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How do you explain your outsourcing to clients?

by Naets
16 replies
Do you tell them? What do you say?
#clients #explain #outsourcing
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    First, why would they ask?

    Would you tell them if you had on site employees? It wouldn't come up.

    If anyone asked, and they never have, I'd say "I have a few specialists I work with. But you aren't paying anything extra for their help. I oversee the entire project."

    Why would anyone care if you do the work yourself, have on site staff, or your staff is across the world? You are selling results.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmericanMuscleTA
    I doubt most people care if you outsource, as long as you deliver what you promise.
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  • Profile picture of the author isaacsmithjones
    Nothing much to add... You don't need to go around shouting about it. But it's nothing to be ashamed of, unless you're selling a shoddy product.

    If you produce something to be proud of, and give your customers the results they're looking for: Then who cares?

    I'm pretty sure that as I look around the room, half of this stuff was probably made in China or India. But it works, so why would I care where it came from?

    Yes, if someone asks: Don't lie. But as Claude said: Make sure they know that you're overseeing the project, and that you're not passing any extra costs onto your client.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I don't outsource my writing and that's the service I provide. Other aspects of my business aren't relevant to any of my clients if I outsource them anyway so I never say anything.
    I would never outsource the writing/proofreading because people pay for ME to do the work.
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  • Profile picture of the author internetmarketer1
    There is never any need to find out that you have outsources.

    If they ask me if I have other peole help me, I tell them that I do have some help since there is a lot to do. But there is never a time make them find out about everything regarding the outsourcing. They also don't ask because they know based on how I sell my products and services that it is me who delivers them, so no worries there.
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  • Profile picture of the author 9999
    We have a team that specializes in Web design, seo, graphic design, etc...

    Most companies have employees, single business owners outsource but just word is differently and don't pause or hesitate.
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    Just call them a team if it ever comes up. Not sure why it would though.
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  • Profile picture of the author anpharmd09
    As others said, this rarely comes up, so definitely no need to mention the fact you outsource if they don't ask.

    I did actually have one client ask if I did everything (I provide video production/marketing) and I simply said that I handle all of the marketing and client communication and that "my team" handles the production side.
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  • Profile picture of the author webcosmo
    You are selling them a product, not your secrets. I see no point in them asking, but if they do, you can say you have a team of professionals that help you, and that's it, you handle customer relations
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    • Profile picture of the author TSDMike
      It does matter and you should be prepared to give a good answer to this question because potential clients do ask - especially if you run a company like mine that offers many more services and disciplines of IM that one person could reasonably be able to provide.

      It does come up in conversation fairly regularly - and I explain that when you hire my company, you're getting way more than just me. I am my company's only full time employee and I am very much involved from a project management and implementation standpoint. But I also have a team of specialists at my disposal that are highly skilled in their various areas, and they are available to me on-demand.
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      • Profile picture of the author Peter Lessard
        Originally Posted by TSDMike View Post

        It does matter and you should be prepared to give a good answer to this question because potential clients do ask - especially if you run a company like mine that offers many more services and disciplines of IM that one person could reasonably be able to provide.

        It does come up in conversation fairly regularly - and I explain that when you hire my company, you're getting way more than just me. I am my company's only full time employee and I am very much involved from a project management and implementation standpoint. But I also have a team of specialists at my disposal that are highly skilled in their various areas, and they are available to me on-demand.
        Interesting. In 17 years I have never been asked about my company structure. During that time I have had bricks and mortar with on site employees and then went totally virtual. I have been asked if we had done this or that before, and showcased work or results or testimonials etc.. but never did somebody say so do you outsource or do you do the work etc... and I have done deals from $500 to 50k retainers.
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  • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
    Originally Posted by Naets View Post

    Do you tell them? What do you say?
    You don't need to. They are paying you to manage and deliver, so it's up to you how you get things done.
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  • Profile picture of the author counter2015
    If you tell them its for the cost,they will run and find a new one.. try to tell them that its for their own good as you are only sourcing a part of it as the partner is supposed to be best at it
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  • Profile picture of the author massiveray
    I've never had to answer this question either.

    Any of my clients who speak to me would not be surprised if I told them though, I have a pretty open relationship with them.

    I'm proud of the structure I have set up, I have trained people to train people on my behalf, this means that every single thing that gets done, is done to the same standard that I would do it myself.

    Everything is tracked and ticked off so that I can keep up to date on anything at a glance.

    If I can't get somebody to do things at this level then I still do it myself, at the moment this is only strategy development and coaching. Everything else is handled by (mostly) foreign outsourcers who can geneally be replaced in around a day if they are not living up to the the expectations.

    But the be fair, who gives a shit as long as all the arrows are going up right?
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    I NEVER tell my clients that I am outsourcing unless I know that my outsourcing team will need to be in communication with the client.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kherk Roldan
    I have clients who outsource me to do the work for them. they paid them $50 per hour and my client only paid me $5 per hour. i don't like it but its a reality.

    the good thing is they never tell that they outsource the work for them

    the worst thing is i do the work for them!

    but its okay! this is life and i accept it
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