Digital Nomad

Initially, I intended for this blog to focus primarily on topics like the Raspberry Pi or the ESP32. However, upon further reflection…

This kind of content is simply too “geeky”; many people haven’t even heard of these technologies, let alone used them.

My plan is to rely on the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) as my core source of income. However, YouTube can be a bit of a hassle; to produce high-quality content—the kind that actually gets recommended by the algorithm—you typically need to show your face and film on location. In other words, “outdoor” content tends to gain traction more easily.

Examples include food reviews, travelogues, scenic landscapes, or extreme sports. This type of content requires some initial capital, as you have to pay for dining out, transportation, digital equipment, and accommodation.

I intend to use blog-based advertising—specifically Google AdSense and affiliate marketing networks (such as Amazon Associates)—as my initial source of income. These methods are relatively simple and stable; once the content and settings are established during the early stages, they can continue to generate passive income over the long term. (In contrast, YouTube requires constant content updates, so I view that as a goal for the second phase of this journey.)

Google AdSense

My projected income goal is $100 per month. Google AdSense has a minimum payout threshold of $100, so my aim is to ensure that I can reliably withdraw my earnings every single month.

At this point, I’m not entirely sure what it takes for a “digital nomad” blog to generate $100 per month via Google AdSense—specifically, how many daily visitors are required, how the ads need to be configured, or what the average cost-per-click (CPC) will be. I plan to figure this out gradually through experimentation as I move forward.

We are now on Day 21 of the blog—marking the beginning of the fourth week. The site has been indexed by Google Search, and while it has garnered a few dozen impressions, there have been almost no actual clicks.

This is largely because my blog’s content strategy has been inconsistent and wavering—bouncing between topics ranging from AI and blog SEO to YouTube, the digital nomad lifestyle, and the ESP32. I hadn’t settled on a definitive theme.

Now that I have established a clear theme, I can focus on continuous optimization, documentation, and content creation—translating my real-life experiences into blog posts and records.

For instance, I have decided that my primary source of income will be Google AdSense revenue generated by this blog. Securing this revenue stream is one of the fundamental prerequisites for becoming a digital nomad; without it, it would be extremely difficult for me to hit the road and start traveling.

Affiliate Commissions

Google Ads rely on impressions, whereas affiliate commissions require clicks and purchases; while similar in nature, the two mechanisms are distinct.

For my second revenue stream, I plan to pursue affiliate marketing—specifically Amazon Associates and similar programs—by recommending and sharing useful everyday products.

Since I haven’t applied for Google Ads yet, I intend to implement affiliate marketing right from day one of launching the blog. This ensures that whether traffic arrives via social media or paid advertising, I can generate commission-based income.

This commission revenue serves as a stopgap during the period before Google Ads become available—typically the first three to six months after setting up a blog. It represents a significant potential source of income during this initial phase.

Of course, those with technical expertise could develop a dedicated affiliate site—such as a directory or utility site—which tends to be more stable and effective than a standard blog. However, this requires technical proficiency; for those without such skills, focusing primarily on a blog remains the most practical approach.

Therefore, the optimal sequence for generating revenue should be as follows:

Build the blog website; set up Amazon affiliate links; apply for Google Ads approval; and finally, embed YouTube videos within your articles (to generate revenue via the YouTube Partner Program).

Create a YouTube channel; record videos related to your affiliate products and blog content; and include links to your blog in the video descriptions (to drive traffic and generate commissions). (Simultaneously, this helps accumulate subscribers and watch time—metrics required for a subsequent application to the YouTube Partner Program.)

By following this strategy, videos produced during the initial phase—before you qualify for the YouTube Partner Program—can still drive traffic and generate affiliate commissions for your blog, thereby boosting its search engine optimization (SEO).

In the later stages, once you have embedded YouTube videos into your blog posts, the traffic flowing to your blog can, in turn, drive more views and revenue for your YouTube channel.

Continue this process until your affiliate commissions and advertising revenue form a self-reinforcing cycle. At that point, you can begin exploring other revenue streams or look for ways to scale up your earnings.

Data Summary

Moving forward, I will be closely monitoring my affiliate commission data and website traffic statistics.

I will hold off on applying for Google Ads until the timing is right—specifically, once the blog has established a steady stream of organic traffic from search engines or social media platforms.

As of today’s check: over the past 24 hours, the blog website has received zero visitors. Regarding Amazon Associates, there were two clicks (both of which were test clicks I performed myself).

Total revenue generated: $0.00.