Thanks to modern technology and a shift in work culture, many of us now have the freedom to work from anywhere, whether it be a cozy office, a hip coffee shop or a sun-soaked beach. As businesses try to maintain productivity and culture in this new work environment, we want to help!
At Bowe Digital, remote work is all we know. Our entire team has been working remotely since getting our start in 2017. We’ve also grown in distance, adding team members who live outside of Indiana. Everyone at Bowe has become a pro at working from home. So, grab your laptop, put on some pants (or don’t…we’re not judging), and join me on a journey through what we’ve learned.
Video is your friend.
Bread is bread. Who cares if it’s sliced or not? Instead, video is the best thing since face-to-face meetings. Video content has layers and reaches the emotional part of our brains. It’s been said that a one-minute video is worth 1.8 million written words. So if you’re not using it, you should be!
At Bowe Digital, we use video internally and externally, and we opt for Zoom meetings whenever we can. Getting your faces out there helps grow connections within your team and reminds your customers that real people are behind every transaction they have with you. I know video can be scary. We weren’t all born to be TikTok stars (Thank God), but here’s a reminder that you are your own harshest critic. If you’re brave enough to talk to people in the world every day despite your hair not being perfect, stuttering over a word or two or just not liking the sound of your voice, you’re brave enough to do it on video. Start by sending a BombBomb video to a friend or hopping on a quick Zoom call with a colleague.
Have meetings often.
Internal Meetings
Just because you’re remote doesn’t mean you have to meet with your team every day. If it can be sent in an email, just send an email. However, internal meetings are a time to connect, grow and get on the same page. Use small group meetings to think strategically, talk about your customers and break down what’s working and what’s not. Use full team meetings to share company news, complete training sessions and update each other about your week. At Bowe Digital, we try to keep it fun by giving different people the chance to lead and asking questions that range from “What’s your favorite thing about Spring?” to “Would you rather burp glitter or fart glitter?”
External Meetings
When it comes to your customers, you should be setting clear expectations. Remote or not, communication is the key to a successful partnership. Ask your clients about their preferences – do they want to hear from you over email, the phone or a Zoom call? Once you know that, set up a recurring meeting. The goal is not to waste people’s time, so do your research before every call. It’s also wise to set an expectation about how quickly customers can expect a response from you outside of scheduled meetings.
Take advantage of online tools.
We’re not above having one hundred tabs open, but we suggest those tabs consist of tools to keep your assignments, communication and schedule in order. Some of the tools our team uses daily are Monday.com, Gmail, Slack, HeyOrca and Canva.
Show your appreciation for each other.
Celebrate each other's wins! I may be biased, but I have a kick-ass team, and their kick-assery goes beyond the great work they do. Never hesitate to lift your employees and colleagues up and thank them for the little and big things they do daily. At Bowe Digital, we have #teamlove and #partnerlove channels on Slack, dedicated to sharing good news from our partners and giving each other well-deserved kudos when they’ve done something great.
Make time for non-work related fun.
Follow the advice of Wiz Khalifa (a very reputable source, obviously) and “Work Hard, Play Hard.” There’s no post-work drinks or lunchtime chatter when you work remotely, so it’s important to carve out time for fun. In our experience, that’s how you really get to know and trust one another.
Our Bowe Digital team has bonded over many gut-wrenching losses while competing in March Madness this season, enjoyed mimosas and brunch together on Zoom and made the most of our in-person meetings. We’ve gone to Indianapolis Indians baseball games with our families, celebrated more Bowe babies than I can count and learned who can carry a tune…and who can’t at Karaoke. Through these experiences, we’ve become less like a team and more like a family, and family can go the distance in remote business. I would know; I work with my mom.
Be a pro like Bowe. At Bowe Digital, we’re passionate about what we do, and we work with any budget. Contact Bradley Erb on our team at bradley@bowedigital.com to discuss your marketing goals! Learn more about our services at bowedigital.com.