A new era has emerged for workers: hybrid or remote work.
Some found working from home challenging, while others excelled in their newly acquired quiet workspace. But with a prolonged duration of remote work, we have come to understand how this may be an advantageous affair for everyone involved.
Perhaps you’re interested in exploring a remote work opportunity for yourself and the varied advantages that come with it. Or maybe you are still working in the field and curious if the grass is indeed greener on the other side. Either way, here is the list of benefits of working from home.
Employee Retention
Companies are noticing an increase in worker retention simply from having happier employees.
54% of workers are seeking higher work location flexibility to the point of switching jobs. Thus, businesses offering a remote work possibility are noticing a 12% turnover reduction.
Remote Worker Performance
Companies are striving to cultivate a hands-off approach to employee operations—and it’s paying off! With more autonomy, employees are starting to produce higher quality work with 40% fewer errors and defects.
Company Profitability
Companies are starting to see an incredible profit in allowing workers to choose their own location. From rent, snacks, and water to every other type of office amenity that was being offered to employees, a complete nix of the services earned the businesses a 21% higher profitability.
Indeed, organizations are saving an average of $11 000 per year per remote worker.
Employee Productivity
Remote workers are claiming a higher focus on their work since being allowed to choose their location of operations. In fact, studies have shown an average of 35 – 40% increase in productivity compared to their office-bound counterparts.
Telecommuter Engagement
When employees are allowed to work from home, they believe they can work through the smaller reasons that would render them absent in a commuting scenario. From taking mental health days or caring for a sick child, remote workers can work through them, displaying 41% lower absenteeism.
Employees are hailing a better work-life balance foregoing daily commuting, and some have even chosen to pick up their bags and move to a smaller city to bring down their monthly expenditures. Meanwhile, employers have worked out strategies with the help of technology to keep everyone on track and on the same page with work.
And with the prolonged duration the pandemic took, everyone has gotten comfortable in this new setting and is beginning to see plentiful pros over the pitiful cons.
Suffice it to say remote work is not going anywhere, and it is increasingly becoming a status quo for many industries worldwide.
Did you find this post useful? Let us know in the comments below.By now, you've heard it more than once. Great copy creates extraordinary business opportunities.
But what exactly is a copywriter?
What skills do they have? And how can you become one? Is it worth it?
What does beautifully written copy do for a business?
You know you want an unbeatable copy at the forefront of your business, and you know you're ready to dig your heels in and learn what it takes to reach your goals. You're just not sure where to start.
We've solved this for you. Read on to learn the real secrets of cutting-edge copywriting.
What Is a Copywriter
A copywriter is a marketing mover and shaker that dedicates their time to many different written projects.
Some of these include:
•Writing blogs
•Crafting sales emails
•Composing social media posts
•Writing white papers
•Writing digital copy for website landing pages
•Creating unique press releases
•Conveying important information from case studies
•Writing ads that will appear in video, radio, print, or digital space
•And more!
While the above list is not exhaustive by any means, there is one thing you can be sure of.
If it's a customer-facing text from a business or non-profit organization, you can be sure a brilliant copywriter is behind its composition.
What Do Copywriters Do Exactly? Is There More Than One Type?
While compelling copywriters come in all shapes and sizes, with backgrounds as unique and diverse as each individual, there is one thing they all share in common.
An innate drive to understand their respective audiences and to create text that profoundly resonates with one or more groups of people.
Generally, there are two different ways to approach a career in copywriting:
Freelance Copywriter
As a freelancer, you'll get the opportunity to take life by the horns and set your own schedule.
With that said, there are many responsibilities you'll need to be able to learn how to master, including being able to find, pitch, invoice, and foster good relations with clients on your own accord.
In this role, you'll need the multi-tasking and time management skills of a Jedi, but if you take a good look around, you'll see there are many people out there who are doing this quite successfully.
