As a small business owner, it’s important to have a smart strategy in place for increasing revenue. You can’t just stick with the same old marketing tactics year after year and expect customers to flock to your door. Instead, you need a plan for growth that will keep your company from stagnating. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by hiring remote employees.
Done right, hiring remote workers can be an incredibly effective way for businesses of all sizes to increase their efficiency and processes without adding any overhead costs or infrastructure changes. Moreover, with the COVID-19 pandemic in place, remote working has become the new standard.
If you’re looking to grow your small business without scaling up, remote working offers a great way to do just that while opening up new opportunities for flexibility and cost savings.
Here are some tips for how to expand your workforce with remote employees:
1. Start With Your Current Employees
The best way to grow your operations is to help existing employees work more effectively. One of the biggest benefits of remote workers is that they can greatly increase productivity across the board by helping get more done in less time. If you make it clear to your current staff members that you’re looking for ways to expand and offer incentives like bonuses or peer-recognized awards for stellar performance, you’ll probably find that many of them are eager to take on additional responsibilities.
2. Use a Digital Platform
There are several different types of software that can help you hire remote workers and allow them to work more effectively. There are various platforms used by many businesses for hiring all kinds of employees across the world. This kind of digital system makes it easy to manage staff members regardless of their location or time zone. You can keep track of schedules, assign tasks, share files, communicate one-on-one with employees, and much more right from your computer or mobile device.
3. Host Online Meetings
When working with remote employees, it’s important to continuously reinforce the connection between your team members, so they feel valued and motivated throughout the course of each day. Fortunately, there are many different ways to do this. When you have a lot going on, holding online meetings with remote workers is a great way to get everyone on the same page.
4. Give Them Autonomy
Many of your employees may crave more autonomy in their work schedules and day-to-day lives. Giving them more personal control over how they manage their time can not only improve morale but also lead to better overall performance from each member of your staff. So give them a chance to prove themselves — you might be surprised by what they can accomplish!
5. Train Them Well
Training a remote workforce is different than training an in-office staff. You can’t just bring new team members into the office and set them loose on your equipment. Training remote workers require a lot more planning, but it’s worthwhile because you’re adding to your pool of employees who are already familiar with your company’s work style.
6. Make Yourself Accessible
Remote employees count on the person in charge to keep them informed and involved. They need constant updates, clear instructions, and a strong manager who is accessible at any time of day or night to resolve issues as they arise. So develop a schedule for yourself that works for you and your team members — don’t just leave it up to chance!
7. Hire the Right People
Whether you’re hiring inside your current company or outside, always make sure new employees are a good fit with your existing culture. Look for people who share similar values and goals with your business so they’ll feel like they really belong. Make sure everyone is clear about their responsibilities and how to accomplish them; this will help pave the way towards a successful collaboration.
8. Give Clear Feedback and Opportunities for Advancement
Remote employees need clear direction and an honest assessment of how they’re performing to improve their job performance over time. Make it a point to meet with team members one-on-one at least every few months, so each person knows exactly what they need to do to further their career at your company. And give them plenty of opportunities for advancement — you want your team members to feel like they’re growing and mastering new skills as their career with your business progresses.
As a business owner, it’s important to find new and innovative ways to grow your company. One great way to do this is by hiring remote employees. With the help of technology, you can connect with talented workers from all over the world. By expanding your reach, you can improve your productivity and bottom line. We’ve outlined eight tips that will help you successfully manage a remote workforce. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be on your way to building a successful business empire!