5 Tips to Starting a Location-Independent Business (Even If You're Not Tech-Savvy)

Keep it simple, silly

“I can’t turn it off”, I tried to say quietly to my husband as 200+ webinar attendees were gradually leaving the workshop I’d just ended.

I was frantically searching every button on my ‘gotowebinar’ app, but I could not find the one that ended the webinar.

After a few awkward moments, one of my attendees said he could jump on the shared screen and show me how to turn it off.

He walked me through it and I gratefully ended the webinar (so I thought,) turning to my husband and saying ‘well, that was a f***ing embarrassing disaster’.

My screen lit up as the remaining attendees wrote - ‘we’re still here!’ 😂

If I Can Do It, You Most Certainly Can!

That is just one of many, many examples I could give you as to the lack of technical skills I had when I started online.

And without being one of those Gen X parents, telling their Gen Z kids how easy they’ve got it, the fact is, the tech is much simpler these days.

Along the way, as very clever tech people have realized the needs of remote work and online business building, the apps, software and platforms have become more and more user friendly.

This means that starting an online venture these days even if you have zero to nil tech skills is easier than ever before and will continue to become easier as AI seeps into every online nook and cranny!

Here’s how to get started building your location independent empire even if you struggle with your computer ‘on’ button;

1. Start With What You Already Know

The biggest mistake I see people make is thinking they need to learn completely new skills to work online.

Look at what you're already good at.

• What do people come to you for advice about?

• What problems can you solve?

I started by helping small businesses with their marketing - something I'd done for years in the corporate world.

The only difference was doing it remotely instead of in person.

2. Choose the Right Business Model

The simplest way to start is usually the best way.

Forget about building complex membership sites or creating massive online courses (at least for now).

Instead, consider:

• Freelancing your existing skills

• Offering consulting in your area of expertise

• Starting a newsletter or FB Group about a topic you’re passionate about

• Coaching people who want to learn from your experience

3. Setup Only What You Need

Much of the tech overwhelm you feel is likely due to the belief that you need to be everywhere at once.

But to get started you only need one platform, and that’s the one with a direct line to your audience.

• If you're a freelancer, you might only need an Upwork profile. That's it.

• Starting a newsletter? Substack is all you need.

• Want to create video content? Focus solely on the one platform you want to grow on.

Stop getting distracted by building multiple audience streams or testing different platforms.

Pick your lane and stay in it.

I learned this lesson the hard way after spreading myself too thin across multiple platforms.

The moment I focused solely on one channel, everything changed.

4. Do The Work (Consistently)

This is the bit most people miss (and by most I mean 99.9%).

• If you're a freelancer - pitch clients (and deliver the work).

• If you're a writer - write.

• If you're a YouTuber - make videos.

I recently spoke with a good friend who'd spent months ‘playing with’ Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts because "everyone said she needed to be there."

Meanwhile, she hadn't written a single word of her newsletter - the actual thing that would make her money.

Don't fall into that trap.

5. Create Simple Systems That Work

You don't need fancy project management tools or complicated workflows.

This has been my big downfall in the past.

Spending hours setting up my Trello cards, or messing about in Todoist. It was all I could do to keep myself away from ‘ClickUp!’

Nowadays all my ‘to do lists’, goals, notes, etc are in my Apple notes app, backed up by longer form projects in Google sheets and docs.

That’s all I need to run multiple business interests.

Tech Tools You Actually Need

Here's your minimal viable tech stack:

• A reliable laptop

• Good internet connection

• Google Workspace or similar for email/documents

• The specific platform for your chosen business model

• ChatGPT or Claude to massively reduce work loads and times

• A Note taking/keeping app

Everything else is optional.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

I've seen these trip people up time and time again:

• Getting stuck in endless preparation

• Trying to make everything perfect before starting

• Following every piece of advice from every 'guru'

• Spreading yourself too thin across multiple platforms

• Focusing on the wrong ‘To-Do’

Simple Works Better

The most successful location-independent businesses I've seen all share one thing in common - they do one thing well.

• They don't try to be everywhere.

• They don't overcomplicate their systems.

• They don't get distracted by shiny new tools or platforms.

They simply deliver value consistently in their chosen way.

Every hour spent learning unnecessary tech tools is an hour you could have spent actually building your business.

Pick your path, set up the minimum you need, and start doing the work. Everything else can come later.

Have fun!

---

Ready to Start Your Nomadic Lifestyle? Here’s How I Can Help You:

1. Explore my blog, The Working Traveller
   Your go-to resource for nomadic travel tips, destination inspiration, and practical advice on making money on the road.

2. Grab my free ebook: 200+ Side Hustles for 50+ Nomads
   Packed with ideas to help you fund your travels and live your best life, starting today.

3. Join The Solopreneur Success Formula
   My beginner-friendly course helps 50+ adventurers create an online lifestyle business to fund their travels and embrace ultimate freedom.