Originally published February 1, 2022

As a writer, I know all too well that creativity doesn’t keep a 9 to 5 schedule. That’s why I’ve always envisioned building my content marketing agency as a remote-first workplace.

However, remote work hasn’t always been seen as the work style of choice for entrepreneurs. When I first founded People First Content, I encountered more than a few raised eyebrows.

“So, you’re not going to have an office?” they’d say, trying to sound more curious than judgmental. “How’s that going to work?” Sometimes they wouldn’t be so polite as to ask me. Instead, they’d say flat out, “that’ll never work.”

Fortunately, I had more confidence in myself than these random people did.

We're not discussing building a remote company in the 20th century. It was 2018, and project management tools like Zoom and Slack were very much around, even if most people outside the tech world didn't hear about them until the pandemic.

When these naysayers came into my life, I opted to go into more detail than they possibly wanted to hear about how I would use tools to communicate with my employees while keeping them engaged and focused. I also explained that because People First Content works with companies worldwide, it doesn't matter if I have an office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since I'd be making most of my sales calls virtually anyway. Did they care? Probably not. But some of them stopped asking, at least.

Fast forward to 2023, and 12% of workers are fully remote, and 28% are working hybrid. Working from home is a perk, saving employees time and money. Business, in general, has become even more global than it was just a few years ago now that companies in various industries have been forced to adopt technology for meetings and sales calls. Remote jobs may not be as plentiful as during the pandemic, but they aren't going away anytime soon.

Even if the pandemic hadn't happened, PFC would still be a remote-first business. Demanding employees to clock in and out during prescribed periods isn't a good model for this business.

Oftentimes, you need a certain mindset when managing and working with creatives. Here are some specific reasons why working remotely benefits creative teams.

Benefits of Working Remotely for Creative Teams

I've been working remotely on and off for over a decade. Here are some things I've discovered about why remote work is the right way for creative teams to work.

1. Work when your brain’s ready

The best part of a remote job is that you don’t have to force yourself to be creative on a set schedule.

Through trial and error, I've found that I work best by writing in the morning for a few hours, then taking a long break to listen to a podcast, go for a walk, read a book, or even take a power nap. Basically, I do what I need to do to let my brain recharge, then I go back to it in the afternoon.

Inhibiting remote workers with arbitrary hours is a bad idea if you need your employees to deliver their best creative work. Employees that utilize creative freedom often work whenever the inspiration arises.

Some creatives work best at night. That's fine if you're working remotely, but not great if your boss expects you to be in the office at 8 am.

2. No distractions

Getting back on track can take 25 minutes after even a minor disruption. When you work in a busy office that doesn't understand how creative teams work, you can easily spend an entire 8-hour day just trying to get focused.

I know this from experience. Before starting PFC, I spent a few years working for a company that was housed on multiple levels of a high-rise. For the first few years, the content team sat happily on a quiet floor. We liked being in our own corner, away from the noise of the sales team and ping pong table. We even had control of our own light switch, which we usually kept off so we could work by natural light instead of having fluorescents pouring over us.

Then, one day, someone from above our pay grade decided we needed to be “brought into the light.” They moved us to another level, where we couldn’t work without hearing the constant noise of other teams, ping pong tournaments, and co-workers chatting loudly by the beer coolers.

It was the opposite of a conducive environment for writers. I tried explaining this but was ultimately unsuccessful in my endeavors to move us back to our dark corner.

As a writer, I know that working from home means I am free from distractions. Nobody’s walking up to me to ask about something random or trying to start up a friendly conversation. I don’t have to listen to the sounds of a ping pong tournament or accidentally eavesdrop on a sales call. I can relish the quiet of my own space.

3. Encourages autonomy and time management

I am not a micromanager. To be honest, micromanaging sounds exhausting. That's why I only hire people who can work independently without needing me to look over their shoulders.

I think (and hope) we'll see more creatives gain the ability to manage their time without being micromanaged due to the pivot to remote school and work. Being able to talk yourself into working and meeting deadlines is a critical life skill for work and life.

I'm happy many businesses saw their employees' productivity skyrocket when they switched to remote work. Maybe we can start getting rid of leadership styles that require employees to constantly check in. For our team, we all have deadlines. As long as we hit them, we're good. I don't care if you work at midnight, 6 am, or noon. We're all set as long as your work is done on time.

Companies like American Water have embraced flexible work arrangements as part of their commitment to supporting employee well-being and productivity. By allowing teams the autonomy to manage their schedules, American Water empowers its workforce to deliver their best work, whether in creative or operational roles. This approach not only fosters trust but also encourages employees to take ownership of their time, similar to how People First Content operates in its remote-first model.

Looking for a Content Team? Let’s Talk

My goal with People First Content is to build a company that provides quality content for businesses worldwide. We can only accomplish that when our employees have the tools and flexibility they need to be creative.

Does that mean we’ll never get an office? Not necessarily. Instead, it means that we’ll do whatever it takes for our employees to have whatever they need to deliver the best output for our clients. For now, that’s offering fully remote employment.

If you’ve been looking for a creative team for your blog posts, articles, white papers, eBooks, or social media, let’s talk! Book a call to see if People First Content is the right agency for your company.

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