How can I outsource my automation software use?

Go to a outsource site and then search with keywords like "social bookmarking" "Article marketing".

All the people having there work profile with these keywords must also have been using such softwares and if not give them a guide to use such a software.

Ask them to give you a preview that how they work you can use teamviewer for that..

Create another username in your computer and give them remote access, problem solved :-) Restrict that username (obviously), btw

The first problem is that you don't seem to have an automation strategic plan. There's a big difference between "task" automation and "business" automation.

A good analogy would be someone looking to automate first their arms, then their legs, then their eyes....etc....then you go out and get a piece of software for each one.

Instead, to get maximum roi from your automation efforts, you need to really have a clear understanding of your business processes. In other words, think of how to automate your entire "body" as an interconnected system vs. discrete parts.

You may consider looking into full business processing tools such as winautomation or network automation's software. With this,you spend the cost of training someone once who can go out and create custom scripts for you that does virtually everything you need done in your business.

I whipped these up to help some people a while ago, you can check out these process maps in scribd...

(over 500+ views btw so I guess some people have found it useful)

Web Automation Processes Mapping
Web Data Extraction Automation
Data Asset Management Presentation

Why would you want to outsource the use of your automation tools? If you are going to pay for outsourcing then outsource the result, not the means of achieving the result. EG for SE Nuke, outsource the creation of x number of web 2.0 properties. You dont need to care how these properties are created, just that they are created. You are over complicating to be thinking about licenses/remote logins etc..

He's VERY smart to want to outsource AND automate. It's all about multiplying one's productivity by the product of x^infinite amounts...

a) You outsource to remove your own manual labor as a factor of production in your business

b) You automate so that those doing manual labor have their own productivity enhanced...

The main *business goal* of both automation and outsourcing is to be able to spend the bulk of one's time involved in the highest income producing activities (or leisure)

(outsourcing)+(automation)=ROI^x !

By the way, here is one tip that none of the "gurus" talk about when it comes to outsourcing.

The thing is, if you're paying manual labor, when they use automation tools, they are basically going to spend far less time working.

This is great for you as a buyer, but as someone who sells, their labor, there's no real payout for them...
They are doing 10x the work for the same salary.

What you have to do for your most productive workers is give them A REWARD OR INCENTIVE TO LEARN HOW TO WORK FASTER & HARDER...

As an example, with my staff, I make it so they can get an increase in their salary pursuant to how much/how well they learn new software, systems, etc. which increases productivity....

YOU ARE HAPPY because you are getting far more work done...
THEY ARE HAPPY because they are getting paid for the better results they are producing....

In other words, no one's really going to all of a sudden do 10x the work - work that would take them 10 hours that they get paid for, now takes 1 hour - unless something's init for them

I really recommend anyone who wants to keep quality staff design a compensation structure that rewards people for producing more - this could be bonuses, random rewards for meeting short term goals, etc...

Which reminds me my assistant deserves a raise soon, she is ridiculously smart, helpful,trustworthy, loyal and a true godsend!

You could take moneykws' more results=more money a step further....

Provide your outsourcers with a process map of how you like something done manually and then mention the software and where it can be bought.

If you're paying for performance, it's up to THEM how they achieve the benchmarks you set for them.

You can even structure your payscales progressively. Creat 500 backlinks, get $x, create 2000 backlinks, get $xx and so on.

Don't be afraid to outsource the use of tools...you're on the right track. As for letting them use your license....not cool. It's a business expense and you're doing business. Contact the product owner and tell them exactly why you need another license.

They may give you a discount or even hook you up for free.

I contacted Noble Samurai and got setup quite nicely.

Moneykws and Mike, you guys really hit the nails on the head for me. Thanks so much for your valuable insight and input. I'm definitely going to use your advice and see how things go.

Moneykws, I am definitely aiming for 'business' automation ultimately (end goal) but right now I think I'm mainly doing 'task' automation, though I've never really thought about it in those terms. I've been using contractors through oDesk. I have one whose expertise is profile backlink building, one who does blog commenting links, and one who writes and uploads my articles.

Guess I should have said my business setup is for mini niche sites, of which I have about 20 right now. I have been doing all the keyword research and domain buying (which I seem to enjoy a little I think, oddly enough) and then I get my article writer to write and upload articles; he reports back to me; then I tell my 2 backlink builders to go build some backlinks for the site. I usually do multiple sites at a time so I'll send them a simple spreadsheet of how many articles and backlinks to do for each site.

Any things that immediately pop out at you that I could change or improve? Am I on the right track? Should I have the contractors talk to each other in a team room to relay info (keywords, sites, etc.) instead of reporting to me after every task?

My end goal, like you mentioned, is basically to remove myself almost completely out of the picture for leisure and freedom to where the whole process runs smoothly from start to finish with little to no input by me whatsoever (obviously input up front is necessary). Any additional feedback or thoughts you guys have would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks so much for your input already.

- John

Excellent, thanks. I'm going to look into all the resources you mentioned over the next few days. And yes you do seem passionate about it, and that's awesome. Similarly, I'm passionate about my business setup/plan as a whole so naturally I'm excited about outsourcing as much as possible.

Thanks everyone for this information. I'm sure some of the backlink builders on oDesk will have software such as SeNuke though?

IMHO, the simplest option is to find people who already own the
software, and use it to provide services to others. I think there
is a WSO that might help, but don't know the URL.

HTH

Glenn

Kind of a misnomer - automation - if you have to pay somebody to do it!

Rather, pay for the result - 200 profile links, 200 articles submitted, 200 blog posts created, etc.

Doesn't really matter how they do it. I assume you're doing this for the backlinks anyway.

If for actual content creation, assuming you have a WP blog, just set them up as a contributor and once they've proven their abilities, raise their role.

Or, as suggested here, hire somebody who already has the tool and cancel your subscription to it.

Using teamviewer, you can share just Internet Explorer or Firefox with the person and keeping everything else safe.

Hi John,

Please let me know if you are still looking to get your tasks outsourced. I am unable to PM due to low post count.

thanks,
Roh

John,
as you are a member of the warroom, go over there and read this post: "16,8-million-dollar-autopilot-solution-greece"
Very helpful for everyone who wants to automate and become more productive.