Blogging is a workable portable career for expats, requiring only some expertise, a computer and an internet connection. It can be an excellent way to fund your untethered life overseas. Before you get into the technical issues of setting up your blog, though, you need to have some sort of a plan. Because, if you're doing it right, a blog is a business and every business requires planning. Sure, it's wonderful to think about knocking off a few articles from your hammock while sipping …
He Writes about Everything, Everywhere — and So Can You!
Recently I promised to find out more about how travel writers balance their lives between work and travel. To that end, I spoke with Gary Arndt. Gary is a travel blogger, which is a slightly different -- but equally portable -- career. Gary explained the difference between being a travel writer and a travel blogger: "Technically, I don't consider myself a travel writer. Most travel writers either work on staff for a publication or work on a freelance basis for other publications. They get paid …
Continue Reading about He Writes about Everything, Everywhere — and So Can You!
Blogging and Travel — Making Them Both Work
Sooner or later, if you decide to blog for some or all of your expat income, you'll have to maintain and update your blog while you're traveling. It can be done, but it requires a much higher level of organization and planning than you might be used to. Do It Ahead Do everything you possibly can before you leave. Think about all the elements that go into keeping your blog updated. Your list may be different from mine. For Future Expats, I do the following: Plan upcoming posts. Before you can …
Continue Reading about Blogging and Travel — Making Them Both Work
Turn Your Blog Into a Cha-Ching Machine Part II
If you want to build a portable career that will give you an income overseas, basing a business on a blog can pay off handsomely. A few days ago I told you that this site is generating some income for me through affiliate links. Eventually we'll get into an in-depth discussion about affiliate links as part of the Blogging for Expats series, but I wanted to give you some of this information now, because it ties in with the previous article. Here's a quick summary of how I choose products and …
Continue Reading about Turn Your Blog Into a Cha-Ching Machine Part II
Turn Your Blog Into a Cha-Ching Machine
In the past two months, my earnings from affiliate links on this website have increased dramatically. I tell you this, not to brag, but to reinforce what I've been saying for a long time -- that building a business on a blog is a good strategy if you want to develop a portable-career income to support yourself overseas. My husband and I plan to move to Panama soon. My strategy for creating an income to sustain us there has been twofold: to develop my freelance writing business, and to earn …
Continue Reading about Turn Your Blog Into a Cha-Ching Machine
Don’t Wait 31 Days
Early in my blogging career, I joined ProBlogger Darren Rowse and thousands of other bloggers and wannabes. "Give me 31 Days and I'll Give You a Better Blog," Darren promised. Actually, he didn't just promise a better blog, but a dramatically better one! For 31 days I read his information and instructions, did the assigned tasks, and lo and behold my blog improved. I started coming up with interesting topics to write about, and more of them. My headlines got more interesting. I learned how …