Until a few years ago, the idea of a nine-to-five job was the predominant one most educated people would strive for. It represented security, stability, and a chance to save for the future. However, the availability of a solid Internet connection paired with secure online payment methods has enabled a surge of freelancers who work on the go – the so-called digital nomads. If you are eager to see the world, experience new cultures and still make a living while traveling, then this is the career path for you.
However, before you start making plans, you need to make sure you’ll be able to provide a quality service no matter where you are, so consider the following occupations and projects to earn money and build a reputation on the go.
Affiliate marketing
Are you a fan of a particular brand or a few of them that you use practically every day? It can be a preferred fitness brand, a cookware company, or a particular fashion label, you name it, it can become your source of income if you truly enjoy their product or service. It would be best if you have a website of your own, and a decent social media following, so that your audience would be appealing to the brand in question.
In addition to making money on sales that happen through the links you share, you will likely get other perks, depending on the brand. Some offer discounts for their affiliate members, others offer gift cards and similar benefits. However, you can do this easily wherever you have access to a strong Internet connection, so you can build your network of followers wherever you go – in fact, traveling may give you the edge to make your posts all the more engaging.
Creative writing
Since most of us get informed and educated online, it has become a matter of habit to learn more about a product through online content, whether they are blogs, videos, or actual reviews. That is why brands are doing their best to provide top-of-the-line content, to connect it closely with their marketing strategy and make their brand stand out.
If you consider yourself a wordsmith, and an added plus is you having some background in marketing, you can easily work via different platforms such as Upwork, or talk directly to brands to offer your services. Many of them work with freelancers to make the most of their content, so you can work on the go if you can keep up with their needs.
Surveys
Just like brands value user-generated content, they also build their reputation, and improve their products and services with the help of your opinion. Simply put, you can get paid to take surveys online, no matter where you decide to travel, as you can choose how much time you’ll spend on this particular job.
It’s a great way to earn additional cash to support your travel wishes, but it can also be a fairly lucrative scheme if you go to the right websites and stay persistent. Keep in mind that different surveys come with a wide range of different perks, from actual cash, all the way to various rewards, which may make your shopping much easier with gift cards and discounts.
Web design
If you have an eye for detail and you work well with various free and paid tools that make you a design guru (think: Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc.), then you can find many project-based jobs and remote work via the same platforms that connect brands with content writers. Much like language, the visual aspect of every brand is equally important in making the right impact on their audience, and with the right laptop and software at your disposal, you can easily work on your own terms, and explore the world while you work.
In fact, all forms of graphic and web design are very profitable nowadays, making them some of the best options for digital nomads. It helps if you already have a portfolio to showcase to your potential clients, because your experience shows whether you’re the right fit for the company.
Teaching
Asia seems to be a growing market for language teachers, especially those who specialize in English teaching. However, even if you don’t have any certification, but you speak the language fluently, you can join an existing language school and start teaching based on their lesson plans.
You can even build your own teaching website, offer online courses, teach via Skype, whatever works best for you, but you can easily create your own schedule to leave plenty of time to discover new places and cultures!