8 of the best jobs and business ideas for Digital Nomads
2020 and 2021 has shown that we can be just as productive working from home. And that many businesses can thrive without a shared office space.
So if you can work remotely, why not combine that choice with long-term travel too? Digital Nomads are people who work totally online, or run a business while also traveling the world.
How do you get a job as a Digital Nomad?
Not every job is suited to the Digital Nomad lifestyle. But if it’s something you really want to do, there are a ton of options you can pursue.
If you’ve got experience working in media or a creative field, then you’re in luck — a lot of DN jobs fall into this category. But even if your only job has been making coffee or working as a nurse, that’s totally fine too. Chances are you have a wealth of transferable skills that companies are looking to hire for.
Whether you want to work as a freelancer, get jobs through an agency, or start up your own business, here are some of the best income stream ideas for Digital Nomads.
8 businesses and careers you can launch on the road
Copywriting
Do you have a way with words? Have you been keeping a personal blog for years? Maybe you could be a copywriter.
Copywriting is the art of writing marketing and advertising material, on a company’s behalf. You may be asked to write a blog, provide all of their social media captions, or update the wording on their website.
A freelance copywriter can complete all of their work online –– whether they work directly with brands on their own or find work through an agency. A digital-only job means that you can work from basically anywhere on the planet. All you need is a laptop and a reliable internet connection.
And once you’ve got enough experience, you can start up your own copywriting business and watch your income skyrocket.
Social Media Manager
Social media is increasingly important for brands, big and small. And as the need for stellar social content grows, so too does the number of opportunities available for Social Media Managers.
This role involves helping a brand to grow their following across social media, coming up with the social strategy and distribution ideas, creating content to be posted, engaging with followers on a regular basis, then tracking and analyzing growth.
Again, once you have experience, you can look at opening your own social media management business, if it’s something you’re passionate about.
Video producer/editor
There’s also a huge demand for freelance video editors these days — to help brands make content for social media and online outlets. All you need is a laptop and some (basic) editing software. You can even teach yourself the essential skills through YouTube videos or Skillshare.
Upwork or Fiverr can help you secure beginner gigs while you’re finding your feet. But sites like Behance, ProductionHUB, and Stage32 are the best places to score editing jobs, once you have an impressive portfolio to share.
Graphic designer or illustrator
Are you good at designing and drawing? If you’re already a pro at digital illustration, you could always turn that passion into a career.
It’s not the easiest job in the world, and you may come across clients who want you to be fully immersed in their business, 9 to 5 (which kinda detracts from the whole DN experience).
But, look hard enough, and you’ll find a subset of small businesses who need nothing more than a flexi-time graphic designer to create logos, layouts, and social media posts. Again, use sites like Upwork and Fiverr to build up your reputation, then you can begin reaching out to clients directly and establish your own business.
Virtual Assistant
Securing a role as a virtual assistant (VA) is a great way to enter the Digital Nomad world, especially if you’ve never worked in a creative sector before. A virtual assistant does various small tasks for a company or another person, but — unlike an in-office assistant — the role is 100% remote. Virtual assistant work could technically be done from anywhere, as long as time zones aren’t an issue.
FlexJobs is a good source for open VA positions. Some are one-off tasks, while others could be months-long commitments.
Online language teacher
Working as a language teacher has financed many a trot round the globe for decades.
Some online language teachers don’t need any qualifications (other than being a native speaker of the language you are teaching). But if you complete a TEFL certification online first, you could make a lot more money in the long-run.
Teaching doesn’t have to take place in a classroom — you can teach language classes over Zoom or WhatsApp. On sites like Preply, the best tutors can make up to $500 a week. Also check out Verbling and Verbalplanet for more opportunities.
Programming
This one’s for those of you who learned how to code, knowing it would be a booming business. (Well done for being one step ahead!)
Being skilled in website and software development is invaluable in 2021, and coding was one of the first sectors to really engage with fully remote work. There are websites, like Toptal, completely dedicated to promoting remote programming jobs, most of which pay quite handsomely.
Just getting started in your coding career? We’d recommend Udemy’s web design crash courses — it’ll get you comfortable with the process in no time.
Transcriber
Transcribing audio or video files is one of the easiest and most straightforward jobs you can do as a Digital Nomad. Yes, it can get a bit boring and repetitive, but it’s a solid income that doesn’t require too much brain power — perfect for DNs just setting off on their first adventure.
Look for jobs on Fiverr, REV.com and TranscribeMe, and chase opportunities from there.
We’re all filled with wanderlust right now — maybe 2021 is your year to become a Digital Nomad?
Is anyone else literally dreaming about how good it’ll feel when your ears pop on a plane journey again? The travel sector will open back up again soon. And when it does, you’ll be ready! There’s no better way to embrace life as a DN than just jumping right in.
Now you just need to choose where to start.
