How to Make Your First $1000 as a Digital Nomad
Three simple models, real steps, and how to keep going when it gets tough
The biggest challenge is never about finding the perfect idea. It’s getting started, staying focused, and following through long enough to see results.
There are thousands of ways to earn money online, but most of them fall into three simple paths: freelancing, coaching or content-based services, and selling products (physical or digital).
These are practical, proven, and beginner-friendly. They also come with many common emotional hurdles such as fear, overthinking, comparison, and doubt, all of which hold you back far more than any strategy ever will.
Let’s break down each model with simple steps to help you start, and real advice to help you keep going, even when progress feels slow.
1. Freelancing
What it is:
Freelancing means offering a skill you already have to clients who need it. You trade your time and expertise for money. No need to build an audience, brand, or product. Just deliver good work, get paid, and grow from there.
Start here:
Choose a skill you already know. This could be writing, admin, design, customer support, editing, social media management, or anything you’ve done in a past job or hobby.
Create a profile on Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. Keep it simple. Clear headline, honest summary, one or two portfolio pieces (or create mock ones if needed).
Search for small, low-pressure jobs to build experience and early reviews.
Apply daily with short, customised pitches. You don’t need to be fancy. You just need to show you’ve read the brief and can help.
How to keep going:
Don’t panic if you don’t get replies at first. Most people send out 10–20 pitches before landing a job. That’s normal.
Focus on building a rhythm. 3–5 short pitches per day is better than writing one perfect one and waiting.
Say yes to small jobs you know you can deliver well. Use them to build your profile, confidence, and credibility.
Example goal: 40 hours of work at $25/hour = $1000. Even at $15/hour, it’s a strong start and a proof of concept.
Tip: Track your wins. A compliment in a message, a quick job accepted, a client who comes back. These are signs you're on the right path, even if it’s slow at first.
2. Coaching or Content-Based Services
What it is:
This model is about helping people solve a problem or reach a goal using your knowledge and experience. You can do this through 1:1 coaching, group sessions, digital workshops, or self-paced products like courses, toolkits, or downloads. You teach, guide, support, or simplify, and get paid to share what you know.
Start here:
Choose a topic you know well or love talking about. This could be business, wellness, parenting, decluttering, mindset, writing, design. Anything you’ve got experience in and enjoy helping others with.
Decide how you want to deliver it. This might be 1:1 calls, small group sessions, a mini-course, a live Zoom workshop, or even a short self-paced course hosted on a platform like Teachable, Podia, or Stan.
Start sharing your ideas on one long-form platform (like Substack, a YouTube channel, or podcast) and one short-form platform (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook).
Set up a simple way to book or buy. That could be a Calendly link, a “Work with Me” page, or a checkout link on Gumroad. Even just a link in bio. (Link.tree & Stan.store are great tools for this)
How to keep going:
Keep showing up with value. Teach small things. Share insights. Speak like a human, not a brand.
Don’t worry about building a big audience. Focus on connection. Five engaged followers who trust you are better than 500 who scroll past.
Talk about your offer more than you think you should. Most people won’t see it the first time. Or the third.
Example goal: 5 coaching sessions at $200 = $1000. Or a $99 course sold to 10 people. Or 20 people on a $50 live workshop.
Tip: Record every positive bit of feedback. A DM that says “this really helped,” a client who rebooks, a kind comment. That’s proof you’re doing something right, even if you’re still early.
3. Selling Physical Products Online
What it is:
This model is about creating and selling physical products through an online store or marketplace. These could be items like t-shirts, journals, supplements, travel accessories, or anything else people can hold in their hands. You can use print-on-demand, work with low-minimum suppliers, or eventually develop your own product line. Orders are handled through platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon.
Start here:
Choose a niche that fits your interests and lifestyle. This might be something you already love (like travel, fitness, pets, wellness, creativity) or a community you’re part of.
Decide on one simple product to test the waters. This could be a mug with a fun quote, wall art, journals, candles, jigsaw puzzles or whatever you’d be excited to create and sell.
Use print-on-demand tools like Printify, Gelato, or Lulu to launch without holding inventory. Or source from small suppliers who offer low minimums.
Set up a simple way to sell. You can use Shopify, Etsy, or even link to a checkout page from your newsletter using Stripe.
How to keep going:
Expect slow traction at first. Many people visit your page before someone buys. That’s normal.
Use small paid ads if you can (even $5/day) to test headlines or designs. Watch what people click on, then double down.
Keep asking your audience what they like. Polls, DMs, comments. Use that feedback to shape your next product or improve what you’ve got.
Example goal: 50 products at $20 = $1000. That could be 10 products with 5 sales each, or one product that catches on. (NB: That’s income, depending on product costs you’ll need to adjust those numbers to actually make $1000 in profit)
Tip: Screenshot every sale. Not to post (although it’s great content). Just for you. It’s easy to forget the early wins when you’re deep in the work. Remind yourself, this is working.
The Two Sticking Points That Trip Everyone Up
Every model has its own learning curve, but underneath all the strategies, there are really just two things that make people stall: getting started and growing an audience.
Getting started is where self-doubt creeps in. You spend more time questioning your niche than testing it. You wonder if anyone will care what you have to say. You go back and forth between models, waiting for the one that feels risk-free. It never does.
The way through is to back yourself.
Write down things you’ve done that were hard but worked out.
Look at the skills you’ve built over the years, not just the ones tied to a job title.
Choose a topic you’re genuinely curious about and would be happy to spend time learning and sharing.
Then surround yourself with people who are also building. It’s easier to keep going when someone else gets it.
Consistent, Focused, Action
The second challenge is keeping at it when no one’s responding yet. You’ve made your offer, posted the thing, sent the email and...... crickets.
This is where most people change direction too soon, or give up altogether.
But audience growth takes time. The ones who see results are the ones who stick with it long enough for things to click.
You don’t need to be everywhere. Just focus on two platforms. One where you go deep (a blog, Substack, podcast, YouTube, or newsletter) and one where you show up regularly and can test fast (social media).
Batch your content if it helps you stay consistent. Pay attention to the language your audience uses, and let that guide your messaging.
Consistency trumps virality.
Bringing it all together
You don’t need a hundred ideas, the perfect niche, the right funnel, or a million followers.
You just need one path, one offer, and the willingness to keep going long enough to let it work.
Freelancing. Coaching. Selling simple products. These are tried and tested. They’re not fancy, but they work. Each of them can get you to your first $1000, (and beyond), if you show up, keep improving, and stay in the game.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Don’t keep starting over. Just pick one & begin.
Then build your rhythm, refine as you go, give it more time than feels comfortable, and trust that results come from consistency, not magic.
Before you know it, you’ll be an overnight success! 😉
What shaky steps are you taking towards your goals this week?
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Thank you for this thurough article. I downloaded your 90 day plan as well and I already appreciate the beginning. It's so thurough and colorful. This has all been a very helpful breakdown.
Jo! Thank you for every single word you write. I am heading out next week into the world to try a new nomadic lifestyle!! You give me the courage to just start and how to learn new ways to generate income while living our best lives within new cultures!! Your posts are so helpful to me in this transitional time. Big hugs from a stranger who really appreciates you sharing your expertise. You make a difference.