As we all know, a growing number of writers rely heavily on freelancing nowadays. Many are motivated by the promise of supplemental income, but most are also attracted to the flexibility freelancing offers. Flexibility is often accompanied by mobility. If you’re someone who loves to travel, or if you’re a travel blogger, then freelancing is your best strategy for maintaining a steady income. More and more millennials are trying to be “digital nomads” for a living.
However, traveling is not free, and working on the road is not easy. The obstacles you will encounter are very different from those faced by people who work in an office or even from home. That’s why as a traveler/freelancer, you need to bear a few things in mind to be able to ace your tasks with no hassle.
Travel light
For starters, travel light. Since you’ll be freelancing remotely, you’ll need to carry your laptop around. Unfortunately, unless you have a Macbook Air, laptops are not light devices. If you have a netbook or a tablet with a detachable keyboard, this is a moot point. However, if you don’t have this luxury, then you shouldn’t overpack.
Master time management
Whether you’ll be traveling locally or internationally, make sure to plan ahead. Keep your itinerary with you and stick to it. If you love wandering and interacting with locals, then build this into your schedule. To make the most out of your trip, finish your work and make sure you’re getting six hours of uninterrupted sleep, at the very least. Seems difficult, but trust me, it’s doable! You could even combine sightseeing and café hopping with work—walk to a charming local coffee venue, bring your laptop, and make some money! Many cafés have WiFi, which is another plus.
Internet connection is your number one priority
This one’s non-negotiable. Before you set off to your travel destination, make sure there’s a strong WiFi connection where you’ll be staying, or arrange for cell service ahead of time. Internet is the most important tool of all; it’s how you will receive and submit work from clients, do research, etc. If it disappears, so does your source of income! Know that you’re going to be in a place with no WiFi? Invest in a portable hotspot!
Don’t forget to inform your clients
Speaking of clients, don’t forget to let them know that you’re traveling before you head out. Just a heads up is enough to preemptively avoid miscommunications, frantic clients, and missed deadlines. It’s ok to go hiking in a rainforest or RV-ing in a desert, but you clients have to know that your availability will be sporadic on those days.
Backup is crucial
Of course, backup is good practice all the time, but when you’re on the road, it becomes ten times more important. Make sure to carry a hard-disk or a flash drive with you just in case the internet fails you for any reason or if your laptop breaks down. That way, you won’t lose your files and can resume working at a public library or internet café. Don’t stop at a plan B though; have a plan C as well! Also, make sure to have a digital backup for your files, be it on Google Drive or Document, or in your Dropbox account.
Safety comes first
Your laptop is your gateway to work, so you need to guarantee that you stay in a secure environment, if you plan on leaving it for any period of time. Travelers and digital nomads always travel on budget, so a lavish 5-star hotel is usually not an option. Consider Airbnbs. They’re not always as cheap as hostels, but they’re considerably cheaper than hotels. It also depends on the country and time of year, because you can occasionally find reasonable prices for 4-star hotels. If staying at a hostel is unavoidable, then at least pick one with safes and lockers. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring your own padlock.
Expand your networks on the road
A little bit of networking can do no harm. If you’re an English writer, that could be a plus for foreigners because you’ll probably be offering a cheaper service than that of those in their hometown. Carry business cards bearing your contact information, a link to your online portfolio, and social media accounts. Combining business and recreation can’t get any easier!
Hunt jobs on Ureed
If you’re constantly on the go, then a steady supply of clients is a must, especially if you’re project-based. Beside your regular clients, you can always look for more tasks or projects on freelancing platforms like Ureed.
So, what are you waiting for? Book a flight to your dream destination and start packing! Your dream job is just a few clicks away.
