According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, remote teams are becoming increasingly common in businesses across the globe. 43 percent of employees now work remotely at least some of the time. While remote teams offer several advantages over traditional office-based setups, they also come with their unique challenges. How can you successfully manage a remote sales team and ensure that they are productive and successful?
What is a remote sales team?
A remote sales team is a group of sales professionals that work remotely, or from a distance. This can be done through telecommuting, or working from home. The team can be located in different parts of the country, or even in different parts of the world.
A company may have a remote sales team if it does not have a physical office space or if its office is located in a different city, state, or country than the potential customers it is targeting.
A few advantages of a remote sales team include:
- No need for an office space
- Can target customers in other parts of the country or world
- Less expensive than hiring in-person sales representatives
- Can work from home, which may be more comfortable and productive
The benefits of a remote sales team
A remote sales team can offer several benefits to a company. By allowing sales representatives to work from home, a company can save on the cost of office space and equipment. Additionally, employees who work from home are often more productive, due to the lack of distractions in an office setting.
A remote sales team can also be beneficial in terms of recruiting top talent. Sales professionals are often more willing to relocate for a job if they can work from home. Additionally, companies can find talented sales professionals who are not located near their offices.
- Hire the best people from anywhere in the country or world.
- Save money on office space and equipment.
- Your team will be more productive because they will be able to work from home – save on commuting time and expenses
- A larger pool of potential candidates to choose from.
- Your team will be more diverse, which will help you better understand your customers.
How to successfully manage a remote team?
The rise of the internet and technology has allowed for the growth of remote teams. With the right tools in place, a remote sales team can be just as successful as a traditional sales team. Here are a few tips on how to successfully manage a remote sales team:
- Set clear expectations and goals for your team.
- Make sure all members of your team are properly trained and equipped with the necessary tools to do their job.
- Create a system for tracking and reporting sales progress.
- Regularly communicate with your team members and provide feedback.
- Celebrate successes and offer encouragement during times of difficulty.
Make sure you have a system in place for communicating with your team, whether it’s through daily check-ins, a weekly meeting, or a messaging app. Set clear expectations for your team members and set goals that are achievable and measurable.
Another key to managing a remote sales team is fostering a sense of community. This can be done through team-building activities, such as video chats or group tasks, or assigning team members to work together on a project.
Creating a sense of community can also help when it comes to setting expectations and goals. When everyone is on the same page, it’s easier to hold team members accountable and achieve measurable results.
Establish specific milestones that need to be achieved for team members to receive a bonus or other type of reward. This ensures that everyone is constantly aiming to improve their performance.
Tips for hiring and training a remote team
There are a few key things to keep in mind when hiring and training a sales team that will work remotely.
The most important thing is to make sure the team is self-sufficient. They should be able to research their leads, make their own sales calls, and close their deals without needing a lot of hand-holding.
Another important thing to keep in mind is cultural fit. Make sure the team is culturally aligned with your company values and goals.
And finally, be sure to invest in good training and development programs. Remote sales teams can be very successful if given the right tools and resources.
Take the time to set up the team correctly so that they can be successful.
When you’re hiring remote teams, it’s important to make sure that you have the proper tools in place to help manage and monitor their work. Here is a checklist of items to consider when building your remote team:
Communication tools:
Make sure you have a platform in place for communication, such as video conferencing or chat software. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and can easily communicate with one another.
Tracking tools:
Use a tool to track the progress of your team’s work, such as a project management tool or an invoicing system. This will help you stay organized and ensure that everyone is on track.
Guidelines and policies:
Make sure you have guidelines and policies in place for your remote team, such as how to communicate with one another, how to handle deadlines, and what tools to use. This will help everyone stay on track and be productive.
Tips for maintaining productivity
Sales teams have been traditionally composed of employees who are in the same physical space. However, with advances in technology, more and more sales teams are becoming remote. This can be a challenge, as managing and motivating a remote sales team can be difficult.
There are a few tips that can help managers maintain productivity among their remote sales team. First, make sure that everyone is aware of the goals of the team and their individual goals. Next, create a system for tracking progress and hold team members accountable. Finally, establish a regular communication schedule and use video conferencing whenever possible.
There should be no lapse in communicating goals, progress and feedback. This is something that should be done to ensure success and productivity for remote employees. Without proper communication, it can be difficult for remote employees to stay on track and understand what is expected of them.
Remote employees should always be kept in the loop so that they don’t feel like they are being ignored or forgotten about. By communicating goals, progress and feedback regularly, you can help ensure that your remote employees stay productive and successful.
The importance of creating a strong company culture for a remote sales team
Strong company culture is key for a remote sales team. When everyone is working remotely, it can be difficult to create a sense of community and teamwork. However, if you put in the effort to create a positive company culture, your team will be more productive and happier.
Some ways to create a strong company culture for a remote sales team include: having regular virtual team meetings, setting goals and milestones together, and sharing fun facts about each team member. By fostering strong company culture, you will make your remote sales team feel like part of a team, and they will be more productive and happier.
The pros of remote sales teams outnumber the few cons. Navigate the remote working expectations of your team to gear for growth in the new work environment.
Summary
1. When remote salespeople are productive, the whole company benefits.
If your remote sales team is productive, it can mean big things for the entire company. For example, a study from Stanford University found that “working from home” boosts productivity by 13%. This is because remote workers have fewer distractions and can focus better on their work. They also don’t have to waste time commuting to and from work, which allows them to get more done each day.
2. A remote sales team gives your company a global reach.
With a remote sales team, you can reach potential customers all over the globe. You don’t have to worry about geography or opening up new offices in other countries – your remote sales team can do that for you. This also allows you to tap into new markets and expand your customer base.
3. Remote sales teams are more cost-effective.
Another advantage of having a remote team for sales is that they are more cost-effective. You don’t have to worry about paying for office space or compensating your sales staff for travel expenses. Your sales staff can work from their home offices, which saves you money.
4. Remote sales teams are flexible.
Remote teams for sales are also more flexible than traditional sales teams. This is because they can work from anywhere in the world, which gives them the ability to adapt to changing circumstances quickly. If a potential customer is located in a different time zone, your remote sales team can still work with them easily.
Keep your sales team organized and on track by following these tips. If you found this article helpful, please like, share and subscribe now. Thank you.
