Marion Barnham • February 03, 2025
It’s February 2025 and pretty much everyone has heard of work from home, whether they are part of the remote workforce or not. There are many industries that by definition can not work remotely and others like digital marketing that are between the lucky ones.
And it’s not just me that values this as a great opportunity but 99% of the people that are already working remotely, would choose this as their preferred way of work even in the future (Buffer).
How did it all start?
Despite common belief, it is not something that started in 2000s but in 1979, when IBM as an experiment allowed 5 of its employees to work from home. We have come a long way since that day with 140% increase since 2005.
Covid-19 was a major game-changer and made 88% of the organizations, worldwide, to turn home-working to mandatory or to an advised suggestion. (Gartner)
Let’s have a closer look to what this means for digital agencies. Based on a survey that was conducted to 40 digital marketing agencies by HiveDesk the following results were found:
- Digital marketing agencies are facing a skills gap in their local market and hiring remote talent was very helpful for them.
- 20% (or 1 in 5) of agencies said they have gone 100% virtual, meaning all of their employees work remotely.
- Over 80% of agencies agreed that using remote employees improves productivity.
- They have experienced a significant cost reduction.
It is very common for digital marketing professionals to use online tools, either for communication or for collaboration, which allows them to be as efficient and effective as they were or even more while working remotely. CoSo Cloud found that email is the primary method of communication for remote workers, followed by instant messaging, and video chat.
There is a wide range of marketing roles that don’t require constant collaboration and therefore they are ideal for people that are working from home. Some examples can be found as follows:
- Copywriter
- Content Marketer
- Social Media Manager
- Marketing Analyst
- Public Relations Coordinator
- SEO Specialist
All the above categories demand either writing, design or research, all of which a person can do successfully and perhaps more productively when working individually.
However, working from home is not for everyone. One could say that it is more of a personality trait than actual skills. To be successful it demands people who are self-motivated, are good at organising and coordinating their work and don’t need constant supervision and guidance.
What are the benefits of a remote worker?
- 77% of remote employees say they’re now more productive (CoSo Cloud)
- 80% of telecommuters experience less work-related stress (Amerisleep)
- 75% of people who work from home do so because there are fewer distractions (Flexjobs)
- 53% of U.S. telecommuters view flexible scheduling as the top benefit (Statista)
But there are always two sides to the same coin. Despite the advantages of home working, there are also some disadvantages with remote employees report loneliness as their biggest challenge, followed by difficulties in communication. Another thing we need to take into consideration is the lack of cybersecurity in the hardware and software we use at home and what this means for all the data that we use as professionals.
What helps you stay productive while working from home?
- 37% of remote workers stay productive by taking breaks (Airtasker). It is also best practice to go for a walk or exercise or if that doesn’t feel feasible you could at least have lunch in front of a window. The main point is to stay away from a screen and help your brain relax.
- Having set working hours is the most effective way to stay productive for 33% of telecommuters(Airtasker). Keeping a routine doesn’t translate into lack of flexibility on the contrary it’s just a way that results into retaining your focus.
Whether you are a marketer or not you might encounter some challenges when working remotely for the first time but at the end of the day, it is all a matter of habit. As seen by many studies professionals have declared remote working as their preference and therefore it will be a very common way of work in the near future. At Barnham Marketing we started working remotely from the very start but still managed to collaborate effectively with clients. It has actually been a great opportunity to foster new partnerships worldwide.
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