Live the Dream: Become a Digital Nomad
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Being self-employed and having the flexibility to work anywhere at any time is more achievable than ever. With a good Wi-Fi connection, a laptop, and a passport, your dreams of becoming a digital nomad are within reach.
You may wonder how these remote, self-employed folks break into the business. How can you go from a traditional work setting into this enviable style of self-employment? Here are some tips on how to make the transition, guides you through the process, and helps you land your first client.
Getting Established
First things first: you’ll need to choose what type of structure you’ll be operating as. You also may choose to run your operation as a DBA (“doing business as”), which is beneficial as part of your marketing and branding strategy. A DBA name is essentially a pseudonym for your registered, legal business name. Many business owners use it to avoid using their own surname (if the business entity includes their name) or, for corporations, an assumed name makes expansion easier, as it’s not necessary to create a completely new corporation.
Once you’re up and running as a legal entity, as a digital nomad you’ll need to build a ubiquitous online presence. This requires a solid understanding of the skills you can offer and the ability to convey those services to potential clients. Expert-Market notes that branding is an important part of the process of establishing your online business. It is an opportunity to show the world what you can offer and how it differs from what every other freelancer provides.
Freelance work can be unpredictable, so it is important to establish your business in a way that affords you multiple income streams. This may mean that, rather than offering one service, you diversify the skills within your wheelhouse. Start to establish yourself with a few regular freelance clients by offering your services for less or even for free, then take on more paid work as you build a reputation.
You may even consider being a “one-stop shop” for your clients, offering more than just one service. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer producing primarily web content, branch out and offer website hosting and design services. Assuming you’re not proficient in these additional areas, collaborate with others who are, bringing them under your business’s operational umbrella.
Staying Afloat
As a beginner freelancer, you are bobbing around in a rubber raft in a sea crowded with other freelancers — some in yachts, others in canoes. Starting out in your raft, it may feel as though you could sink at any moment or get tossed overboard. You can work your way from the raft into a schooner over time with some hustle and perseverance. To stay afloat as you begin freelancing, consider reducing unnecessary expenses such as subscriptions, reduce your entertainment budget, and consider cooking meals at home rather than dining out.
Amp up your social media presence to get the word out about your availability — these free marketing opportunities are priceless. You may also be able to access funds to help support yourself as a self-employed person impacted by the pandemic. Freelance unions offer access to affordable insurance benefits and advocacy resources, according to MoneyMiniBlog. As a digital nomad, you can opt to live in a location that offers a lower cost of living, which can save you a ton of money.
Staying on budget is key, especially to those who hope to support loved ones back home. Many people immigrate to the US and start their freelance journey with the intention of helping those left behind. This can be critical to populations like Brazilian immigrants — a group that has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Using fast and secure wire transfers is a smart way to ensure funds are received in the homeland. Those sending remittances should also consider whether the service they hire guarantees funds will be received within a certain time frame.
Survival on the Move
A crucial aspect of survival as a digital nomad is tech-friendly rental space to conduct business. As you investigate rentals in varying locations, first ask about high-speed internet and Wi-Fi access. You may be able to negotiate rental fees by bartering services such as maintenance or, better yet, offering your freelance skills to boost their rental business.
You are likely to have a fair amount of travel expenses as a digital nomad, but these can be reduced through business deductions and by selecting reduced-cost airfare. As a freelancer, you are available to travel during varying times of the year and at any hour of the day or night, which means cheaper airfare. Also consider rideshare services and even traveling by train as you make your way to new destinations. With these ideas in mind, you’ll be living the dream in no time!
Big thanks to Lance Cody-Valdez of Free-Lance-Now for this great guest blog!