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Three remote workers tell about the nature of the industry
If you haven’t worked with an online service provider yet, you may be part of the minority. As our world shrinks, it becomes easier to work with professionals from around the world. And much of that work takes place online. What unique considerations do you have to keep in mind when working with people online?
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Note: this post contains affiliate links, which means if you decide to buy something through one of the links, I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you. So…thanks!
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My last blog post, Are there advantages to contracting with online workers? was all about some of the benefits and challenges to be aware of when working with service providers online. I spoke about my own experiences with virtual assistant clients as well as the experiences of a YouTuber and a content writer. Check out the article here.
This blog post includes interviews with three more people who work in the online world. I’ve learned a lot through the process of interviewing these people who work in diverse industries. Whether they sell products or provide services, or both, they have some unique experiences which contribute to the conversation. Their interviews are below.
At the end of this article, you can look forward to a list of some of the major considerations my interviewees mention in order to hire or work online.
Jessie, travel blogger and content creator
Jessie Festa is a full-time travel blogger based in New York. I first met her as my instructor in a course called Travel Blog Prosperity. Although I don’t have a travel blog, her wealth of knowledge has been invaluable to me. She’s taught me tons about blogging with purpose, social media, and SEO, among other useful topics. Jessie offers many valuable classes about blogging, Facebook ads, etc. and all of them have a strong focus on profitability.
What I like about Jessie’s courses is that she helps you focus in on your mission and create a strong plan for monetization from the beginning. She also offers personalized help and coaching.
Between December 26th and December 30th, Jessie’s offering her Travel Blog Prosperity membership for only $5 for the first month. It’s the perfect opportunity to check our her program and see if it’s right for you. You can check it out and get the discount here.
Willow: How are you able to instill trust in your clients or customers?
Jessie: Transparency is important. While I want my community to see me as an authority, I also want to be honest about my struggles and mistakes — because we all encounter them.
W: What are some of the main objections you hear (if any) when working for clients/customers remotely? And how can you assuage these fears?
J: Many of my blogging students worry about making a time and financial investment. The truth is, though, that investments — at least smart ones — help you grow and meet your goals. For instance, I once spent $500 on a Facebook Ads course after wasting a ton of money on ads that flopped. Now I know exactly how to create and run profitable ads, and have earned back way more than that initial investment.
W: What are the most important considerations in order for you to work efficiently?
J: WiFi is essential, as is pen and paper so I can map out a plan of action for myself. I like to do this the night before, so that when I wake up I know exactly what needs to get done and in what order.
W: What is your turnaround time when you create products?
J: I usually give myself about three months to create an online course, from creation through beta testing to launch.
W: Do you hire remotely as well? If so, what type of services or products do you buy?
J: I do! Right now I have an accountant, developer, Pinterest Virtual Assistant, and Instagram Virtual Assistant, all of whom I pay monthly for ongoing help.
W: Where do most of your clients live? Where do you live?
J: All over the world, though many are in the USA, like me.
W: Do you miss anything about non-virtual work?
J: It can be tough to “turn off” when your home is also your office. To help with this I now mainly work in coffee shops and co-working spaces so I can keep work out of the home as much as possible.
W: Is there anything else you want to share?
J: No matter what type of business you start, I think it’s helpful to come from a place of wanting to help others. Understand who you want to help and how, and then build content, products, etc. that help you to fulfill this.
Molly, designer, and co-owner of Moyo Studio
Molly is co-owner of Moyo Studio. She creates digital products for creatives including stock photos, graphic design templates, and mockups.
I love Moyo’s stock photos—they are are so NOT what you see every day. Muted tones, beautiful flora, artful mockups. They are a traveling studio, and often incorporate props from their travels. Since they have visited some of the same places as me, sometimes I feel a sense of deja vu when I look at their images.
Moyo offers a quarterly membership to their whole catalog of images for only $99.
Willow: How are you able to instill trust in your clients or customers?
Molly: We hope that by offering a continued high level of customer service it solidifies the trust we create with our customers. Similarly, we have tried to cultivate a presence and a supportive community on Instagram and so we try to share as much insight into our studio as possible. We hope that by being a much more personal brand that our customers are able to relate and sincerely engage with us, which we reciprocate.
W: What are some of the main objections you hear (if any) when working for clients/customers remotely? And how can you assuage these fears?
M: Time zones can be a problem! In an age where your customer and client can be anywhere in the world, managing time zones can be difficult (especially with client calls). That said, there are lots of tools out there to help manage this and sometimes a time difference can be a blessing, too!
W: What are the most important considerations in order for you to work efficiently?
M:
- For remote work, first and foremost is your Internet connection! It can seem that you are on the constant hunt for reliable WIFI but this is rapidly becoming less of an issue with more and more cafes/co-working spaces offering strong wifi and a place to work.
- Secondly, routine is a must! I think this applies to running any business, whether remote or not. Having the self-discipline to carve out your workday is incredibly valuable to ensure work efficiency. When you work remotely, especially if you are working in different countries, you’ll be wanting to set aside lots of time for exploring and soaking in new environments. By creating a productive routine you can maintain a good work/life balance that is essential to feel as if you’re thriving with your work as well as having the time to enjoy your surroundings.
W: What is your turnaround time on the products you make?
M: Usually 2-3 weeks.
W: Do you hire remotely as well? If so, what type of services or products do you buy?
M: We have done yes, especially with our previous businesses. This has included copywriters, social media managers and we have also worked with photographers across the globe, too!
W: Where do most of your clients live? Where do you live?
