In 2013, the world was changed forever when bitcoin became more popular than traditional currency. Since then, the currency has gained a lot of traction and is currently the second-largest cryptocurrency in the market. Having first-hand experience with this new phenomenon, I can tell you it’s totally possible to make a living online doing work you love. You might even make enough money to fund your travel-lust by pursuing your passion for world exploration, which is exactly what I did. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps I took to become a successful digital nomad and how you can do the same.
Step One: Discover Your Passion
Since the dawn of time, humans have been finding ways to make money online. Back in the day, if you had a skill or talent – such as editing, design, or marketing – you could make a decent living for yourself by getting paid to provide those services to companies in need. However, back then, the barrier to entry was much higher. You needed a talent for coding, for example, and you needed to be able to connect with others in the industry. Nowadays, since there are so many platforms that allow for remote work, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to find a career that suits you.
For me, it was simple. I adore traveling, exploring new places, and being able to share my adventures with those I care about. I felt that if I could combine my two passions, traveling and photography, then I could really make something special. My first step was to search online for paid travel photography jobs. Not only did I find a gig that let me travel the world and get paid to take pictures, but it also allowed me to do so in style, since all the hotels I stayed at were 5-star, inclusive of all the meals I enjoyed.
Step Two: Create a Profitable Business
So you’ve discovered your passion. Now it’s time to put your skills to work and create a profitable business that you can take with you wherever you go. Luckily, with travel photography, you can find the perfect location for any story you want to tell and the gear you need to tell it justice. Hotels are always on the lookout for ways to make their properties look more luxurious, and having a professional photographer on hand to document their journey is something they might consider.
In addition to the allure of being able to travel the world and make a living, the other perk of this job is that you get to see some pretty cool places. When I showed up at the location of one of my gigs, I noticed that the hotel’s recreation room had a ping-pong table in it. I asked the front desk if I could borrow some equipment to play some ping-pong with the guys, and they were more than happy to oblige. I had thought that traveling to another country and being able to play sports with the locals was something you only saw in movies. It’s a nice way to live your life, being able to work remotely and use your skills to make extra money.
Step Three: Test The Market
Once you’ve created your business, the next step is to test the market and see how others perceive your product or service. In my case, I went with Shopify, which is a platform where you can create a store and upload your products to sell. When you choose this route, the ecommerce portion of your business is taken care of, and all you need to do is set up your storefront, choose a suitable theme, and add content to it. By taking this approach, you can significantly cut down the amount of work you need to get started and ensure that your money goes as far as possible. Since the ecommerce portion is taken care of, you can just focus on growing your business, bringing in revenue, and generating a profit. Once you’ve nailed that, you can consider investing in additional equipment or expanding your team to help you reach new heights.
Step Four: Get A Domain Name And Build An Online Store
In addition to getting a profitable business off the ground, the last step is to get a domain name and build an online store. For me, this was the most crucial step. Without a domain name, your website will still be known as somethinghappenedinyou.com, even if you decide to change it later on. Before you start building your site, you need to pick a perfect domain name that will be easy to spell and easy to remember. In addition to that, you need to consider purchasing a reliable web host, preferably one that offers WordPress hosting, as this will make everything smoother and simpler down the line. When it comes to picking a perfect domain name, there are plenty of tools online that can help you find the right one for your needs. Here’s a shortlist of my favorite domain finders: