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2 Questions for those who Outsource

by jonb
10 replies
I'm ready to jump on the outsourcing train -- it's well overdue. But I have two questions for anyone who's currently using VAs and other outsourced help:

1. What *specific* tasks do you outsource? I'm trying to get a handle on what can realistically be turned over to someone else. (If it helps, my primary needs are handling customer support, research and traffic generation)

2. How do you get to a point where you can trust someone outside of your org. to be given access to things like your member list, your shopping cart system, etc.? I'm not what you would call a control freak, but the thought of someone else being able to access that stuff seems hard to swallow.

(Along the same lines -- for those who use VAs for blog and forum commenting -- can you ever really feel comfortable with someone else posting in your name? Do you approve everything they post before they do it?)

Thanks in advance for your feedback!
#outsource #questions
  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    For optimal quality control regarding traffic and data entry, you should go with a company instead of an individual. For writing, you can deal with individuals directly. The key here is quality control, accountability, and redundancy when something goes wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by jonb View Post

    1. What *specific* tasks do you outsource?
    Only techie things that I can't do myself and more or less refuse to learn because I find them so unpleasant and/or frustrating. I give the outsourcee access to as little as I can for him/her to do what I need to be done.

    Originally Posted by jonb View Post

    I'm not what you would call a control freak, but the thought of someone else being able to access that stuff seems hard to swallow.
    Yes - very hard.

    Originally Posted by jonb View Post

    (Along the same lines -- for those who use VAs for blog and forum commenting -- can you ever really feel comfortable with someone else posting in your name?
    When you ask only people who do use VA's for that, guess what will happen? Most of them will have found a way not to feel too uncomfortable with it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, would they? Still, I shouldn't be commenting, because you asked for responses only from a group that excludes those of us who wouldn't ever feel comfortable with it and don't do it at all, for that reason. Well, as the saying goes, you'll see what you look for!
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    • Profile picture of the author jonb
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      When you ask only people who do use VA's for that, guess what will happen? Most of them will have found a way not to feel too uncomfortable with it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, would they? Still, I shouldn't be commenting, because you asked for responses only from a group that excludes those of us who wouldn't ever feel comfortable with it and don't do it at all, for that reason. Well, as the saying goes, you'll see what you look for!
      Thanks Alexa.

      I guess what I'm getting at with this particularity query is whether anyone's found a middle ground -- i.e. the VA finds blog posts and forum threads, composes responses and sends them to the client for approval before actually posting them. I could live with that, but I don't know if that's realistically ever what happens.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by jonb View Post

        I guess what I'm getting at with this particularity query is whether anyone's found a middle ground -- i.e. the VA finds blog posts and forum threads, composes responses and sends them to the client for approval before actually posting them. I could live with that, but I don't know if that's realistically ever what happens.
        Yes, I know ... I was only "busting your chops" because it sounded like you wanted to hear from "one side of the argument only". I know you didn't mean that literally - sorry.

        It's a big issue for me, also. There aren't really any circumstances under which I'd allow anyone to post on blogs/forums in my name, representing my business to the world in a way in which I'm not in control of the representations made. It feels too dangerous and questionable to me. I'll let highly recommended people have access to my own websites - temporarily - when I have to, though, but that's to do things I can't do myself.
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        • Profile picture of the author jonb
          No worries, Alexa. I'm a New Yorker -- chop-busting is a second language to me

          But yeah, whenever I see an outsourcing article about using VAs to blog and forum comment, my first reaction is "Cool! I hate doing that (and thus, never do it) , so it would be great to have that set up." and my next reaction is "I'd be crazy to put my reputation at stake like that."

          So I guess I'm just curious about how those who do outsource that stuff get around that. Either a> they don't care about the chance of that happening or b> they've figured out a system to avoid the possibility of that happening. It's choice B that really interests me.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Jonas Phil VA
    Hi Jonb! I know this question is for people who outsource. But I'm a VA and I think I can also help you out a bit on what to expect once you outsource.
    Originally Posted by jonb View Post


    1. What *specific* tasks do you outsource? I'm trying to get a handle on what can realistically be turned over to someone else. (If it helps, my primary needs are handling customer support, research and traffic generation)
    You can pretty much outsource everything for writing to research, programming and designer. I even know of some VAs who have been asked (and paid) to organize and edit their client's vacation photos. It would all depend on how much you're willing to outsource.

    Originally Posted by jonb View Post


    2. How do you get to a point where you can trust someone outside of your org. to be given access to things like your member list, your shopping cart system, etc.? I'm not what you would call a control freak, but the thought of someone else being able to access that stuff seems hard to swallow.
    If you eventually want to outsource your business to the point that your VA can do all the work for you, then you definitely have to trust them with that.
    We VAs understand that it takes time to develop trust. That's why you have to develop a strong working relationship first with your VA before you trust them with jobs that you think are too important or sensitive. You can even get a lawyer and draft a contract/agreement if it makes you feel more comfortable.

    Originally Posted by jonb View Post


    (Along the same lines -- for those who use VAs for blog and forum commenting -- can you ever really feel comfortable with someone else posting in your name? Do you approve everything they post before they do it?)
    That also depends on you. My employer encourages me to post on blogs and forums but I never post under his name. I use his name as part of username so he'll be identified but I'd never say I was John Jonas. And before I started posting on forums, he trained me and gave specific instructions on what threads to follow and how to answer them properly.

    I hope this helps. To give you a better idea on how to start outsourcing, there's a webinar that teaches outsourcing for beginners. It's free when you sign up for it at replacemyself.com
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    Hire a Filipino virtual assistant and make your business better through outsourcing.
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  • Profile picture of the author jtone
    I've finally found someone I can trust and does what I say You have to contact and partake in communications with lots of people before you find someone whom it clicks with..

    James
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  • Profile picture of the author alastairevans
    Hi Jon!

    When it comes to forum commenting, I actually get my assistant to find threads for me, which she thinks I'd be interested in commenting on. She sends them through to me via email. I then make a recording of my response. I'm actually doing this now!

    And then I send the recording back to her, she transcribes it and post it for me. So I am in complete control of what is being said. It's just it takes a fraction of a time because I can rattle through 10 threads which she sends through to me within 2 or 3 minutes, making it quick recording, sending it back and then she transcribes it.

    Hope that helps. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author jonb
    Awesome idea, Alastair. Love it!
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    I outsource any menial task. For example data entry type things, uploading, etc.


    Saves such a ridiculous amount of work.
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