Ways To Help Your Remote Digital Marketing Team Excel
Your remote digital marketing team accomplishes important things for your brand. It serves as the face of your company, coordinating and producing all materials representing the business. Even when your digital marketing team is operating remotely, it must still produce a quality product and still function as a cohesive unit within the company. Recently, folks have been studying the best ways to help your remote digital marketing team to perform at the top of its game.
1. Implement a Remote Work Policy
Structure is important in all realms and when your teams are working remotely, they need structure to establish the parameters of their work, as well as the expectations. The goal is for your marketers to deliver quality work, usually while collaborating productively with other team members. This kind of policy helps to eliminate potentially bad habits before they take root.
A good policy accounts for every detail. Here are some examples of details that must be addressed:
- Work hours
- Eligibility and scope
- Productivity measures and time tracking guidelines
- Cybersecurity and confidentiality
- Expenses
- Communication expectations
2. Engage in Smarter Hiring Practices
Clarity is the key to almost everything and it is doubly true for hiring the right employees for the right jobs. Companies that are experiencing failures at their hiring initiatives are likely not being clear about what they want new employees to accomplish.
There are a few essential questions that will help to define desired outcomes. Establishing a hiring methodology can help you to answer these questions:
- Who do you want to hire?
- Why make the hire?
- Does the perspective marketer even want to work with your company?
3. Create a Flexible Marketing Plan
Just as Prometheus monitoring can collect and store metrics as time-series data, a flexible marketing plan can get the best out of your team. A good manager thinks about the marketing team when creating SEO-friendly content, building a social media presence and optimizing email copy.
Brainstorming ideas is a cornerstone of flexibility. Devising quarterly and yearly plans to achieve KPIs for multiple channels is an efficient way to reach all of your customers. You can also streamline the marketing process by automizing daily tasks. Available marketing automation software can help.
5. Employee Engagement
One of the disadvantages of remote work is the potential for employee disconnection. When the Covid pandemic struck and relegated everybody to home confinement, the workforce suddenly had to discover the benefits and drawbacks of a new working model. When you take out student loans, you understand and prepare for the process of repayment. Nobody knew how to prepare for remote work, except for those who'd previously engaged in it.
Connection is an important tool for avoiding burnout and applying some fun and humor can be powerful in counteracting the feelings of isolation and overwhelmedness that sometimes accompanies remote work scenarios. This can look like many different things.
As a manager, you should gather and encourage feedback of all types, not only related to the work at hand, but about how the work is being done. Emphasizing virtual meet-ups is also a good idea because it's always good to get the team back into one proverbial room. It can also be a good time to show employee appreciation, which is no less important than the work that they do for the company.
The health and ability of your digital marketing team are tantamount to your brand's success. It's the marketing team that reaches out to customers and prospects, potential investors and the community. It's also the marketing team that polishes the image of your brand that you want the world to both to recognize and do business with. Figuring out ways to help it excel in its remote digital capacity will only strengthen your brand.
9 Tech Tips Remote Digital Marketers Can Use To Improve Their Work-Life Balance
Despite the convenience of working from home, your productivity can dip, and work can pile up on you quickly. Try the following hacks, tricks, and tips to boost your creativity, efficiency, and productivity.
1. Use Digital Wellness Apps
If you need to improve your focus to stay on task, you may already have a digital wellness app preloaded on your devices. Consider using programs that block notifications so you can dig into an hour or two of deep work. Some software even denies you access to time-wasting apps and websites during pre-scheduled moments.
2. Keep Your Data Secure
Rely on cloud storage to automatically back up your documents and projects so you never lose valuable work. Consider investing in advanced backup services that store data in multiple locations to keep information disaster-proof.
A power outage never comes at a convenient time, so remain prepared to continue functioning to some degree with a battery back up. A mobile Wi-Fi device can provide you with enough connectivity to finish saving a project when your home Internet connection goes down.
3. Use Noise-Canceling Software and Hardware
Help yourself concentrate with headphones that block the noise of family, housemates, or outside activity. Help clients and teammates pay attention to you during calls with apps that mute background noise. Ensure that your microphone is of superior quality and has built-in noise-canceling features.
