HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY TO START OUTSOURCING
Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer as to when you’re ready to outsource, and what to outsource. What works for others may not be what works for you – but we can share some tips to help you make the decisions you need to keep your business moving in the right direction.
When your business has grown so much you can no longer focus on all the tasks that need to be handled – outsource what you’re not good at. Outsource the tasks you hate or the ones that take up the most of your time. Spend that time you save on managing your virtual assistants, and handling the tasks only you can do.
WHAT ARE SOME TASKS YOU CAN OUTSOURCE?
The most commonly outsourced tasks include:
General Administrative Tasks
Blog Writing
Graphic Design
Email Marketing
Social Bookmarking
Link building
Article submission
Administrative Tasks/Bookkeeping
Keyword Research
Customer Service/Technical Support
Social Media management
The list of course does not end there. You can outsource nearly everything in your business in some capacity. Plus, you are never obligated to use the contractor's work exactly as delivered.
You can always make adjustments where you see fit, to develop a better return on investment. The more you work with a particular freelancer, the more you’ll be able to “get on the same page” so there’s more minor editing and re-working of their work as time goes on – as long as you provide adequate feedback with each project.
IS IT WORTH IT TO OUTSOURCE?
An important consideration is whether or not it is truly worth it to you to outsource.
Can you afford the money you’ll pay the worker to do the job? Can you afford to spend the time on the task?
The answer to these questions isn’t always easy. But, like in the scenario with the website fiasco, (mentioned in our first blog "WHY OUTSOURCE TASKS IN YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS?") or in the growing pains of customer service email response, the answer is usually a resounding YES!
Think about your skills, expertise, and time availability. Sometimes, if you have a family emergency or you need a vacation, it is well worth it to outsource the tasks even if you have left dedicated to yourself, to get them done so you can live (relatively) stress-free for a few days.
On the other hand, if it is a crucial task only you can do – no amount of money or time off can save the potential crisis you could land your business in by not doing it yourself.
For example – if it only takes you 10 minutes to pin something to Pinterest – it’s not necessarily worth it to pay someone to do that for you. But, if it takes you three hours to craft a single blog post, and another hour to edit it, it’s definitely worth the money to pay someone to do it for you. Ultimately, it’s your decision – and it may vary from day to day, and from task to task, on a variety of factors. But –
if you can afford to outsource it, and it is
better for your business, in the long run, to
do it – then do it.
OUTSOURCING OPTIONS
HIRE SOMEONE LONG-TERM
Here you can hire part time or full time, based on your needs and budget allowance. You can hire someone to meet with you physically in your office, or someone who works remotely.
HIRE A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Here you can hire someone to do a specific task, or set of tasks every so often - on a weekly, monthly, or semi-annual basis. This person doesn’t meet with you in your office but rather works completely remotely.
HIRE “AS NEEDED” (PROJECT-BASED)
Here you hire someone to do a certain task when you need the task done – or when you cannot do it yourself. This is how most online business owners handle their outsourcing requirements because the business landscape and circumstances can be quite unpredictable at times. Each has its merits. As needed workers fill a small void, whereas permanent workers learn your wants and needs over time, and can give you a more efficient workflow. To get the best of both worlds, you can always hire the same contractor (when available) for the same types of jobs, on an as-needed basis.
Wanna know which works best for your business? Get in touch with us and we'll provide a FREE consultation and analysis.
info@jadvaservices.com