If you want to start a business in this day and age, there’s no reason why you need to be tied down to the same location. Thanks to the internet and the sophisticated tools we now have, you can create and run your business from wherever you are in the world. Whether you want to travel the globe or just run a business while staying home with your kids, there are lots of ways you can do it. Here are some technology tips that will help you get the most of the technology involved.
Extend your reach
Any business, whether it’s brand new or already established, can extend their reach by going digital. That means that your location now no longer matters. You can sell to and interact with customers from anywhere in the world. One good way of doing this is to ensure you have a good social media presence. Set up your accounts now, and ensure that you can keep up with them. These are the best way to keep a relationship with your customers and inform them of what’s happening with your company. Also, you’ll need to ensure that your website is ready for clients from anywhere in the world. This can include offering prices in several different currencies or giving customers the option to calculate their postage to where they live. Make it easy for them to buy from you.
Take a trial run
If you’re still toying with the idea of going virtual with your business, give it a trial run first. Try going on a trip and taking your work with you, or working from home first. Note the challenges that you face. Are you finding it hard to find the motivation to work in a non-office setting? Are there too many distractions? Can you get WiFi where you want to work? If these are a problem, you’ll need to address them before you take the leap for good.
Set your work hours
While working on the move offers some fantastic benefits, it can be easy to never switch off. Thanks to differences in time zones, you can feel as though you always have to be working. This way can often lead to burnout, something you don’t want to be dealing with. To stop this happening to you, set your work hours and be strict about them. When you’re done, switch the laptop and the phone off, and take that time to yourself.
Make sure you can share documents
As you won’t be in the office, it won’t be as easy to share files with people that need them. Email works up to a point, but it may not be as secure as you think it is. That’s why you need to set yourself up with a file sharing service before you go. Get a good service on board, and you can share files securely. Even if you’re on the other side of the world, you can work as a team with the rest of your company.
Take advantage of video conferencing
One of the best tools to be available to remote workers is video conferencing. You can be wherever you want to be, and yet still attend meetings back home. When you need to be on top of everything, this is a vital service. All you need is your laptop, or even just your phone.
Video conferencing is also a great way of getting around time differences. Even if it’s late where you are, you can be involved in the workings of your company. There’s no reason to be out of the loop if you use this technology properly.
Consider if working remotely can save you money
This is important if you’re caring for a family, or otherwise, want to save some cash. There’s a lot of money involved in commuting every day. Travel costs, food bills, and other assorted costs can add up over time. If you have children, there’s also the childcare costs to consider. Tally up the costs if you were to work from home instead. Would you pay out less if you were at home? If so, it may be time to leave the office for good.
Learn how to deal with distractions
One aspect of working remotely that most people don’t consider is the distractions. There’s plenty of them, wherever you go. If you’re at home, the housework can seem very appealing when you’ve got work to do. If you’re abroad, who wants to work when there’s so much out there to explore?
You’ll need to learn how to stay focused if you want to make this work. The technique for this will be different for everyone. Some people do well locked away in their room, working without noise. Others actually prefer busy environments, such as coffee shops, as they find it makes them more productive. Find whatever works for you, and put it to use.
Make sure you have the right tools
You may not be in the office, but you’ll need the right tools in order to get the job done. Make sure you have a good PC or laptop to use, depending on whether you’re going to be on the move a lot. You’ll also need a headset or microphone, to allow you to take part in video conferencing. A smartphone is also essential for work, in order to keep up with what’s happening at work when you’re on the go.
Consider how you’ll stay online
This isn’t so much a problem if you’re going to be working from home, but if you’re traveling it can be. Not every country has reliable public wifi. Check ahead before you travel, and see what the situation is like. It may be that you do a lot of work in hotel rooms, coffee shops, or other places that offer WiFi. If you can’t access the internet this way, you’ll need to have a backup in place.
Tools
Now you have the know-how, you’ll need to get the tools to help you get going. Here are some of the best ones to start with:
– Boomerang: This tool is great if you’re working with people in different time zones. You can schedule your emails to go out at the right time, so they’re ready to receive them.
– Academized and Plagium: These tools will help you check any ordered content for plagiarism. This is important no matter where you order your content from.
– Dropbox: If you’re working remotely, you need a safe place to store all of your documents. Dropbox is the best place for them to be stored.
– Upwork and Ox Essays: These copywriting services are perfect if you’re looking for writers. Put out the job you need doing, and you’ll get the right writer for you.
– Skype: This tool is well known, and for good reason. It’s the best online calling and video conferencing software out there.
– Australian Help: If you’re creating content, you’ll need help getting it proofread. The writers at this service will check your writing before it goes live.
As you can see, you really don’t need to stay in one place to work. Use these technology tips to get the most out of your travels, and still keep your business running.