4. Improve Your Lighting
While video conferencing with partners and customers, give yourself the most professional appearance by perfecting the office lighting. Smart lights allow you to dim your illumination or even change colors to provide an optimal impression. Try to eliminate glare and place soft lighting in front of you for a flattering look.
5. Synchronize Calendars With Others
Simplify scheduling meetings and alerting others when you're away with shared calendars. You can add calendar notifications to team communication and collaboration apps so fellow workers know your availability.
6. Sign Up for Continuing Education
Keep your skills sharp with any extra time you have on hand. A simple 20 to 30 minutes daily can earn you additional marketable skills and certificates to add to your resume. Research online video learning platforms to find the best deals and courses. Some programs allow you to take college courses for free or pay to receive more hands-on guidance, take an assessment, and receive credentials.
7. Keep the Children Educated and Engaged
You can't be free to handle every question and concern of your kids, but you don't want them to plop down in front of the TV or tablet and waste hours on mind-numbing junk. Investigate interactive courses and virtual field trips that allow them to study and visit fascinating locations. Have them report back on their findings to the family at dinner.
8. Consider a Smart Home Assistant
Make scheduling reminders and knocking out assignments easier with a smart home speaker and assistant, allowing you to call out for information or create a to-do list. While cleaning, exercising, or lounging in the tub, you don't have to worry about forgetting an important activity that just popped in your head because you can ask your assistant for help.
9. Conquer Stress With Virtual Therapy
Remote work can become very lonely and place enormous pressure on you. Research business coaches or counseling that you can do conveniently through video or phone. Check your health care plan to see what discounted resources are available to you or free assistance you can obtain.
Working from home presents a wonderful opportunity but also unique challenges. Avail yourself of excellent tech tools to ease your load and enjoy your digital marketing career. SOme services are available in other languages such as Spanish. The services can treat: anxiety, depression, panic attacks and a wide range of other conditions - all online.
5 Keys to Success for Remote Digital Marketers
Working remotely as a digital marketer poses a few challenges but also offers tremendous opportunities. You can service your clients from anywhere. You can also build a team with the best talent without geographical constraints. Here are some tips for success as a remote digital marketer.
1. Have the Right Systems
To succeed in a remote environment, you need to have the proper systems. This includes hardware, software and applications. You want to ensure your team has access to everything necessary to perform their jobs properly. Equipment can be location-based, but you should also consider portability so that tasks can get done on the move.
Cloud computing is highly recommended to allow access to files, software and applications from remote locations. This storage and software distribution does not require users to connect to a physical location. Thus, it allows maximum flexibility for your platforms and superior access for your team members and customers.
2. Build a Great Team
You want your digital marketing team to be the best possible. It all starts with the individuals you hire to be a part of your team. You want to ensure these persons are motivated and comfortable working in a remote environment. It is best if they are familiar with the systems you will be using. You will want to interview your prospective candidates on camera for a better connection and introspection. Any potential employees need to be creative and able to work independently.
3. Provide a Style Guide
You want to ensure that all team members use a consistent style for your remote digital marketing enterprise. You need to develop a style guide for everyone's use and make sure that it gets followed. The style guide will further the image of your company and the work product. Your customers will know what level of quality they can expect if your organization consistently follows and enforces this blueprint. The style guide will also help your team members complete their projects by providing detailed guidance and expectations for the finished work product.
4. Have Written Procedures
Procedures are so crucial to the effective running of any business. The processes and procedures are even more critical for a remote unit. These will provide detailed instructions and directions to your team members on completing their projects. You can include information on contacting customers to handle all client interactions consistently.
Your procedures should include regular review and management feedback to ensure expectations are being met. Team meetings set at regular intervals can be established in the guidelines for employee workflow to give feedback and assistance with tasks that need to be completed.
5. Secure Your Data and Systems
Security is so vital for remote companies. Cyber threats can come from anywhere and ruin all you have worked for. Your company needs to keep its data and systems safe. You may want a separate unit within your company to handle your cyber security. You can hire a contractor to review your setup and install necessary safeguards on your computers and systems.
Protection from cyber threats is only adequate if all team members are protected. This means you will need to have protection for systems used by remote workers. Team members should also be fully trained on recognizing threats and the importance of employing security measures to keep the company safe. The security protocol should include strict log-in procedures and policies for downloads.
