Just imagine the possibility of being able to wake up, hit the beach for a morning surf session before heading to your favorite café for breakfast and a latte. No more rigorous 9-5 schedules or office cubicles, just you, your board and a career that suits your lifestyle.
Before the advancement of technology, having that type of job would have been completely unheard of. But now, through remote working, surfers can live out their dream without sacrificing their income from anywhere in the world.
For me, going freelance has opened a world of opportunities, but don’t get me wrong, sometimes setting yourself up as a digital nomad can be harder than you expect. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about freelancing and the types of work you can do to trade dull office walls for endless ocean scenery.
What is Freelancing?
This might seem like a silly question, but it’s important to understand what you’ll be signing yourself up for.
Freelancing is a type of self-employment where you offer services to clients on a contract or project basis, rather than working full-time for one company. By choosing to go freelance, not only do you gain back freedom over your schedule but also control how many clients you take on and which projects you want to pursue (like articles on how to be a surfing nomad!).
Considerations Before Going Freelance
Before you hand in your resignation and book that flight, it’s important to be prepared, as starting a remote career doesn’t happen overnight. Here’s what you need to consider before making any life-changing decisions:
Skills and market demand – what jobs can you do remotely?
Unfortunately, not every job is designed for remote work. So, it’s important to assess your skills to see whether you transfer into a new industry or upsell your current skill set. An example list of the most in-demand remote jobs include:
- Writing and content creation
- Social media management
- Graphic design
- Digital marketing and communications consultancy
- Web design and development
- Photography and videography
- Virtual assistance
- Tutoring and online coaching
- Data analytics
For a more official list, Upwork has released this article detailing the best remote jobs for 2025.
If you don’t already have the relevant skills or experience, don’t panic! It’s always possible to teach yourself new things through practice, online courses and books (I’d personally like to give a big shoutout to ‘SEO for Dummies’).
Time management
Surfing conditions are dictated by tides and weather, while remote work typically involves deadlines and client expectations. With this in mind, it’s important to learn how to structure your day efficiently and whether you’ll be able to work early, in the evenings or between surf sessions.
It can be hard to get the right balance, but learning to do so is key to making sure you get enough surf time, travel time and a good-looking CV.
The right equipment
Having all your equipment ready before you travel makes freelancing ten times easier. Firstly, make sure you have a lightweight, sturdy laptop that can fit into your luggage, as well as noise-cancelling headphones and a good quality power bank in case of outages.
It’s also worthwhile checking ahead of time that your accommodation has a reliable internet connection, as well as a comfortable co-working space.
How to get Started as a Remote Worker
So, you’ve got your equipment, you’ve got your CV and skills straight – now what? There are two main directions you can take: finding freelance clients or applying for remote jobs.
Finding freelance clients
Landing your first few gigs as a freelancer is probably the toughest part, but there are a few different ways to build up your client portfolio, give yourself a good reputation and start to earn a consistent wage.
Use freelancing platforms
If you’re starting with limited experience, I recommend using freelancing platforms as your first port of call. The two main platforms I use are Fiverr and Upwork, but I’ve personally found more success through Upwork as it’s easier to stand out among the competition.
Something to bear in mind, these apps will usually take around a 10% cut of your earnings – which is important to factor into your budget!
Leveraging your network
If you already have job experience, it’s worthwhile advertising your new freelance status on LinkedIn, as well as informing any friends or family who may have their own connections to potential business opportunities.
This way, you may be able to continue relationships with pre-existing clients, leading to referrals, long-term contracts or even collaborations on larger projects.
Before you do this, I recommend doing some research about your going rate and how much is a reasonable amount to charge per hour and project based on your experience.
Cold pitching
Sometimes, you never know unless you try. If there’s a business or brand you’d love to work with, you can try reaching out to them directly with a tailored pitch on how your services can benefit them.
