Working remotely as a marketer<\/strong><\/h2>\nDespite the introverts of the world feeling relieved that they can work remotely, others are not as excited. The majority of social media managers, marketers, and PR consultants don\u2019t tend to work remotely. This situation looks like quite the challenge for creative folks who like to talk things out in person.<\/span><\/p>\nAccording to a study on <\/span>887 marketers in the UK<\/span><\/a>, 62% think that their organization is going to be negatively impacted because they have to work remotely. Unsurprisingly, 68% say that it will impact creative collaboration (an especially important component of marketing work). They are mostly worried about accessing data, coordinating campaigns, and whether their contractor management will be affected.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s more, we should remember that as social media managers and marketers, we spend most of our time online. It\u2019s unlikely that you will have to completely change your strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLuckily, there are measures that every agency or marketing team can take to improve their situation. We\u2019ll also go over some of the ways we\u2019re adapting our routines and tasks so that we can successfully collaborate.<\/span><\/p>\nSecure your internet connection<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore you head home with your work computer, it\u2019s crucial that you <\/span>make sure you have everything you need to successfully access your projects<\/b>. Those of us working in the EU know that data protection is a serious issue. This is exactly why you need to have access to a <\/span>VPN<\/span><\/a> that\u2019s handled by your company\u2019s IT department.<\/span><\/p>\nA virtual private network (VPN) enables<\/a>\u00a0you to connect to a private or public network in a safe manner. Using a VPN<\/a> will allow you to:<\/p>\n\n- Transfer and access sensitive data<\/span><\/li>\n
- Access applications and resources that are otherwise only available by connecting to your company\u2019s network at the office<\/span><\/li>\n
- Browse websites without your data and activity being tracked (identifying features, location, search history)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Setting up a VPN is straightforward. Once your IT department has installed the software, you just need to enter your login credentials and you\u2019re good to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDo you have all of <\/span>the necessary tools and apps for working remotely<\/span><\/a>? We\u2019ve prepared a list of tools that will help you coordinate better with your team.<\/span><\/p>\nDesignate a workspace<\/strong><\/h2>\nOnce you have all the right programs, you can create a comfortable workspace. It\u2019s not just about having a tidy desk, you need to consider the environment and conditions of how you work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nYou should keep a few things in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Get comfortable furniture<\/b>. You\u2019re going to be sitting in the same spot for several hours. It makes sense to invest in ergonomic chairs to support your spine.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Maintain good sleep hygiene<\/b> by working and sleeping in different rooms. For studio flats, just make sure there\u2019s enough space between your work and sleep environment.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Mimic your routine<\/b>. If you\u2019re used to getting a beverage before starting your tasks, then do it! Get out of your pajamas, and take those \u201cwater cooler\u201d breaks. Get up, walk around, maybe set up a quick call with your coworkers so you have the same rhythm.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Establish your work hours and boundaries<\/b>. If you\u2019re doing more work outside of your work hours, you\u2019re going to end up stressed. Remember, we\u2019re in the middle of a pandemic, and working from home =\/= working any time. Take the time you need to care for your mental and physical health. If you need to reach a coworker, empathize with their need for a clearer work-personal life boundary at this time.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Take breaks away from your screen. <\/b>Your back will start to hurt, and your eyes will become irritated from all that blue light.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Since we\u2019re not freelancers, we need to set up some general rules about the time we\u2019ll be available. <\/span>We recommend establishing a time slot where everyone in the company should be available. At Sotrender, our rule is that everyone should be reachable between roughly 10 am and 4 pm.<\/b> That allows us to communicate effectively with our coworkers who start work at 7 am as well as 9 am.<\/span><\/p>\nEven if you\u2019re not spending time commuting every day to work, you should still be mindful of other people\u2019s time. It\u2019ll help maintain the same productivity and respect that you\u2019d have in an office setting.<\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s one thing to get lunch or to take a break from your screen for a bit of time. Just give your team a heads up if you\u2019re going to be gone for a while. Some tasks are time-sensitive so keep that in mind.<\/span><\/p>\nSet up a schedule<\/strong><\/h2>\nOne of the best ways to visualize your plans for the month is to use a <\/span>content calendar<\/b>. It\u2019s useful when you are trying to plan posts, social media copy, email campaigns, or any other form of communication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, we\u2019re aware that money might be tight right now given the COVID-19 pandemic, so you might not have the resources to pay for a scheduling tool. Don\u2019t worry, you can actually make your own content calendar<\/a> for free. All you need is a Google Docs spreadsheet and some color-coding. Here\u2019s how we\u2019ve done it, it doesn\u2019t have to be anything fancy. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n
According to a study on <\/span>887 marketers in the UK<\/span><\/a>, 62% think that their organization is going to be negatively impacted because they have to work remotely. Unsurprisingly, 68% say that it will impact creative collaboration (an especially important component of marketing work). They are mostly worried about accessing data, coordinating campaigns, and whether their contractor management will be affected.<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s more, we should remember that as social media managers and marketers, we spend most of our time online. It\u2019s unlikely that you will have to completely change your strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Luckily, there are measures that every agency or marketing team can take to improve their situation. We\u2019ll also go over some of the ways we\u2019re adapting our routines and tasks so that we can successfully collaborate.<\/span><\/p>\n Before you head home with your work computer, it\u2019s crucial that you <\/span>make sure you have everything you need to successfully access your projects<\/b>. Those of us working in the EU know that data protection is a serious issue. This is exactly why you need to have access to a <\/span>VPN<\/span><\/a> that\u2019s handled by your company\u2019s IT department.<\/span><\/p>\n A virtual private network (VPN) enables<\/a>\u00a0you to connect to a private or public network in a safe manner. Using a VPN<\/a> will allow you to:<\/p>\n Setting up a VPN is straightforward. Once your IT department has installed the software, you just need to enter your login credentials and you\u2019re good to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you have all of <\/span>the necessary tools and apps for working remotely<\/span><\/a>? We\u2019ve prepared a list of tools that will help you coordinate better with your team.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have all the right programs, you can create a comfortable workspace. It\u2019s not just about having a tidy desk, you need to consider the environment and conditions of how you work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You should keep a few things in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n Since we\u2019re not freelancers, we need to set up some general rules about the time we\u2019ll be available. <\/span>We recommend establishing a time slot where everyone in the company should be available. At Sotrender, our rule is that everyone should be reachable between roughly 10 am and 4 pm.<\/b> That allows us to communicate effectively with our coworkers who start work at 7 am as well as 9 am.<\/span><\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not spending time commuting every day to work, you should still be mindful of other people\u2019s time. It\u2019ll help maintain the same productivity and respect that you\u2019d have in an office setting.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s one thing to get lunch or to take a break from your screen for a bit of time. Just give your team a heads up if you\u2019re going to be gone for a while. Some tasks are time-sensitive so keep that in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the best ways to visualize your plans for the month is to use a <\/span>content calendar<\/b>. It\u2019s useful when you are trying to plan posts, social media copy, email campaigns, or any other form of communication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, we\u2019re aware that money might be tight right now given the COVID-19 pandemic, so you might not have the resources to pay for a scheduling tool. Don\u2019t worry, you can actually make your own content calendar<\/a> for free. All you need is a Google Docs spreadsheet and some color-coding. Here\u2019s how we\u2019ve done it, it doesn\u2019t have to be anything fancy. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\nSecure your internet connection<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Designate a workspace<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Set up a schedule<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Social](\"https:\/\/www.sotrender.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/content-calendar-950x401.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Analyze](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/3842881\/b6595d5d-3532-471f-8e6a-e35d6f792d3e.png\")
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