There are many reasons to start a remote business. Many bricks-and-mortar businesses with an office have gone remote and stayed remote since Covid-19 hit our shores. While the pandemic forced many companies to adopt remote working operations, many have found that it is more productive and profitable thanks to reduced overheads. While remote work remains a necessity in some areas of the world, in the UK, it is now an option. An option that many are embracing.

Thanks to tools and platforms such as WordPress, Shopify and Zoom, there has never been a better time to start a remote business. The technology is in place, the questions around productivity have been answered. With lower overheads, remote companies mitigate the startup costs that have put many would-be entrepreneurs off the idea of founding their own business.

This article will look at the challenges of running a business remotely and how to prepare for the market.

Please note that this article is for entertainment only and does not constitute business or financial advice.

Advantages of Starting a Remote Business

There are many advantages to starting a remote business; these include:

– Lower startup costs

– Lower overheads

– Scalability

– Productivity

– Reduced carbon footprint

– Flexibility

– More control over the work environment

– Save time on commuting

There are, of course, several disadvantages too. Team communication and company culture can be challenging. Without an office, personal communication can become less ad hoc and therefore less natural. In person, conversations make it much easier to interpret body language and tone, which can help to avoid misunderstandings.

Remote Working Tips

In this Ted Talk YouTube video, Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, outlines some of his best tips for starting and running a remote business.

– Document everything

It is easy to make decisions and understand “the why?” behind them when everyone is working together in the same room. If anyone is not present in a conversation, they may see decisions being made without them and not understand the thinking behind it. Document where you were, what you were thinking and how you came to each decision. This documentation will allow others to pick up from where you left off.

It is also important to document processes and onboarding procedures so that new hires know exactly how everything is done.

– Catch up in Person

With clients and colleagues, it can be important to have some face to face time. Meeting in person can help to make sure that everyone is aligned and understands what is going on. It can also help to facilitate a deeper connection, allowing future collaboration to work with greater fluidity.

Communication

One of the potential issues and stumbling blocks with remote businesses relates to communication.

From the offset, make sure that you have all the correct tools in place. A video conferencing and chat program such as Microsoft Teams is essential, as is a project management tool such as Trello.

To enable collaboration, you will also want to invest in a tool such as Google Drive to ensure that all employees have access to live documents and spreadsheets.

Tools of the Trade

Technology has made remote work not only feasible but, in many instances, more productive and profitable than office-based work.

Communication tools such as Zoom and Teams are fundamental and necessary to allow efficient communication if you work directly with freelancers, employees and/or clients.

Mobile and desktop applications can be beneficial when it comes to running a remote business. Virtual receptionists, also known as telephone answering apps such as Moneypenny, can help you give the appearance and the level of customer service that comes with having an in house receptionist, even if you are working from your shed.

Project management tools such as Trello or Asana are also extremely helpful for organising workflows and projects. Even if you work alone, it can help these tools can help you manage your different clients’ work and keep everything structured.

A good screen recording tool is also very helpful whilst working remotely. The adage states that “a picture speaks a thousand words”, so a video must speak at least ten thousand. A video tutorial is the most efficient way to explain or show colleagues or clients who to do something on your computer. Fluid is a screen recorder that enables multiple people to collaborate on one video. Fluid is great for training videos, onboarding training, video presentations and demonstrations.

If you are a solopreneur, chances are you will have to fulfil many roles of the business during a typical working day. When it comes to graphic design, there are many great tools for those who are not savvy with Photoshop or Illustrator. Canva and Venngage are great tools for creating video thumbnails, infographics and social media graphics.

You should also consider investing in some additional security software. NordVPN allows you to create more secure connections to the internet. NordVPN can be installed and set up quickly and works on all devices and browsers.

Before You Start

Before you invest any money into your business idea, do some preparation.

– Create a business plan

– Identify your target market

– Identify gaps in the market

– Analyse your competitors

– Evaluate the size of the market

You can use a tool such as UberSuggest to examine the online competition. Start by making a list of your competitor’s websites and write down any “search terms” that potential customers would use to find your business. For example, if you are a digital marketing freelancer, you might want to appear in the Google results for terms such as “digital marketing freelancer”, “hire digital marketing executive”, and “SEO consultant”.

Enter your search terms into UberSuggest, or another tool such as SEMRush and look at the search volume and the competitiveness. These tools will help you assess the size of the online market and the cost of using Google Ads for relevant search terms.

Think too about the operational flow of the business. How will products and services be delivered?

If, for example, you are starting an eCommerce business, what software will you use to create your shop, which hosting provider and will you stock or dropship products?

As well as delivering products and services, you will have to consider how you will deliver your marketing messages to your target audience.

First, identify your target audience – their age, gender, income, hobbies and pain points. Once you know exactly who you are targeting, find out where they hang out online. For example, if you target small business owners, join small business groups on Facebook and Reddit. Take time to read some of the popular posts and get to know your customers.