A venture as a remote digital marketer can be rewarding and allow you to use your creativity to make a living. You can reap great success in this field with some investment in the setup of your enterprise.
8 Best Homebased Business Ideas for Aspiring Mompreneurs
Trying to balance your career and family life is not easy. Some mothers see child-rearing as a full-time job.
Still, many of them also aspire to start their own business. No wonder the word "mompreneur" has seen a worldwide spike in 2004.
If you aspire to be one knowing that you have the skills and resources, here are seven home based business ideas that you can pursue:
Blogging
The thing about blogging is that it doesn't take that much time and money. For you to start blogging, all you need is a computer, the necessary software like MS Word, and a stable internet connection to begin with.
One of the most important blogging tips for beginners is to blog about the things that you love. If you love to write, you can write all about your experiences of being a mom. This is a great way to connect with other mothers out there and build your audience.
To easily connect with your target audience, we recommend picking out a niche. A niche is like a topic that you would like to talk about and delve into.
This can be parenting, cooking, cleaning, organization, or whatever piques your interest.
Be a Consultant
If you have gained enough industry experience in your field, why not provide consulting services?
Some businesses employ consultants to gain external insight. For instance, you used to work in the marketing department of a pharmaceutical company. Doctors and medical representatives can call you for help in promoting their services.
However, one of the biggest challenges of being a paid consultant is finding the right customers. Hence, it would help if you maintain the connections you built when you used to work.
Another tip is to build an online presence. You can start with having a social media page where you can share your knowledge and expertise as a business consultant.
Affiliate Marketing
This is another excellent business idea for stay-at-home moms. More so if you already have a successful blog or online presence.
All you need to do is to promote people's products and services. Affiliate marketing is more about generating a passive income.
Here's how affiliate marketing works. Ideally, it would help if you came up with a continually generating traffic site with a loyal readership or customer base.
Then, you need to pick companies and brands that offer products and services relevant to your niche or what your site is all about. Ideally, you should share your personal experiences with these products and services and offer solutions.
You can either use certain affiliate links so that it will be easier to track your posts' efficiency. Now, you'll earn a commission each time a person purchases an item using your affiliate link.
Virtual Assistance
A virtual assistant is someone that assists busy professionals with various online tasks. This can include appointment scheduling, answering customer service emails, making travel arrangements, and so on.
The best thing is that all you need is a computer and a stable internet connection. You may also want to create a website to separate you from the rest of the competition.
Here, you can list your skills and include glowing testimonials from clients or people who've done similar VA tasks before. You can earn as much as $12 to $25 per hour becoming a VA.
Expertise Productization
This usually involves "productizing" your service.
You can develop physical and digital products that can showcase your expertise. But instead of writing about the subject matter, consider providing solutions.
For example, you are a digital marketing expert. Write an ebook on how local bake shops can use the World Wide Web to promote their business.
Dropshipping
Another home based business idea that you can try is dropshipping.
Here's how dropshipping works:
- You can receive orders through your online store.
- You will forward it to your supplier or manufacturer.
- The manufacturer will pick, pack, and ship the product to your customer.
Your supplier can either be local or overseas. It would be best to find a supplier that you can trust and consistently deliver an excellent customer experience.
Just remember to do this with diligence; otherwise, you'll be putting the reputation of your business at risk.
Reselling
Maybe you love visiting flea markets or garage sales, and you have the talent for finding low-priced items. Why not resell them on online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or eBay?
Reselling is a great way to earn extra money in your household.
Homemade Products
If you love creating things, then you can turn that hobby into a sustainable business.
You can create homemade products, store them, and sell them in the comforts of your home.
If you can control every aspect of the products you're selling, it will be easier to make them cost-effective. You can also enhance their quality and cater to the market's growing demand.
Being a mom is already a full-time job. But as mentioned in this article, there are several homebased ideas that you can take advantage of. Find what works for you, and grow it to become a full-time business eventually.
6 Work from Home Jobs that are Perfect for Digital Marketers
Are you a digital marketer looking for a work from home job? If so, you're in luck! You'll find many jobs that are available remotely.
