10 Best Ways to Earn Money As a Digital Nomad: Traveling the World and Making Money Online

Ways to Earn Money As a Digital Nomad: Traveling the World and Making Money Online – As the song says, “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” If you really think about that particular part of the song, you’ll see that it’s pretty sad.

Being a digital nomad opens up a world of possibilities for earning money while exploring new places. Whether through freelancing, remote employment, online teaching, e-commerce, or any of the other methods listed above, there are numerous opportunities to create a sustainable income. Focus on building your skills, leveraging online platforms, and maintaining a disciplined work ethic to succeed as a digital nomad.

More than half of US workers are unhappy at their jobs… they’re just doing what they have to do to make it till the end of the day on Friday.

That week after week struggle is a lot of the motivation behind why so many people are adopting the digital nomad lifestyle. Not only are digital nomads able to work wherever they want but they’re actually earning more than $100,000 per year while average US workers are averaging $46,000 annually.

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Best Ways to Earn Money As a Digital Nomad

That’s a statistic that has made many people scratch their head and wonder what exactly does a digital nomad do to earn that kind of money. Well, to answer that question, it’s going to come in multiple answers because there are multiple things that digital nomads do to earn money.

Understanding the Digital Nomad and the Lifestyle

So, in order to start earning as a digital nomad, you must first have an understanding of what it means to earn as a digital nomad and what the lifestyle entails. When most people hear the term “digital nomad,” they’re immediately attracted to the aspect of globetrotting the world. But that’s only half of it. 

A digital nomad is a person who travels the world and earns an income through jobs over the internet. So basically, as a digital nomad, you have the ability to make money by working various internet-based jobs as long as you have access to the internet. That sounds simple enough, right? Sure, but again, there’s more to it than that.

What’s required from digital nomads

To be a digital nomad is to completely change your lifestyle, especially in the aspect of making money during your travels. If you thought you worked hard at your 9 to 5 job, you might actually work even harder as a digital nomad… And it won’t be because your boss is telling you to, but because your travels depend on it.

Discipline is one of the biggest requirements of a digital nomad simply because of all the freedom you have. Think about it… You don’t have to clock-in anywhere or have a boss hovering over your shoulders… you can do whatever you want. But despite the freedom you have to do whatever you want, you have to be disciplined enough to get work done. 

According to tryfailgrow.com, discipline is the one superpower all digital nomads need to be successful, and it truly is. How else do you think those digital nomads make $100,000 annually? It’s because they take time out to enjoy their travels but they also work extremely hard to earn income to fund their travels. 

Not only are they working hard but they’re also not just hopping from country to country every week either. They’re strategically planning their destinations according to what they can afford and what won’t eat their money earned. So frugality is also a requirement as well.

So now that you know what one of the biggest requirements is to be a digital nomad, you can determine if the lifestyle is for you. If you decide that it is, take a look at some of the most common and most profitable ways to earn income as a digital nomad.

Ways to Earn Money As a Digital Nomad

1. Freelance Work

The beauty of freelance work is that it covers a range of practically everything! It’s the job type that’s not a steady form of income at the beginning because you have to build up your clientele. As a freelancer, you’re not just stuck working one type of job either… you can freelance any type of work you’re good at. Some types of freelance jobs include:

• Video editor
• Translator
• Copy editor
• Writer
• Social media manager
• Graphic designer

This is the job that allows you to work on your own time but it’s also the job that’s going to require the most discipline as well. So while you might want to go explore the beaches of Pangasinan or Samal, you might have to save that adventure for another day and focus on finishing up the work your clients need. 

This is something that may be hard to do but this is when you need to practice your disciplinary skills the most. That’s an occupational hazard anybody would take on any given day, so just finish up your work first and then enjoy the bliss of the beautiful beaches.

Platforms:

Upwork
Fiverr
Freelancer
Toptal

Tips

Build a strong portfolio. Network and ask for referrals from satisfied clients. Set competitive rates and be clear about your terms.

