Introduction
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you from? Where do you live currently, and how do you make a living?
I’m Yannick, I’m 27 years old, and I’m from Germany. Right now, I live in Bangkok, Thailand. I’ve been here for about six and a half months.
I work as a freelance copywriter. Most of my income comes from clients in the online gambling space, mainly online casinos. I have two big clients in that industry, plus a smaller one, and then a few other clients in different sectors. It’s a mix, but gambling is definitely my main niche at the moment.
Life Before Becoming Nomadic
What were you doing before becoming a digital nomad?
Before I started this lifestyle about three years ago, I was mainly studying. I finished both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
While I was in school, I worked a bunch of side jobs—factory work, a go-kart racing track, even at a climbing park for kids. That kind of thing. I was earning around 12 to 15 euros an hour doing whatever I could to get by.
What made you want to make a change?
I was writing my bachelor’s thesis in Colombia and had a scholarship at the time. It wasn’t a lot—about 1,200 euros a month—but it was enough to live decently and cover rent in Medellín.
While I was there, I met my ex-girlfriend, Lee, and that changed things. I wanted to stay in Colombia after finishing my thesis, but once the scholarship ended, I didn’t have a steady source of income. So I was kind of forced to figure something out. I needed to find a way to make money that would let me stay in Colombia.
What was your first step into remote income or travel?
To be honest, I don’t really remember exactly how I found copywriting. But I do remember coming across Textbroker, which ended up being my starting point.
Textbroker is a freelance platform that offers entry-level content and copywriting jobs. Things like product descriptions and other simple writing tasks. That was where I got my first taste of making money online through writing.
Did you hit any early roadblocks? How did you overcome them?
Yeah, definitely. In the beginning, I started with Textbroker, which is very entry-level, so the pay was low. I think they were paying around three cents per word. And back then, I wasn’t using AI or anything to speed up the process. I wrote everything by hand.
Writing a thousand words would take me one and a half to two hours, so my hourly rate came out to maybe 15 to 30 euros, sometimes even less. It was tough to earn enough, especially when you consider things like taxes that I would eventually need to deal with.
Another challenge was that Textbroker doesn’t allow you to contact their clients directly. So I couldn’t use those projects as references or try to turn those into long-term clients. That made it hard to build credibility or land better gigs. I had to find other ways to prove my experience and get new clients on my own.
What You Do For Work Now
What do you do for income today, and how does it work?
Right now, I mainly write news articles for affiliate websites in the gambling space. My two biggest clients publish daily content to attract traffic and clicks for online casinos and poker sites.
One of them runs the top poker affiliate site in Germany. They publish news related to poker and gambling every day, and I write most of those articles. The second main client is similar but focuses more on online casinos and slot games rather than poker.
I also work with a third affiliate site that tracks casino bonuses. For them, I write content that highlights which casinos are offering which bonuses at any given time.
Outside of gambling, I have a few smaller clients in niches like photography and travel. For those, I usually write blog-style articles. Some clients pay me per word, and others pay per article. It just depends on the arrangement.
How much do you typically earn per month (USD)?
For the past four months, I’ve been earning over €7,000 per month, which is around $8,000 USD before taxes. That’s with two very consistent clients who send me a steady amount of work each month. It’s stable, but also makes my schedule a bit less flexible.
Before that, my income was more up and down. I worked with clients who gave me less consistent projects, so some months I made between $5,000 and $6,000, and other months it dropped to just $1,000 or $2,000. It fluctuated a lot more than it does now.
How did you meet your current clients?
My two main clients in the gambling space came through Facebook groups. The first one, a casino site, was looking for a poker expert. At the time, I wasn’t really a poker expert, but I liked the game so I bluffed and told them I was. They believed me, hired me, and it ended up working out.
The second big client came through a recommendation from a colleague I met while working with the first. So that was all word of mouth and referrals.
Most of my other clients have also come through Facebook groups or personal recommendations. I’ve never done any cold calls or cold emails to find work.
The groups I use are German-language groups focused on freelance or copywriting jobs. That’s been a big advantage for me. As a native German speaker, I can work with clients from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and even Luxembourg.
These countries tend to pay more, and there’s less competition compared to English-language markets, which are flooded with low-cost writers from places like India, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The demand is strong, but the supply of native-level German writers is limited, so it makes finding good-paying jobs a lot easier.
How did you learn the skills you use now?
The writing part came naturally. I was always pretty good at writing in school and university, and I actually enjoyed doing research and writing term papers. That was one of my favorite parts of studying. So I think I already had the skill—I just hadn’t used it to earn money before.
For me, it’s pretty easy to look at a topic and come up with an outline in my head right away. I don’t have to think too much before writing. I just start, and usually it flows pretty well. Then I go back and make small adjustments afterward.
