How To Outsource - 3 Big Outsourcing Tips

How To Outsource - 3 Big Outsourcing Tips

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Are you wondering how to outsource work to a freelancer, either in the U.S. or abroad?

A lot of people are.

Outsourcing a project to freelance workers, or virtual workers as some refer to it, doesn't often feel like a simple thing to do. Especially the first time you do it.

There are a lot of questions that you wonder about.

1.What kind of assignments do I outsource?
2.Who do I hire?
3.Where do I find virtual assistants?
4.How do I go about hiring a freelance worker?
5.How do I communicate with my freelancer?
6.How do I make sure my assignments are being done correctly?
7.How do I really know what I'm paying for?
8.How do I pay a freelancer?

Determining how to outsource seems daunting, and it was questions like these that prevented me from outsourcing for a long time. Of course I wish they hadn't. Because now that I have gone through it, I can see tremendous value in it - in the form of significant time and cost savings.

Here are 3 helpful tips to help you find freelancers and get started outsourcing.

1. Use ONLINE freelance communities!

I used to think that job boards and classified sites like Craigslist were the best options for getting freelance projects done. Boy was I wrong. What I found was that these were good ways to collect a lot of resumes but ultimately I had hardly any idea who these applicants were, or what they were really capable of. Applicants who looked great on paper proved to be awful in reality. It was a pricey learning experience.

Then finally I discovered what I'll term "freelance hubs" - websites like oDesk and Scriptlance - whose PURPOSE is to bring together employers with freelancers, from all over the world.

These sites often have tens of thousands of graphic designers, programmers, web developers, writers, editors, SEO experts, and other virtual assistants ready at the helm to bid on projects. Beyond just a resume, you can see projectsthey have taken on, the hours they've logged, tests they've taken, language proficiency, and (perhaps best of all) REVIEWS they've received from those who have already worked with them.

So before you choose someone you can have a high level of confidence in the person you decide upon.

These sites also make it easy to post a project, search for candidates, get applications, hire, communicate your project, and even pay your worker.

That's a lot of benefits.

2. Start SMALL!

Really, finding freelancers seems a lot more difficult than it really is.

What IS overwhelming is trying to outsource a big assignment, with countless moving pieces, before you've done it once. Regardless, every freelancer is different. So it pays to see how you work with someone and how they run projects, before you worry about figuring everything out yourself. The smaller the project you start with, the less pressure there will be to micromanage and the more relaxed you'll be. It will be a good learning experience.

3. Have a Well DEFINED Project!

Before getting started, make sure you have your project well planned out. Know what you want to do. Know the skills that are necessary to perform that task. Know what you need to explain your worker. And the time you anticipate it should take.

The better you know what you want, the easier it will be to find good applicants, and the easier time you'll have communicating what you need done. A well-defined project also meshes your worker's expectations with your own, paving the way to a smooth and successful completion.

Also, when you have a bigger assignment to outsource, many of your initial questions will probably be answered already. For example, you may already have a worker you likelike, you'll know the easiest way to communicate with them (whether it's email, phone, IM, web conferencing, etc.), you'll know how to pay them, etc.

To conclude...

Outsourcing may seem like a scary task, but it really gets easier as you go through the steps. When you start small, you'll reduce the risk of wasting money and time, and improve your odds of finding someone you can work with for a long time to come!

About the Author:
An EASY way to outsource? ---> Read this oDesk review.

oDesk matches employers with freelancers all over the world and can help you easily find freelancers that are capable and trustworthy.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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