Dreaming of a laptop lifestyle where you can work from home, or maybe even a beach in Thailand?

These digital nomad jobs for beginners will show you how to make that dream a reality. And it might be easier than you think!

Plenty of people dream of starting their own business and being able to work from anywhere, but few actually make it happen. They don’t know where to start or what kinds of jobs are available.

In this post, I’m covering the top 10 digital nomad jobs for beginners. All of these jobs can form the foundation of a profitable and sustainable online business. And all of them are skills you can learn for free online (on Udemy, SkillShare or Youtube). 

With the online space booming, it’s easier than ever to start a business. Whether you want to move to Bali, or just enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, keep reading to find out the top 10 digital nomad jobs for beginners.

Ready to build your freedom lifestyle? Grab the Laptop Lifestyle Blueprint, a free 30 day guide to starting an online business. It covers the skills you need to become a digital nomad and work from anywhere in the world!

1. Virtual Assistant

Starting a virtual assistant (VA) business is a great way to become a digital nomad. The best part is, these are probably skills you already have! Virtual assistants cover everything from general admin to day to day operations and social media management. 

You might be responsible for running a Facebook group, scheduling social media posts, managing email inboxes and calendars, or planning travel. Even if you haven’t done these tasks before, they’re easily learned. There are plenty of online tutorials to help you along the way. 

If you’re not sure what skills you need to become a digital nomad, becoming a virtual assistant is a great place to start. You can try out different areas (graphic design, social media management, business management, etc.) to see which suit you best.

Tip: Being a successful VA requires strong organizational skills and the ability to stay on top of a lot of different tasks. You’ll also need strong communication skills. Work on building those habits now!

2. Social Media Manager

Becoming a social media manager is one of the most popular digital nomad jobs for beginners. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… you might choose one network to specialize in or try your hand at all of them. 

Social media managers work with business owners to come up with a social media strategy and then implement it. Although VAs might complete social media related tasks, social media managers are a lot more involved in strategy and engagement. They work toward specific business goals.

Tasks could include: social media engagement, strategizing, managing online communities, creating graphics and writing captions. 

3. Designer

Many people mistakenly believe you need to be creative to be a designer. In reality, everything you need to know can be easily learned online! If this is something you’re interested in, commit to spending 30 days building your skills and see where it takes you. I started out as a web designer and I learned absolutely everything online.

Tip: Like any of the jobs on this list, it’s best to focus on what YOU enjoy, rather than what you think you’re best at, or what the market wants. All of these skills are highly marketable and all of them can be learned online.

As an online designer, you might be doing brand design, web design or graphic design (social media graphics, program workbooks, business cards, websites, course materials). The possibilities are endless!

If graphic design interests you, start with learning Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and Procreate. If you’re more interested in web design, check out ShowIt (which is what my site runs on!).

4. Copywriter

Copywriting encompasses a lot of different things: brand and website copy, captions, sales copy, landing pages, ads, blog posts, email marketing and more. Every online business needs copywriting–there is virtually an endless demand!

If you’re interested in starting a writing business, chances are you’re good with words. But like everything on this list, it’s a skill that can be honed and developed. If this sounds like you, start researching effective copywriting techniques and how to turn readers into customers.

5. Coach

Coaches guide and support clients in a specific area of their lives. That could be business, health, mindset, personal relationships, fitness–again, the options are endless. You can choose a broad niche (like health) or something more narrow (ie. plant-based nutrition coaching). 

Choose an area you’re both passionate and knowledgeable about. As a business and marketing coach, I help clients move forward in their businesses and achieve a digital nomad lifestyle. My job is to strategize with my clients, teach them new skills, and hold them accountable.

Tip: You don’t need any certifications to become a coach. You just need to be able to help your clients achieve a transformation.

Being a coach is so rewarding, and I absolutely recommend it if you’re looking to start an online business. You can check out this post or my Instagram here to see what daily life is like as a business coach!

6. Digital Marketing and SEO

The category of digital marketing has some great digital nomad jobs for beginners. There is always going to be a demand for these jobs, because every business needs marketing! This skillset is also a little more advanced, which means there are less competitors. 

If you want to become a digital nomad and start an online business, learning the basics of SEO and digital marketing will help you exponentially. You may even start a digital marketing business or agency.

Some areas to specialize include: Facebook ads, Google ads, high level SEO and general digital marketing strategy.

7. Public Relations (PR) Specialist 

Often left off the digital nomad skills lists, PR is a fantastic opportunity for any online entrepreneurs with business experience. As a PR manager, you would be responsible for managing the business’s reputation and visibility online. 

You’ll need strong writing and speaking skills, as well as an ability to network. Your job is to line up opportunities for your clients–speaking engagements, podcast interviews, articles, you name it. Anything that gets your client’s name and business out into the world.

8. Photographer/Videographer

As a freelance photographer or videographer, you can start an online business and work from anywhere. If this interests you but you don’t have the skills yet, start learning! Take a course, watch a Youtube series, learn how to use a camera and edit your own photos/videos. There are lots of free and paid resources out there.

As you develop your skills, you may want to niche down to a specific area (brand photography, weddings, etc.), but plenty of photographers start out more general. This is a great field to learn as you go and the online business community will always need photos and videos.

9. Course Creator

You can make a living creating courses or incorporate it into your existing business (a photographer who creates an online photography class, for example). This is a great option to add multiple income streams to your online business.

To be a course creator, you need to–first of all–know your stuff. Whatever subject you’re educating people on, you should be an expert (at least compared to the people taking your course). Next you need to break down the information into small, digestible pieces.

The education field is shifting more and more online, and course creation is in high demand. If you can turn complex topics into an easy to understand format, you’ll have a lucrative business in no time.

Tip: If you’re looking to create an online course, start browsing some of the hosting platforms like Udemy and SkillShare, to see what’s on offer and if your skillset is in demand.

10. Accountant or Bookkeeper

More into numbers than content creation? Being an online accountant or bookkeeper might be the path for you. Unlike some of the other digital nomad jobs for beginners, you’ll need the proper accreditations first.

Every business needs a bookkeeper, which means these skills are in high demand (noticing a trend here?). If you have more specialized expertise, legal and tax consulting make great digital nomad jobs for beginners as well.

BONUS: Two Honourable Mentions

11. Selling digital products

Selling digital products is a great way to grow your business and diversify your income–some entrepreneurs make this their entire business! The digital product marketplace is booming, and you can sell everything from ebooks to templates to courses.

Tip: Interested in selling someone else’s digital products rather than your own? Research dropshipping and Amazon FBA to get started.

12. English Teacher

Usually #1 on the list of digital nomad jobs for beginners, becoming an English teacher is one of the easiest ways to live the digital nomad lifestyle. It can also provide a steady income while you get your business up and running.

Tip: If you’re interested in teaching English, check out See Nic Wander for tons of great resources and connections!

I hope this list of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners has inspired you. The key takeaway is this: don’t keep searching for a million dollar idea. Pick one of these digital nomad jobs for beginners and get to work! Learn, grow, find your first client. JUST GET STARTED.

If you’re ready to take that next step and build the online business of your dreams, check out Laptop Lifestyle Bootcamp, the ultimate group coaching program for new entrepreneurs. We cover everything in this course, from mindset to business systems to growth. 

Keep Reading:

How to Quit Your 9 to 5 and Travel the World Full Time 

How I built my online business from a laptop on the beach

How to manage your business while traveling full-time

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