Let’s face it. We can’t be good at everything, and we only have 24 hours in a day. The one-man-does-it-all mentality wouldn’t work for a home-based business. How can we get help when we need it?
The answer is outsourcing.
You can hire experienced professionals, and let them use their creative talents while you focus on other tasks. Another benefit is that the workers you hire may be more up-to-date on the latest information and technology in their specific fields and can be assets to your clients, as well, offering improved quality service.
But finding workers and figuring out where to meet or when to bring them can pose some difficult juggling, personal, and security issues. How should we outsource?
Deciding What to Outsource
Focus on outsourcing some of the major tasks of your workload. First, check your To-Do lists and office area. What CAN you outsource? Which work seems to pile up the most?
For example, maybe you can’t seem to find time to update your website each month. Maybe your newsletter is STILL not getting out regularly. Or perhaps your direct mail campaign is not quite as direct as it should be; i.e. it is sitting directly in the same pile it was three months ago.
Then, write out a one-page project description for these major tasks. Focus on WHAT exactly you抎 want done, WHEN, and HOW the end-product should turn in to you.
Selecting Service Providers
Then look for the right professionals for your work. For example, with the sample tasks above, find people who can help with websites, newsletter creation, and sending out direct mail campaigns. Call round and surf the Internet and ask other home based business operators which companies they recommend. Check forum posts; inquire for advice and suggestions. Shop around for comparisons. A good place to start is websites such as Elance.com and Guru.com.
Then set up trial periods and test a couple. Remember, no one is perfect. See who you can communicate with pretty easily and who’s flexible to work as a team player. Check out the quality (and quantity) of their work. Then choose a candidate. Remember, this decision is not carved on stone. And you can always hire the other person as a back-up or a second helper down the road. So be kind to all who test, make decisions, and keep your business moving forward.
Outsourcing is a great way to help small businesses grow larger while still working at home. So reach out, and give it a try!
