Remote businesses are the businesses of the future. The internet has made it so that you no longer require a brick and mortar office in other to run a business, you can run a successful business from the comfort of your home with just your mobile phone and PC.
The advantages of running a remote business are numerous, not only will you save on rent and overhead; you will also avoid the dangers of commuting to work, and enjoy the added advantage of working with great talents from all over the world.
If you are considering running your business remotely, the following tips will help you make it a success.
1. Have the right set of tools
When running a remote business, you don’t have the luxury of handling physical files, but you still have to get the work done. This means having the proper set of tools for your type of business.
Top on the list are internet enabled computers, modem or router and smartphones. You will also need the right set of software and applications on your devices if you are to run a smooth operation. There are a number of online business software and tools that would help you (both free and paid), such as teleconferencing software for holding meetings, project management tools and a virtual office.
With the right set of tools, your remote workers will all be able to work in a seamless and organized environment.
2. Set clearly defined goals
When you work remotely, it can be difficult getting the drive to work, especially when there is no supervisor looking over your shoulders. The secret is in setting clearly defined goals.
Be clear on your expectations every day, have a fixed deadline for tasks, a well thought out to do list, and ensure that every member of the team is aware and carried along. Also, it is important that you find a way to measure performance. This is the quickest way to improve productivity. You will find dozens of tools online that can help set goals and measure performance.
3. Maintain a strong online presence
No matter the type of business you run remotely, you need a strong online presence so that potential customers can know about what you do, ongoing promotions and offers, and who to contact for enquiries.
First of all, it is imperative that your remote business has a website. This is where the bulk of information about your business will be published and found. However, it is also extremely important that you are very active on social media. Right now, social media is the best platform for connecting businesses with potential customers.
4. Determine your fall-back plan
That you run your business remotely is no guarantee that you will not hit snags along the way because every business must encounter challenges a few times during its lifetime.
However, it is how you manage these challenges that would determine is your business will survive, this is why it is always wise to have a fall-back plan in place. If for example, you run a service-oriented business, or a consultancy, professional indemnity insurance will cover you for expenses in case someone takes legal action against you for making a mistake whilst working on their behalf.
There are also a number of business-related insurance covers you should consider when running a business remotely.
5. Pick the right team
If you run a remote business, you have the benefit of picking strong talents from anywhere in the world without worrying about re-location or daily commuting. And because the success of your business is intricately tied to the people working for you, make sure to use this opportunity to choose only the best as team members.
