8 Great Outsourcing Tips For Business Success

Outsourcing Tips for Your Business

Let’s discuss 8 outsourcing tips for your business. You are overwhelmed in your business and spending way too much time on administrative, creative, marketing or website tasks. Are you afraid to outsource after hearing horror stories? Or maybe you’ve experienced your own set of problems in finding the right person for the job. Outsourcing does require a bit of work, but once that’s done, your life will get easier. To make outsourcing more successful, consider these eight outsourcing tips during your search.

Don’t Hire Based On Quote Alone

Outsourcing tip #1: Saving money is great. Getting a low-quality worker who only half does the job isn’t so great. Base the decision to hire on more than just the quote you receive. Odds are, you can find a great worker that’s affordable.

List All Requirements

Outsourcing tip #2: Never post a general listing and expect good results. Instead, be as specific in your listing as possible. This will make your project easier to find for qualified individuals and give you better applicants to choose from.

Hire An Employee

Outsourcing tip #3: Think of outsourcing the same way as you would hiring a full-time employee. Look for a specific skillset, ask for references, get samples if applicable, and interview the person if possible. The more serious you are, the better results you’ll get.

Provide Training

Outsourcing tip #4: Don’t expect a new worker to understand your processes inside and out from day one. The moment you hire someone, provide training materials, and be available to answer questions. Better training equals better-outsourced work.

Think Long Term

Outsourcing tip #5: Most of the work you outsource probably needs to be done on a regular basis. When you’re searching, look for someone who’ll be available long term. The fewer people who have to train, the more time you’ll save. Plus, you’ll notice the quality of the work continuously improving over time.

Test With Small Projects

Outsourcing tip #6: Neither you nor the person you hire knows how everything will turn out. To avoid wasting time and money, outsource small projects first. For instance, if you need data entry done, start with just a fraction of what you need to be done. If it goes well, hire them to do more. It’s a great way to test the working relationship for both of you.

Have A Written Contract

Outsourcing tip #7: Whether it’s a formal contract, an email chain, messaging on an outsourcing site, or even an actual written contract, ensure you have a contract with the person you hire that lists all major details such as deadlines, project highlights, payment terms and ownership any finished products. This prevents many common issues later when you have something proving you’re right.

Pay In Increments

Outsourcing tip #8: For any project that’s delivered in increments, pay in increments as well. For instance, if you’re having the pages of your website written, set milestones and pay the writer for every two pages completed. For small projects, this doesn’t always work. For larger projects, it prevents you from losing money if the person doesn’t deliver and builds trust with the contractor.

Outsourcing doesn’t have to be a headache. Take your time and choose the right person. Start slowly and see how it all works out. It might take a few tries, but soon you’ll find the person who’ll make you wonder how you ever made it without them.

Want more information about outsourcing? See my posts below:

• 6 Outsourcing Mistakes to Avoid for Best Results
• Provide Training for More Effective Outsourcing
• 5 Necessary Details When Outsourcing Projects

Want to talk? Contact me today.