In-House Copywriter
An in-house copywriter foregoes the above requirement of wearing so many hats, but that doesn't mean they get off the hook easily. In-house content writers are still required to retain their versatility, lending their talents to any project that requires a clever composition.
How to Become the Best Copywriter
As the core of any successful content marketing strategy, copywriters are an incredible force that can significantly drive the success of any business.
You'll need to master the following to become the best of the best at your trade:
•Identifying your target audience
•Understanding your target market's defining characteristics
•Identify the issues your target market faces and how they feel
•Capturing and keeping the attention of your readers
•Communicating the benefits of a service or specific product or group of products
•Meeting the reader where they are
•Convincing the reader to take the next step
The Skills You Will Need to Write Compelling Copy
If you're ready to try your hand at copywriting but are unsure where to dive in, this article is for you.
Use the following copywriting tips to help break into the industry, even if you've never had the opportunity to write or test any marketing material before.
•Take a copywriting course or pursue further education in the field of marketing, advertising, communications, or public relations
•Start locally. Take on small jobs from local businesses that are easy to work and communicate with
•Grow your portfolio with several different copywriting projects you can use to showcase your talents across different mediums
•Study search engine optimization (SEO) and search trends. Develop your skills to ensure your work is well-optimized, so it gets in front of the most eyes
SEO enables exceptional content to take the highest rankings in search engine results. And you know what they say—no one ever really looks past the first page of Google.
Just keep in mind that while well-placed SEO can help you boost traffic, it's not always going to generate the sparkling results you expect if it's not backed up by solid, persuasive copy.
5 Copywriting Secrets Revealed
Earlier, we promised to reveal the best copywriters' secrets to cultivate compelling copy.
Now it's time to deliver.
While it's not exactly rocket science, it can be easy to be led astray by the sheer volume of information that exists on the subject.
Here, we've broken it down into the following 5 fundamentals:
Be conversational. In many cases, it's possible and better to use a conversational tone, so the reader knows there's an actual human behind the brand
Get rid of bad habits. If you recycle a phrase because it's convenient, learn to ban it from your vernacular and dig deep for something better
Keep it simple. A simple sentence is more of a challenge to craft than a fluffy one stuffed with unnecessary words. Cut the fat to craft the best message.
Understand when to speak to features and when to speak to benefits. If you're selling the lifestyle, don't sell yourself short by just focusing on selling a watch.
Be genuine in your approach to selling. Avoid using shock tactics to draw attention.
Conclusion: Copywriting Is In-Demand and Is a Highly Transferable Career Choice
Investing in the knowledge you need to become an influential writer makes sense. Whether you're considering a career in copywriting or your goal is to learn new skills to apply to your current business model, striving to be an efficient communicator will help you get to the next level.
Did this article help you gain the information and confidence you need to make the most informed choices? Perhaps you've taken the initiative to implement some of our tips into your repertoire. We'd like to know the results. Please take a moment to fill us in on the details by leaving a few lines in our comments section below. For the many who argued remote work would be the death of communication, collaboration, and teamwork, the 2020s have been a humbling experience.
Companies have had to get resourceful, sure. But the truth is, remote work has granted enormous opportunities for teams to work seamlessly across the world. Hiccups happen. But they don't have to.
As a remote-by-design company, LinkNow has prioritized effective communication channels to help our workforce can operate at peak productivity. Here are 5 ways we've ensured ample communication, even when working remote.
1. Make Time to Hang Out
Meetings don't need to be mundane and dry. In fact, employees are more likely to engage with their colleagues during laidback and casual meetings. We recommend scheduling weekly virtual hangout sessions to open the floor for the employees to discuss their work week, ask questions, and discuss their plans for outside work. This is also an excellent strategy to remind your employees they are part of a team and that their contributions matter.
2. Schedule Virtual 1-on-1 Meetings
Having 1-on-1 meetings with staff is integral for their growth, but when they work remotely, it can be a bit of a challenge. Rather than only communicating via chat or email, we recommend you schedule periodic virtual meetings with your remote workers, cameras and microphones on. Doing this will improve employee/manager relations and promote a much more convivial environment, allowing all parties to clear up issues or concerns and set expectations.
