where to find instructions to give for outsourcing

There are many WSO's on this forum that include vids on doing repetitive tasks like installing Wordpress and things like that.

If the task is specialized I find someone that is already awesome at that task or close to awesome and just needs a bit of tweaking to maintain quality but I am fortunate that I can send enough volume to a specialist for them to be pretty much be a full time VA.

I have also used this approach when I started out and had no choice but to settle for less specialized help that needed more training and hand holding. I would do the task twice myself. Once to warm up, twice to do it fastest and best and during that second run I document with combo of Camtasia screen capture and voice over or PDF so they can learn from it.

No matter if I have used specialists or general workers that are following process vids I have made it a rule that anyone that works for me must absolutely be available on Skype during their working hours and I carefully monitor what is happening or have one of my team leads doing the monitoring. In my case I have clients that are paying 2k+/monthly to hire me as a virtual marketing director with my team backing me so sub par work is not an option.

I have heard a million times that work from virtual assistants or outsourcing does not work etc..
That is a load of crap. What it really means is if you think you can charge a premium price and get someone to do all the work without actually managing it full time and watching it like a hawk, then the work will be junk. Also either you must be expert at the task or have someone that is expert working with you that can determine if the work being done is any good. I only trust someone handling my link building if I know first hand the proper methods that should be used.

I have a background of working in large corporations. We had development teams and specialists all over the world. They did not however just disappear for days on end and there was a massive amount of management, tracking and quality assurance testing in place and of course those wonderful endless meetings in a boardroom huddled around that speaker phone. If I have a VA that I don't feel close to as if they worked in the room next to me and if I cannot talk to them any time I want, they are not a good fit. I am equally accessible to them.

Good luck and sorry if that was way more information than you wanted.

Make them a video.

It's very simple for someone to follow and busts through language barriers that might cause someone to mess up.

I always add article word count required, and test them to see how good their copy writing skills are by asking them to write 200 words based on questions and problems around my clients products or service.

I am a copywriter (and article writer) by trade and like to know people can write to build interest and ask questions around my topic/niche that lead people down a path to clicking a link/taking an action.

For example: I ask them to say what the three most important factors of a good article are. If they are solutions oriented I am interested.

Here is one recent post I added to Elance as an example:
I need someone to do some quality blog commenting linking back to a specific URL. I have 100 posts this time around (have the URLS for you to us), if your posts are of a good standard I will have more to do on an ongoing basis (also for another health and stress oriented niche).

Comments need to be of a high standard - not just "hi like your post" but comments that are relevant to the content and make helpful suggestions e.g. if its a post about a natural sugar scrub for stretch marks, suggesting adding xxx oil for added benefit. I can provide many examples of blog posts you can use and adapt, plus suggested ingredients so you know what to suggest as an ingredient.

Skills required:

Engaging writing style
Good spelling skills
Know how to add a call to action
Building interest and answering the top questions people in this niche want answered
To complete tasks on time

100 posts can be done over a month or 6 weeks (see attachment for blog pages)

Hope that helps

Hi Stranger11
I've spent over 13 years using outsourced services, from 3D animators, to designers, developers, UX/UI, through to copywriters and researchers......and a lot of this time has been spent at leading global digital & advertising agencies running outsourced teams, so it's not just something I've stumbled across ;-)

Without fail, I've always used templates to structure the task outlines and instructions, and detailed instructions (including screenshots etc) for work I'm asking people to complete.

I've actually got a training course coming out in January loaded with the templates that I use, and videos on how to use them.....and as its Xmas, if you send me a message, I'll hook you up with full access for free to the complete course - over 7 resource files, Project templates & multiple templates for use in copywriting, design, creation of mobile apps, social/seo and plugins, along with over 20 videos (including walk-throughs) and a book - not to mention a free WP plugin.

I think you should find these will answer most of your questions ;-)

Ian

Wow, those are some amazing responses. Thanks everyone.

@plessard and Andrew S - Yes, I guess it is important to know how to do it yourself, but what about if you cannot do it yourself. Videos and screenshots are a great idea to give step by step instructions, but only if you can competently do it yourself. Is it possible to give instructions on something you cannot do too well on your own?

@jjmags1219 and rossnmia - Thank you for the examples.Those are very good. I suppose if you get good workers, you may not need to give too many details

@Ian Ralphs - That is a very generous offer. I sent you a PM. I think your templates would be very helpful.