If you’re someone that lives a life of freedom, full of travel, exciting experiences, and different locations on a monthly basis then it’s safe to say you’re a bit of a nomad. How do you make a living? If you can answer that question by saying you use your laptop to work remotely at whatever it may be, digital marketing, photography, or videography, then it’s also safe to say you’re what’s known as a digital nomad.
Being on the road whilst making a living can come with its difficulties so it’s always good to keep up to date with the latest technological trends that will help you thrive and keep on top of your business. In this article, we take a look at a few of the latest tech solutions that every digital nomad should know about.
A Digital Mailbox
If you’re running a business you’ll know the troubles that come with people wanting to send you things in the post – especially if you’re working on the road. In most cases, setting up a company will require you to have a physical mailbox which is pretty difficult when you’re living from a backpack moving country to country.
There are solutions in this situation that are easier to approach than you may think. Setting up a virtual mailbox will enable you to receive all physical posts in the form of an email. Companies will scan all posts received to a physical mailbox and send it to your email address meaning you can have the luxury of a physical mailbox combined with the ease of a digital one.
Storage Solutions
If you’re up to date with technology, which is most likely the case if you’re a digital nomad, then your laptop will most probably have a solid-state hard drive with at least a 512Gb storage capability. This is a decent amount of storage if you’re using the laptop for normal day-to-day activities such as storing a few photos or downloading some music, but not if you’re working in an industry that requires a lot of data to be stored (photography, music, videography).
If you find yourself needing extra storage then there are plenty of online solutions as well as some physical ones. External hard drives can be purchased at a very reasonable price that boasts storage of up to 6Tb in a portable size. If you have zero space left in your backpack then you can purchase online storage using iCloud or Google Drive. Online will require an internet connection so if you’re on a flight or a bus and need to access the latest video you’re working on there could be some issues.
The Internet
Maybe the most important thing you’ll be using when working remotely is a secure and sound connection to the internet. Finding internet cafes can be a thing of nightmares in certain countries so it’s always best to have your own if you truly rely on it. There are options to buy a portable WiFi device that will enable you to connect to your own connection wherever you are in the world.
Second, to that is mobile data. Having a mobile plan that gives the option of unlimited data can be a good way to keep costs down (as long as you have roaming rights) and limit your monthly outgoing bills. Hotspotting from your phone is a good method of getting connected, but highly depends on the signal wherever you are.
These three options are the most important when running a business from your backpack. You’ll always need a connection to the internet, you’ll always need somewhere to store your work, and you’ll always need access to your physical mail. But if you’re already a digital nomad, you’ll know this already.