Outsourcing 101: How to Grow Your Business by Hiring Freelancers

When you hire skilled freelancers to do the tasks you don’t have the time or ability to do, you can focus on what you do best. And outsourcing work isn’t just for big companies! Technology has made it possible for companies of every size to hire freelancers virtually anywhere in the world.

Don’t let busyness keep you from innovating and growing your business. Use this beginner’s guide to learn how to get the most out of outsourcing.

Why Outsource?

The benefits of outsourcing are mighty, including the ability to access diverse talent, complete projects faster, and decrease and control operating costs. It can even allow your company to scale up and expand into new areas of operation where you may not have in-house expertise.

Deciding When To Outsource

The right time to start outsourcing is different for everyone, and chances are you’ll just know. Maybe you need outside help to undertake new projects without hiring a full-time employee. Or maybe you’ve noticed mundane daily tasks are stifling your creativity or work output. Whatever the case, if you are struggling to manage the day-to-day operations and build your business, it may be time to consider outsourcing.

Knowing What To Outsource

Start with the basic, repetitive tasks, such as payroll administration or data entry. This will free you up significantly to focus on the work you need and love to do. Then, consider outsourcing tasks that fall outside your core strengths to gurus with specialized knowledge. For example, if you own a store and want to create an iPhone app, or you’re an author and need illustrations for your book.

Finding The Gurus You Need

It’s now easier than ever to find capable, reliable freelancers online, but you need to know how to select the right one. The key to finding the professional you need is to know and clearly express exactly what you’re looking for. If you have no idea where to start, Guru is a great place. Post your job, including specific details about what you need done and how you will evaluate the work. Then, conduct a search and reach out to select gurus to request a quote. Carefully evaluate each quote you receive. Look for positive feedback, good communication skills, and work terms that fit your needs. If you find you aren’t getting the quotes you want, make sure you aren’t making any of these job posting mistakes.

Managing Outsourced Jobs

Once you’ve found and hired a guru, you’re not done yet! The key to successfully outsourcing is to see each job through to the end. Set yourself up for success from the start by finding the perfect balance between being too involved and too far removed from the process.

1. Request an Agreement

Ask your guru to send you an agreement at the beginning outlining expectations and the steps included in the job. This will help you build a trusting relationship and allow you to take advantage of SafePay’s protections and auto-pay. Review the agreement carefully, paying special attention to these five important sections.

2. Step Back

Micromanaging gurus you hire will negate the benefits you might otherwise enjoy from outsourcing. Removing yourself from low-level operations is the smartest choice you can make to contribute to the long-term success of your business. Once you’ve set up an agreement, trust the guru to do the work. There are checks and balances in place if they don’t follow through.

3. Communicate

While you shouldn’t micromanage, you should be aware of progress and whether the work being done is meeting your expectations. If a guru’s work isn’t cutting it, let them know what they need to do before they get paid. Most of the time, if you communicate your issues and provide clear expectations, you can avoid disputes. Using SafePay keeps you protected the entire time you’re working with a guru. With SafePay, you can delay payment if extra work is needed. If the work is never completed to your satisfaction, you can ask for a refund.

Common Challenges

You may have some worries about outsourcing, especially if it’s your first time. And rightfully so; there are several challenges you will face, including language barriers and time zone differences. If you are careful to clearly communicate with non-native English speakers, you can make things much easier. Also, being in a different time zone can actually be a benefit – assign a task at night, and when you wake up it could be complete! You may wonder if you can trust a freelancer who is halfway around the world to deliver the work you need. Here at Guru, we provide not only access to the freelancers, but to a system of safeguards and quality controls. And outsourcing helps businesses to get jobs done that they don’t have the time and skills to do themselves. You may be concerned about keeping your data, “big idea”, and other proprietary information secure. Provide only the absolute minimum data necessary for the provider to do the work you need. You might also consider including legal protections such as a nondisclosure agreement alongside your agreement on Guru.com, just in case.

Enjoy the Rewards

While outsourcing poses a few challenges, it ultimately offers you great advantages. You can expand your operations with minimal overhead costs, and free yourself from those tasks that keep you from seeing the bigger picture. Finally, you can focus on setting new goals, and finding ways to make them a reality.