M: Our customers are worldwide, but our largest audiences seem to be the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. We are nomadic but currently in the UK.
W: Do you miss anything about non-virtual work?
M: Sometimes, it can be quite isolating compared to a job where your physical presence would tend to mean that you spend time with other people in a work environment. With virtual work, you tend to work alone at a computer but this lack of connection can be combatted by getting out of the house and working somewhere else and connecting and meeting other like-minded freelancers/business owners.
Tracy, agent to virtual assistants
Tracy owns Rock Solid Virtual Assistants. She is an agent who acts as the intermediary for virtual assistants and the clients who need them. I’ve worked with her before as a contractor. I’ve learned that she is adept at connecting people, and witnessed how her caring for people just oozes out. Here’s more in her own words:
Willow: Why did you decide to found your business? Tell us a bit about how it works.
Tracy: I had been working as a virtual assistant for almost four years and absolutely loved the freedom and flexibility it offered to life and my family. I was able to do something I loved and still had the time to be an active mom and wife! I had 3 clients and was working 30-40 hours per week but I wasn’t spending time in traffic going to the office and could literally work anywhere there was an internet connection. This allowed me to do things like attending my sons’ college basketball games or taking my mom to a doctor appointment two hours away.
There came a point where people were reaching out to me to inquire about VA services that made me realize that if this line of work was such a blessing to me, it could be for others as well. I was telling those potential clients that I didn’t have the hours to give to serve them with quality and excellence but in the back of my mind, I was thinking who else would benefit from working as a VA. It was a difficult decision because I didn’t have any business background, but I did have the heart to serve others and see them thrive in life!
We now work with VAs across the US and find them amazing clients with whom to work. They are 100% remote, meaning they can literally work from anywhere and use their skills, gifts, and talents to help others optimize and find success in their businesses.
W: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced when hiring people to work with you remotely? Have you developed any methods to avoid these issues?
The biggest issue I’ve encountered when finding VAs to contract with was really an issue with my own personality. I tend to lead with my heart more than my brain and in the beginning, it did present as a problem. I absolutely love to help people and wanted to believe that anyone could learn what they needed to succeed as a VA.
This issue was quickly resolved by creating a process to really evaluate our applicants. That process has grown into a very efficient and thorough interview process that includes 7 online tests and a 60-minute video interview. We have found great success contracting with the best VAs thanks to the development of this process.
W: What are some of the best ways to reduce risk when contracting with remote workers?
T: Do your homework! I can’t shout this loud enough. A simple search on LinkedIn or even Facebook will reveal a multitude of Virtual Assistants you can reach out to for help. I’m absolutely positive that the amazing ones, the ones you want to work with, are there – but actually finding them can be like finding a needle in a haystack!
Personally, I would look for referrals. Speak to your colleagues or your friends’ colleagues. Somebody you know works with or knows someone who works with a VA. Talk to them and see if their VA’s skills match your needs and ask for an introduction.
The second thing – make sure they are insured! This is very important to protect you and your business. Finally, we have so many people who choose to work with us for the simple reason that there is a “middle man” [Middle woman–Interviewer’s edit] for lack of a better term. What that means is this – if a problem arises, they can come to our amazing team manager who is skilled and experienced in all things VA. Not only that, but we’ve evaluated and vetted our VAs and we are fully insured. We take care of all the tax forms, too!
W: What are some of the benefits of hiring remote workers?
T: This one is easy and quite honestly, I can only see the remote workforce continuing to grow like crazy! Many of the people who need support in business also work from home. Bringing a teammate into your home to work in your personal office space is often uncomfortable and impossible. Even if you do have a brick and mortar office outside of your home, the costs associated with adding an assistant in-office are significantly higher than those associated with Virtual Assistant costs. You will need to provide them a desk, chair, and computer to begin with.
Most people who are seeking office work are also looking for employee status vs. contractor status. This means paying employee taxes, unemployment insurance to the state, social security, as well as end of year taxes. Don’t forget health insurance!
What does all of this mean about the nature of remote and online work?
Hopefully hearing the experiences of these savvy business people will help you understand some of the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing work to online workers and/or working online yourself. Plus, I’ve compiled a couple simple lists of things to keep in mind:
Things you need to start working online:
- A good internet connection
- A backup internet plan (a place to go or something portable, just in case)
- Business tools like a laptop and external hard drives
- Health and maybe business insurance
- An organized backup plan for data
- Emergency fund for when things break
- A support system for when you’re suddenly feeling lonely and disconnected from the community
Considerations/steps for those considering hiring online workers:
- Research potential workers on social media
- Observe their interactions with you before hiring; it’s a sort of audition
- Trust your gut whether this will be a good partnership and go forward if the answer is yes
- Read candidates’ contracts closely
- Set aside time to properly train hires
- Create a work plan with your VAr as a collaborative first step
- Be hands on but don’t micromanage
- Different time zones can affect your project timeline
- Emails do not always convey tone well; communicate intentionally
What did you learn from Jessie, Molly, and Tracy? What I took out of these interviews is that we are still working to navigate these online relationships and we have to be aware that the landscape is different in some ways than a traditional workplace. Taking that into consideration will be helpful not only if you’re hiring, but also if you’ll be offering your own services online, or even working remotely for a company.
Working with online service providers opens up your world to working with people with high caliber skills, who might not be available in your town. If you’re clear about the outcome you’d like and communicate well with your service provider, you can make beautiful things happen.
Are you considering becoming a remote worker or thinking about hiring an online worker (hire me here)? Leave a comment below. I’m curious to hear more about your story.
One Response
Such an amazing blog ! It is very informative for me.