Digital nomads are typically those who combine remote working with traveling. According to Statista, a global survey conducted in 2022 found that digital nomads were primarily self-employed, of whom over half were business owners and about 35% were freelancers or gig workers. Thinking of becoming a digital nomad yourself or doing some part-time work abroad? Here are some inspiring ideas on how to make money while traveling.
1. Become A Blogger Or A Vlogger
The world is full of people who enjoy learning about new places and are more than happy to receive a few travel tips from the people they trust. If you travel consistently, why not share your experiences by making a blog or a YouTube channel?
Travel bloggers and vloggers typically share their travel impressions and give tips on flights, hotels, guided tours, and so on. You can monetize your content with ads and affiliate marketing provided you get enough visitors. If you establish yourself as a trusted authority in your niche, you may be able to make a full living out of blogging or vlogging.
2. Do Copywriting
Creating your own blog is time-consuming and attracting enough visitors is very difficult. While you should not readily give up on the idea of being a blogger or vlogger, an alternative to consider is copywriting. As a copywriter, you will write blog posts for other companies or individuals. How much you can make as a copywriter will depend on your proven experience and other factors.
3. Start A Freelance Business
Many copywriters work on a freelance basis but there are many types of online freelance jobs. Besides being a travel writer, you can also work as a translator, secondary researcher, data analyst, programmer, and so on. In other words, as long as a job can be performed online, chances are you can do it on a freelance basis, provided you have the right expertise.
Finding clients as a new freelancer can be quite challenging. One way to find prospects and business contacts is by using Leadar to search contacts by name, location, company, and several other parameters. Once you have a few clients and a steady income, you can focus on providing quality work and consider expanding the network only when you are sure you can handle a larger volume of work.
4. Sell Travel Photos And Videos
If you are the full owner of a collection of high-quality travel photos or videos, you can sell them so that others use them for business purposes. Finding customers by yourself can be challenging and you can, instead, sell them on a platform.
Examples of platforms where you can sell your photos or videos include Shutterstock, Envato Market, and Fotolia. The rules to sell on these platforms vary but having high-quality photos or videos and full ownership rights to them is a must.
5. Rent Your Properties
If you are going to spend a lot of time away from your home, renting your house can be a great way of earning additional income. Depending on the size of your property and its location, you could even make enough money to support your expenses while away from home, especially if you travel to cheap destinations.
No need to say, renting comes with risks, such as damages or unpaid rent. Such risks can be minimized by taking certain precautions such as drawing up a solid lease agreement, asking for security deposits, having the right insurance, and doing a comprehensive tenant screening.
6. Work Where You Travel
Some people enjoy working while traveling, others do not. If you are in the first category, you will be glad to know that working in another country does not always require complex paperwork.
One potential job opportunity while traveling is teaching English or other languages. For instance, some countries in parts of Asia and South America have a high demand for English teachers.
Another option is working in hostels and hotels, as some offer free lodging in exchange for a few hours of work per day. This option might not bring you a steady income but could cover your accommodation needs.
A lesser-known option is working on farms or vineyards. For example, Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) connects organic farmers with volunteers. By working on a farm that is part of WWOOF, you provide farm work in exchange for food and accommodation.
7. Become Part Of A P2P Delivery Network
If you have ever sent documents or other items to another country, you have probably used DHL or related postal services. One alternative to traditional delivery systems is peer-to-peer (P2P) delivery. P2P delivery is a straightforward system –when you are traveling to a specific location, you can take a package and deliver it on behalf of someone else in exchange for compensation.
To find clients, it is best to use specialized services that will handle the hurdles of connecting you with the sender and the receiver. Make sure you partner with a reputable platform as opposed to working with individuals directly so that you do not end up providing services without receiving the promised compensation.
8. Sell Digital Products
If you believe you have writing skills, one way to put them to the test is by writing a book and selling it on platforms such as Amazon. Being a good writer will not be enough to get you enough sales but it is probably a necessary condition.
Other digital products you could sell are online courses or design templates. Several platforms can be used to host digital products or you can create one on WordPress or other related platforms.
Bottom Line: As Digital Opportunities Grow, So Are Your Chances Of Making Money While Traveling
The digital realm is expanding and there are more and more tasks that can be performed online. For example, those working on developing the so-called metaverse promise new opportunities in the world of virtual work, as people will be able to interact in a 3-D virtual space. Even if you prefer working in a physical space while abroad, the digital space is often the place where you will discover a job opportunity or where you will sell your best pictures and videos.
Making money while traveling is one way of escaping the 9 to 5 routine. While you should probably not quit your job without knowing what you are getting into, there is only one way to find out if you can make money while traveling and that is by testing the waters, part-time.