A Few Ways to Outsource Your Work: How to Do it Right
Dear Business Owner:
Almost every company in America is outsourcing at least part of its work.
It is a new trend and will continue to grow. If you want to make sure that
you do it right and get the results you need, read on...Some of my
suggestions below might point you in the right direction.
Whatever you call them - outsourced workers, independent contractors
or freelancers - businesses are calling them more often these days. In fact,
over 90% of US companies outsource and will continue to do so in
the future. According to one popular business magazine, the average
portion of work outsourced has grown from 6% to more than 27% since
1990. Quite an amazing statistic, if you ask me... A third of employers
report using more contract employees in the past few years and expect
to use more in the future. What it means is that outsourcing is no longer
considered a temporary fix to a short-term need. Instead, it is being re-defined
as a permanent fixture.
Outsourcing can expand your talent pool and save you money, allow
you to adjust to changes in demand and attract workers who prefer
flexible schedules. That's why it is being touted by so many business
owners these days.
So, do you think outsourcing is for you? And how
can you get the most out of it? Here is my best advice...
1. Choose the right jobs
It certainly makes sense to outsource in some areas where the job
requires skills or expertise you do not often need, or tools and
technologies you do not need to own. FreelancersUnion.org shows
that graphic designers, writers, IT professionals, editors, and
marketing professionals are the top outsourced talent. Just
remember: you should not expect outsorced workers to function
completely on their own. You need to spend some time teaching
an independent contractor your business. If you don't teach it,
you might be wasting your money.
2. Find the right people
Knowing the kind of person you want is very important. Of course,
you can start your search with people you know - a trusted advisor
or a peer. But don't be afraid to expand your search. You may
use business referrals, freelance job boards, web searches,
staffing agencies, etc. Here is the problem, though. Many freelancers
might see you as another project or another paycheck. You need
to find people who CARE and who are looking for a long-term
professional relationship.
3. Manage the right way
Managing outside talent requires a few different techniques.
Don't forget that you are not their only client. And you are not
their boss in the traditional sense. If you end up micro-managing,
you have hired the wrong person. What really matters is the result,
not the process.
Remember: when you outsource, you become the customer. It's the
contractor's job to fulfill your needs and make you happy.
Conclusion:
Here is what Thomas Malone, a professor of management
at the MIT Sloan School of Management, has to say about outsourcing:
"I still see a huge, untapped potential in outsourcing. Technology
makes it easy, but the fact that outsourcing offers freedom and
flexibility for both employers and employees is what will really
drives it forward." By the way, I couldn't agree more with him....
If you need help with your marketing projects, please call
Angela Kambarian at (516) 889-8636 or email angela@kambarian.com
Almost every company in America is outsourcing at least part of its work.
It is a new trend and will continue to grow. If you want to make sure that
you do it right and get the results you need, read on...Some of my
suggestions below might point you in the right direction.
Whatever you call them - outsourced workers, independent contractors
or freelancers - businesses are calling them more often these days. In fact,
over 90% of US companies outsource and will continue to do so in
the future. According to one popular business magazine, the average
portion of work outsourced has grown from 6% to more than 27% since
1990. Quite an amazing statistic, if you ask me... A third of employers
report using more contract employees in the past few years and expect
to use more in the future. What it means is that outsourcing is no longer
considered a temporary fix to a short-term need. Instead, it is being re-defined
as a permanent fixture.
Outsourcing can expand your talent pool and save you money, allow
you to adjust to changes in demand and attract workers who prefer
flexible schedules. That's why it is being touted by so many business
owners these days.
So, do you think outsourcing is for you? And how
can you get the most out of it? Here is my best advice...
1. Choose the right jobs
It certainly makes sense to outsource in some areas where the job
requires skills or expertise you do not often need, or tools and
technologies you do not need to own. FreelancersUnion.org shows
that graphic designers, writers, IT professionals, editors, and
marketing professionals are the top outsourced talent. Just
remember: you should not expect outsorced workers to function
completely on their own. You need to spend some time teaching
an independent contractor your business. If you don't teach it,
you might be wasting your money.
2. Find the right people
Knowing the kind of person you want is very important. Of course,
you can start your search with people you know - a trusted advisor
or a peer. But don't be afraid to expand your search. You may
use business referrals, freelance job boards, web searches,
staffing agencies, etc. Here is the problem, though. Many freelancers
might see you as another project or another paycheck. You need
to find people who CARE and who are looking for a long-term
professional relationship.
3. Manage the right way
Managing outside talent requires a few different techniques.
Don't forget that you are not their only client. And you are not
their boss in the traditional sense. If you end up micro-managing,
you have hired the wrong person. What really matters is the result,
not the process.
Remember: when you outsource, you become the customer. It's the
contractor's job to fulfill your needs and make you happy.
Conclusion:
Here is what Thomas Malone, a professor of management
at the MIT Sloan School of Management, has to say about outsourcing:
"I still see a huge, untapped potential in outsourcing. Technology
makes it easy, but the fact that outsourcing offers freedom and
flexibility for both employers and employees is what will really
drives it forward." By the way, I couldn't agree more with him....
If you need help with your marketing projects, please call
Angela Kambarian at (516) 889-8636 or email angela@kambarian.com
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