Wurkr, a virtual workplace software company, makes a strong argument for the remote-first work model. How the company that's based out of the UK hired people from around the world including fully remote digital marketing, sales and tech teams and made it work.
Working remotely has a number of benefits. For one, you can eliminate your commute and the associated costs (e.g., gas, car maintenance). You also have more control over your schedule, which can lead to a better work-life balance. And let's not forget the environmental benefits of working from home - by avoiding commuting, you can help reduce your carbon footprint.
If you're a digital marketer looking for a work from home job, here are some positions that might be a good fit:
1. Social media manager
Creating and implementing social media campaigns is part of what a social media manager does. You'll also need to monitor social media channels for activity and engagement. This is a great job for someone who is creative and has strong written and communication skills.
If you're interested in working from home as a social media manager, there are many jobs that allow you to work remotely. Here are some of the best work from home jobs for social media managers:
- Sprout Social: Sprout is a social media management platform that allows businesses and individuals to manage all their social media in one place. As a Sprout Social Media Manager, you'll be responsible for creating and executing social media campaigns, as well as monitoring social media channels for activity and engagement.
- Hootsuite: Hootsuite is another social media management platform that allows businesses to manage all their social media in one place. As a Hootsuite Social Media Manager, you'll be responsible for creating and executing social media campaigns, as well as monitoring social media channels for activity and engagement.
- Buffer: Buffer is a social media management platform that allows businesses to manage all their social media in one place. As a Buffer Social Media Manager, you'll be responsible for creating and executing social media campaigns, as well as monitoring social media channels for activity and engagement.
These are just a few of the many companies that offer work from home jobs for social media managers. If you're interested in working from home as a social media manager, be sure to search for remote jobs on job boards and company websites.
2. Email marketing specialist
As an email marketing specialist, your responsibility is to create and implement campaigns. This includes designing email templates, writing copy, and managing contact lists. This job is perfect for someone with strong writing skills and experience with email marketing tools.
There are many jobs that allow you to work remotely, but email marketing specialist is a perfect job for digital marketers. With this job, you can use your skills to help businesses reach their target audiences and achieve their goals.
3. Website developer
As a web developer, you'll be responsible for building and maintaining websites. This includes coding, creating website designs, and setting up server environments. This job is perfect for someone with strong technical skills and experience with web development.
There are a few things to keep in mind when applying for web developer jobs. Firstly, most employers will require you to have a strong portfolio of work to showcase your skills. Secondly, you'll need to be able to demonstrate your ability to code in various programming languages. Finally, it's important to have good problem-solving skills and be able to troubleshoot issues that may arise during the development process.
4. Graphic designer
As a graphic designer, you'll be responsible for creating visuals that communicate messages. This can include everything from website designs to infographics to email graphics. This job is perfect for someone who is creative and has experience with graphic design software.
If you're interested in working from home as a graphic designer, there are many jobs that allow you to work remotely. Here are some companies that hire remote graphic designers:
1. InVision
2. 99designs
3. UpWork
4. Fiverr
5. Crowdspring
Working from home as a graphic designer has many benefits. You'll have the flexibility to set your own hours, work from anywhere, and be your own boss. Plus, you'll be able to use your creative skills to create visuals that will help businesses communicate their messages effectively.
5. SEO specialist
An SEO specialist is responsible for optimizing website content for search engines. This includes conducting keyword research, optimizing websitecode, and creating content that is both informative and keyword-rich. This job is perfect for someone with strong analytical skills and experience with SEO tools.
As an SEO specialist, you will need to be well-versed in the latest search engine algorithms and trends. You should also have a keen eye for detail, as you will be responsible for ensuring that website content is optimized correctly. In addition, you will need to be able to work independently and manage your own time effectively.
6. Copywriter
A copywriter is responsible for writing persuasive, compelling, and interesting copy. This can include everything from website content to email marketing copy to social media posts. This job is perfect for someone with strong writing skills and a knack for persuasion.
Copywriters need to have a deep understanding of their audience and what will resonate with them. They also need to be able to write in a clear and concise manner. And, of course, they need to be excellent at persuasion.
If you have these skills and are interested in working from home, then a career as a copywriter may be perfect for you.
