Running an e-commerce business can be overwhelming. Throw in managing a remote team and you’re balancing a cake on your head. The good news? With the right approach, building and managing a remote e-commerce team can be less chaotic and far more rewarding. Whether you’re just scaling up or trying to bring order to your remote team, this guide has got your back. Let’s explore practical tips for building a remote team that functions effectively.

1. Get Real About What Roles You Need

Before you go posting a dozen job listings and hope the right people magically appear, take a breath. One mistake founders make is hiring based on what they think a team should look like rather than what the business truly needs.

Start by listing out your pain points. Are orders backing up? Is your product photography inconsistent? Is customer support eating up your entire day? From there, define specific roles. Don’t hire a marketing ninja when what you need is someone to manage Google Ads and email campaigns.

2. Your Recruiting Strategy Is Your Foundation

Your recruiting strategy can make or break your team. Don’t just rely on generic job boards where your listing will be buried under hundreds of remote copywriter gigs. Instead, go where the specialists are.

Platforms like We Work Remotely or even e-commerce-specific communities like Shopify Experts are gold mines. Include video intros in your hiring process. These help you gauge communication skills and culture fit early.

3. Overcommunicate

Remote teams thrive on clear, consistent communication. But we’re not talking about pinging your team every 15 minutes on Slack like an anxious teenager texting their crush. Instead, set up structured communication that includes the following.

• Daily or weekly stand-ups via Zoom or Loom recordings.
• Written updates in a shared doc or project management tool.
• Clear SOPs for recurring tasks.

4. Use Tools That Don’t Suck

You can’t build a remote team on a patchwork of outdated spreadsheets and email threads. Invest in the right tools that create visibility without micromanagement. Here’s a starter stack that won’t make your team want to riot.

• Asana/ClickUp– for task and project management
• Slack/Discord– for real-time communication
• Notion / Google Docs– for documentation and shared knowledge
• Loom / Zoom– for async and live video communication
• Controlio/Toggl– solid apps to keep track of work hours without being creepy

5. Build Culture Intentionally

Can you skip team culture because you’re all working from different time zones in your pajamas? Think again. Remote culture doesn’t happen by accident. You need to build it on purpose. That means the following.

• Celebrating birthdays, wins, and milestones.
• Having regular non-work check-ins.
• Offering feedback that’s direct and constructive.
• Encouraging side chats and interest groups.

Bottom line

Running a remote e-commerce team doesn’t have to be a productivity black hole. With a thoughtful recruiting strategy and a human-first approach to leadership, you can build an effective team that scales with you, regardless of where everyone is located in the world. It won’t always be smooth sailing, but with these tips, you’ll spend less time putting out fires and more time growing your business.