Many businesses are run from physical premises where their employees go each day. However, it is no longer a necessity to have a fixed address to get your idea off the ground. Remote organizations are now a popular way to run a business, as entrepreneurs enjoy the balance between work and play while running a successful company. Remote companies and employees aren’t just suitable for smaller enterprises either, as some medium and larger sized companies are now trying this model with tremendous success.
The beauty of remote business ideas is that they can give you the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, and also dip into this incredible talent pool to grow your organization.
There are a few things to think about if you’re thinking about starting a remote setup or would like to transition to this structure. So take a look at these top tips to make it work for your business.
Build your remote network
As a remote business, building up a network is vital for success. Your reputation and image will purely be online, so ensuring people know about your products and services can be more challenging. A network is also great for a host of opportunities, including finding team members, pitching for work, and negotiating with suppliers. If you don’t know how to start building your network, there are a host of social media groups and platforms such as LinkedIn that can help you grow your professional connections. Using these will also enable you to ask questions, have genuine conversations with people in the same situation as you, and introduce your services to a wider market.
Create your brand image
Brand image and reputation are imperative for a remote business owner, and none more so than online. People should be able to recognize your name and branding and know exactly what they are getting before they chat with you. However, branding isn’t just about what your logo looks like either, it’s about how you present yourself and your personality in the business and consumer world. To help build this and let people know about what you do, engaging on your social platforms is a great way to spark conversation. You could have an open forum with both customers and business contacts, and lend a helping hand on expert advice and tips to bring attention to your services. The key is to make yourself an expert in your field, so putting yourself out there is the only way to be heard among the noise.
Streamline systems and processes
To run a successful business in any capacity, you need to have fast and effective systems in place. For remote organizations, this is vitally important, especially as you’ll have team members in different locations and time zones. There are a number of software and systems packages that help you manage projects in real-time, and handle everything from task management and finances to team communications and customer liaison. You may also be working in different locations and moving around a lot, so having an effective communications system is essential. There is a range of suppliers that can support your business, an example is Electric mobile device management who offers a secure and comprehensive management system that incorporates everything including mobiles, tablets, and laptops to ensure fluid remote working environments for businesses of all sizes. By streamlining everything, you and your remote team will have everything they need in real-time at the touch of a button.
Find the right people for your team
One of the drawbacks of a fixed location business is they often struggle to find the right people for the jobs. If you can’t find the right people, most often there is a high turnover of staff, as no one seems to fit the mold. In a remote company, you don’t have this issue as prominently, as you have a significant pool of talented remote workers to discover. You don’t have to look close to home either, as remote workers come from all walks of life and every country across the globe. There are of course the obvious drawbacks such as you might no meet them face to face, or you may not be able to verify their qualifications, but the right candidate will have a good portfolio and references to share with you. If you do want to see them up close, you can always arrange a Skype call to chat over the position or projects, and get a feel first hand what they are like – it’s practically no different from them sitting in your office.
Learning to work alone
Running a remote business may give you the freedom to have a good work/life balance, but it is important to remember that you could get lonely at times. If you don’t have team members close by or are working from home office, you may miss human interaction. This can be quite distracting in everyday tasks, as you may not have anyone to bounce ideas off or drink a cup or tea with during some downtime. If it does get a little lonely, consider a local co-working space to liven things up a little. There are hubs across the world that provide everything you need to run your business plus there are lots of other people there in the same boat. You will meet a host of individuals that run a range of companies, plus it gives you the opportunity to use their skills and network with like-minded people. There are also a number of online forums and Facebook groups that offer support and advice to freelancers and remote business owners.
It is possible to create a successful remote business; however, it can be challenging when you first get started. By building a virtual network and creating your dream team, this will ensure you take the right steps to craft a successful business model that can be enjoyed wherever you are in the world. So why not take the leap and check out the range of opportunities out there for budding entrepreneurs.
