Using Freelancers for everything -- A Good or Bad Model

10 replies
Hi Everyone,

For the past two years I have been trying to learn the internet business. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of courses, bought books (and read them), purchased a mentoring program for $5000 (not a good decision) and spent time listening to podcasts, tuning into webinars etc. etc.. I am totally overwhelmed. And the fact that I am not technically savvy -- has meant that no progress has been made. it seems to me that a way forward might be to engage a number of individuals experienced in various facets of the internet -- bring them into my team -- and allow them to do what they do best, while I focus down on writing e-books. I would really welcome your input -- is this a good approach, or not. What are some of the pitfalls? Has anyone used this business model before to good success. What are some of the key skills I need to recruit. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you so much
#bad #freelancers #good #model
  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    I use the same approach.

    This works for a couple of big reasons:

    1. It frees up your time;
    2. It assigns specialists to specialist areas.

    I'm not expert in everything. Who is? In putting together my current team, which spans quite a few different projects, you look at who can do what best. It isn't always me; heck a lot of the time it isn't. But more than this, it allows me to oversee, dream the dreams, and push out new projects, or notice areas where my current ones can be improved.

    I'm a little tired today, so I hope the above is useful.

    Edit: Being a little tired, I should clarify. I use a combination of freelancers and regular on-staff employees. The above, primarily, relates to the latter for me, but I expect it would work for freelancers, too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by information maven View Post

    is this a good approach, or not
    For me, it was nearly always a bad approach, when I tried it.

    Outsourcing things that you don't know how to do yourself can be very difficult, and is a skill-set all of its own. Some people acquire it more easily than others. Of course, the other huge disadvantage is that in outsourcing things, you don't learn by doing them, and in the long run that tends to reduce, rather than to increase, the control you have over your own business.

    Outsourcing successfully is a more skilled task than many people quite appreciate.

    Originally Posted by information maven View Post

    I am not technically savvy
    Most people who become techically savvy enough to do internet marketing manage to achieve that in a lot less than two years. But two years later, you haven't, yourself. What does that teach you? Most of what's involved in setting up, running and earning from an online business is about acquiring skills.

    I can almost promise you that when I started off, I had fewer technical skills than you have now. I was completely technophobic and incompetent. It's much easier for people who are willing to learn what they need to know than it is for people who depend on outsourcing.

    After your business is up and running, it makes sense to delegate/outsource the things you can do yourself but prefer not to, because your own time's too valuable. That gives you flexibility and time without the downsides it would bring initially.

    Originally Posted by information maven View Post

    What are some of the key skills I need to recruit.
    It concerns me, vicariously, that you're asking this question in a forum and are apparently/impliedly willing, in principle, to be influenced by the replies of people who (clearly) can have no possible idea of either (a) what your own existing skills are, or even (b) what kind of business model you want to set up!

    Please excuse the somewhat outspoken response, but Auntie Lexy has just read your tea-leaves, and predicts that the way you're asking for advice now, after another two years' time you'll perhaps have spent another $5,000+ and still not be drawing a regular monthly income from an internet marketing business.

    .
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Auntie Lexy just saved me a whole bunch of typing...
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    • Profile picture of the author agmccall
      If you make a profit then....................yes

      If you lose money then......................no

      al
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben Holmes
    One of the most thoughtful insights I saw on this forum (sure wish I knew who first said it!) was something to the effect that he started making money when he stopped buying, and started selling.

    It's really just that simple.

    (of course, the execution might be a tad technical...)
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  • Profile picture of the author trendier
    I hire freelancers all the time for things that would take me too long to do myself. I would say don't spend more than you can handle on it though, and in worse situations, learn what you need to do yourself to save a few bucks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    In my mind when i saw the thread title "Using Freelancers for everything", i immediately thought of something i said to myself one night a long time ago. I said, "why do all of this work, when i can just buy a bunch of automated software for every marketing technique, and let that do the work for me?" But that was a bad thought - and bad idea.

    Using freelancers for everything means you got to monitor your staff. In truth, you dont need freelancers. Internet marketing is very simple. Doesn't take alot to reach the high 5-figures a year by doing things yourself. If you absolutely can't (or hate) write... then i guess hire someone good to do it for you. Me personally, i do virtually everything myself. And still have time for the girlfriend.
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  • Profile picture of the author AuthorityBuilder
    I'd suggest you doing what you are good at. For example, you say that you'll be writing ebooks but you are not technically savvy. So build a team, hire technical experts to build sites for you, hire marketers to promote your ebooks and keep the money flowing in. That way, you are off to build a great business you may have long dreamed of.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Ideally you want to outsource or hire someone for areas of business you don't like, aren't very good at, or don't have time to do.

    You may make some hiring mistakes, but if you have the money, do it. Worst case scenario, you lose a bit of money but gain the learning experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author Miss Lisa
    the important point is not to have a free time to work online or to learn and listen a lot of videos and
    lessons .. but the good idea is to make a personal method yourself , a method that you trust in it's success .. you have to plane for your work target ...

    Regards ..
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