9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Outsourcing - Help Please!

by NiallR
8 replies
Howdy folks,

I've been using RentACoder for a good while now hiring writers etc. and had some great content created there.

I've finally made the decision to hire a proper virtual assistant and want to outsource this work to get a better return on my money.

Now what I'm looking for is somebody who can write in fluent English and be trained (100% by me and I'm a nice guy lol) to perform other tasks like link building, blogging, Squidoo lenses etc etc.

I'm willing to spend several hundred dollars per month on this type of person but I need an actual English writer.

Can anyone please, please recommend a good source/resource for hiring a writer/virtual assistant who is fluent in conversational English. Please.

I've tried a few so far (agencies and private) and so far it's like banging my head off a brick wall.

Thanks in advance for any replies peoples :-)

Niall
#outsourcing
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Johns
    Hi Niall,

    Have you looked locally? Stay at home mothers or anything like that? could they do it for you?

    All the best

    Jason
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695595].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gabibeowulf
    well .. it takes time to find someone to work with ..

    try lots of sources .. not just one website .. rentacoder .. guru.com .. elance .. freelancer.com .. regional job websites ... like in india .. or russia .. forums ..

    You can try on webmasters forums also .. DP is full of people always in need of a quick buck
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695597].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author LordXenu
    If you are looking to outsource a cheap foreign writer, let me recommend looking at hiring from the Philippines or Malaysia. Having outsourced work to many different nationalities I have found these two, Filipinos in particular to have quite good conversational english skills, at a price that is right. Their expected wages are a bit higher than your average indian, but the communication ease makes things much easier. I'm sure with a little interviewing you can find someone who writes english copwrite indistinguishable from native speakers at a somewhat decent price. You may get lucky with some eastern europeans. Have you tried the foreign sectiosn of craigslist looking for an english writer? Maybe even the local CL listings? With the rough economy you could perhaps even find native english writers to work at a reasonable cost these days. I still love my little Filipino army
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695601].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    Hi Niall,

    Good news - the solution for your needs is right at hand, so you can stop banging your head

    My VA (from the Phillipines) has fellow VA's ready to start part-time or full time work who speak conversational english.

    The rates are more than affordable and many already are already trained to do tasks like you wanted to provide training to do like link building, blogging, lens building etc.

    Look for a PM from me for more details
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695648].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Stacey Wockenfuss
    While I understand the need to hire and outsource to foreign countries because it's cheaper and more economical for many within the IM industry, man has it driven the rates down for professionals such as myself. And its hurting the industry as a whole in the long run. (i.e. think auto industry right now).

    I've really notice an onslaught in the past few years of so called specialized "VA's" charging less than $10 bucks and hour for their work. Which in turn, drives down the entire market. Its like someone selling a really great IM tool for $299 and then someone else selling almost an identical tool for $29 bucks. It causes the whole industry to suffer because the perceived value has been lowered in the market.

    Anyway, I guess I should stop ranting and just be happy people are working from home and doing well. I am sure you will find the help you need. Good luck and hope your biz prospers.

    BTW, there are a lot of stay at home moms here in the US who are fully capable of learning the ropes and will do the work for only $8-10 an hour. You just have to go out and find a good one.

    Stacey
    Signature
    Find out what a top VA can do to help you grow your business!

    http://www.FreelanceClericalServices.com

    Professional Virtual Assisting and Project Management Services
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695670].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author NiallR
      Thanks for all the replies so far guys - very much appreciated.

      On the idea of outsourcing to the Philippines - I've tried and am still trying. I've hired 3 VAs privately and all 3 of them just vanished for no reason. Accepted contracts, took on initial work and then just disappeared.

      I've just tried to hire a writer through another agency and was promised somebody with excellent writing skills. Ahem. The guy has some of the poorest English I've ever seen or he's using an article spinner. Or both. So I'm in the middle of cancelling the contract on that one.

      I'd love to outsource the work itself more locally to work-at-home moms etc but at $8 an hour that's $320 per week or $1440 per month - that's well outside my budget but it's not fair to ask people to work for less than that.

      Catch 22 - I can see myself just doing the whole lot myself (which I also don't want lol)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[695709].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author strategic
        Maybe you could consider offering a JV model to someone?

        If you know someone who has the time and is willing to learn, you can train them up to do the work, and you split the profits.

        As long as the JV partner can see that they will get good value for their hourly input to match what would otherwise be an hourly rate, you both get a great deal, and this way you have a truly committed partner who pays attention to the work they do, as they want a cut of the bigger picture profits.

        I have had much success doing this with friends and associates that I trained up and now we work in various JV projects. I'm also starting to do this with people I have never met, just over the internet, because we have common interests/skills etc in niches and products.

        Just remember to set the groundrules and expectations from the beginning, and everyone gets to do their proper share or the work or investment.
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[707284].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author elle56
    Based on your VA experience, it looks like you just have to keep on looking for the perfect fit. How about doing a trial period first to see how it goes?

    I suggest you try agencies offering VA services. They have control on their VA's and "running away" from the job is less likely to happen.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[707311].message }}

Trending Topics