Marketing Tips: Managing Your Small Business Remotely

As indicated by Forbes, since the outbreak of the COVID-19, remote working has become necessary for most small businesses to remain competitive. Therefore, for most start-ups, this has led to the adaptation and management of business processes remotely.

However, managing your start-up company in a remote environment requires several considerations. For instance, you must ensure the technology your business utilizes is available through many access points. Also, ensure the technology allows you to manage workers remotely and business finances are integrated into the virtual system.

Currently, you don’t need to visit your store to know your business stock levels. With technological tools altering how things are done, you can now manage your start-up company from any part of the world.

Below are tips and tools that can help you to manage your small business remotely.

1. Establish Expectations for Consistent Communication

Communication is a crucial aspect for any team to succeed, but it’s especially vital for teams collaborating on projects remotely. Therefore, it’s paramount for you to set expectations for consistent communication among your remote team members.

First, you should be clear from the onset of your virtual operations regarding when and through what channels you’ll contact your remote employees. Second, select a suitable platform that your team members can use to connect easily. For instance, you can choose synchronous communication tools such as Google Hangouts or asynchronous ones like Slack. Eventually, setting such expectations helps your team have consistent communication, leading to your small business’s remote management efficiency.

2. Transfer your Business Content and Files Online

Regardless of the type of work you engage in, you need to access various files, and utilizing online storage enhances working seamlessly. For instance, you can use DropBox and Google Drive tools to store crucial company information securely. These tools reduce the distance barrier between you and your team and enhance continuous collaboration even in a remote environment. Ultimately, you will be in control of your business even when in a remote setting.

Additionally, transferring files to online platforms makes your business to be more organized. Here, your team can easily access and share crucial information as they handle their tasks. For instance, you can utilize a cloud-based storage system to organize information to ease its access in the long-run. With these tools, your employees can easily access different files, thus positively impacting their transition from the traditional working systems.

3. Embrace Video Conferencing Tools

If you own a business with homeowners insurance in Montreal, face to face communication is the most convenient mode of connecting with your team and customers. However, given the employees’ geographical distance, it’s challenging to meet physically to deliberate on your business issues. With the advancement of technology, distance is no longer a barrier to communication as various tools have replaced the traditional face-to-face meetings. For instance, through video conferencing apps such as Zoom, you can hold online meetings just like in the office environment.

Additionally, using these tools, you can connect with customers when the need arises. Video conferencing tools enhance efficiency since your clients can reach you regardless of their location. You only need to be online when they need you and your team. In the end, the video conferencing tools will help you manage your business from remote settings.

4. Encourage Regular Conversations in Your Team

Working from home comes with its challenges. For instance, your employees may feel disconnected and lonely as they engage in their tasks, lowering their productivity. Encourage your team to embrace communication tools like Slack to foster off-business interactions. Markedly, this will make them bond with their colleagues and encourage information sharing.

Additionally, you can show your employees that you value them beyond the work environment. In this case, you can ask them about their families, hobbies and weekends. Ultimately, you will strengthen your workers’ bond, increasing their productivity in the remote working environment.

As businesses shift from brick and mortar operations to online-based processes, you shouldn’t be left behind. It’s time to take your small business into the remote business environment to reap the full benefits of the shift brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are various ways to manage your small business remotely. These include establishing expectations for consistent communication, transfer your business content and files online, encouraging regular conversations in your team, and embrace video conferencing tools.