Outsourcing for freelancers

One of my goals for this year, and part of my philosophy, is to minimize work. The best way I’ve found to do that is outsourcing.

There’s also a number of other reasons outsourcing is good.

Get skills and expertise you otherwise wouldn’t have

If you break down what’s involved in building a website, you get something like this:

• Planning the website, it’s objectives, it’s structure, content, etc
• Design
• Coding
• Copywriting
• Content Entry
• Marketing (which you can break down even further)

You’ve all seen coder’s websites. They look terrible.

Most writers have no idea about the technical side of websites.

Designers have no interest in databases and that PHP thing.

And none of the above can be bothered with data entry.

It takes a great deal of diverse skills to make a great website. I’ve not seen many people that can do them all.

Outsourcing allows you to tap into the skills you don’t have, and provide a better solution for the client.

Make work less boring

Data entry and link building. I can’t think of any work I’d like to do less. Solution? Get someone else to do it.

Take on more projects at once

Instead of turning down work, if you outsource a lot, you can manage lots of projects at once. Coincedentally, having lots on solves a lot of problems that come with relying on a small number of clients. For example, not getting paid on time by a client when you have 2 projects on is a lot worse than not getting paid on time when you have 10 projects.

Doing more projects is also a great way to make more money.

Allows you to expand into other markets

If you’ve got a few really good contractors you can rely on, then you can start expanding your services into that market.

For example, I’m good at making websites, but I don’t have the confidence that I could do a good job at brochures or CD’s. One of my goals this year is to slowly start expanding and offering these services. First to existing customers, and then, when I’ve got my systems sorted out, I’ll start advertising that I can do those services.

Cons of outsourcing

Outsourcing is obviously not all hugs and puppies.

Outsourcing limits the type of clients you can work for

Agencies don’t want to hire people that outsource. They’re in the business of it.

Likewise for companies that are managing the project in house – you can’t outsource that work.

Get out of practice

If you’re getting other people to do your work all the time, pretty soon you’ll start to lose your edge. Although I’ve listed this as a con, it’s really not that bad. If you’re going to continue outsourcing, it doesn’t matter as long as you keep up with trends and outsource to skilled contracters.

You can’t be a perfectionist

Work comes back worse than if you were to do it and you have to do it yourself anyway. If you’re a perfectionist, outsourcing is not for you. You’ll just shit your contractors to tears while pulling your own hair out.

Perfectionist’s are the type of people to outsource to.

Tips for outsourcing work

Don’t go with the cheapest

It’s easy to go with the cheapest, but it’s totally not worth it. Find someone who’s great at what they do, and preferably people that already do work for agencies. They’re by far the best people to work with.

Also don’t outsource to companies in cheap countries. Not only is there a communication gap between yourself and your account manager, there’s an extra leap between the account manager and the “do-er”. Going this route is no good for anything but the most rudimentary of tasks.

Start with stuff you can already do

Start outsourcing tasks where you can take a hit and do the work yourself if it comes back crap. That way, you’re not going to put yourself in a bind with your responsibilities to the client.

Don’t look for contractors on job boards

The best people are generally not looking for jobs on job boards. Instead, they’re busy working. Find someone whose work you like and ask about their availability.

Communicate effectively

Take the time to plan the work you’re outsourcing, set expectations, and don’t change the scope. This is partly making sure your client knows the process as well.

For example, you need to educate the client so they know that any design changes after the design is completed is going to cost more. When you’re doing the work for yourself, often it’s not a big deal. When you have to go back to a designer, it costs more money.

So get your client to sign off on the process as you go along.

Build a relationship

The best working relationship is where the parties involved already know what’s expected. In these instances, there’s less chance of a misunderstanding occurring, and the process becomes well oiled.

It’s worth investing in a relationship.

Pay quickly

When I’m paying the Tax office or a big company, I take full advantage of terms that are offered. But when it comes to other freelancers, most really appreciate it if you pay as soon as you receive the invoice. I know I do!

Do you outsource work or do you hate it? Post your thoughts in the comments

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