By understanding your target market, you can create relevant and helpful blog, video and social media content and target them via the correct websites and channels. Content marketing and sharing useful, helpful content that will resonate with your target market is a great way to build your brand online. Unfortunately, content marketing takes a lot of time, effort, research and skill to put together. You can, however, hire freelancers for a relatively affordable fee on websites such as UpWork and PeoplePerHour. For example, if you need a video editor or graphic designer.

Using Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and if you are in the business to business sector – Linkedin Ads – can be a direct and fast way to drive sales and leads. Before you commit to spending any money, however, it is definitely worth watching or reading some recent step by step tutorials on how to optimise the campaigns. Unfortunately, it can be very easy to spend lots of money inefficiently, and it’s easy to spend thousands without anything to show for it if you are not up to date on the best practices.

Conclusion

Running your own business is never easy. However, the legitimisation of remote work has made it more affordable than ever. Whether you start the business as a side hustle or a full-time venture, you can streamline your workflow by using the right technology and outsourcing. Get to know the wants, needs and issues of your target market and create a product or service that makes life easier for them. A combination of content marketing and paid advertising gives any business a good chance of reaching and engaging with potential customers online.

As the CEO of Precision MD, I wanted to share my thoughts on the recent piece from Inc. titled “7 Tips to Being a Better CEO.” The advice provided by the author of the article is extremely valuable with tips I have relied on during my career. The author uses the example of a young college graduate forced prematurely into the role of CEO after the unexpected death of his father. Like the example from the piece, I’ve faced my share of setbacks and have found success through hard work and determination. The following are the top tips recommended and how you can apply the advice across industries.

Big Picture Thinking

The top tip for CEOs is to focus on the “big picture.” Seasoned and newly minted CEOs need to prioritize their thinking. What are the things that impact your business the most? What promises the most significant reward and risk? Instead of concentrating on smaller, inconsequential items, put your energy into the to-do list of items that make the most impact. Ask yourself, who are your clients that matter the most? Does your business rely on repeat customers, or do you see a big client turnover? What are your key sales channels? What products and services bring in the most money? Who are the valued members of your team? What have you done to improve cash flow? Answer these questions to determine the direction you want to take your company.

Ignore the Minor Setbacks

As a CEO, I understand the significance of not wasting time on inconsequential items. Too many times, you devote extraordinary amounts of energy to things that won’t affect the big picture. Any tasks that don’t directly or significantly impact the business must go on the back burner. Every CEO will face multiple disappointments throughout their career. Letting go of the minor setbacks won’t undermine your bottom line. Instead, you’ll have the time and energy to devote to tasks that will help grow your company.

Remind Team of Company Culture

Build your culture from the ground up. Company culture will carve out a clear path for all team members. Solid company culture will be made up of values that all employees know and follow. When a company culture is toxic, you’re undermining your ability to attract talent to the team. With a positive company culture, your employees want to achieve great things because they feel loyalty to the business. You can’t babysit your team round-the-clock. When you create a positive environment, they will excel even when you’re not looking.

Stay in Constant Communication

Make sure your team stays in the know about how you see the present and future of the company. If you’re not sharing your mission, then the staff can’t help you achieve your goals. Talk to them about what inspires you and how your past shapes how you see the company going. The main idea is to get everyone on board and not see their place in the business as a way to earn a paycheck. Keep staff members engaged by sharing inspirational words often.

Retool Plans for the Business Often

Set up a schedule to craft a quarterly review with a plan of action for the company. Stick to a strict schedule to make sure your objectives stay on track. During the quarterly review, define big picture items and how you plan to improve on them. A CEO should have the responsibility of creating a whole business plan of action every three months. Once you gain the confidence to develop the quarterly plan regularly, request versions from each department. You may want to get the copies before creating your plan of action and instill departmental ideas in them.

Accountability Matters

As a CEO, anything that happens at your company must fall on your shoulders. If you feel the values and goals of your company aren’t being upheld, then make the changes needed to get the business back on track. Set an example for others and be your harshest critic. You can’t expect certain behaviors from other staff members when you’re not following the rules. Don’t waste resources on trying to rehabilitate something that isn’t working.

Build a Strong Leadership Team

Mentorship can make a massive difference at your company. Not all new hires come on staff as leaders. Select your leadership team and take them under your wing. Evaluate each person’s strengths and weaknesses to create a well-balanced team. If you see a particular skill set missing among your leaders, look for someone to fill that gap. Don’t be afraid to reassess your leadership team often and shake things up.

About Mahmoud Khattab

Mahmoud Khattab, CEO of Precision MD, has worked in the medical field for more than three decades. His education first began in his native country of Syria before he emigrated to the United States. Precision MD is centrally located in Elk Grove, California. The cosmetic surgery center aims to help every client look and feel their best. Services offered on-site include Botox, laser skin resurfacing, hair transplants, breast implantations, facelifts, and more. As an effective CEO, Mahmoud Khattab knows the importance of putting client needs first