3. Incorporate "Social" Events into The Calendar
It's easy for remote workers to feel isolated and as though they are not part of a work team; it's an expected consequence of working remotely. You can help your employees feel integrated with their team by scheduling social events. Here are a few examples that are sure to be hit with your remote workers:
• Virtual movie nights
• Virtual coffee dates - the point of this is to encourage your staff to take a load off, relax, and engage with their teammates by talking about anything that is not work-related.
• Virtual book club
• Virtual contests and games
These are all common team-building activities that promote communication and collaboration on a deeper level.
4. Promote Project Teamwork
While most work is best completed individually, there are significant benefits to creating micro-teams to overlook bigger tasks or projects. Consider pairing your employees up to encourage internal team communication and group problem-solving. Rotate the teams every now and again to give your employees a chance to build a relationship with everyone, rather than a few. You could also consider this a learning tool since employees learn best off each other.
5. Encourage Daily Greetings
One of the biggest drawbacks to remote work is the lack of social communication, and there is not much an employer can do regarding physical interaction. However, encouraging daily small talk among the team is an excellent way to battle this drawback. Encourage everyone to check in every morning with a simple "hello." Promote small talk throughout the day via your company's messaging tool. Not only does this promote constant communication, but it also keeps employees drawn in and feeling like they're part of a team.
When you combine a bit of creativity and a reliable internet connection, improving and achieving optimal communication will never be an issue.
Did you find this useful? Got a tip of your own to share? Let us know in the comments section below. And if you're looking to join a remote workforce, LinkNow is always on the lookout for new talent. Check out our Jobs board to see what positions we're currently looking to fill! Is copywriting still a lucrative career path in 2022?
Is it worth learning the skills needed to produce visionary copy?
The answers to both questions is a resounding yes.
While the world seemed to be heading toward more and more online business interactions before the COVID-19 pandemic, it's safe to say this single event was the catalyst that caused many companies to shift toward establishing a much more significant online presence. And with the need for a more robust online presence, there comes a need for extraordinary copywriters to create it.
Let's take a look at 5 of the most important skills an exceptional copywriter needs to build a successful career.
1. The Ability to Easily Embody a Conversational Tone
We'll cut the fat and give it to you straight:
People don't really respond well to a hard, pushy salesperson. We're just not wired that way.
Why should you expect those who are browsing from the comfort of their own spaces to want to deal with the aggressive-sales-pitch-style language that's associated with a hard sell?
If you can master using a conversational tone to build trust, you can speak to your target audience's hearts, passions, and feelings.
When you do this, you're encouraging them to let their guard down a little. You're encouraging them to trust you. Magical things can happen when a person feels like there are real people behind a brand, and when online interactions feel thoughtful and insightful.
A conversational tone is a perfect tool to establish this precedent. Be sure to keep this in mind before you leap into writing your next piece.
2. An Eagerness to Learn and Apply Cutting-Edge SEO Techniques
SEO (search engine optimization) is here to stay.
What does that mean?
Suppose you want your content to rank on top of the search engine results pages in Google and other popular search engines. In that case, you'll need to master a style of content creation that makes it easier for users to find precisely what they're looking for.
SEO focuses on helping search engines like Google understand the context of each page of content you produce. By choosing specific keywords and integrating them properly, you can significantly increase your page rank.
The best part about SEO is that it's not complicated. It's more or less about selecting keywords you think searchers are most likely to enter into a search tab when seeking information about a specific product or service.
Benchmarking keywords and mining a robust list of related keywords is only one part of SEO. The real magic happens when you learn to integrate them into fresh and relevant content seamlessly.
Trust us. It pays to familiarize yourself with the latest techniques. You won't want to miss out on using these simple strategies to elevate your brand and increase online visibility.
3. Free-Flowing Creative Juices
If you're a natural at getting the creative juices pumping, you might find this part easy.
