Did you know that, here in the digital age, your humble laptop can be the gateway to plenty of awesome opportunities? Much more than just a place to stream your favourite content or hang out on social media, your portable computer can help you do everything from becoming a poker pro to setting up a successful blog.
Let’s take a closer look at four amazing things you can do with just a laptop.
Become a Poker Pro
Ok, in the age of online gaming, you’ve got ample opportunities to carve out a career path in practically every genre you can think of, so, what’s so great about the centuries-old card game of poker? Well, it’s more than just a game, it’s a mindsport, and playing it online via your laptop can actually be the first step towards participating in elite global tournaments – after plenty of practice, of course!
To kickstart your budding poker career, you’ll need to study the foundations thoroughly. Luckily, leading platforms for playing the game, such as PokerStars, provide numerous resources that will bring you up to speed on the rules of poker, teach you about the various hand rankings, and more. Once you’re familiar with the basics, you can participate in free play tourneys, where you compete for virtual chips before progressing onto real money games.
Start Blogging
Fancy sharing your knowledge and passion in a creative way? Then why not start blogging? If you’ve got a passion for a particular topic, whether that’s fashion, food, travel, or technology, starting a blog is a foolproof way to connect with others who share your interests and build an online community.
Using your laptop, you can create and tailor your blog on platforms like WordPress or Medium. These user-friendly platforms provide everything you need to design visually appealing and functional blog sites, even offering drag-and-drop tools if your knowledge of HTML is a little rough. In fact, Medium couldn’t be easier to use; all you need to do is register an account, and you can upload your content and publish it straight away.
Running your own blog can also be an avenue to affiliate marketing opportunities. Provided you can grow your audience to the required level, joining an affiliate marketing programme simplifies the process and ensures that you can start earning straight away.
Become a Digital Nomad
If you’re looking to make some big, big changes to your life and you have valuable skills like graphic design, copywriting, or digital marketing, with just your laptop, passport, and a working WiFi connection, you too can become a digital nomad.
We now live in a world where working from home (and away) is just as prevalent as schlepping to an office. So, if you’ve been bitten by the adventure bug, give into it and earn yourself a living along the way.
Sure, becoming a successful freelancer does require hard work and commitment, but you can leverage platforms like Linkedin and Upwork to create a profile that showcases your skills and experience. Over time, you can build a portfolio of completed work and earn positive reviews, which will help attract more clients and long-term projects.
Venture Into eTrading
Have movies like Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross left a mark on you, but you’ve never had the opportunity to work the stock market? Well, in the digital age, there are opportunities to enter the fast-paced world of trading and finance via — you’ve guessed it! — your laptop. With eTrading platforms, you can access a variety of financial instruments, including stocks, crypto, forex, and commodities — all from the comfort of your own home.
Of course, this isn’t an area to enter into lightly, so you will need to educate yourself about the markets and firm up a sensible trading strategy. Your laptop will play a crucial role here, too, and you can find plenty of key info on websites like Investopedia and TradingView. Once you’ve acquired the knowledge needed to get started, you can then open an account with a reputable online broker or eTrading platform. Popular options include E*Trade, Coinbase, and eToro.