As for SEO, most of what I need to know as a copywriter is about keyword usage. A lot of the time, clients will give me the keywords to use. If they don’t, I’ll use tools like Google Keyword Planner, or sometimes they’ll give me access to platforms like Sistrix or Ahrefs to do the research myself.
That part isn’t too hard. Especially now, with affiliate sites, the focus isn’t on keyword density or writing strictly for search engines. The goal is to actually write content that people want to read and that gets them to click. So I’ll include internal and external links, point to other articles or pages, and just keep it engaging.
Beyond that, I’ve tried to keep learning. I’ve picked up a bit of technical SEO knowledge and even learned some basic HTML to help with formatting when needed.
Do you work alone or have a team?
I mostly work on my own, but I do collaborate closely with my clients. I don’t just write whatever I want—I talk with them to understand what they need and how we can approach each piece.
In one case, I work with an editor who reviews my writing before it gets published. I write the article, she edits it, and then I finalize and submit it. So while I don’t have a formal team of my own, I do sometimes work alongside others as part of the process.
What tools, platforms, or services do you rely on most?
For work, I rely on ChatGPT quite a bit. It helps with ideation, editing, and speeding up the writing process. I also use SEO tools like SISTRIX, Ahrefs, and Google Keyword Planner, depending on what the client needs.
Outside of work, I’ve picked up a bunch of useful tools while traveling. For short stays, eSIMs can be super convenient, especially in places where getting a local SIM card is complicated or requires registration. I’ve used a provider called Airalo for that. Although in Asia, buying a physical SIM card is usually cheaper and easier.
For booking accommodation, I stick to the usual platforms like Booking.com, Hostelworld, and Airbnb. I also always download the local transportation apps for whatever country I’m in. In Thailand, I use Grab because they also offer motorbike rides. In other places, I’ll use Uber, DiDi, Bolt, or whatever the local option is.
For flights, I typically use Skyscanner or Google Flights. And if I’m traveling somewhere with more restrictions, like China, I’ll use a VPN and whatever local apps are necessary to get around.
What was your first $1K/month like — how did you make it happen?
My first full month doing copywriting was in April 2022, and I actually earned $2,500. I had completely forgotten it started that strong.
The following month, I was already making over $3,300. So I hit that milestone pretty quickly once I got going.
Life As A Nomad
Where have you lived or traveled in the past 6–12 months?
In May 2024, I was in Peru and also spent two weeks in Colombia. I stayed in Peru until August, then went back to Germany for about three months to visit friends and family.
In October, I took a short trip to Georgia for about eight days. Then in November, I moved to Thailand and have been living in Bangkok for the past six and a half months.
During that time, I’ve also traveled to Laos, China, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Indonesia.
What are your favorite memories from the road so far?
That’s a tough one, because there have been so many. It’s not like working a regular job all year and then taking a one-week vacation that becomes the obvious highlight. When you’re living this lifestyle full-time, the experiences start to blend together in a really meaningful way.
Some moments definitely stand out. One of the most incredible was diving in Komodo, Indonesia, where we saw around 40 manta rays in a single dive. That had been high on my bucket list. We also saw Komodo dragons and stayed in a beautiful resort for a few days. That entire trip was unforgettable.
Exploring Angkor Wat at sunrise was another highlight. From an architectural perspective, it’s one of the most impressive places I’ve ever seen. And we only scratched the surface.
Japan and China also made a huge impact on me. The culture and environment felt completely different from anywhere else I’d been. Kyoto in particular stands out—it might be the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited.
In Colombia, I loved places like Nevado del Ruiz and the canyon regions. In the Philippines, I did a four-day boat trip through Coron and Palawan that was incredible.
Mexico is probably my favorite road trip country. I’ve done several routes there and they’ve all been amazing. Peru also stands out for its natural beauty and diversity.
And across all of these places, trying the local food has always been one of my favorite parts. I love seeing what people can create with different ingredients. It reminds me that the food you grew up with isn’t necessarily the best—it’s just one version of many.
What does a typical day look like for you?
These days, I usually wake up around 9 a.m., mostly because I tend to go to sleep too late. Usually around 1 or 2 in the morning. I’ve been trying to fix that.
After waking up, I go to the gym. I aim to train about 4-5 times per week. Then I have lunch and start working around 1 p.m. I usually work until about 6, so roughly five hours a day, sometimes a little more or less depending on the workload.
After work, I might meet up with someone, cook dinner, or go out to eat. On weekends, I often do short trips nearby. And every few weeks, I plan a bigger trip to explore a new place.
What’s the hardest part of this lifestyle? What’s the best?
The hardest part is building lasting friendships or relationships. Usually, I stay in a place for around six to nine months, and most people stay even shorter than that. So even when you do make good connections, they often don’t last long.
For example, when I first got to Bangkok, I became close with a group of Ukrainian friends. We got along really well for about four months, and then they moved on to Bali while I stayed here. We still keep in touch and I even visited them in Indonesia, but that kind of continued connection is rare. You’re actually an exception—we met almost four years ago and are still in touch, but that doesn’t happen often.