It will take a bit more elbow grease for the rest of us to come up with inspiring content ideas that other people can genuinely relate to.
Your unlimited creativity will be a critical component in revitalizing and conveying stale or aging copy, presenting the same core ideas from a fresh perspective.
It's what will give you the ability to transform boring sales copy into cutting-edge content that paints a picture for and makes a connection to the reader.
How are your storytelling skills? If the answer is not so great, it will pay to brush up on storytelling techniques that establish a solid connection with your intended audience.
4. An Abundance of Empathy
An abundance of empathy is never bad when you have your heart set on success as a copywriter.
You'll use this superpower to put yourself in the position of your target audience.
When you understand where they are coming from, what questions and pain points they are struggling with, and how to meet them where they are, you gain the ability to write from the heart.
Establishing a heart-to-heart connection is the best way to reach an audience in any demographic— no matter what information you're attempting to deliver.
5. A Curious Mind that Relishes Research
Curious copywriters know how to roll their sleeves up and dig deep to uncover as much information as possible.
When you take a deep dive into a subject, you can unearth many compelling facts and different information that will give your article more authority and authenticity.
Don't be afraid to spend a little extra time familiarizing yourself with any given topic. You never know just what type of gold you will find that you will then be able to incorporate into your copy.
The more you know about a particular topic, the more authority you bring to the table on the subject.
Be sure to stay curious so that you can always be equipped with new facts and the latest information, but don't get bogged down by spending too much time researching when you should be writing.
We recommend setting a time limit and sticking to it.
As the copywriting industry grows to match the voracious need for quality online content, savvy writers should focus on building up experience and knowledge to create a toolbox that will help you deliver unbeatable quality and substance in every piece of text you write.
We've given you 5 of our most prized copywriting tools to help you build a solid foundation.
If you can master these, personalize them, and add a few of your own, you will be headed toward a satisfying and prosperous future.
Did these tips inspire you to explore different avenues to becoming a copywriting all-star? We want to know which skills you use to make you stand out from the rest.
Share your thoughts with us by dropping a few lines in the comments.
Looking to carve out a career in the world of digital marketing? LinkNow's always seeking fresh talent to join its fully remote team, be it in sales, data analytics, or copywriting. Head on over to our Jobsboard to see what positions we currently have available!
Being a salesperson's not an easy job, but here at LinkNow, we're honoured to have many talented ones on our team.
There's no blueprint for what makes a good salesperson. But we've noticed that top performers tend to share several characteristics.
In this post, let's examine some of these traits that contribute to the success of our salespeople—and how you can incorporate them to become a stellar salesperson yourself.
Here are 5 habits successful salespeople have at LinkNow.
1. Understand Your Product
When prospective customers ask you questions—and they will ask questions—you want to be able to answer them quickly and confidently. Being able to provide accurate information without delay will demonstrate that you are a knowledgeable sales agent and will make your clients more likely to trust you.
At LinkNow, we recognize many of our clients are unfamiliar with web design and digital marketing, which is why our salespeople must be able to explain things in detail to help our customers understand the value of our services.
Listen to Your Prospects' Needs
If you're too focused on completing a sale, it can be easy to ignore the needs of your prospect. Being able to actively listen to the concerns of your potential customers and then address them directly will help build rapport and instill confidence in your company.
It's also a good idea to understand the qualities of an ideal customer. Not everybody is going to need the products or services you're selling, so developing buyer personas for your clients will help you narrow your focus.
Work Hard and Follow Up
Being in sales is often a numbers game. Taking too long between calls or giving up too early may not seem like a significant loss of productivity time, but this is often what separates good salespeople from exceptional ones. If you utilize your time wisely and never let a potential sale slip through your fingers, your revenue is bound to reflect it.
Don’t Fret Rejection
Even the most successful salespeople have to deal with rejection on a regular basis, but being able to roll with the punches is an important part of the job. Treat every failed sale as a learning opportunity by reflecting on why it didn’t go through and how you could approach the situation differently next time.
