Tips on Fully Outsourcing my Business needs

Everywhere I look I see the name John Jonas as being the outsourcing go to guy. I am in no way affiliated with him, his blog is http://jonasblog.com hope this helps.

Outsourcing can be great or a total disaster. I have experienced both, and the difference between the two was my preparation.

When I first hired some folks, I figured I would just quickly show them what to do and move on. Not at all. Even tasks that seemed simple to me needed significant training (and oversight, at least at first) in order to be done correctly. I ended up wasting my money and time when I first started outsourcing.

Now, I know better. Before you even consider hiring someone, figure out exactly what you want them to do, and write out every single step of the process, even the ones that seem obvious. Have someone look at it who knows nothing about IM and see if it makes sense to them. Then, put it in a format that you can send out to a VA.

Also, something else I have found helpful is using a VPS and putting any software that I want them to use on it. Then they can have easy access to the software at any time, and I can go in and see exactly what they are doing as well.

another top outsourcing guy is tyron chum very well know guy advocates a lot for outsourcing and makes money doing so, selling courses on how to chose your VA to do your tasks he talks alot about paying these VAs something like 3.5usd a day and I think 300 usd a month for full time VA's

I havent purchased anything form him due to the fact that you can just browse craigslist or odesk or elance or fiverr or YMI or google the term virtual asistant in (insert whatever part of the world you like)

but be careful like caseycase said it can be a disaster if you arent specific enough with what you want. rule of thumb write your tasks so that a 10 y/o can follow and then ask the VA to repeat (re word)what you want to have done to make sure you are on the same boat.

hope this was somewhat helpful

I also have a mac mini server is it possible to use that as a way for staff to access my software? Now I am starting to see the need for that thing. Just need to figure out how to set it up. Thanks for the idea.

You can outsource a lot of work on Elance.com. In my experience, it's difficult to find good assistants, so be prepared to invest some money into finding good ones, but once you find them, they are yours to keep for life!

PCactive - this is an interesting thread. You say that you've been ripped off before but you've not really given us any information about what you're trying to outsource, specifically.

Re-read your question from a third party perspective. See if you can actually figure out what you (as the poster) needs. It's not clear.

Maybe you can post your question more clearly and explain what kinds of tasks you need outsourced?

Unless you actually have an IM business model, how can you expect to successfully outsource?

I don't know where you're hiring your staff from, but it doesn't look like you're taking full advantage of ratings/feedback. What service are you using?

Hi PCactive,

RE: MAC SOFTWARE

Upgrade to a multi-user license version of your software. Hire offshore staff with Mac computers running on an OS version compatible with your software. Upload an ISO image or a compatible Mac disk image file of your software installation CD to your server. Give them the download URLs. Ask them to install it into their Mac computers. Provide them the licenses to unlock the software. Ask them to review help documentation materials and any tutorial you may have so they'll know how to use the software. Problem solved.

RE: HIRING OFFSHORE STAFF

Make a list of the tasks you need to outsource. Classify these tasks into particular areas of expertise and knowledge, keeping in mind that expertise and knowledge in two or more of these subject areas are quite difficult to find in one person...

Do each of these task sets in four to eight hours -- Four if you need a part time person, eight if you need a full timer. Determine your output quality, output volume and output completion speed for each of these groups of tasks. Keep in mind that someone with more extensive expertise and knowledge in subject areas relevant to each group of tasks can produce higher output quality, higher output volume and faster output completion speed. After all, I'm sure you'd want to hire people with such levels of expertise and knowledge in completing the tasks you need outsourced...

Take in applicants. Implement advertising campaigns on Facebook, popular local and international job sites, Web forums tackling outsourcing-related subjects, offline and online classified ads. Ask for the latest copy of their CVs and relevant portfolios. Also ask them to write detailed information about their skills and expertise as well as how these and their attitude, work ethics and professionalism can help your business grow, in the body of their emails where they will attach their CVs...

Review their application letters and CVs. Send paid tests which will simulate one full time or part time work day of tasks to qualified applicants -- One full time work day of tasks if you need a full timer, or one part time work day of tasks if you need a part timer. Inform them they should comply with all your detailed requirements and specifications for each task set, otherwise they won't get accepted. Of course, pay them for the time they spend working on your full time or part time work day of tasks if they pass your tests. If you won't be paying those who didn't pass your tests, they should retain full exclusive ownership rights to their work output. Let them know this before they start working on your tests...

Draft a subcontract with NCAs and NDAs, send this subcontract to them for their perusal, finalize changes to the subcontract as agreed by both parties, then provide them with process maps for completing their daily tasks, helpful materials which can increase their task output quality, volume and task completion speed, a detailed list of their daily tasks and your requirements. Also ask them to send a spreadsheet report for the day that should contain detailed info about the things they did to complete each of their tasks for the day. Tell them you'll be reviewing these daily reports each day to give them incentivised rewards for high quality performance, reliability and professionalism at the end of each month...

Hope this helps...

Best Regards,

Marx Melencio
Proprietor and Marketing Communications Strategist
Grayscale Business Consultancy and Marketing Services