Applying for remote work
If you prefer stability and focusing on one client at a time, finding remote work for a company might be a better fit, especially if you’re concerned about your income fluctuating.
Remote job boards
There are a variety of job boards tailored to companies hiring remote workers, such as We Work Remotely and Flex jobs.
Just remember to thoroughly assess the hours and whether they give you enough flexibility to effectively combine surfing and freelancing.
Update your LinkedIn profile
There are always remote jobs available on LinkedIn, so it’s important to keep your profile up to date with your skills, experience and any projects you want to highlight. If you end up going down the copywriting route, I’d recommend regularly sharing any published articles you’ve worked on to keep an ongoing portfolio.
Tips for Building a Sustainable Freelance Career
As mentioned, freelancing is an increasingly popular career move, and it can be extremely competitive to win work, especially if you’re just starting out. The tips below will help you to win new clients and keep momentum.
How to Win Freelance Jobs and be on Your Way to Living the Digital Nomad Surfer Life
Start with smaller clients
As you’re starting, I recommend aiming for the ‘low-hanging fruit’, clients who have a lower budget but will give you valuable experience to slowly build your client base. Over time, you’ll be able to gradually move away from low-paying clients and start to apply for projects with a higher pay grade to keep your income steady.
Tailor every pitch
Avoid copy-pasting generic applications. Instead, personalize each proposal to show how your skills solve the client’s specific problem and that you’ve thoroughly read their advertisement. This might take more time, but it’ll massively increase your chances of getting hired.
Work your way into long-term contracts
Many freelancers start with project-based work, which evolves into long-term partnerships. Always approach short gigs with the mindset of proving yourself, and you can show this to your client by giving the occasional ‘add-on’ deliverables that demonstrate your commitment.
For example, if you’ve sent your client an article for their website, consider hopping on Canva and putting together a social media graphic to accompany the piece. They might not use it, but it’s a good tactic to show you’ll go the extra mile!
Making an Income to Support Your Digital Nomad Lifestyle
I’ll be completely honest with you: it takes time to build a reliable income from freelancing, and there will likely be client losses amongst wins. For most people, it takes 6 months to 2 years to build a consistent income, depending on your niche, commitment, and how well you market yourself.
As remote work can be unpredictable, I recommend tracking and planning your finances, such as creating spreadsheets to see exactly how much different clients are paying you and which ones are more worthwhile of your time. I would strongly consider supplementing your freelance income with part-time remote work or savings. That way, you’re not pressured to take on every low-paying job and can grow more strategically without counting every penny (I’ve definitely been there a few times).
Building a Personal Brand as a Freelancer
When freelancing, it’s important to maintain and build your own personal brand – just like starting your own business. With your personalized brand, it’s easier to stand out and showcase yourself as an expert in your field, helping you stand out among the many other remote workers.
Below are a couple of considerations to help you do this.
Starting your own blog or social media account
Even if you don’t have much of a portfolio to start with, creating a blog or social media account tailored to your niche is a great way to store and show off your work. Think of it as your public space to celebrate your achievements, whether it’s articles, client testimonials or behind-the-scenes photos of your remote lifestyle.
Participating in forums
This is something I’m personally trying to get better at; not being shy in community forums. On LinkedIn especially, engaging in posts with your thoughts and opinions can help you get noticed by other like-minded industry professionals, as well as potential clients.
Even if you think you don’t have anything to add to the conversation, these forums are great for letting you know about the latest industry updates and sharing advice with other digital nomads.
Conclusion
Even though becoming a freelancer and dedicating yourself to the digital nomad lifestyle isn’t easy, it’s extremely worthwhile. Once you’ve worked out your finances, with a bit of persistence and patience it’s possible to sustain a steady career while having the freedom to chase waves around the world.
We’re with you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for ideas for digital nomad surf destinations, tips for making the most of the digital nomad surf lifestyle or inspiration from other digital nomad surfers, we’ve got you covered – no matter where you are on your journey.