Learn From Victories
The best salespeople are able to develop effective, repeatable sales tactics. If a particular sales strategy worked on one of your customers, then there is a good chance it will also work in the future. You don’t have to always fall back on the same formula, but understanding what separates a successful sale from a failed one will help you grow as a salesperson.
Becoming a top-performing salesperson doesn't happen overnight, but keeping these strategies in mind can help increase your chances of success. Dedication always pays off and rarely goes unnoticed, so keep working hard and your sales will reflect it.
Looking to grow your skills as a successful salesperson? LinkNow's always on the lookout for new talent. To join our fully remote WFH sales team, head over to our Jobs page to send your application today!
Are you thinking about upping your game and becoming an expert in search engine optimization (SEO)?
If you wonder if it’s a good career move in 2022, the answer is an emphatic YES!
SEO is a thriving career option for individuals who like to stay at the edge of the learning curve and continuously make tweaks and modifications to improve their techniques.
If you're faint or heart of wary of change, SEO may not be for you. But if you thrive in a go-getter atmosphere and live on problem-solving, it can be one of the most rewarding—and lucrative—careers out there.
Read on to learn more about the SEO industry, its trajectory, and how you can build a career in a growing field.
SEO Defined
As we mentioned above, SEO stands for search engine optimization, but what does that mean?
SEO is a marketing strategy that is designed to optimize your digital content so that Google can recognize it and include it on the first page of its search engine results page (SERP).
While SEO can be employed for any search engine, since Google is the largest, most SEOs focus their talents on understanding what Google looks for when crawling and ranking content.
Don’t be fooled, though: There’s an increasing appetite for SEOs familiar with optimization strategies for other platforms, including YouTube, Bing, and Amazon search. SEO is a growing industry, branching into new corners of the Internet year after year. Bottom line: There's no better time to buckle in and get in on the SEO field.
What Does the SEO Industry Look Like Today?
The SEO industry is steadily growing and thriving in response to today’s digital climate, where visibility in search engines is crucial in achieving the level of website traffic you desire.
If you are curious to know what type of work is out there for someone just starting, it’s essential to remember that this type of work doesn’t come with a glamorous entry-level salary (though it is above our nation’s median average). However, once you’ve mastered the skills of the craft, the sky is pretty much the limit since it’s ultimately up to you to decide how much work you’re willing to take on.
If you want to play it safe, honing your skills by working at a digital marketing agency in the beginning is a great way to practice and learn what you need to know to make your content stand out from the rest.
Once you develop the talent and confidence to branch out and take on clients of your own, you can significantly increase your revenue stream by working with small businesses to improve their online presence.
The final way to monetize your skills is to begin building your own websites, then using your abilities to maximize organic traffic.
Tip: The truth of the matter is that SEOs who move their skills forward toward building a solid base of new clients and creating their own websites are the people who earn the most.
SEO Strategy Checklist
Let’s take a minute to explore the ingredients that still reign true for a winning optimization strategy:
• Focus on mining keywords that make the most sense for your products and services
• Highlight what makes your offerings unique
• Resist the temptation to cram too many keywords into any body of text
• Keep building quality backlinks
• Focus on regularly publishing top-quality, information-rich content which answers key questions about your industry, product, or service
• Make your mark on social media
• Ensure your site is user friendly across all devices
• Benchmark results so you know what’s working and what’s not
Of course, these areas are just a few of the key ingredients to mastering the art of SEO. Over time you will pick up various tricks and tips that make what you bring to the table unique.
The Future of SEO
The future of SEO is bright and still holds a lot of promise for aspiring writers looking to take on an exciting career in digital marketing.
