The Tell Tale Signs That It's Time To Outsource

17 replies
The Tell Tale Signs That It's Time To Outsource



Running a business demands more than just productivity - it requires the basic understanding of the 3Es economics: efficiency, effectiveness, and economic. If you are dreaming of spending more time with your family and growing your business at the same time, then, here's a wake up call: you can't do everything.

Outsourcing offers more than just "more me-time", it provides an array of wonderful life-balancing benefits to most business owners, like you. Article marketing is only one of the many business tools that you can explore to put a face to your business - or, better, make the world know that you and your business exist. But why, in the first place, should you outsource article marketing, and more precisely, writing articles? What are the signs that should compel you to outsource?

First, if it can be done on a computer, most likely someone can be more efficient in doing this job than you. Unless, it's your core business, then, it's time to look into outsourcing. Not everyone is a born writer but I sincerely believe that writing is a learned skill. But if just the thought of writing a liner impedes action, maybe writing is not exactly your cup of tea.

It may be really tempting to cut on cost by doing the writing yourself, but if your business lands on building website or working on algorithm to pump a site up on Google's rank, then, it's time to outsource your writing tasks.

Second, if you can't find time to pause because of a pending work order, then, start to explore the possibilities of outsourcing. Most business owners pile themselves up with loads of admin works and planning activities - alongside client calls and doing the business of their business. The result: ineffectiveness and burnout, among others.

If this sounds all too familiar, you may be writing an open-invitation to stress. Remember, running a business requires you to focus your strengths to what you do best. A few dollars may flow out of your pocket to write an article in order to promote your business, but I know that the concept of outsourcing article writing is saner than paying hospital bills and medications when stress finally gets into your system.

Lastly, if you keep staring at your monitor and haven't started on something for about half an hour, then, it's time to leave the job to the expert. Yes, sure, writing is about creativity, and creativity takes time. But if it happens more than twice, then, may be you can spend more time doing what you do best and really love doing.

Outsourcing is not a big concept. In fact, it's sort of a public trade secret. For centuries, plumbers do plumbing and merchants sell commodities. This very basic concept kept the wheel of our economy running since our forefathers can remember. But yeah sure, big words, right. But here's what I know is true: If the thought of just starting the task holds you down and impedes action, then, it's time to think about the possibilities of outsourcing.
#outsource #outsourcing
  • Feel free to write in what you think about the article. Will greatly appreciate it. Namaste.
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  • Profile picture of the author dre94114
    Good article. I have to say personally some of the hesitation in outsourcing is giving up control of my processes or part of it. I guess it's hard to know what you can trust others to and still maintain the quality you would like.
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    • Hi, dre94114. First, let me thank you for participating in the thread. And, let me tell, you, I know what you feel and think.

      I have to say personally some of the hesitation in outsourcing is giving up control of my processes or part of it.

      You're not alone. In fact, most business owners I know are control freak. Your business is your baby; you care for it until you can, even sacrificing the weekend if you feel that you need to. Letting go isn't easy, and so is delegating. We, business owners, are so used to doing everything. And we do everything we can just to save some dollars or just to make sure that every detail is perfect.

      Until to the point that we realize that our business takes a life of its own. Just like our children. It needs others, it can run without us monitoring every step. It grows and it needs others to reach its full potential. Like our web designers, writers, and even our ever reliable admin staff. Then, you realize that in order to facilitate growth, you need to realize that you and your business needs others. And for me, this is the hardest part - accepting the truth.

      Outsourcing needs monitoring, both from the service provider and project owner. Most relationships fail not because the output was less than what was expected but because of lack of communication. You need to bridge this gap so you, as a project owner, can receive an output worthy of your investment.

      A simple documentation is all it takes. Define your goals, agree on the timetable, and define what quality means to you. I've also provided ways on how you can avoid outsourcing mistakes that are common to online transactions in one of the Mind Warriors - Success, Power, Self-Improvement threads. Hope you can read it.

      Hope this helps. If you have any question, please feel free to post it here.

      Namaste.
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      • Profile picture of the author MerlynSanchez
        Thank you for the article. I've really only recently started to outsource and one my biggest challenges is that it seems easier to do it myself than teach someone else how to do it!

        Even if you find a well-trained person there are always certain tasks that need to be customized and there can be a lot of back and forth until they get it "right".

        I know it's worth it! But sometimes I fall back into the "I'll just do it myself" mindset.
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        • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
          Originally Posted by MerlynSanchez View Post


          I know it's worth it! But sometimes I fall back into the "I'll just do it myself" mindset.
          Hi Merlyn, Outsourcing can be difficult but like you said... it is worth it. In the last two years I've paid one of my helpers in Serbia over $20,000 Wish I could find a few more like her because it would make it so much easier for me to expand my business into new markets.

          I did have one guy in India that was doing a good job but I had to let him go because he could not always finish the work I gave him on time and his internet and / or electricity would also be down often. That plus the language difference made it difficult. I only speak English and he only spoke Hindu but could read and write some English. One of my friends from Fiji who speaks both English and Hindu would sometimes help us to communicate but it was just too difficult to keep him on our team.

