able to charge for your work. Eventually, people will seek out based on your unique style. Freelance web design or even running your own design agency is a great way to ensure that you will always be able to make money from anywhere and help people grow their businesses while doing it.
Virtual Support
A lot of entrepreneurs and businesses operate fully online. In order to scale, these operations will eventually need to outsource some of the day-to-day tasks within the business.
Offering virtual support is a huge market and can come in so many forms- like bookkeeping, video or podcast editing, content management, etc. This type of work may sometimes require you to be on someone else’s schedule occasionally, but still offers you a lot of freedom. You may choose to work one-on-one with an entrepreneur or become a valuable member of a large team.
You may offer a variety of virtual support services. Let’s look at two major categories in this type of career.
Social Media Management
Do you have a passion for Instagram? Stay up to date with the latest social media trends? Were you TikToking before it was cool?
Managing social media accounts might be the perfect way to work remotely!
Social media is important for marketing, branding, and customer engagement. It’s a huge part of running a business that many business owners prefer to outsource.
Social media management can involve everything from scheduling posts to answering DMs and running FB ads. This is a great way to provide virtual support to a business by doing something you are already good at.
Virtual Assistant
Becoming a virtual assistant (or VA) is a great option for a beginner or aspiring digital nomads. This involves assisting businesses or entrepreneurs with a wide range of tasks from things like inbox management to course creation.
You can let your strengths shine and do the type of work where you are skilled or have experience. For example, if you’ve already worked in an office before and are experienced with data entry, you can look for a company that needs this type of support remotely. You may assist an executive in planning trips. You may help a small business in managing client relations.
Working as a virtual assistant can be a great way to gain valuable business knowledge and make important connections. This type of remote work will always be needed and is a great place to start if you are thinking about becoming a digital nomad.
Writing
When thinking about the laptop lifestyle, writing is a profession that quickly comes to mind. There are quite a few ways to get paid for writing. Let’s look into two big ones that have low barriers to entry.
Blogging
Do you have expertise in something? Do you have the knowledge you can share that people need to know?
One popular way to pursue a career as a digital nomad is through blogging. Popular blogging ideas that come to mind are travel, fashion, motherhood, and food. But really, the options are endless.
Blogging involves writing for yourself and you are most often paid through affiliate marketing or sponsorships on your website. Bloggers typically learn the ins and outs of their particular posting platform as well as establish solid social media presences to promote their work.
It can take a while for this to become a lucrative career, but is definitely a great choice for anyone that enjoys long-form writing and is willing to put in the work of learning how to create a successful blog.
Copywriting
Last, but certainly not least, the digital nomad career that I’ve had success with personally: copywriting. As a copywriter, you are writing the words that businesses use to market their product or services. You essentially drive readers to take a certain action.
Copywriting is a great career where every day can look different. When you start your own copywriting business you have a lot of control over how much money you make and what kind of clients you take on.
Of course, enjoying writing is important, but other than that, anyone can become a copywriter. There are many niches to choose from and it can be helpful to get your foot in the door by writing about topics you are already familiar with, like health and wellness copywriting for example.
I think that copywriting is one of the best ways to have a successful career as a digital nomad. If you’re ready to take the leap and accelerate your copywriting career, taking an online course is a great option. I share everything you need to know about building your own copywriting business in my signature program The Copywriter’s Academy.
Ready to get started?
When you first start exploring your options for working as a digital nomad, it might feel a little overwhelming. Any new venture takes time and effort, and working towards a flexible career you love is definitely worth the challenge.
Remember that there are so many options out there and there’s room for everyone at the table. Think about what you are good at and the kind of work you enjoy and let that inspire your digital nomad career.
There are so many great resources online to help you explore a day in the life of each of these careers. Everyone’s journey is unique and who knows- you may end up carving out a job that is totally new.
No matter the end destination, believing you can have the life of your dreams is the first step on your journey. Are you ready to get started?
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