It’s the same with romantic relationships. It’s already hard to start one when you know you’ll be leaving eventually. It’s even harder to maintain one across borders.
Another thing is not being around family or old friends back home. That disconnection can wear on you over time. So I’d say the hardest part of the lifestyle is definitely the transient nature of relationships, both personal and professional.
The best part, though, is the constant exposure to new experiences. Even if it’s no longer as mind-blowing as the very first time I crossed the border into Mexico, it still feels meaningful. You get to see and do things that most people on the planet will never experience.
You start to notice how different cultures can be in some ways, and how similar they are in others. It gives you perspective and keeps life interesting. That sense of discovery never really fades.
How has this lifestyle changed you?
That’s a tough question, because this lifestyle has shaped so much of who I am now. I’ve been working as a digital nomad for three years, but I’ve been traveling even longer than that. So it’s hard to pinpoint just one change.
If I had to choose one thing, I’d say it’s made me way more open and adaptable. I’m much more accepting of new things, and it’s easy for me to adjust to unfamiliar environments. At this point, you could probably drop me into almost any city in the world, and I’d figure it out. I’d find my way.
It also helped me become fluent in Spanish. I had some background from school, but I really learned the language by just talking to people every day. That constant exposure and real-world practice made a huge difference.
This lifestyle hasn’t just changed one part of me, it has shaped my whole outlook.
Advice, Vision, and Resources
What would you tell someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
In the end, you just need to find something you’re relatively good at and figure out how to sell it to someone. That’s really what it comes down to.
I’m not sure if it’s getting easier or harder to do this. There are definitely more opportunities than before, but also more people trying. A lot of fields are already pretty saturated. But if you can find a niche with real demand, and you have the skills to meet it, you should absolutely go for it.
For me, that niche turned out to be the gambling industry. I didn’t plan on going into it, it just kind of happened. But once I saw that there was demand and not many people doing it, I knew it was worth focusing on.
I don’t think most people fail at this because they lack skill. More often, it comes down to confidence, motivation, or simply not having the time or mental energy to try. If you’re working 8 to 10 hours a day in a traditional job, I totally understand how hard it can be to build something on the side.
In my case, I was fortunate. I had some pressure to figure things out, but I also had time and enough mental space to try different things. That combination helped a lot.
At the end of the day, it’s about experimenting, figuring out what works, and sticking with it once you do.
If you had to start over, what would you do differently?
Looking back at the skills I had at the time, I don’t think I would have done much differently. I think I did pretty well. I was able to grow my income fairly quickly.
Of course, at some point you hit a kind of soft ceiling, where you either need to expand what you’re doing or switch to something new. That’s one area where I wish I had acted sooner. I should have started diversifying earlier.
Right now, I have two main clients. If one of them drops off, my income would basically be cut in half. I wouldn’t be totally screwed, but it would definitely hurt. That’s why I’m focused on diversifying now, and I wish I had started working on that a bit earlier.
But overall, there’s nothing major I would change.
What resources (books, tools, people, websites) helped you most?
Nothing specific, to be honest. When I want to learn something, I usually just read articles or watch videos here and there. But I don’t really have a go-to author, podcast, or platform that’s played a big role in my journey.
Maybe I should start exploring more structured resources, but so far, it’s been a lot of learning on the fly.
What does the future look like for you? Any new projects or goals?
Right now, I’m focusing more on the gambling niche. I’ve started working on a personal landing page and building out a small gambling-focused copywriting brand. That’s still early, but it’s something I want to grow.
For the past six months, I’ve also been building a content localization agency. The idea is to help German-speaking companies adapt their content for Spanish-speaking markets, and vice versa. It’s a tough space to break into since there are already a ton of marketing agencies out there, and ranking on Google is difficult. But I’m still working on it. It’s in the early stages, but I see potential.
Another project I’ve started experimenting with is my Instagram. I’ve always liked photography and videography, and I’ve collected a lot of content over the years that I never really used. Now I’m trying to do more with it by posting Reels, testing out ads, and aiming to land hotel collaborations or other partnerships through the platform. I’m curious to see where that goes.
I’m also looking into tax optimization. Germany has one of the highest tax rates in the world, and since I’m no longer a student, I can’t use the same deductions I used in the past. I don’t spend much time in Germany anymore, and I’m not thrilled with how they use the tax money, so I’ve been exploring other options. Even though I’m in Asia now, I think Paraguay might be the best move for me. I may fly there soon to start the process.
What kind of people should connect with you, and where can they reach you?
If you need content writing, especially in German but also in English or Spanish, feel free to get in touch. I’m particularly interested in working with companies in the gambling sector that want to expand into the German market.
I’m also open to collaborations with hotels or travel brands looking for content or media partnerships.
You can find all my contact links below.
TopBlog Agency