We’re predicting the following trends to play a role in shaping the future of search engine optimization:
• Artificial intelligence will take on a more significant role in determining the context of any given page of content
• Voice search is changing the way people use search engines
• Providing mobile-friendly options will play a more prominent role in ranking
• Useful, quality content will remain the golden standard
• Long-form content will see its day in the sun
• Optimizing video content will become necessary to obtain a higher page rank
Don’t just take our word for it. A quick search will give you all the information you need to be able to spot these upcoming SEO trends for yourself.
If you’re serious about selecting a career as an SEO, you’re probably conducting this search and gathering information in another browser window right now.
That’s the attitude that will carry you forward into the success you desire.
Stick with it.
Is SEO the Right Career for You?
We want to hear from you.
Building a career in the SEO industry is both challenging and rewarding. Like anything in life, it all comes down to what you make of it and how much you’re willing to learn.
Luckily, there is no shortage of businesses that can benefit from a well-optimized digital presence.
Once you master the basics, there’s virtually no limit to what you can achieve.
Did this article clarify your questions on how SEO fits into the larger picture and if it would be the right fit for you? Is there anything that’s giving you hesitation?
We’d like to know your thoughts, so drop a few lines in the comments below.
As working from home has increased in popularity over the past few years, more and more people are making the shift to remote work for the first time in their lives.
And that shift can be big.
If you are starting a new remote job, then this post is for you. Here are 8 strategies that will help you adapt to working from home and get off to a strong start with your new employer.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Just like with traditional working environments, it is perfectly normal to have questions when starting a remote job. Whether you are starting fresh or a seasoned employee, you should never hesitate to ask questions if you are unsure about a certain aspect of your job.
2. Prepare Yourself for Introductory Meetings
Getting acquainted with your new team members is an important part of the onboarding process. It doesn’t hurt to take a bit of time to collect your thoughts and think about how you want to represent yourself to your new colleagues.
3. Familiarize Yourself with New Technology
If you have never worked a remote job before, then you’ll most likely be confronted with many new types of software and technology. Even if you are comfortable with computers and various programs, it is a good idea to take some time to explore your new tools and ensure that you are using them correctly.
4. Clock in on Time
Just like in a physical office, punctuality is essential. Without the need to account for traffic and transit time, you should be able to develop a schedule that has you at your desk and ready to work on time. Punctuality will show your employer that you are reliable, so try not to develop a habit of tardiness.
5. Create a Focused Workspace
Staying on task is key for any job. Most employers understand this and work hard to create organized office environments without too many distractions. Your home office should be the same. Don’t underestimate the importance of creating a positive, productive workspace that helps you stay on task and engaged.
6. Don’t Overwork Yourself
When working from home, it can be more difficult to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Try to only think about your work tasks when you are on the clock so that you can avoid burning yourself out in the long term. If possible, dedicate a room or area of your home to your work-related things, so you can have a healthy divide between work and play.
7. Learn Your Company’s Values
Any organization that you work for is guaranteed to have a unique company culture, and working from home does not eliminate this. Although it may take some time before you truly understand the values of your new employer, it is also smart to read up on company documents to get a feel for what is important in the workplace.
8. Set Goals
Once you understand your key responsibilities and what is expected of you, it is a good idea to set attainable goals. Doing this will allow you to measure your progress in your new workplace and motivate yourself to do better.
Looking for a Great Work-from-Home Opportunity?
LinkNow's Hiring!
LinkNow is always on the lookout for fresh, dynamic talent to join its work-from-home team. As a fully remote digital marketing company, we offer an opportunity for just about any professional—from content writers to salespeople—to thrive in their niche.Visit our Jobs board to see what jobs are currently available!
Meetings are tricky.
Sometimes it can be hard to get everyone on the same page. Other times, people involved don’t have too much to say, no matter how much work has been done since the last meeting. Either way, it feels like a waste of everyone's time when nothing but some navel-gazing gets done.
It's time to lay those wasted team meetings to rest. In this post, you'll learn how to have a productive meeting that gets problems solved and people on the same page.
Read on to learn what to avoid, what to encourage, and how to ensure your meetings go off without a hitch.
The Number One Thing to Avoid
Avoid last-minute planning.
