🔥 How Daisy went from traveling the world to becoming a digital nomad
🔥 Some of the Digital nomad nightmares & struggles
🔥 Belongings and what to pack
🔥 How to find a remote job
🔥 Traveling as a nomad couple
🔥🔥🔥 And so much more must-know digital nomad lifestyle tips for (aspiring) digital nomads!
“I met so many inspiring people through co-working spaces and hostels who had amazing careers and were absolutely smashing their goals. So I knew that digital nomadding was possible.”
From traveler to becoming a digital nomad
Today Daisy can be herself a digital nomad but before this chapter of her life started, she was a traveler. She started her journey with work experiences abroad and continued this lifestyle for almost ten years. Deep down she knew that the travel lifestyle was her thing but like many other travelers, she wasn’t quite sure how to live this lifestyle in the long run. During one of her trips, she met many digital nomads and she saw how others were working online and living the lifestyle she dreamt of. Daisy isn’t the shy type and asks around this is how she started to search for a remote job.
Like Jordan explains in episode #12 The Secret Of Finding a Remote Job, this process isn’t always easy. Daisy also encouraged some of the struggles like knowing what type of jobs to search for and finding jobs that aren’t actually 100% remote. By reflecting on her values and skills, she found out about the role of Remote Community Manager and after six months of searching she finally landed her first remote job as a community manager at Hacker Paradise, a travel company.
Aside from finding a job Daisy also talked about some of the typical digital nomad nightmares she experienced. Listen to the episode for the stories but we want to give you some of the quick tips you need to know as a digital nomad. 🌟 Always research the area, especially when you are traveling alone. 🌟 Pack for all weather types if you’re not sure about your itinerary – don’t overpack though 🌟 Make sure to check the reviews and photos when you book accommodation from a distance 🌟Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be nosy so you can enhance your learning experience
Meet Chels, a website designer who started her freelance career about 3.5 years ago. She loves traveling and spending her days in nature and off-grid areas. We talked with Chels on the Digital Nomads Daily Podcast about her digital nomad van life. Chels joined once again the podcast to chat about what it takes to become a freelance website designer, listen to the full episode here. This article covers what we talked about on the podcast, providing you the most valuable takeaways. We would love for you to tune in and listen to the full episode and learn how to become a successful freelancer.
The perfect balance between design and strategic thinking
Creating a website is so much more than just making it pretty. As a website designer, Chels helps her clients beyond making beautiful websites. She helps her clients with branding, strategy and Search Engine optimization. Having the branch between the two, design and strategic thinking, is what she loves most about being a traveling website designer. She is living her dream life traveling the world and working in a van. Learn more about her vanlife here on her first episode on the Digital Nomads Daily Podcast.
The skills to becoming a freelance website designer
A feeling for design and branding is a must as a website designer. When talking about the necessary skills, Chels shares that time management is critical. In the first year of business this was partially challenging and looking back she realized she barely took a day off. This is common for all freelancers regardless of your field. Managing your time means understanding your workload, taking days off to recharge and constantly being aware of when to push it and relax.
Chels also shares that she developed the skill to be a chameleon. As a creative freelancer, she had to learn how to understand clients, know what is inside their heads and how to adapt to different clients’ needs.
Like creative entrepreneurs Tiff and Micaela both shared on the podcast, it’s important to be a good communicator. Not only with your prospects and clients but also with the people you work with.
Daily tools Chels used for her traveling website design business
As a website designer, some creative tools are obvious and Chels works mostly used Adobe XD for website designs and Canva for brand assets. There are many website platforms like Wix, Elementor and Divi. Chels prefers to work with only Squarespace and Showit. Another tool she loves is www.coolors.co to create the perfect color palettes.
Next to website tools, the other software she used are Trello to manage her projects and tasks. Trello is very similar to ClickUp, Monday.com and Asana and what is important is that you find a tool that works for you. She also used a screen recording tool called Loom and plans her work in Google Calendar.
Like every business owner and also freelancer, accounting is part of the game too. Chels doesn’t like doing accounting but has set a cadence for herself. She also works with accounting to make sure she is doing it correctly as this is something you don’t want to mess up. Chels also recommends having three accounts, one for income, one tax savings account and one account (if you have a lot of expenses) to track the expenses.
how to become a remote Social Media Manager cover photo digital nomads daily 1 (1)
Tips to find clients for freelance website designers
One of the hardest things is to find clients regularly and everyone goes through this process. Chels shares a couple of helpful tips to find clients for your business
Find clients tip #01
Tell everyone what you are doing and share it across different platforms. This is especially important when you are starting out and don’t have many clients yet.
Find clients tip #02:
Don’t shy away and show your work so others can see what you have to offer. Whether it’s a portfolio or a paid project, the best way is to let other people experience your work so you create a connection.
Find clients tip #03
Promoting your business online aka ‘‘digital marketing’’ takes a lot of time. Another great way to find more clients is through referred programs and this has been working really well for Chels. For every new client referred by an existing client, the existing client gets a so-called kickback. This basically means that the existing clients get a commission for everything (s)he brings new customers to your business
Find clients tip #04
Connecting with other freelancers across different industries is another way to expand your network. Find people who you can collaborate with by joining online groups and events. Remember that these type of collaborations is about adding value so be patient and join groups to give first before promoting yourself.
How much can you earn as a freelance website designer?
