Thanks to the shift to digital, advanced technology now allows us to work from virtually anywhere. As a marketing recruitment agency, we are finding that more marketers are working remotely, and more organizations are recognizing the benefits of having their employees work from home.
Remote work may or may not be for you. Some find it difficult to focus outside of the traditional office setting, while others see it as a way of getting a lot more done by avoiding time spent commuting to work.
While it has many perks, it does also come with its challenges. Let’s take a look at some of the common challenges those with remote marketing jobs run into, and the best practices that lead to successful and rewarding results.
How to Drive Rewarding Results in Remote Marketing Jobs
1. Prioritize Your To-Do List
Without a boss constantly looking over your shoulder, you have to be your own motivator. Before you get your day started, write down the goals that you want to get accomplished. This will help you prioritize the most important things and ensure you don’t leave anything out on your to-do list out.
Take it even further and plan your week ahead of time. Organizing everything you need to get done in a timely manner can do wonders in making sure you’re on top of everything.
By listing everything you need to get done and checking every project off one by one, you will learn how to efficiently manage your time and multi-task.
2. Over-Communication Is Key
There’s no such thing as over-communicating in marketing, especially if you’re working remotely.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to become isolated when you’re working by yourself and not physically interacting with your colleagues or managers. It’s important to proactively communicate with your team members if they don’t have the opportunity to drop in and see you on a daily basis. In order to stay visible and accessible to your entire team, you have to make the extra effort to communicate with them in ways you may not have even when you were in the office.
Take the time to embrace the power of video conferences. Person-to-person interactions are meaningful, and seeing your team even through the computer screen makes a big difference.
Over-communicate by 10x more than you think would be necessary. If possible, make sure to participate in team meetings, events or any sort of outings so your team can establish personal connections with you.
3. Cut Down on Unnecessary Distractions
You more than likely have plenty of distractions at home. Whether it’s your family or things going on with your neighbors, make sure you have a dedicated space that helps you focus. Have a whole private office? Even better!
Stepping into your designated workspace subconsciously triggers your mind to let it know that it’s time to start working. If you don’t have an entirely closed-off space to call your private office, make sure you establish some sort of private quarters or space you can peacefully work in. Marketing requires a lot of attention from you, and you don’t want to be constantly distracted by your noisy roommate or neighbors.
If your home is too distracting, step out and work out of a cafe or a coffee shop. The change of scenery can be refreshing and inspiring, and energize you to get things done efficiently.
Cutting down on distractions includes changing out of your pajamas. Sure, they may be comfortable, but it isn’t an ideal way to boost your productivity and get in the zone. You don’t necessarily have to wear business professional attire when sitting at home, but make sure you change out of your PJ’s to let your mind know it’s time to work.
4. Indulge in Your Breaks
Taking breaks may seem like it’s counter-productive but it actually boosts productivity. Doing something that’s completely different from your work can significantly help refresh and recharge your mind. This can be as simple as taking a few minutes to stretch throughout the day or taking a walk outside.
When you’re home working remotely, you miss out on casual interactions and run-ins with other people, which can make you feel socially isolated. Being around other people when you’re constantly by yourself is important. That’s why it’s important to indulge in your breaks and engage in social interactions. They’re good for your overall mental being!
Go grab a coffee with a friend, or step into that yoga class you’ve always wanted to go to. A mental break is great for your performance and productivity. You’ve been working hard, you deserve to step out and have some fun! Doing so will help clear your mind and re-focus on your work tasks.
5. STOP Working
You have more control over your own schedule with a remote marketing job, so take advantage of it and tweak it so it works best for you. Decide the hours you will work every day, and send out a consistent schedule to your team. This helps you understand when to stop working, and lets your fellow team members know when you’re available – making communication and collaboration easier and more effective.
When you’re working and living in the same space, it can be difficult to set strict boundaries between the two. However, it’s critical to establish times where you completely stop working so there’s a clear distinction between your work and personal lives. Keep yourself accountable when making deadlines so you are able to cut off work at your set time.
Parting Words
The thought of working remotely can be intimidating. However, when you consider all of the benefits and leverage the best practices to take advantage of them, you will see that being able to work remotely is a great opportunity. By learning how to efficiently manage your time and maintain close connections with your team, you will encounter more room to produce better results and become a superb marketer.