If you are organizing the conference, make sure to have a few talking points to hit throughout and guide the conversation past those signposts.
Having conversational goals is always helpful for a meeting.
If it’s been a slow work week, the meeting can still feel productive. As a meeting organizer, you should have an agenda of what the points you want to discuss. Avoid prolonged silence, unless it serves a purpose (such as independent time to think about a problem).
How to Get the Meeting on Track
If the meeting has strayed a little, fear not!
Asking your teammates how they are making progress on tasks enhances cohesion between teammates.
Ask everyone how work was, what things went well that week, which items didn’t, and ask around to see if anyone found solutions to their problems.
When teammates put their heads together, their thinking will ratchet upward instead of competing downward.
Ultimately, sharing information is always a positive force in the work environment. Definitely during lulls in the workload, but especially during busier times.
The Best-Kept Secrets to a Successful Problem-Solving Meeting
Ensure Task Clarity
Once everyone is focused on their performance of last week’s work, it’s time to focus on the task at hand.
As the meeting organizer, it is your responsibility to make the information clear, especially the specifics of the tasks that need to get done.
Make it clear what needs to be done and allot the appropriate amount of time to each teammate to get the tasks done.
Help Everyone Understand Their Roles
If you give out the orders for the week and are met with glazed-over eyes of misunderstanding, it’s time to explain each person’s roles.
This part is less about the task and more about how it gets done. Even though your team members should understand their job well, there should be no mystery in the job at hand. Explaining how to do it will help everyone understand their roles until the next meet-up.
Keeping Track of Progress
The final ingredient to this process is making it easy to keep track of progress. Implementing a regimen of progress tracking holds your teammates accountable. If everyone on the team can see where everyone else is, it is a motivational factor that ensures a consistent and predictable work output.
The Takeaway for a Productive Team Meeting
Productive problem-solving meetings can only occur when communication is prioritized.
First, communicate the goals for the week, then discuss the progress from last week with individual teammates. Allow teammates to share progress or hiccups they’ve encountered with their projects, discuss the goals for the week ahead and how to achieve them, then track the progress throughout the week.
If you follow these steps, all your future meetings will be as productive and problem-solving as they can be, and all your teammates will know exactly where they stand with their work.Working from home in these pandemic times has been a challenging experience, to say the least.
If you've just scored a new job in a remote position, first off: congratulations! But now that your first day on the job is swiftly approaching, how should you prepare for your first day at the "office"?
In this blog post, you'll learn a few techniques to prepare for success and get the hang of the WFH workflow.
Prepare for a Different Kind of Orientation
Since you can’t strut into the office on day one and dazzle everyone with your lovely personality, you'll have to find other ways to introduce yourself in a virtual setting.
You can expect your supervisor to take you under their wing for the day, where they will show you the ropes and probably give you a few reference documents to save in your bookmarks toolbar.
From there, it will only be a matter of time until the first video call with your team, where you’ll meet everyone and get to introduce yourself.
Understand What Your Responsibilities Are
At first, there will be some leeway in terms of your productivity, but soon enough, you will be expected to reach the same level of productivity your experienced co-workers do every day.
This is where you should constantly review the reference documents they sent you initially.
Make sure to look them over until you know your requirements like the back of your hand. This will be the key to your early success in your new position.
When in Doubt, Ask More Questions
Working from home can be isolating. That means it can be easy to withdraw into yourself and not reach out when you need help, but you will need to fight your introvert urges.
Contrary to what the devil on your shoulder is saying, nobody will be annoyed by your asking questions. Everyone on your new team has a stake in your success because the success of your department depends on quality work. If the only thing in your doing better work is asking a question – fire away!
Stay Neutral
At first, it is important to stay as neutral and professional as possible. Since you won’t be able to have lunch with everyone on your first day where you’d impress them all with your golden wit, you’ll have to do it instead slowly.
It may take a while, sometimes as long as a few months, to get in the groove, so don’t worry – it’s normal.
