Outsourcing marketplaces are where you can get your work done without having to employ permanent full or part time staff to do a specific work task for you.
All the work tasks required by you can be carried out away from your premise or even your country. Outsourcing can be done anywhere in the world where freelancers can be reached by the internet.
There are many benefits to hiring freelancers, cost reduction and economies of scale are compelling reasons for outsourcing tasks.
Despite all the advantages, if you don't ask the right questions, you may start the relationship on the wrong foot.
Outsourcing marketplaces now make it possible to hire professionals from across the globe. With a few clicks, you could be chatting with freelancers from Argentina, India and The Philippines.
Often when entrepreneurs are first starting out, they turn to freelancers to carry out tasks, rather than full-time employees. This strategy tends to be cheaper, requires less paperwork and on bonding time.
As you’ll find tons of freelancers from all over the world with a wide range of skills. They sound like the perfect solution for all your freelancing needs, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
You may find that the best source of freelancers is your local community.
Unless you live in the remotest of places, you’re likely to have some developers in a 50-mile radius looking for work. Local freelancers can be found in meet up groups, chambers of commerce, business networking groups and groups that provide support to entrepreneurs. Ask other business owners who they’ve used. Maybe check around the coffee shop for someone using a computer with cryptic stickers covering the case.
Web developer rates in the U.S .generally range from about $40 an hour up to $300 an hour -- and beyond.
But evaluating quotes just based on price can be counterproductive. It assumes that the time and effort of the freelancer is what you want to buy. Most likely, you instead want to attain some result from the service being offered.
An astute freelancer will realise this and change the conversation accordingly. They will dig deeper into your business, wanting to understand more than just your specifications for this project. They will want to understand how this project will impact your business and what other ways they could add value based on the way your business works. They will sell you on the results rather than on the process.
Even if you have the advantage of meeting your freelancer, it’s a good idea to give them a relatively small job for starters just to be sure you can work well together. Shave off a small piece of the overall project and give them that first as something of an insurance policy.
Keep in mind that most people (including online workers) tend to operate within their own local time zones. Inquiring about normal business hours is an important step for both parties. Setting realistic expectations can be useful in evaluating fit, but it is also important for minimizing friction in the future.
Depending on the work being done, it is possible to maintain healthy virtual relationships when operating on completely different schedules. However, this can only be done when both you and the freelancer understand the arrangement.
You’ll have to try it for yourself to learn the rest. Your experiences will be unique and will shape the wisdom you take away from the bargaining table and into the next freelancer you hire.
Most freelancing contracts fall into one of two categories: hourly or fixed-price. Either arrangement can be beneficial, but it often depends on the work being done. For example, if you’re hiring someone to redesign your logo, it may be wise to push for a set budget. On the other hand, if you need a consultant to provide multi-faceted support, hourly is probably a better option.
Here are some of the most frequently freelanced areas around:
- Accountant/bookkeeper
- Appraiser
- Computer programmer
- Corporate event planner
- Data entry/processor
- Editor/copy editor
- Financial planner
- Grant writer
- Graphic designer
- Interior designer
- Landscape architect
- Package design
- Photographer
- Professional organizer
- Sales/marketing consultant
- Telemarketer
- Translator/interpreter
- Tutoring
- Web designer
- Writer
Don't assume your expectations are already known by every freelancer. Instead,ask the right questions before making a hiring decision.
In doing so, you will set the groundwork for better relationships and more profitable outsourcing.
Refs: M Keener, D Campbell, Entrepreneur
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