As companies continue navigating the ever-changing workplace norm, saturated with remote teams and digital communication, a brand’s success depends on its ability to align marketing and sales teams. Regardless of the department, communication for remote teams is key. Setting a standard for communication practices, regular check-ins, and team meetings will keep internal processes tight, creating a better experience for prospects and clients. Below are GROWL’s tips to align remote sales and marketing teams to drive results.
Use your Tools to Improve Digital Productivity
The first way to get your remote team talking is with the proper tools. When managing a virtual workforce scattered across the state or even the country, you MUST have reliable means of communication. Research what video/conference call platform works best for your team internally. Consider the scheduling, document sharing, and chat capabilities; does it effectively cover the needs of your remote team?
Remote team efficiency also depends on a reliable project management system. Find a platform where you can organize and assign tasks, manage time, and track project progress overall.
Schedule & Run Effective Meetings with Remote Teams
There is a fine line between not having enough communication and over-communicating to the point of hindered productivity. Try to find a way to balance your various teams and each team member’s needs so everyone can complete quality work on time. For many remote marketing and sales teams, this means a quick daily morning meeting with all teams to cover the big projects and roadblocks.
When it comes to successful sales practices and cross-channel marketing success, it’s best to host departmental meetings. This allows more efficient time to distribute tasks, identify priorities, and communicate strategic goals. With each meeting, it’s important to try to stay on task to ensure everyone gets the necessary information. Be mindful of time.
Host Individual Team Member Check-ins
Marketing and sales managers should regularly check in with team members to assess leads, campaigns, and workload. With remote teams, one-on-one meetings are critical to foster team cohesion and workplace positivity. These sessions will help team leaders identify broken lines of communication before bigger issues arise. Leaders can take this opportunity to build strong relationships with each team member, so that team members feel comfortable asking for what they need.
Foster Cross-team Collaboration
Aligning your remote marketing and sales teams requires effective, cross-department communication; remember, marketing and sales must work together. Allowing both departments to collaborate will break down internal silos from team meetings to collaborative strategy sessions. This increases creativity, productivity, and accountability. Plus, collaboration enables remote teams to develop and sustain meaningful relationships (this is especially important when teams experience remote onboarding and have members who have never physically met.
Commit to Company Culture
Company culture isn’t reserved exclusively for in-person teams; it’s critical for remote ones, too. While team activities create stronger personal relationships and bonds, harnessing stronger working relationships, marketing and sales team success thrives on sub-culture. Consider an in-person office—each department or direct team develops its own nuances, jokes, processes, and relationships. Similar sub-cultural attributes must be permitted and prioritized for remote marketing and sales teams. Allowing a “virtual watercooler” and time for informal, fun, team bonding activities will align your remote sales and marketing teams. In turn, your company will see lead generation growth and increased ROI.
Need a hand aligning your remote teams? Contact the GROWL Team today!