Eventually, you will get to know where you stand with your team, and once you do, you’ll be all settled in.
Learn How Your Team Communicates
Understanding how to use the main communication avenues your team uses is important. This is critical for work purposes and getting to know your team.
Don’t be afraid to engage with conversations that are happening. Remember, you are part of the team now! If you plan on staying a while, you’ll have to get into the mix.
Set Your Space Up for Success
Finally, make sure your at-home workstation is comfortable and efficient for the job at hand.
As we all know by now, a clean work-from-home space is essential for success. When your room is clean, there are fewer distractions, and you can focus on the tasks you need to complete.
By following this simple guide, you should integrate into your new remote position without issue. Just remember, when working from home, communication is key. Don’t shut yourself by not asking questions - reach out for help, and you’ll make the process a whole lot easier for yourself.
Looking for a Great Work-from-Home Opportunity?
LinkNow's Hiring!
LinkNow is always on the lookout for fresh, dynamic talent to join its work-from-home team. As a fully remote digital marketing company, we offer an opportunity for just about any professional—from content writers to salespeople—to thrive in their niche.
Visit our Jobs board to see what jobs are currently available!While some people tend to have a natural knack for selling goods, there is no exact method to the madness. You don’t have to be naturally outgoing to be a good salesperson, and even if you’re super savvy, your sales skills can falter as your industry and customers evolve.
So, whether your sales skills are feeling stale or if you’re new to the job, here are 7 helpful tips that will help you turn on the salesperson charm.
1. Understand Your Field
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of selling a good or service is understanding the product and why people want it.
If you’re trying to sell a high-end road bike but have never ridden one yourself, your knowledge of weight, speed, and design will be nil, and prospective clients will be able to tell.
Nobody will buy anything from you if you don’t know what you’re talking about, so even if you don’t want to go cycling, reading up on the topic to gain some talking points is a good idea.
2. Confidence Is Key
People often think that only naturally confident and outgoing people can succeed in sales, but that’s simply not true. Plenty of shy individuals can train themselves to become sales experts by understanding what works and what doesn’t.
By gaining knowledge of your industry and your clientele, your confidence will grow, and the confidence that your customers have in you will grow too.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Some skills come more naturally than others. If you are great at selling in person but not over the phone, push yourself out of your comfort zone and aim to sell on the phone more often.
The only way to learn a skill or improve your existing skills is to practice and let go of the fear of failing.
4. Pay Attention to What Works
What did you do when your last sale went well? What about the last time it didn’t work out?
Keeping track of your hits and misses will help you determine what works with your clientele. Pay attention and notice how your customers react to different tactics to tell where you’re succeeding and where you’re falling short.
5. Shake Things Up
If your techniques feel stagnant – it’s probably because they are. The world of sales is ever-changing, and if you’ve been using the same methods for the past five or ten years, you’ll need some fresh material.
Try out a new approach or ask your successful colleagues for tips and tricks. Stagnation and arrogance won’t get you anywhere in this business, but curiosity and willingness to learn will.
6. Take a Course
The internet is full of excellent resources, and if you need a sales refresher, why not take a course? There are plenty of opportunities out there and seeking them out and dedicating some time to these resources can go a long way in increasing your sale success stories.
7. Listen to Your Customers
When in doubt, pay close attention to your customer base. Understand who they are, what they’re looking for and what makes them tick. While no two clients are the same, there will be more similarities than differences, and you’ll pick up on patterns quickly.
When it comes to sales, learning and doing is the name of the game. You can’t just sit back and hope your skills improve, you have to create your solutions, and with these tips, you can!
Looking to Succeed in a Thriving Sales Environment?
Look No Further than LinkNow!
At LinkNow, our success isn't measured in dollars, but rather in how happy our sales team is. They're the beating heart of our whole operation—and we're always looking for new members to join them!
If you're looking for a sales job where you can work from the comfort of your home, check out our Jobs board to see what positions we have available.