Who hasn’t thought about, or at least contemplated, being able to work and live anywhere they want? I’m sure everyone has, at least once. And why should we stop there? Why not have the freedom to live and work wherever you want? Doesn’t that seem insane? This is no longer true.
Becoming a Digital Nomad is an exciting way to spend your life. Many people believe that being able to work from anywhere in the globe as long as you have a good internet connection and a laptop is a pipe dream. As a result, it has gained popularity during the last decade!
Because COVID-19 is changing the way businesses operate, more people may be looking for methods to establish online firms and travel the world in 2023 and beyond.
What is a Digital Nomad?
In general, a digital nomad is someone who works remotely, allowing them to reside anywhere in the globe.
This word refers to someone who has an internet job that permits them to work from home. As a result, it is not a distinct professional title such as accountant or content writer. Similarly, “nomad” is not an occupational title. It’s more of a way of life — and that’s the best way to look at it. They operate remotely (usually from a laptop or phone) and can travel the world at the same time. They are not confined to one location and may work from any place as long as they have access to the Internet.
This network includes more than simply travel bloggers and Instagram influencers. Many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and workers are all lumped together.
The Advantages of Becoming a Digital Nomad
- The ability to work from anywhere and live anywhere you choose.
- Opportunities to meet new people
- Chances to network with global brands
- The ability to experience different cultures,
However, before you quit your job and book the first trip out of town, you need to think about a few things: Becoming a Digital Nomad is not a simple task. Before you can adopt this lifestyle, there are certain actions you must take and considerations you must make.
While working from anywhere in the globe seems like a pipe dream for most people, the reality may be very different.
The Downsides of Being a Digital Nomad
- No guaranteed, stable income: You may encounter unpredictability in your job and earnings as a result of the digital nomad lifestyle (and often with freelancing in general).
- Difficulty Navigating Visas: Visa procedures differ from one nation to the next. Some popular digital nomad nations offer simple online applications, while others need you to apply at your home country’s local consulate.
- Tax complications: We advise overseas residents to familiarise themselves with IRS tax regulations and to speak with a tax expert if they generate money outside of the United States.
- It Can Sometimes Be Lonely: You may feel as if you are missing out on things that are occurring with friends and relatives back home. It might also be frustrating not to be able to see your coworkers in person.
- It’s Hard Work: Travel preparation, work logistics, and even learning a new language may be difficult (but totally worth it!).
10 steps to Becoming a Digital Nomad
Being a digital nomad is an exciting journey and a new way of life. There are many interesting factors to consider as you begin on your trip, from leaving your nation to spending hours at a cafe or coworking space to traveling across other countries. You’ll learn new skills, meet new people, and experience the world outside your own!
Here are 10 suggestions to get you started.
1. Identify and Strengthen Your Skill Sets
To be a successful digital nomad in 2023, you must first analyze your existing talents and which skills are in demand among small businesses. Next, establish a strategy to hone your most marketable abilities by enrolling in classes or creating shadowing opportunities with industry specialists.
Essential Skills Needed to Be a Digital Nomad:
- Self-discipline
- Organized
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills
- Marketing & sales skills
- Budgeting & decision-making skills
- (Obvious but hugely important) Excellent digital skills
2. Create a Portfolio and Begin Looking for Jobs on Job Boards.
Building a portfolio and seeking your first few tasks might be intimidating, but dividing it down into manageable phases can help.
Build a Portfolio
For freelance Digital marketing trends, a portfolio is essential. Squarespace and Wix are two platforms that you may use to build professional-looking websites where potential clients can see your skills and knowledge. Make your own projects, such as logos or graphics that represent the type of work you’d like to perform with prospective clients if you don’t have anything to offer on your site yet.
These platforms facilitate the building of a website and are quite inexpensive. A good portfolio website will highlight your best work, be SEO (search engine optimization) optimized, and have an “about me” page that tells potential clients why they should hire you (here is where testimonials come in handy).
Turn to Job Boards
Once you have the appropriate skill set and mindset to be a successful Becoming Digital Nomad, there are a variety of opportunities for remote workers to create their own businesses or find jobs on websites such as Remote OK and We Work Remotely.
Other international freelancer employment portals include Upwork for writing projects and Fiverr for graphic design tasks. On the Go Foreign job board, you may find online teaching and other overseas employment!
3. Use Your Skills to Make Money Online
There are a few viable options for making money online. Freelancing or creating your own business is one of the most popular options. Freelance labor might range from article writing to website design.
If you want to start your own business, there are several options that may be done remotely, such as podcasting, virtual assistant services, or even selling items on Amazon. However, if you already have certain abilities (such as writing or graphic design), why not give it a shot?
Invest in Yourself
Assume you don’t have any abilities that could be turned into a freelancing income. In that scenario, another alternative is to invest in yourself by completing an online course like Skillshare, Udemy, or FutureLearn and then applying those talents to profitable remote employment opportunities.
Use what you already know to confidently sell yourself! Do you enjoy interacting with others? Do you think you know everyone on the planet? Consider becoming a social media manager! Perhaps the concept of coding causes you to break out in hives.
You may then consider running sponsored adverts for small companies. So, whatever your skill set is, concentrate on it and really home in on what makes YOU special and marketable.
4. Start Networking
Building relationships with other firms and people in your sector takes time, so the sooner you start, the better. Contact other professionals in the digital nomad area or in your field. If you’re a freelancer, make a list of magazines that would be a suitable fit for your work. Consider joining a professional association if one exists in your sector.
Try reaching out to someone renowned or important in your business who might help you advance your career even further! Attending webinars or in-person seminars in your field is a great method to network while also learning how to advance your skills and obtain industry information.
Also, when you’ve done work for or with a customer or colleague, don’t forget to ask for references or recommendations! This provides potential clients with a reference for your prior work. You may display these beautiful testimonials on your website.
Join a Digital Nomad Community
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “you’re the average of the five individuals you spend the most time with,” this step will be a great first-hand illustration. Joining online or in-person organizations with like-minded people will assist and encourage you to achieve your dream of Becoming a Digital Nomad.
A community of nomads will not only encourage you to become one yourself but developing connections and friendships within these groups may be important in finding your community when traveling and working overseas.
5. Start Simplifying Your Lifestyle
While many individuals believe that touring the world while working from their computers is glamorous, the reality is often far from it. In reality, you’ll leave 90% of your belongings behind.
If that isn’t a deterrent and you’re ready to commit, you’ll need to reduce the number of goods you own. But be warned: getting rid of all your worldly goods may be extremely soothing and, for many nomads, addictive. If you can’t bear the thought of getting rid of something, consider renting a storage container if you’re ready to pay the monthly charge.