Alright, so this might be one of the juiciest blog posts I’ve ever written, because I’m about to tell you the exact steps that got me here: Building a soft, writing-based digital empire while traveling the world full-time.
And no, this isn’t one of those “make money while you sleep” scams or overhyped success stories.
This is real.
This is my story.
And I’m being fully transparent with you.
The Pivot in My Business
If you’ve followed me for a while, you might have noticed that my business looks completely different now.
Last year, I was stuck in the Instagram hustle. I was posting Reels every day, constantly thinking about trends, and chasing reach. I did what everyone said I should do, but it left me exhausted and disconnected from my own work.
The truth is, I’ve always been someone who loves writing. Since I was a kid, that’s been the way I express myself best. But for a long time, I couldn’t understand how I could make that work in business. Every expert online made it sound like video was the only way to succeed.
If you weren’t showing your face or dancing on Reels three times a day, you were invisible.
So I kept forcing it, even though I hated it.
I thought success had to look like everyone else’s version of it.
Eventually, I reached a point where I couldn’t do it anymore. I was living in Asia, surrounded by calm and beauty, yet I felt drained and anxious because of how I was working.
So I made a decision to stop.
I deleted my video apps, took a long break, and asked myself what kind of business I actually wanted to build.
That moment changed everything.
The Shift Toward Writing
Once I gave myself permission to build my business around writing, everything started to make sense.
I joined Threads, began sharing short reflections about building a softer kind of business, and finally started to feel connected to what I was creating. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone or follow a strategy, I was just being honest about what I was learning and what I believed in.
Within a few months, my community grew to over 27,000 people.
All through written content.
At the same time, I launched Designed by Her Diaries, an email series where I share stories about building a life and business that actually feel good.
What started as a small side project quickly grew into something I never expected — thousands of readers from all over the world who read every issue.
That’s when I realized the real power of writing. People don’t just read your words; they feel them. When your message is genuine, they connect with it. They see themselves in it.
And that connection naturally turns into trust, the kind that no algorithm can replace.
My business started growing in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Not because I was working longer hours or chasing trends, but because people trusted me.
They believed what I was saying because it came from real experience.
My revenue tripled. My audience grew. And most importantly, I felt calm and excited again.
What a “Soft Digital Empire” Means
When I use the phrase soft digital empire, I don’t mean something slow or passive. I mean building a business that’s sustainable, enjoyable, and aligned with who you are.
It’s the opposite of the hustle culture most of us get taught. It’s not about waking up at 5 a.m., posting every day, and burning out to prove how committed you are.
It’s about finding a way of working that actually feels good to you, one that supports your lifestyle instead of running it.
For me, that meant building around writing. Writing is what keeps me consistent because it doesn’t drain me.
It gives me energy.
It’s what I can do from a cafe in Bali, an Airbnb in Europe, or even a quiet morning at home.
A soft digital empire is built on trust, consistency, and storytelling, not on constant visibility.
When you create from that place, you attract people who genuinely connect with you.
How My Email List Became Everything
If there’s one thing I’d go back and do earlier, it’s this: build an email list from day one.
Social media is unpredictable. You can have 10,000 followers one month and zero reach the next. But an email list is something you own.
It’s where your most loyal audience lives.
My entire business now revolves around my email list. Every week, I send out Designed by Her Diaries to thousands of readers. Some of them have been following my journey for months.
Others just found me last week.
But they all have one thing in common, they feel connected to the message.
Through those emails, I share stories, lessons, and reflections about building a business that feels authentic.
And that connection turns readers into buyers naturally, because by the time I mention my course, Her Soft Digital Empire Playbook, they already know they can trust me.
Blogging Brought Everything Together
After my Diaries took off, I decided to bring my blog back to life. I started writing longer posts — more detailed stories and practical lessons and sending them to my subscribers.
That became another layer of trust and visibility. Blogging allowed new readers to find me through Pinterest or Google, but it also gave my existing audience more value and depth.
It reminded me that written content can last for years. A good blog post keeps working for you very long time after you hit publish.
It brings in new readers, strengthens your brand, and helps you show up in a way that feels calm and creative instead of rushed.
The Main Steps That Got Me Here
If you want to build your own writing-based business, here’s what I’d recommend:
- Start with your story.
Stop trying to sound like an expert. Be honest about where you are and what you’ve learned. That’s what makes people connect with you. - Pick one writing platform and focus on it.
Whether it’s Threads, Substack, or your blog, pick one and stay consistent. It’s better to show up deeply in one place than to post halfway everywhere. - Build your email list early.
Don’t wait until you “feel ready.” Start collecting emails now, even if it’s just to send one story a week. - Create something valuable to sell.
You don’t need a big launch or fancy branding. Just listen to what your audience asks for and create something that helps them. - Keep it soft.
Work in a way that fits your lifestyle. The goal isn’t to do more, it’s to do what feels aligned and sustainable.
What This Business Gives Me Now
Because my business runs on writing, I have the freedom to live the kind of life I always dreamed about.
I can work from anywhere in the world, take long walks instead of rushing to calls, and create on my own schedule.
Right now, that looks like mornings spent writing in Bali cafes, sending my Diaries to thousands of readers, and planning new projects that actually excite me.
When I travel back to Europe, I can keep doing the same work seamlessly.
That’s the beauty of building something based on your words, you can take it anywhere.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to dance on camera or post five Reels a day to build a successful online business. You don’t need to chase trends, study algorithms, or pretend to be someone you’re not just to get noticed.
What you actually need is clarity on who you are, what you believe in, and how you want to show up. You need to learn to trust your words, because when they come from an honest place, they’ll reach the right people every single time.
The truth is, sustainable success doesn’t come from constant visibility. It comes from consistency — from showing up week after week, building something that reflects who you are, not what the internet tells you to be.
That’s what building a soft digital empire really means. It’s creating a business that gives you freedom, peace, and purpose all at once. One that lets you work from anywhere, at your own pace, doing something you actually enjoy.
Because at the end of the day, that’s the real definition of success, not how loud you are, but how aligned you feel while building something that lasts.
comments +