Digital nomads are here to stay, but one thing could get in the way.

Has the sun set on the summer of remote work? The short answer is no. But what is coming to an end are the hard lines that have existed between work and travel.

Many companies have begun calls for a return to the office in a post lock-down world. But studies show that globally 65% of employees between 22 and 65 years old say they work remotely at least occasionally.. And it’s not slowing down.

Businesstech.co.za published a study that found that 2% of all of South Africa’s vacant jobs are work-from-home on a full-time basis. South Africa has also announced plans to introduce a digital nomad visa, as has Italy.

It goes to show that employees and entrepreneurs are driving change in the way we treat travelling and working. Governments are responding too, and helping to make it happen. Everyone is getting on board.

But it may not all be smooth sailing. For the first time digital nomads will have to consider how they’ll remain competitive. As more workers join the work-from-anywhere movement and bring their skill sets to the fore employers have seamless access to an ever-growing pool of talent.

Are you planning your next travel destination while you continue working? Keeping your skills sharper than ever should become a top priority if you’re a digital nomad or if you’re thinking of competing with the current digital nomad labour force. Thankfully, studying online or part time is on the rise too. This new way of learning is becoming more and more mainstream.

KPMG reports that from 2000 to 2021 the online learning market grew by a staggering 900%. It’s an indication of people’s need to conveniently upskill themselves without disrupting their current employment or lifestyle. Plus, it can yield big results.

Here are three skill sets that are not only crucial for modern day digital marketing, but can be learnt online, on the go, from wherever you’re travelling to.

Three Digital Nomad Skill Sets to Sharpen

1.Digital Marketing Skills

Digital marketing is an industry that has had to reinvent itself every few years to respond to the level of technology in the consumer’s hand. It’s changed with every new screen – from the advent of colour television to the very first iPhone.

The viral campaign pros over at Mailchimp define digital marketing as “the promotion of brands to connect with potential customers using the internet and other forms of digital communication.” This definition is intentionally broad. Having an adequate skill level in the field of digital marketing means being a jack of all trades and of all channels.

Digital marketing is a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to integrate digital channels into your marketing strategy. There are many types of digital marketing. You may have head of pay-per-click, SEO, content and others, and having a firm grasp of each and what they can do for your brand is crucial to success.

Social media marketing is one of the most applied skill sets in the digital media realm. Hootsuite calls it “no longer optional [but] an essential way to reach your customers, gain valuable insights, and grow your brand.”

Social media channels are also notorious for undergoing structural, aesthetic and other user-related changes every few months. Keeping up appearances and making sure you’ve got the latest know how on each channel is more important than ever.

2. Content Creation Skills 

While content marketing may still be the new kid on the block it’s fast becoming a crucial skill set to master. In a world where authenticity is a rarity, content remains king. Ensuring your brand connects with your consumer should be at the top of your list, and well-developed content marketing skills are what’s needed to make this a reality for any business.

Content marketing found its roots in print publishing and advertising. Now, it accounts for 20% of marketing spend globally, according to The Content Marketing Association. SEMrush finds that 73% of marketers spent 10% to a staggering 70% of their total marketing budget on content marketing.

But what is content marketing? If you still don’t know, you’re not alone.

SEMrush also found that “content marketing examples” and “content marketing strategy” were the two most googled terms relating to content marketing. Content marketing puts the customer and their pain points, needs and state of mind at the centre of its strategy. It uses experiences and storytelling as a vehicle for information instead of driving hard sales. It’s a brand-first approach to marketing that’s committed to building a long term relationship with potential customers.

A successful piece of content marketing combines copy, design, video and other media to produce a feeling that resonates.

3. Digital Design Skills 

We’re undoubtably moving towards an increasingly visual world. And with our eyes subjected to more information than ever before than at any point in history, our attention is pulled in every possible direction throughout the day.

Digital and graphic design as an industry grew by 4.1% during 2021 according to IBISWorld to a value of $45.8 billion.

Much like digital marketing, digital design skills have evolved rapidly over the past few years and businesses are willing to pay to make sure their brands remain at the cutting edge.

There has never been a more important time for really good design that isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but that cuts through the noise we need to sift through every day.

TrueList finds that around 74% of users will choose to return to a website if they have had a good UI experience.

Keeping up with the latest design evolutions – as well as upskilling yourself with the latest design principles and software  – are key to staying competitive in the digital nomad landscape. So while you’re waiting to board your next flight, take a few minutes to map out your future skill sets.