Data issued by the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Over four million Americans were already working remotely from home prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and an estimate by the Global Workplace Analytics say, “56% of the U.S. workforce holds a job that is compatible (at least partially) with remote work.”
If you haven’t experienced it yourself, the workplace is changing. Some employees thrive working remotely while others have a hard time adapting. Although, statistics from CoSo Cloud show that 77% of people working remotely claim to work more productively.
Ups and Downs of Remote Work
Traditionalists might be skeptical of allowing employees to work outside of the office, but working from home seems to come with its share of benefits. Owl Labs also reports that 79 percent of remote workers say they experience increased productivity, and 78 percent say they experience less stress. In addition to advantages for the employee and the business, the environment also benefits, since there are fewer cars on the road emitting pollutants.
Working remotely won’t suit everyone though. Some people run into considerable hurdles when attempting to work from home. One hurdle is difficulty in separating work from personal life. This can result in overworking and an increased risk of burnout.
Other remote workers face constant interruptions from kids, pets or other distractions that are unique to the home environment. It’s not easy to focus on work when other daily tasks are competing for your attention.
Loneliness is a third potential hurdle. This is especially true for individuals who are used to socializing at work or performing jobs that involve building relations with customers or clients.
Each of these problems comes with potential solutions. For example, a well-structured schedule (complete with intermittent breaks) can prevent overworking. Having a private workspace can mitigate interruptions. And checking in with team members on a regular basis can reduce loneliness.
While you plan your 2021 marketing strategy, consider how work-from-home and remote working is a reality for many and how your strategy adapts to this new way of working & living. These work-from-home influencers can spark some creative campaign ideas or you can consider hiring them to be a part of your next influencer marketing campaign.
WFH Productivity Influencers
- Paul Millerd
- Chris Herd
- Adam Schroeder and Naresh Vissa
- Laura Vanderkam
- Lisette Sutherland
- Jason Fried
- Laurel Farrer
- Greg Caplan
- Sara Sutton
- Job van der Voort
Freelance consultant Paul Millerd hosts the podcast “Reimagine Work,” which debuted in 2017. The show allows followers to listen in on interviews with solopreneurs and philosophers. Some of the episode titles include “Laurel Farrer: The Global WFH Experiment & Long-Term Promise Of Remote Work” and “A Mission-Driven Life & Career (Jerel Bonner).” Millerd also jots down his thoughts on the future of work and shares them on his site, Boundless.
Chris Herd is the founder and CEO of Firstbase. The B2B platform helps companies deliver physical equipment to remote teams. The provisioning service also handles maintenance and collection needs.
On January 1, 2020, Herd used his Twitter account to voice a number of predictions about the future of remote work. For example, he expects teams to become more diverse and inclusive. Not all of his predictions are positive. He notes that many remote workers will experience burnout, and he expects some demographics to reject the WFH transition entirely.
Adam Schroeder and Naresh Vissa are the voices behind “The Work From Home Show.” The podcast covers everything from ways to increase productivity to ways to eat healthier while working from home. Both hosts are business owners; Vissa founded Krish Media & Marketing, and Schroeder is the founder of LoneStar Multimedia.
This next influencer proves that advice doesn’t have to be long-winded to be useful. Laura Vanderkam hosts “The New Corner Office” podcast. Although each episode is short (about five minutes in length), she offers practical tips for anyone who is new to the process of working from home. Vanderkam is also the author of multiple books on productivity, including “Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done.”
Lisette Sutherland considers herself a remote-working champion, and she’s the author of the 2018 book “Work Together Anywhere.” The book offers strategies for establishing effective remote work practices. You can also hear this Netherlands-based public speaker on the “Collaboration Superpowers” podcast, which she uses to interview experts in remote work.
Jason Fried is the founder and CEO of Basecamp, a project management tool that many remote WFH teams rely on. As of 2020, Basecamp boasts 3.3 million accounts. Fried shares his thoughts and opinions on remote work by posting on the Signal v. Noise blog. He’s also the co-author of several books: “Remote: Office Not Required,” “Rework” and “It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work.”
Laurel Farrer is the founder of Distribute Consulting and the Remote Work Association. She’s a thought leader who uses the power of remote work to help governments and businesses address challenges. She frequently contributes to Forbes, writing articles such as “5 Proven Benefits of Remote Work for Companies.” Farrer also shares opinions and upcoming event information on social media.
Greg Caplan is the founder of Remote Year. The organization curates work and travel programs, helping remote teams take advantage of booking opportunities, global workspaces and room accommodations.
Although he’s a self-described optimist, Caplan is not blind to the challenges that lie ahead of WFH enthusiasts. In a 2019 interview with Owl Labs, Caplan said that preconceived notions about WFH might cause some managers to resist remote work. The best way to overcome this resistance is for employees to demand the opportunity to work remotely, forcing managers to grow comfortable with the concept.
Unsatisfied with the availability of flexible job opportunities, Sara Sutton founded FlexJobs in 2007. The site is now a well-known resource for anyone looking for remote job openings, whether part-time, full-time or freelance. FlexJobs covers a variety of fields, ranging from advertising and graphic design to data entry and entertainment gigs. You can find Sutton’s WFH advice in various publications, including Fast Company, USA Today, Forbes and Inc.
Job van der Voort is the CEO and co-founder of Remote.com. Founded in 2019, the site aims to help other businesses build remote teams, even ones composed of international employees. This Portugal-based influencer is also the host of a podcast called “Remote Work Podcast.” In each installment, he interviews remote workers who are willing to share their experiences and advice with listeners.
When to Work With WFH Productivity Influencers
Does your business encourage employees to work from home? Or does your brand produce goods or services that support remote work? If so, consider collaborating with influencers like the ones listed above.
The first step in the collaboration process is finding an influencer who shares your brand’s values and appreciates the services you offer. Then, you can work with the influencer to produce content that raises brand awareness and drives audience engagement. Whether it takes the form of a podcast or series of blog posts, influencer-generated content can be a valuable tool for any business.