          Cheers,
          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author businessmatt
            Good article. I agree 100%. I understand the hesitation a lot of people have with outsourcing, and some of us (myself included) aren't at the point where it is an option yet. But it really makes a lot of sense.

            Think of it this way. Say you have 3 tasks that need to be done in your business.
            • Task "A" takes 2 hours per day, but you are really good at it, nobody can do it better than you, and it makes you $500 a day. It's also scaleable, so if you do it 4 hours per day, you make more (maybe it's posting and linking to articles)
            • Task "B" takes you 4 hours per day. It is very tedious and you're not good at it all, or maybe you're mediocre at it, but it is required in order for task "A" to work. (maybe it's writing the articles)
            • Task "C" is totally unrelated to what you are doing, but it needs to be done and it takes 2 hours per day (like say, book keeping)
            So you're at 8 hours a day, but only 2 hours of those 8 hours makes you any money. Yes, the other tasks are required, yes, you already know how to do them. But imagine if you paid someone else to do them for you. You could concentrate on Task "A" exclusively, and make almost 4 times as much money potentially.

            That's what a lot of people miss I think when they worry about control. I know it's a big issue, but for me, I'll take the money over the micro-managing.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamespitt
    There are two ways to do outsourcing:

    1. Find someone amazing to do it, or spend a lot of time training someone to do it *just* the way you want it done.

    2. Make the work easier. This way it's easy to find someone to do it.

    If I were you, I'd read the 'emyth' by Michael Gerber - it's a great guide to turning work into a process. (the e stands for 'entrepreneur'; it's not a book about doing stuff online ).

    Or - you could just do what I've done, and outsource yourself. I'm now based pretty well full time in the Philippines, and I love it!
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    Get your totally free outsourcing guide here..

    Send me a PM if you want to hire top-calibre outsourced staff.

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    • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
      Hi Namaste, I've outsourced to India, Serbia and Romania but so far not anyone in the Philippines. I'll email you at your gmail address soon.

      Cheers,
      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Angela811
        Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

        Hi Namaste, I've outsourced to India, Serbia and Romania but so far not anyone in the Philippines. I'll email you at your gmail address soon.

        Cheers,
        Steve
        Hi Steveski - where did you find your Romanians?
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
      Originally Posted by jamespitt View Post


      If I were you, I'd read the 'emyth' by Michael Gerber - it's a great guide to turning work into a process. (the e stands for 'entrepreneur'; it's not a book about doing stuff online ).
      The eMyth is a great book but have you read "Work The System" by Sam Carpenter?
      It goes far beyond the eMyth and you can download the first 3 chapters of it for free at:
      http:Work the System ? WTS Methodology

      Cheers,
      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Swimmer
    I think it makes sense. I used to work all day and all night and I was miserable but since I started getting some great help from India I have been able to deliver quality work for clients, a nice profit and spend my time networking and relaxing instead of slaving away.
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  • Profile picture of the author texhost
    I have used a well known outsource company in China and India. My results have been mixed. I hope to find a better fit. I tried to hire a one stop shop, but I do not think that will work. Now I am starting to look for best of breed outsourcers.
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    • You guys have been so wonderful. Thank you all for contributing in this thread.

      Here's to a productive and efficient new year. Hope you can find the right people to help you grow your business - better, faster.
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  • Profile picture of the author somethingabout
    Putting Your Systems on how you do things in your business on paper is a start. You can do this in a step by step manner. This way you can hand the system over to your 'Outsource' workers to follow.

    Like a Article Re Write System

    Basic Example:

    Step 1 Open PLR (Private Label Rights) Articles

    Step 2 Research Content on Internet (Google, Ezine Articles, Forums)

    Step 3 Take Research Notes from Internet

    Step 4 Open Article Rewriter software

    Step 5 Re write article and add research notes

    Step 6 Spell Check

    Step 7 Compare Rewritten Article to PLR Article Must be 70% Different 1.5% Keyword Density.

    Step 8 Email for inspection.

    Step 9 Project Complete

    I test out my systems on my Partner to make sure she can follow it before I add it to my projects.

    Another way is to record your self doing your work by screen video capture and give that to your out source workers to use. You can use Camtasia and get workers to watch the video along with your step by step guide.

    And the last system step is to make a flow chart.

    If you do these ideas, not only are you outsourcing your work, you are aslo building your business into a true asset.

    Regards

    Matthew
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  • Profile picture of the author eugenedm
    I was afraid to outsource, but now I can't live without it
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  • Profile picture of the author darkonetoo
    If you find some method-that-works - it only makes sense to scale it up.

    Or, why bother doing the method-that-works..., at all?

    DarkOneToo
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
    How can anyone genuinely hesitate to outsource because they might "lose control"? Name ONE successful company that has only a single person working within it.

    Of course it doesn't exist

    If you want to grow beyond being a minor player you MUST outsource.
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