With the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping across the world and social distancing now the new norm, the way we work has – perhaps forever – changed.
For most marketers, remote working is the new norm. This means a new set of skills, new technology and video calls in pyjamas.
But it also changes the way teams operate with one another.
In this blog post released by Marketo, an Adobe company, Planet head of marketing Dan Purvis runs through the four key areas of remote work success for marketing teams.
trust
Just like a real-life team, your virtual team must be built around trust. However, there are certain aspects that must be reimagined for this new working style.
Namely, teams can reinforce a sense of trust through regular calls, video chats or any other type of team meeting possible.
Setting clear expectations is also an effective tool for remote teams.
While setting specific ‘rules’ can be overbearing, agreeing upon a set of boundaries that are in line with the expectations on on-site employees can help create better outcomes for remote teams.
security
Whether at home or in the office, security is a must for any team.
Cyber security experts are already warning that the mass move to work from home is creating an opportunity for hackers.
This is because when team members work from home, they are more likely to use non-standard software and procedures when going about their daily tasks.
To mitigate this risk, teams should use online IT support to ensure everything that is being done remotely is being done in a 100 per cent secure environment.
nurture relationships
For many, working from home not only means being stuck inside all day, it also means missing out on those close relationships they have built with their colleagues through time.
But these relationships don’t have to suffer just because in-person contact is not currently possible.
Social media can be a good tool for ensuring these relationships stay in-tact and continuing a sense of team culture in the virtual world.
Video calls are also useful here, but with a clear social agenda.
Productivity tools
Productivity tools serve as a useful way to keep team members updated with the activities of the rest of the team, without bombarding them with constant notifications and emails.
These tools are specifically designed to make work processes quicker and more effective.
Some examples of good productivity tools for marketing teams are Slack, Trello, Google Drive, Dropbox and Evernote.
Finding the right software, or combination of different programs, for your team will allow for effective workflows for your remote team.
To find out more tips and tricks on utilising remote workforce, register for Marketo’s ‘Let’s Get Digital Bootcamp’ webinar series here.