How to Earn More as a Remote Worker or Freelancer (and Qualify for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa)

Someone asked me this question: “How can I earn more as a freelancer or remote worker to meet the income requirement for Spain’s digital nomad visa?”

It’s a great question—and honestly, I think it’s one of the biggest barriers holding people back from living their dream abroad. The obvious answers are always the same: book more clients, take on a second remote job, or raise your rates. But as many freelancers and remote workers know, that’s often easier said than done—especially in today’s hyper-competitive global marketplace.

So what’s the real solution? UPSKILL. It’s as simple as that.

But here’s the thing—what if I told you that everything you learned about remote work five years ago is already obsolete? And that while you’re reading this post, someone somewhere is mastering the skill that’s going to replace yours?

Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

After 10 years in the remote work game, I’ve watched entire careers disappear overnight. But I’ve also seen complete beginners build six-figure remote careers from their bedroom. The difference isn’t talent or luck—it’s something much simpler.

The Wake-Up Call: Your Skills Have an Expiration Date

The first brutal truth? Your skills have an expiration date. All of them.

Let me paint you a picture. It’s 2019. You’re crushing it as a social media manager. Facebook ads are your specialty. Clients love you. Money’s flowing.

Fast forward to today. iOS 14.5 destroyed Facebook’s tracking capabilities. TikTok ate Facebook’s lunch among younger demographics. AI tools can now do in seconds what used to take you hours.

Those Facebook ad specialists? Many are now struggling to find consistent work.

This isn’t their fault—they just made one critical mistake: they stopped learning.

In the digital world, standing still isn’t standing still. It’s moving backward. While you’re getting comfortable with your current skill set, the market is constantly evolving. Platforms change algorithms overnight. New technologies emerge. And someone, somewhere, is becoming the expert in whatever’s coming next.

The Geography Myth: When Everyone Is Your Competition

The second brutal truth? Global competition means average won’t cut it anymore.

Your zip code stopped mattering the moment you got reliable internet access. But here’s the double-edged sword of remote work—when geography stops being a limitation, your competition becomes everyone, everywhere.

You’re no longer competing with Michelle from your hometown. You’re now up against Isabel from Mexico City, Raj from Bangalore, and Chen from Shanghai. Remote work opened doors for all of us, but it also opened the floodgates to global competition.

Note: Remote workers in developing countries may still face location-based discrimination, but that’s a separate challenge entirely.

The Leverage Equation: How to Win in a Global Marketplace

So how do you win when you’re competing globally? The answer is LEVERAGE.

Most freelancers compete on price—but that’s a race to the bottom you’ll never win. Someone, somewhere, will always do it cheaper.

Instead, you need to flip the script entirely.

When you’re exceptional at what you do:

• Clients come to YOU
• YOU set the rates
• YOU choose the projects
• YOU build a waiting list

But how do you become exceptional? It’s not about natural talent. It’s about strategic focus on what you can actually control:

Experience – Every project teaches you something valuable. Even the disasters. Especially the disasters.

Knowledge – Information is practically free now. Before investing in expensive courses, explore the wealth of free resources—YouTube tutorials, industry blogs, free courses. The question isn’t whether the information exists; it’s whether you’re actively consuming it.

Application – This is where most people fail spectacularly. They learn but never apply. They watch tutorials but never practice. Knowledge without application is just entertainment.

Iteration – Learn, apply, fail, adjust, succeed, systematize. Make this your default operating system for growth.

The Experimentation Trap: When Exploration Becomes Procrastination

If you’re just starting out, here’s my advice: experiment, but set a firm deadline.

Try different niches. Test various platforms. Explore multiple skill areas. But give yourself a maximum of six months to a year for this exploration phase.

Why the deadline? Because perpetual experimentation is just procrastination wearing a fancy disguise.

I regularly see people three years into freelancing who are still “figuring out their niche.” That’s not strategic exploration—that’s fear of commitment dressed up as careful planning.

Find what energizes you. Discover what you’re naturally drawn to. Then go ALL IN.

The market consistently rewards specialists, not generalists who are “pretty good” at everything.

What’s Actually Making Money Right Now

Want to know what’s generating serious income in today’s market? Here’s what I’m seeing firsthand:

Amazon Account Management – Every business wants an Amazon presence, but few understand how to optimize it properly. Master Amazon Seller Central and Vendor Central, and you’ll have more clients than you can handle.

Amazon Advertising – It’s like Google Ads, but with buyers who are already in purchasing mode. Learn PPC, Sponsored Products, and DSP advertising, and the demand is absolutely insane.

TikTok Shop Management – This is the future of social commerce. If you can manage TikTok shops, coordinate with creators, and build affiliate networks, you’re positioned perfectly for what’s coming.

AI Automation – Every business wants to implement AI, but almost none know how to do it properly. Bridge that knowledge gap and you’ve got a goldmine.

Video Editing – This skill is absolutely thriving because video content is everywhere, and it all needs to be quick, polished, and emotionally compelling.

These aren’t the only opportunities available, but they’re the ones experiencing explosive demand right now.

To give you a personal example: At the beginning of this year, I challenged myself to step into something uncomfortable—YouTube. I’d never been consistent with social media, but I recognized my unfair advantage: my life experiences give me unique stories to share through long-form content.

Video editing, however, terrified me. So I leaned into that fear, spending two intensive weeks consuming tutorials and learning the fundamentals. After hitting publish on my first video, I haven’t looked back.

Today, I’ve published 32 videos with no end in sight. Was developing this new skill helpful? Absolutely. It not only enhanced my remote work capabilities but became a valuable asset for growing my other businesses.

The Harsh Reality Check Nobody Talks About

Here’s what nobody tells you about remote work:

It’s not easier than traditional work. It’s harder. Yes, you skip the commute, but you become your own boss, IT department, accountant, and marketing team.

It’s not more stable. It’s less stable. Clients can vanish overnight. Platforms change their rules. Economic downturns hit freelancers first.

It’s not for everyone. It requires a level of self-discipline that most people simply don’t possess.

But here’s what remote work absolutely IS:

• Location-independent – True freedom to work from anywhere
• Unlimited earning potential – Your income isn’t capped by local market rates
• Ownership opportunity – The chance to build something that’s genuinely yours

If you want to increase your remote work income or just get started, this is your blueprint. The only question remaining is: what are you going to do with it?

Your 30-Day Challenge

Here’s my challenge for you: Pick ONE skill from this post. Just one. Commit to learning it intensively for the next 30 days. Not casually browsing. Not “checking it out when you have time.” Actually dedicating focused effort to mastering it.

Are you willing to do what it takes?

Remember: In remote work, your skills aren’t just your toolkit—they’re your only real security.

So stop waiting for the perfect moment. Stop making excuses about not having enough time. And start learning today.

Your future self will thank you for taking action now.