Do you have dreams of traveling the world but aren’t quite sure how to make money as you do it? If so, you may want to look into living and working as a “digital nomad”.
A digital nomad is someone who is able to work while they travel, usually from only their laptop.
They are able to come and go as they please, and make a decent living as they do it. Digital nomadism is great for people who have a vision of traveling the globe without having to worry about how to finance their dream.
Digital nomad Stéphanie Smolders is doing just that. Find out more about her and how she makes money online by checking out the interview below!
Meet Stéphanie Smolders – Travel Blogger and Digital Nomad
Stéphanie Smolders is a travel blogger and social media manager, currently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Born in Belgium, Stéphanie Smolders had big dreams of leaving her career as a teacher and traveling the world full-time. Like most people, however, she had some real doubts about how she was going to make it happen.
Knowing that she had to find some way to make money online, Stéphanie started her own social media marketing agency, BeeHaveSocial. As an entrepreneur, she has been able to make money remotely and travel all over the world.
Below, Stéphanie talks more about how she became a digital nomad and offers tips on how YOU can earn money online and travel!
Interview with Stéphanie Smolders of BeeHaveSocial
YoungAdultMoney: Hi, Stéphanie! Thank you for taking the time to interview with us here at Young Adult Money!
Stéphanie: Thank you for having me, Young Adult Money. I love inspiring others to make money with what they love, and it’s even better if you can do it location-independent right?
YAM: That’s awesome! What first inspired you to be a world traveler?
S: I always traveled a lot, even as a child. So exploring new places and diving deep into cultures is something that really gives me energy. My boyfriend and I both had demanding jobs in Belgium and we hardly ever saw each other even while we were living together. We would sneak out every weekend just to spend quality time together. We just felt that something was off and that life could be more than just working until you can have your 20-day vacation. That is when we decided it was time to change our lives.
YAM: Sounds like you made the right choice! What moves did you make to be able to afford your dream?
S: First, my boyfriend and I began working on our travel website and social media channels. We already both had a good network and business clubs who were our target audience. We wrote down our marketing strategy and worked really hard to deliver the best content in the luxury travel niche. That’s when I really started getting to work on my social media marketing agency. We also set aside some money, sold all our belongings, and started accepting new opportunities.
YAM: How did you start making money as a digital nomad?
S: Before leaving on our world trip, I already had some clients as a social media manager. People noticed my Instagram and came to me for advice. This is how all of it started. I also did some translation jobs on the side and taught Dutch online. I still do some of it as a hobby, but our online marketing agency is the biggest source of income at the moment. I strongly suggest that people develop a skill and use it to build a portfolio. Network with people who are in your target audience and pitch your services/products.
It is all about getting yourself out there!
YAM: That’s great advice! What’s it like being an entrepreneur?
S: Being an entrepreneur is the best thing for me. I get to decide what my days look like, and I’m in control of my own life. There are downsides to it as well, such as the insecurity and procrastinating on your tasks. You need to be able to take control and to do everything yourself in the beginning. I was the customer service, the social media manager, the strategy writer, the graphic designer, … Now I have a team who helps me with things I’m not an expert in or that I don’t like doing.
YAM: Where can people go to find remote work or more information on how to be a digital nomad?
S: I believe that almost every skill can be turned into a location independent lifestyle. You just have to be creative enough to come up with the idea and follow through.
There are a lot of websites where you can offer your services, but most of them aren’t freelance-friendly (high fees, strict rules, …). I suggest working on your own marketing and networking with like-minded people. Facebook groups are a good way to start networking and leverage your skills to create your portfolio. The digital nomad community is getting bigger and more known by the day. This year there is even a festival targeting digital nomads and the lifestyle (Freedom Experience in Spain).
YAM: What advice would you offer to people who want to get started in blogging?
S: The best advice I can give you is find your unique selling point. What makes you different from the 1000 other blogs? Why should people read/watch your content? I always create a business plan for every new venture I get myself into. I have so many plans but sitting down with them and writing down a plan helps to get everything clear.
Also just start! Don’t get stuck on the details!
YAM: Where do you plan to travel to in 2018 and beyond?
S: Our travel plans for 2018 haven’t been as crazy as the years before. We are focusing on our businesses a lot more this year as we want to take it all to the next level. This year we have been to Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Indonesia, and Malaysia. We plan to go to Shanghai, Hong Kong, South Korea, and after that… no idea yet! We’ll see what comes next.
The best thing about being a digital nomad is having this freedom.
Related:
- 50+ Online and At-Home Ways to Make Money
- 8 Ways to Get Hired For More Freelance Gigs
- 7 Awesome Location Independent Jobs
- Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards
- How to Find Your First Freelance Client
To learn more about Stéphanie Smolders and her life as a digital nomad, check her out on Instagram @stephaniesmolders. You can also visit her travel website at Tourist Exclusive.
Have questions about the digital nomad lifestyle? Leave a comment below!
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Really interesting, thqanks for sharing!!!
Great interview. Becoming location independent is one of my main goals. I’m slowly getting there.