Wrap Up
These are just a few of the many jobs that are perfect for digital marketers. With these jobs, you can use your skills to help businesses reach their target audiences and achieve their goals.
So, if you're looking for a remote job that allows you to use your digital marketing skills, then consider one of these six jobs. You won't be disappointed.
Working From Home: 5 Common Issues and How to Deal with Them
The benefits of remote work are undeniable.
However, there are also challenges such as struggling to switch off, technology challenges, isolation, dealing with interruptions and distractions, and working across time zones.
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome them and we offer solutions to do just that.
In this article, we list the main challenges you may encounter while working from home and some of the most effective ways to deal with them.
#1. You have a hard time switching off from work
In a survey conducted in 2019, 22% of respondents stated they struggle to switch off. Remote workers don’t have set hours which is a benefit and a curse as it can be challenging to achieve a healthy work/life balance. The lack of this balance can make the employee feel exhausted and eventually lead them to hate their job. We need breaks and downtime, and it can be hard to draw a line between work and home.
How to solve this problem
There are several things you can do, and apps that can help you achieve them:
- Set achievable daily targets.
- Set reminders/alarms for tea, lunch, and ‘stretch’ breaks.
- Set a personal ‘appointment’ at the end of the day (gym or a walk, for example).
- Make others aware of your work hours.
- Have a separate workspace that you can close off/put your laptop away.
None of these involve expense. They just require thought and planning.
#2. You battle with technology problems
Few things can wreck a day the way technical problems can. If your laptop/PC crashes, you experience an outage or have an unstable or slow connection, remote work becomes difficult, stressful, and even impossible. In addition, public Wi-Fi spots can be erratic and potentially unsafe.
How to mitigate these problems
Issues will arise, but you can take steps to reduce the risk and/or impact:
- Have a backup plan/location for if your home connection is lost.
- Backup your files regularly.
- Ensure your device, files, apps, and tools are always updated.
- Use a VPN to guard your data. For example, Surfshark’s products give their clients control of their digital lives (read how good Surfshark is).
- Invest in a high-speed line and/or a booster to improve speed and reliability.
The investment of time and money involved is well worth it to ensure you can work.
#3. You feel lonely and isolated
In traditional office environments, co-workers are a large part of our social circle. Some remote workers feel that lack of interaction keenly. This can be particularly acute for those without family at home. Feeling isolated and being in one location can lead to depression and/or a reluctance to leave that environment. Does this sound familiar to you?
How to solve this problem
This challenge can be a tough one to deal with, but it can be eased:
- Break up your day by including social interaction such as lunch with a friend.
- Use co-working spaces.
- Use venues like coffee shops for an hour or two.
- Join a social/activity group in your area or take some classes.
This issue requires more effort to overcome. However, once you work to counteract this problem, you will feel better and working will be easier too.
Image by 5starsday
#4. You don’t know how to deal with interruptions and distractions
Productivity-reducing distractions and interruptions happen when working at home or away. Distractions at home can be more marked as we are surrounded by things we’d rather do. Small children are especially difficult to deal with as they don’t understand why a parent is out of bounds.
How to reduce this problem
Interruptions and distractions can’t be avoided completely. Here are some concrete steps you can take to reduce them:
- Have a clearly defined, distraction-free work area.
- Let others know you are not available.
- Turn off app notifications that are not work-related.
- Keep set working hours so they become part of a home routine.
Distractions can be controlled or turned into a positive if you plan and get organized.
#5. You find working across multiple time zones and locations tough
If you are a remote worker, you know what a boon flexibility can be. When it comes to accommodating global projects and collaborations it becomes essential. However, it comes with practical challenges as individuals may not be working (or even awake) at the same time.
How to solve this problem
How you deal with this varies:
- If you are a member of a team/an employee a regular schedule is necessary.
- Self-employed individuals can institute a four-hour overlap with others when possible.
- If an overlap is not possible, be clear about hours and time zones and come to an arrangement.
This area can be tough to get around. Clear, frequent communication is key.
In conclusion
As a remote worker, you may have experienced challenges we’ve discussed here yourself.
If remote workers know what they are taking on and can overcome the practical and psychological challenges, working remotely is very rewarding.
If you get it right, it offers benefits a traditional work situation can’t match!