My 10 Essentials to Make Money Online From Anywhere
The main components of a digital nomad lifestyle
Many people see online business as some kind of mystical fairytale.
You need to be a model to become an influencer. You cannot be a photographer without a 5,000 dollar camera. And you certainly won’t make a living as a writer.
That’s what most people say when I tell them that I’m a digital nomad.
However, once those same people understand that hard work, determination, and courage can make online business a viable career path, incredulity gives way to amazement.
The tone suddenly changes.
So, how do you make money online? What do I need to become a digital nomad?
After several years of making money online, I’ve compiled a list of 10 essentials for any aspiring digital nomad.
The list includes material and mental components. You can have the best equipment, but without the right attitude, you won’t make it very far.
On this basis, here are my 10 essentials to make money online from anywhere.
1. A laptop
Digital nomadism is practically synonymous with working from a laptop.
Depending on your content niche, it doesn’t have to be a fancy, powerful device. If you are a writer, any odd laptop will do.
Because photography and editing account for a significant chunk of my income, I use a 2017 Macbook Pro. I bought it for around 1,700 euros, but it was worth every penny.
2. One main content niche and a few secondary ones
To make money online as a content creator, you need one primary niche.
It could be writing, photography, blogging, Youtube, podcasting, coaching, or any other activity.
Once you’ve found that main niche, become a specialist. Improve your skills with daily sessions until the quality of your work stands out.
Congratulations! You can now monetize your first type of content.
With enough perseverance, you should see decent returns after six to twelve months.
Your primary activity will become the financial and professional backbone for your life as a digital nomad.
Once you’ve built your first regular income stream, diversify your content.
If you have a blog, start a podcast. If you’re a Youtuber, start selling stock videos. And if you’re a freelance writer, think about joining new platforms or writing an ebook.
3. An ebook reader
For those of us who travel full-time, ebook readers are a treasure trove full of business techniques, classic literature, and self-improvement ideas.
At the outset of my writing career, ebooks were an important mental retreat.
Every time I doubted my ability to make money online from anywhere, I dipped into works like The 4-Hour Workweek, The 100$ Startup, or Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
It has all been done before. It’s not wizardry. Work hard and smart, and you will succeed.
These motivational phrases would keep me going when times were tough. That’s why I still carry an ebook reader at all times.
The wisdom you get from a mobile library is irreplaceable and therefore an essential part of any digital nomad kit.
4. A solid daily routine
To make money remotely, you need a lot of discipline. And this discipline ensues through solid daily routines.
When I left the corporate world to make money remotely, I struggled to escape the holiday mindset.
I soon learned that there is no such thing as paid leave when you’re an entrepreneur and that you have to work an insane number of hours as a digital nomad.
That’s why you need to organize your days like an entrepreneur, not a backpacker who makes a bit of money on the side.
Get up early, eat well, meditate, work out, and smash the days.
Don’t believe the myth that online entrepreneurs only work when they feel like it. That might be possible after years of building passive income streams, but not in the beginning.
Nevertheless, don’t forget to enjoy your journey as a digital nomad. Try to find a balance between hard work, dedication, and traveling.
Take at least one day off every week and visit some tourist sights.
The great thing about digital nomadism is the freedom to make money online from anywhere.
That’s why the travel aspect should not be neglected.
In this regard, the best digital nomads are the ones who have a strong, productive working routine that includes exciting, travel-related breaks.
5. An email list
Email lists are the new fan clubs.
No matter your content niche, you’ll want a loyal core audience that consumes every new article, video, or service you provide.
As Tim Ferriss once said: ”you only need 1,000 true fans.” This statement emphasizes the importance of email lists.
If you have 1,000 engaged email subscribers, chances are you’ll save a lot of time, effort, and money on content promotion.
Your email list will become your core follower base and do the promotional work for you.
Better still, you’re only one email away from their inbox which gives you direct access to your most important clients.
6. Cameras and editing software
As a photographer, I carry around two different cameras: a Sony A6400 and a Sony A7iii with a few lenses. I use them for stock photography, freelance shoots, and Instagram.
Stock photography is an easy way to make money remotely, but it takes a lot of time before paying off.
Nevertheless, if you travel frequently, chances are you’ll have truckloads of hard discs full of pictures. That’s where stock photography can become a great way to make some extra cash.
I usually shoot between 2,000 and 5,000 images per month and upload around 500 to different stock sites.
I use Lightroom as an editing tool and generally spend one day per week keywording my pictures.
While you could do stock photography and Instagram posts with your smartphone, I believe that learning the basics of a proper camera is an invaluable skill that will always triumph over quick iPhone pics.
7. Trading software
Once you’ve made a bit of money online, you should start thinking about investments.
In this context, I would characterize three stages.
First, you have to get your online income to a level where it finances your digital nomad lifestyle.
Depending on the region you’re in, you’ll need between 1,500 and 2,000 dollars a month to live comfortably. Some digital nomads call this a “lifestyle threshold.”
The second stage is all about diversification. After having attained your lifestyle threshold, you can look at ways to add extra income streams to your business.
That’s where secondary content niches, extra services, and other side hustles come to fruition.
Finally, the third stage is when you should start investing.
Some people invest their first 500 dollars in the stock market, but I don’t see this as a recommendable option. The risk is simply too high.
However, if your online income exceeds your monthly expenses, it’s time to make your extra money work for you.
Apps like Plus500 and Etoro are great starting points in this regard.
8. Two journals
Journaling is a powerful habit and essential for digital nomads.
No matter your field, every digital nomad is on some kind of journey.
We all have different goals, projects, and aspirations. That’s why journals help us chronicle our quests and celebrate small wins.
I use two Moleskine journals: one to write down everything and another one to plan my days.
Both help me stay on track and find motivation in times of trouble.
9. Premium services
Content creators usually offer premium services after they’ve gathered relevant experience in their niche.
As a blogger, you can write a book or add members-only content to your blog.
As a Youtuber, you can start a Patreon channel.
And any other content creator can offer some type of course, masterclass, or coaching service.
The options are endless but the truly interesting part is the markup.
If you sell a personalized service or digital product, your piece of the pie will be much bigger than on someone else’s product.
As an example, you might recommend ebooks on your blog through affiliate links. That’s a great source of passive income, but your fees will be minuscule.
If you, on the other hand, sell your own ebook through your blog, your margin becomes much more appealing.
10. A long-term vision
Finally, having a long-term vision is essential for digital nomads and online entrepreneurs alike.
Making money remotely is always a gradual process. Akin to corporate jobs, you don’t start at the top of the pyramid.
You’re always working toward a certain objective. Every step precedes a new step and every win heralds a new challenge.
That’s why you need to think long-term, both on a personal and professional level.
Don’t try to make a few quick bucks freelancing. Build a freelancing business, and you’ll be set for many years.
Don’t fall into the “grow as quickly as possible” trap. Most startups and solopreneurs fail in their first year.
Only with a smart, ambitious, and realistic long-term vision can digital nomads sustain their lifestyle and relish their desired freedom over long stretches.
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