Chels started her freelance website design career making around 300 USD for a custom design website. Many freelancers who are building a portfolio and gaining experience start at a lower price point. Throughout her career, she gained more knowledge, and experience and has built a strong portfolio which allows her to charge more over time. Today a custom website design and build would be around 4000 USD.
Everyone can become a successful freelance website designer
To be successful every day the biggest challenge is to show up every day and stick to it. Especially in the beginning of her freelance career, it was challenging but as she got more experience and found more clients, her confidence increased.
20: The Live Of A Traveling Website Designer With Chels
Digital nomad Chelsea is back on the podcast! In this episode, she shares her digital nomad and entrepreneurship wisdom. Chels has been nomadding for over ten years and three and a half years as a creative entrepreneur. We dive deep into daily practical questions about her life as a remote website designer. She shares how to become a chameleon at work, find the perfect clients, some of her favorite tools, and the skills necessary to become a successful remote entrepreneur. This episode is perfect for creative minds, entrepreneurs and anyone thinking about going remote.
“In my first year of business I didn’t have a single day off because my time management was crap”
Tips to become successful traveling website designer
What does it really take to become a successful traveling website designer and live your dream lifestyle is what you will learn in this episode. Here are a few tips and quick takeaways you can start doing right away:
1. Learn how to manage your time – this means understanding your workload, taking days off to recharge and constantly being aware of when to push it and relax.
2. Be a good listener – develop the skills to listen and understand your clients’ needs and how your unique skills can help them get there.
3. Be a good communicator – this means that you are professional, likable and know how to interact with your prospects, clients and people you work with joy.
4. Actively find clients – finding clients can be challenging and what you need to do is to tell everyone what you are doing and share it across different platforms.
5. Find your tribe – connect with other freelancers across different industries to expand your network and perhaps even find more clients
6. Build an accounting system – you are a creative and not an accountant for a reason. But as a freelancer taking care of your finances is part of the job too. Make sure you create a system for yourself and set aside money for taxes.
19: 5 Benefits Of Joining A Digital Nomad Travel Group With Craig
Ever thought of joining a travel group for digital nomads? In this episode, Craig, the co-founder of Noma-Collective, shares the benefits of nomadding with a community of like-minded traveling professionals. He is a part-time digital nomad and travels with his family. Joining a travel group offers the ideal mix of exploring, community building, the comfort that everything is taken care of, and space to work remotely. It’s also a great way to test the waters if you are thinking of living a digital nomad lifestyle!
“I like to say you work during the day and then you vacation on the nights and weekends. The minute your laptop shuts, you are automatically on vacation ”
Why you want to join a digital nomad travel group
Work during the day and your vacation during the nights and weekends are what make this lifestyle so attractive. We learned on the podcast that while it sounds incredible, this lifestyle also requires a lot of planning. On top of that, every time you arrive in a new spot, you will need to make new friends. We have found the perfect solution for you if you want to experience the perks of this lifestyle but not all the hassle.
The benefits of joining digital nomad groups are endless and we listen to some of the biggest for you below.
Benefit #01 Make long-lasting friendship
Craig shares on the podcast that posting something in a Facebook group as an introvert isn’t really his thing. By joining a travel group, you can avoid the awkward moment of approaching people. You’re also able to instantly make friends and find a great mix of people from 20 to 50s who are working professional n nd have an adventurous spirit.
Benefit #02 Networking opportunity
As other working professionals surround you, these trips are great for networking. New business opportunities, ideas and collaborations often pop up, which is a strong reason for others to join. Digital Nomad Taryn also mentions this in her episode as she wasn’t sure how to do her work remotely and through the travel group, she finds new ways and now runs a successful business.
Benefit #03 Plenty of adventure
Aside from work, you can expect a lot of adventure and this is a huge benefit of digital nomad travel groups. Noma-Collective organized short trips and 1-day excursions and Craig shares that plans also happen organically among guests.
Benefit #04 Everything is arranged for you
Too busy with work and not motivated to arrange your own trip The amazing thing about travel groups is that your accommodation, co-working space and small things like getting a sim card are covered when you arrive. It can literally save you hours and hours of valuable time!
Benefit #05 Smooth transition to the digital nomad lifestyle
The last benefit Craig points out on the podcast is that joining a travel group for digital nomads is a great stepping stone for newby nomads. You get the taste of it and see how it feels without fully committing to a brand new lifestyle with a safety net and other experienced digital nomads. So it’s a great transition from normal life to becoming a digital nomad with confidence.
Pack your bags and enjoy 10% off on all Noma-Collective trips
Are you already thinking about what to pack for your next adventure?! All Digital Nomads Daily Podcast listers get a 10% discount on all the trips. Go to www.noma-collective.com and use the coupon code DNDAILY10 to enjoy this offer.
18: Selling Sheep To Start A Travel Lifestyle with Micaela
Do you know anyone who has sold their sheep to pursue their dream of traveling the world? Our guest Micaela aka The Alchemist, literally sold her sheep to embark on a travel journey. In this episode, Micaela shares her story of how she started her travel life and became a freelance website designer. Designing websites wasn’t the most obvious career path as she grew up on a farm. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs share their stories through branding and website design. Tune in to learn about what it takes to become a creative entrepreneur, how she finds clients, passive income and all the ins and out of her life as a digital nomad website designer.
“The coconuts, the beach and the hikes are all the fun things. But having the discipline to say, “I need to work and I need to make sure I’m rested so that I can deliver my best efforts to my clients.” is one of the biggest challenges that people face when they want to move into this lifestyle.”
