Have you been baited by words like “financial freedom” & “location independence”? Do you want to travel the world making beach towels and cozy BnBs your office?
A steady remote income is definitely possible. That being said, nothing of great value ever comes “easy”. So if you want it, you’re going to have to fight for it.
For all our sakes and for your own, make it something you truly love. Your energy will be much better spent practicing your passions and it will give you the energy to fight when it gets difficult, because you’ll know it’s what you truly want.
By “remote income”, I am referring to jobs that don’t require your physical presence to get paid. These are the types of jobs you can do with your computer or phone. Below is your guide to making a living while traveling the world (or your house, for all you home-bodies).
~ Look at businesses online (Bnbs, hostels, small hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.) in need of good photos and ask for a fair price in exchange for quality photos.
~ Sell your photos on Shutterstock, Foap, Getty, etc.
These are some of the popular ones, but there are plenty of others to pick through.
~ Create and sell an ebook on something, anything you’re good at.
It’s actually way more straight-forward than you may think these days, with self-publishers on the rise.
~ Broadcast yourself live and talk to people through apps such as Twitch.
~ Participate in paid focus groups.
Many people will pay you for your time in studies involving groups of people. Studies can involve your presence or it could be just a simple phone call or online survey. There are thousands across the internet so it’s advisable to research company reviews beforehand.
~ Make and physically (as in, not online) sell artisan crafts like jewelry, journals, shoes, bags, wire art, art made from palm leaves, art from used or recycled materials, whatever you think people would enjoy.
I’ve met a good amount of people along the road who do this successfully and live comfortably from it. Everyone loves a good piece of art!
~ Freelance write/web design/copyright/graphic design/photography/etc. remotely for companies with content mill websites like Fiverr or PeoplePerHour.
Or, if you prefer a more personal approach, contact companies directly that are hiring and pitch some good ideas for them. Or, for a different approach, there are also contest websites and pay-per-read platforms where you are paid for the amount of people your work reaches. I’m thinking Substack, Medium, or Patreon.
~ Submit stories to websites like BuzzFeed and List Verse.
Plenty of businesses take stories and articles from people who have no experience writing professionally, if you’re just starting out. They just want a good story. At (often times) a hundred bucks a pop or more, it could be worth the time & competition.
~ Dropship products.
Advertise and sell goods or services that other people are making. Providing artisans with a channel to sell more of their art can be life-changing for both.
~ Flip websites, flip articles, flip anything online.
This means taking something that could be much better by applying your expertise. Offer to redo someone’s website to increase their sales. Don’t have any website design skills? Think out of the box. You could flip a hotel’s social media page and widen their reach, or offer to polish a restaurant menu. The opportunities are endless.
~ Scour Craigslist-like gigs. Many countries have classifieds websites like Craigslist that list paid gigs around the area you’re traveling.
Some people spend their days searching for and performing gigs (or small jobs) like dog-walking, lawn-mowing, gardening, photography assistance, and so much more.
~ Sell something with inventory you don’t need to touch (like your printed travel photos) on Shopify or Etsy or your own website.
~ Be a social media ambassador for a business. Market their products or services in exchange for commission.
~ Review businesses in exchange for their good or service.
~ Start a blog. Get paid through affiliate links (links to products for a pay-per-click or commission-base pay), sponsorship, advertising, products, etc.
~ Open an online store and sell designs on merchandise like T-shirts, phone cases, tote bags, etc. using fulfillment services like Printful or Zazzle.
~ Teach English (or your preferred language) online.
No, you don’t necessarily need a college degree to participate, just a TEFL certificate.
~ Teach or tutor a skill online through websites like Skillshare.
~ Be a mystery shopper.
Many organizations like Gigwalk will pay people to collect information about products and services near you. Yes, you can get paid to shop!
~ Create a brand, grow a following, and use ads to make money.
Relevant & popular platforms include (but are not limited to) YouTube, Instagram, and/or a personal blog.
~ Work in customer support for a company that allows you a remote position.
Uber, for example, is a good choice if you like to travel, enjoy helping people solve problems, and wouldn’t mind some transportation rewards.
~ Get sponsored.
No, you don’t have to be insta-famous or a blogger, necessarily. Opportunities for sponsorships are endless and they’re a dime a dozen. Open your mind to the possibilities.
Another idea is to pick a product, service, or general company you’d like to represent. For example, Chacos Sandals sponsored a couple’s trip to all 59 National State Parks. Use the talents you were given and think big! You just might get it.
~ Test websites.
Lots of websites out there need people like you to test their website and get paid to find bugs and glitches.
PRO TIP: Combine these tips if you wish but word of caution not to spread yourself too thin with the jobs you pick from above. Choose one or two to start with and develop the skills to take your income to higher levels than if you picked five and developed them all in the same amount of time.
Freedom from the matrix is possible: it takes guts, a little elbow grease, and a healthy drive for financial and emotional independence. I’m trusting these ways to make a remote income has got your brain cooking up something good. Now go be free, little birdie!!
This list gets updated with new ideas, so what did I miss? How do you make an income online?
In the spirit of paying it forward, this written work is donation-based. There is no obligation to support my work. This knowledge is free to ALL.
Thank you for your energy and support, in any way that comes.
It is deeply appreciated, and may it return to you multiplied.
🤍
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