Outsourcing - Aforethoughts, What's Your Take on Outsourcing Gigs??

by art72
4 replies
Fellow Warriors...

So, I'm finally getting off my arse again, and currently doing something more long-term along the lines of compiling a lot of rich content on a blog/website, as opposed to creating thin affiliate sites with only 3-5 pages of content, and simply linking out to 3rd party offers. (*Which I'll still be doing as well...)

To date, I've never given much thought to outsourcing or have felt such a need to do so, until I began laying out this project .

However, in this constructive process, and in laying out my sites 'exoskeleton' fundamentals... such as; categories, service offerings, affiliate program, product pages, etc...

One of the main areas I am 'considering' applying a greater focus on, is in offering writing services, web-design, maybe even consultations, list management or creating lead generating platforms for businesses, along with some copywriting, and/or creative paid advertising campaigns, from an independent contractor vantage point. (*Not leaning towards coaching or anything like that, but more in alignment w/ B2B relative networking.)

Whilst I am NOT immediately prepared to take on clients or ready to take on any direct projects as of the moment, I am considering adding an 'open invitation' to web designers, writers, lead generation/list building specialists, etc... whereby, if my (future) audience needs quality work done, I'd like to aide them in receiving the best value and talent available... basically, close the sales, and mediate the transactions and deliveries, if you will.

You know, be the Better Boss (then most of the ones that I've had or worked with over the years), and supervise/oversee, an organize a crew or team of quality minded players & talent.

Up until now, I would normally just send send visitors to an affiliate's website, and be the one-man show (hiding behind affiliate marketing)... but that doesn't do much in the way of "branding" my own business, nor in offering much in direct connection with assuming the authoritative role, and helping "directly solve" many of the visitors problem(s) or desired outcomes. (*Ok, well maybe it does, but it doesn't build my brand, credibility,... or keep the visitor on my website!)

So, in the 'aforethought' of hiring (or working with) say a 'web-designer' for example and considerations to 'outsourcing' projects, which way would you go?

1.) Let the Web Designer deal direct with the client, and have them sign a no-compete, or written agreement that the job itself is property of (Company Name Here), and simply mediate the transaction/delivery/sale, etc...?

*Naturally, the web-designer would be paid accordingly - I'm thinking 50% - 75% of the job as a sub-contractor representing the sale thru my company name, as I really do not want hourly or salaried employees. (Not currently, anyway.) I've always preferred 'incentive based' earnings...the more you do, the more you make!

-Or-

2.) Take on the entire project independently, whereby, I personally sell the job, outsource it, and then personally deliver the product (or maybe through a trusted VA), who then sets up the C-panel, Wordpress, etc... and just pay the designer to create it, as if it were a paid project for me directly?

*The latter seems the safer bet, but would in essence defeat a great deal of the reason, I would consider hiring a web-designer to do projects for my (future) clients.

I think ultimately what I am curious to know is; can a working relationship between a web-designer, the client, and myself flow smoothly from the perspective that I am in essence "The Contractor' hiring a "Sub-contractor" to deliver the finished projects to my clients?

If so, what protection do I have that my 'sub-contractor' being in direct communication with my client won't 'cut-my-throat' or in essence steal the job?

Note: Being that I was a 6-figure earner as a productive sub-contractor offline (swimming pool construction, repair, and renovations) for years, I can honestly say; "I never bit the hand that feeds"... but, somehow I am almost deathly afraid that finding quality/honest talent online may be a bit more complicated in what appears today's desperate economy, and the overall mindset for fast cash thinking, as a result.

In short, I'm starting feel it's time to start branching out, and offering more to my future visitors, then just being focused on quietly marketing affiliate products, or writing articles focused on 'other' peoples products/services.

Finally, I think the other reason I've hesitated for so long to explore the endless possibilities of outsourcing more, was primarily in fear it would somehow deprive both my continued studies (of all things business/IM related) and take away from my eventual desire to publish/write books (or create QUALITY info products) in the future.

Hell, I don't know, maybe I'm just thinking out loud, cause lately - all these "I wanna-be rich the easy way threads" have me so disgusted - it's either go All-IN this time online, use the knowledge I've obtained, or bail altogether, and stick with inexpensive offline start-ups again, which generally don't offer the long-term rewards the internet does. Strangely enough, I seem to have more confidence in myself "offline" than that of creating a successful online venture single-handed-ly, up to this point.

It's funny, cause when I read many of the questions people ask here... I feel to have a fairly acute amount of knowledge, and often forget... (as my focus is always on mastering or becoming more efficient at the next study) - whereby, I question; if I'm wasting the knowledge I already have, as opposed to truly exercising much of it?

Meanwhile, having owned and operated 4 small businesses offline (over a span of 22 years), and having confidence in my personal-ability "Offline" to do so again (as a one-man army) like in my past... I know could do that fairly easily.

However, now I find my only real interest (or obsession rather) is in building a 'publications platform' online... of which, will require an ample amount of tine, money, and effort. I've observed and collected many of the pieces needed over the years, and study in great depth, and have still yet to fully- create the reality.

Doing so, will surely require a team, as I've tried to 'outline and start constructing' similar ideas prior, only to have gotten frustrated, and running back to the security of creating an offline gig, as time, money, and incoming bills demanded.