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2. Start an Online Business

Starting an online business is not only a great way to earn income but it’s also a great way to earn semi-passive to passive income as well. In starting your online business, you’re going to put some work in on the front end. Meaning, you’re going to have to find suppliers for your products, search for a dropshipper, market your business, and, of course, follow the steps to build your website. 

In building your website, if you’re nervous about it, you can start a free 90-day trial just to see how much you like being an entrepreneur. Just keep in mind, this is something you put in the work upfront and once you establish a steady customer base, your business will practically run itself, allowing you to earn while you sleep.

3. Work Remotely For a Company

When most people make the decision to live the digital nomad lifestyle, it typically means they have to quit their full-time jobs. But because the world is becoming more of a digital world, more and more companies are offering work-from-home or remote opportunities to employees. 

Companies are finding that remote work is causing an increase in productivity as well as an increase in employee retention. With that type of flexibility in jobs, more people are taking their jobs across the country and earning their same steady income from wherever their travels call home for the moment. Even if your job isn’t offering those opportunities, there are several companies that are, that you can work for.

Common Remote Jobs:

Customer service
Project management
Sales
Software development
Content creation and editing

Job Boards:

We Work Remotely
Remote.co
FlexJobs
AngelList

Tips

Tailor your resume for remote job applications. Highlight your self-discipline and remote work skills in interviews.

4. Blogging and Vlogging

Overview:

Create content around a niche you’re passionate about and monetize it. This is our favorite way thru our blog.

Ways to Monetize:

Advertising (Google AdSense, sponsored posts)
Affiliate marketing
Selling digital products (eBooks, courses)
Offering premium content or memberships

Platforms:

WordPress (blogging)
YouTube (vlogging)
Patreon (membership)

Tips

Consistently produce high-quality content. Engage with your audience on social media. Use SEO techniques to increase your visibility.

5. Online Teaching and Tutoring

Overview:

Teach a subject or skill online to students around the world.

Common Subjects:

English as a Second Language (ESL)
Academic subjects (math, science, history)
Professional skills (coding, marketing, business)

Platforms:

VIPKid (ESL)
iTalki (language learning)
Udemy (course creation)
Teachable (course creation)

Tips

Obtain relevant certifications if necessary.
Develop a structured curriculum and engaging teaching materials.

6. E-commerce and Dropshipping

Overview:

Sell products online through your own store or a platform.

Types of E-commerce:

Dropshipping: Sell products without holding inventory.
Print on Demand: Sell custom-designed products.
Handmade or unique products: Sell items you create or source.

Platforms:

Shopify (e-commerce store)
Etsy (handmade and vintage items)
Amazon FBA (fulfillment by Amazon)

Tips

Research profitable niches and trends. Invest in quality product photos and descriptions. Use social media and email marketing to drive traffic to your store.

7. Stock Photography and Videography

Overview:

Sell your photos and videos to stock image websites. We did successfully in Scopio and you can read here about this.

Platforms:

Shutterstock
Adobe Stock
Getty Images
iStock

Tips

Focus on high-quality, versatile images and videos. Tag your content with relevant keywords to increase discoverability.

8. Cryptocurrency and Investments

Overview:

Invest in stocks, cryptocurrencies, or other assets to generate income.

Platforms:

Coinbase (cryptocurrency)
Robinhood (stocks and crypto)
eToro (social trading and investing)

Tips

Educate yourself on investment strategies and risks.
Diversify your portfolio to minimize risk.

9. Writing and Publishing

Overview:

Write books, eBooks, or articles and earn royalties or one-time payments.

Platforms:

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Medium Partner Program
Substack (newsletters)

Tips

Write consistently and build an audience. Promote your work through social media and other channels.

10. Consulting and Coaching

Overview:

Offer your expertise and advice in a specific field to clients.

Common Areas:

Business and entrepreneurship
Career coaching
Health and wellness
Personal development

Platforms:

Clarity.fm (business advice)
Coach.me (personal coaching)
LinkedIn (professional networking)

Tips

Build credibility with a strong online presence and testimonials. Create packages and pricing that reflect your value and expertise.

Hope you like the best ways to earn money as a Digital Nomad. Are we missing something? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy Travels!