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How To Run Your Small Business Remotely

As you look to grow your small business, there are numerous reasons to get your business running remotely.


Photo: Zac Johnson, Online Marketer and Creator of Zacjohnson.com; Source: Courtesy Photo

In today’s world of online connectivity, there are dozens of realistic ways to run your small business remotely. In fact, remote companies are often regarded as the small businesses of the future. Whether you are looking to grow your small business, get a more flexible work schedule, or meet health and safety standards, there are numerous reasons to get your business running remotely.

However, expecting remote business management to be anything like your brick-and-mortar operations can be a costly mistake. Running your business from remote locations requires a unique, refined set of strategies, processes, and approaches in order to remain successful. To help you get started, we have outlined realistic ways to run your small business remotely.

 

Select the right team

In order to be successful running your business remotely, you need your staff to be successful too. Start off by hiring the right employees for your business. Since you can hire remote workers from anywhere in the globe, the available candidate pool is incredibly large. However, you still need to ensure that potential employees are the right fit. To refine your search, consider using specialized job boards and hiring tools to develop a cohesive recruitment pipeline.

Once chosen, you can start inviting the best candidates for a video call interview. By taking the time to select the right employee, you can greatly improve retention, customer service, and growth for your company. Naturally, better employees also allows you to reduce turnover and on-boarding costs.

 

Document processes

Since running your business remotely will likely force you to develop new processes, be sure to document everything. Write down the name, boundaries, outputs, and inputs for new processes. Simultaneously, document the specific activities, roles, review, and results of how it all comes together.

Of course, documenting these activities can eliminate flaws and reduce redundancy risk while boosting employee energy and morale. In many cases, thorough process documentation can even improve operational consistency and overall quality. As you prepare to take your business remote, continuously document all of your processes.

 

Integrate technology and tools

Integrating the right tools is an important step to get your small business running remotely. There are dozens of tools available for social media management, communication, file sharing, or payment processing. You can even purchase digital resources for online invoicing, customized marketing funnels, or customer service.

Most importantly however, you should select video chatting tools to remain in touch with your staff, clients, and customers. Some examples of video conference services include options to promote productivity, structure, and collaboration. Using these systems, many business owners have been able to improve attendance, save money, and help remote workers feel like they are part of the team. To optimize the remote employee experience and business operations, integrate the best tools.

 

Embrace cloud technology

Cloud adoption is a foundational step for building a fully remote business. There are numerous advantages and applications of cloud technology in small business. Start off by using document sharing solutions to collaborate with employees and access files from any device or location. Then, you can begin using cloud-enabled systems for data backup, disaster recovery, testing and development.

Once enabled, cloud technology empowers you to optimize security, flexibility, and mobility. Of course, many systems can even improve quality control, loss prevention, sustainability, and data insights. In many cases, you can even use cloud computing to boost efficiency. Begin working with cloud enabled business technology to take your company remote.

 

Encourage regular check-ins

When you are working remotely from home, it is easy to assume that everything is going well with your staff. However, you can be missing several critical problems if you do not establish regular employee check-ins. Fortunately, instant messaging applications, email, and video conferencing tools make it easy to stay in touch with your workers. In addition, it is important to have routine face-to-face meetings whenever possible.

Certainly, these check-ins help to promote employee engagement, provide direction, and drive motivation. Moreover, these quick, informal sessions can prevent miscommunication, prioritize employee welfare, and streamline collaboration. By taking the time to encourage regular employee check-ins you can successfully run your business from home.

There are several innovative ways to run your small business remotely from home. Start off by hiring the right employees for your business. In addition, be sure to document everything. At the same time, integrating the right tools is an important step to get your small business running remotely.

Moreover, establish regular employee check-ins to promote employee engagement, provide direction, and drive motivation for your company. Furthermore, start working with cloud enabled business technology to take your company remote. Follow the points outlined above to learn about the realistic ways to run your small business remotely.

 

Zac Johnson is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of internet marketing experience and branding. Follow his blog at ZacJohnson.com.

 

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