Even "Offline" - I almost always did everything myself! - So, to consider outsourcing has always been kinda taboo to me. Perhaps, I am fearful of relinguishing control? - I don't know... perhaps.

I think, the real problem is being overly concerned for the success and growth of those whom I would in essence recruit or outsource the work to, as to me, there is a responsibility in seeing to it that they achieve their goals as well, so it's NOT greed that hinders me.

It may seem a stretch, but the one thing I really desire is to offer writers and other multi-talented individuals 'real' opportunities to exploit their craft, stimulate growth, and exercise the 'old school' business fundamentals that somehow seem to be getting lost in the mindset of a world bent on greed, and selfish gains. And do so, without putting foolish restrictions or earning limitations on people!

I'm NOT looking for short-term gains in any one project - (tho I could probably use some right about now) - Instead, I am all but punishing myself NOT to let the money be my focus, and all-the-while, it almost seems there's an ever-brewing community of those who 'expect' something for nothing in this world... Thus, I'm trying NOT to let it STOP me from wanting to actually HELP uplift others... but it is getting hard to maintain that focus, when so many seem ungrateful for the few freedoms and liberties that do remain.

"A man's will is no match for his appetite, and can only be measured by that which he feeds his mind upon,... and lately, I've come to realize; it's time to start eating better!" - Art
#aforethoughts #gigs #outsourcing
  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    Since I have virtually the exact same business model as you do, I'll chime in to share some of my experience.

    First off, there is tons of talent out there to do virtually anything in the online marketing and SEO segments, but there is very little great talent. My plan was the same as yours...I wanted more local copywriting/SEO work and none of the local developers saw any value in it (since they were out to sell a website and say goodbye to the client). So I branded myself as a one-stop shop for design, SEO, marketing and even things like crowd sourcing and full sales funnels...and I had planned on doing a good 50-60% of that myself.

    So I placed a few ads locally hoping to find great talent, but the replies were all extremely generic. The samples were "blah"...they weren't bad, but they weren't great either. I really wanted someone local though because if we developed a relationship, then I wanted to be able to let them deal with the customers some face to face. I've yet to find anyone though, which means #1 on your list is out of the question. After all, if I'm going to meet with the client, advise them and play middleman throughout, then I'm not giving up a big chunk of the profits for a kid to slap in a WP theme over a couple of hours.

    Now, there are a lot of seasoned pros that can work for you online, and that's probably going to be your best bet starting out. Offer a per project standard wage, and try to find great 3 designers, artists and writers for every category you're hiring for. Because trust me, one is going to get sick, the other is going to take an extended vacation, and you're always going to need backups to your backups.

    Unfortunately though, building your list of potential employees that do great work on-time and at a fair price is pretty challenging. Heck, I still don't have a web designer that I love after six months, for example, so you'll have a lot of challenges starting out. Qualifying distance candidates is nearly impossible as well and you're never going to know what you have until you hand them a project and nervously cross your fingers.

    All I can say is good luck....it's certainly not as easy as it should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Burritt
    Banned
    Ok, wow, that's a lot of personal reflection on your upcoming biz model. Kudos to you for planning ahead, but perhaps you're overthinking it a bit.

    It's a nice idea to find a team of quality outsourcers first; but in my experience, unless you pay top dollar it's hard to find great talent to make a commitment to you.

    Again, from my experience, I've had some good and some lousy outsourcers fill in as I've had projects. I've kept in touch with the good outsourcers, and purposefully lost touch with the mediocre.

    Right now, it's easier than ever to find good people to get a project done. But keeping them on a semi-permanent basis is something hard to do without a steady flow of work.

    And I agree that you'll need backups in place in case someone drops or goes unavailable. I'm not sure there's a practical way to ensure a team is always there to fill in any gaps, unless you 1 slowly build your team over time and experience, and have the flow of work to keep them; or 2 contract with a design firm with wholesale rates you can mark up to your end clients.

    To find such a team or wholesale design firm locally in your city may be very hard, unless you live in a big city.
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    • Profile picture of the author thangapandian
      Hi,

      In this conversation if found that you know outsourcers. Let me know your skype id. I need to discuss with you for getting the details of the outsourcer. Am looking for some projects. If you help me in this it will be grateful for me

      add me into my skype naidnapin
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  • Art,

    Since you prefer to work with subcontractors instead of hiring your own regular employees, here's what I think:

    Essentially, I think what you're planning is to set up a B2B consulting firm targeting prospect client companies that want to develop better innovative solutions for their customers, to widen their local market reach and expand to global markets, to build their online presence, to better position their brands across significant market segments, to improve their customer acquisition campaigns, to increase their conversions and sales margins, to reduce their overheads, and to nurture repeat business through effective customer support, customer retention and customer upselling strategies...

    With a B2B target market, it's best to build your team from your existing B2B networks -- I recommend building a team of consultants who own and operate their own companies. For example:

    • For Web design and development -- There should be someone who owns a Web design and technology development company in your team;

    • For content development, content marketing, social media marketing and traffic generation through paid advertising and free promotional strategies -- There should be someone who owns an online marketing company in your team;

    • For pre / post online sales and telesales support, customer support and tech support -- There should be someone who owns an online sales and call center company in your team; and

    • If you want to offer your prospect companies the ability to target overseas locations, especially non-English markets, then you need owners of companies with multi-lingual capabilities...

    That's it for now. Cheers!
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