For many of us in 2021, our home offices are our new livelihoods. Unfortunately, sometimes your office space isn't as quick to get with the program. Bad WiFi, inadequate storage space, and drab scenery can keep us from feeling and being more productive than we'd like. The good news is that there are a few easy ways you can improve your home office space to maximize efficiency and say goodbye to frustration.
1. Invest in a quality webcam
Virtual meetings are the standard when working from home, but they don't always paint you in the best light (literally). Depending on the state of your computer's web camera and the lighting in your home office, your clients and co-workers might be struggling to see you during meetings, which can make communication difficult. Fortunately, it isn't too expensive to find a quality camera nowadays. The global dashboard camera market alone has grown by 15.3%. When looking at webcams, be sure to check the resolution and frame rate for the best possible clarity.
2. Experiment with your WiFi
If your WiFi connection is spotty and slow load times keep you from getting your work done, you might be able to improve your WiFi connection with some experimentation. Try placing your WiFi router in different spots around your house to find the sweet spot where it can deliver network connectivity the fastest. If no spot in your home is ideal, you might be able to fix the connectivity by installing a WiFi range extender to strengthen your connection.
3. Set up a VoIP server
Voice over Internet Protocol is a method of delivering voice communications over the Internet and is ideal for salespeople and customer service representatives. If your workplace has a VoIP provider (or you're willing to find one as an entrepreneur), you can easily set up a VoIP server at home. All you really need is a VoIP phone adapter and a few tweaks in your home hardware. A VoIP server is more efficient for making calls compared to a landline and it can save between 20% to 50% on your monthly phone bill.
4. Trade up your tech
Sometimes you need to invest in quality technology to really increase your efficiency. While splurging on a new computer isn't always the most fun, you'll feel happier knowing you don't need to wait for files to load because your data storage is nearly full. Of course, it's important to consider the actual qualities you're looking for in a new computer before making your investment. Do you store a lot of work files on your computer? RAM and storage may be the most important feature to look for. Do you work in a creative field that requires attention to detail? Screen size and resolution may be most important for you.
5. Invest in a work phone
With many of us working entirely from home, it's more important than ever to create a sense of separation between your work life and personal life. If you're using the same smartphone for work and play, it can be both difficult for you to unwind at the end of the workday and also difficult to manage your work files more effectively.
With a designated work phone, you can improve customer service and stay in better contact with your suppliers, customers, and office. You can even use it to try out mobile marketing campaigns and SMS before sending them out to customers. About 74% of mobile markets say SMS is highly effective, but it's vital to make sure you're using it right, or else you could actually end up hurting your marketing campaign instead.
When it comes to workplace efficiency, many of us don't often think about how our home offices may be causing us to lag behind. By following the tips above, you can help to maximize your home office's efficiency s