- By Angela Drew
- August 2, 2023
Are you considering opening your own Coworking Space but feeling a bit overwhelmed?
Check out 4 top tips to get you started:
1. Don't go overboard
Don’t get caught up in trying to be everything to everyone. Focus on understanding your audience and offering straightforward services that meet their needs. Too many options or features may overwhelm them. Opt to start with a simple approach to help you effectively manage costs, staff, and your coworking space.
For example, if you are new to Virtual Offices and mail handling, you may want to start with only a few of the most common handling options you feel confident your team can handle and then expand your handling offerings as you gain more experience.
2. Research your software
Level up your space with the perfect coworking and mail management software. Having these tools that are specifically tailored for coworking spaces can effectively help you maximize revenue and foster a robust coworking community.
However, don’t leave software decisions until the last minute! Take the time to evaluate your needs and prioritize the essential features that matter to you, such as booking management, automations, notifications, billing, mail and address, analytics, and more. By conducting thorough research and understanding your requirements upfront, you can avoid unnecessary features and make informed choices.
Additionally, ask yourself these questions when searching for software:
- Will it be able to handle an increasing number of members and mail as your coworking space grows? Look for software that offers flexible plans and can adapt to your changing needs.
- Is it user-friendly? Is it intuitive and easy to navigate? Will your team and members be able to use it without extensive training? Look for software that is user-friendly and provides extensive support, guaranteeing a smooth integration into your coworking space operations.
Software options we highly recommend for your space! 👇
✅ Access control software
Additionally, access control systems can automate tasks such as account deactivation for non-payment, therefore simplifying membership management. By incorporating access control into your software, you can enhance the overall experience for your members while maintaining a secure and well-managed space.
Streamlining access control allows you to offer different access permissions based on membership levels, which ensures that only authorized individuals can enter the area. It also helps you effectively manage meeting room usage by granting access to those who have booked the room.
✅ Mail management software
Stay ahead of the game! Mail management software like PilotoMail plays a crucial role in efficiently handling and organizing incoming mail within shared workspaces. It also enables efficient management of large mail volumes, ensures compliance with postal regulations, and enhances client satisfaction and revenue generation.
Yes! You read right. Implementing mail management software can be a revenue-generating opportunity for your space. Additional services, such as virtual mailbox subscriptions or handling mail for remote clients, can be offered, creating new income streams for the workspace. A virtual mailbox not only provides valuable convenience to your members but also offers an opportunity to boost revenue without occupying valuable space.
Pro tip! Take advantage of free trials or demos to test the software and see if it meets your requirements.
3. Strategize to attract founding members & make partnerships
Reach out to key companies in your target sectors and offer them special founding rates to join your coworking space. This will incentivize them to join and help establish a solid member base from the start. They will also become your ultimate brand ambassadors, spreading the word about your cutting-edge space and attracting new members like wildfire. Get ready to witness the power of word-of-mouth marketing at its finest!
In addition to attracting founding members, consider forming partnerships with local firms. These partnerships can serve multiple purposes, including marketing your space to their employees and clients, collaborating on events or workshops, and even providing additional resources or services to enhance the coworking experience.
4. Build a supportive community
Creating a thriving coworking community takes more than just attracting the right crowd and setting up a visually appealing space. While these are important factors, there are additional steps you can take to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration within your coworking space.
One key aspect is to be proactive in your approach. Don’t rely on the organic interactions between members, but actively engage with them and facilitate connections. This can be done by organizing networking events (use those partnerships!), workshops, and seminars that encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among members.
One way to build a supportive community is by offering your space for free, or at a discounted price, to certain community members, such as nonprofits or meetup groups. These community events will create traffic to your space. Make sure to introduce yourself!
About PilotoMail
PilotoMail is a mail management platform that creates recurring revenue streams for mailrooms through postal mail handling automation, and virtual mailboxes for the remote workforce. Property managers, coworking spaces, mail centers & registered agents can handle large volumes of mail efficiently, comply with all postal regulations, and increase revenue from their existing footprint effortlessly.