Using Outsourcing to Generate Revenues.
The concept of outsourcing is not a new one, it simply means hiring someone to do your work for you except that you are not employing them, just hiring them to perform a specific task or set of tasks. For example, while I have my own talents, web design is just not one of them nor is it the best use of my time to learn how to do it. My time is worth much more than what it would cost me to hire someone to do it for me, so outsourcing is more cost effective as well.
With respect to my new business, I hired a freelancer from a site called Fiverr.com, where every job is called a "gig". I needed a new logo for my biz and went there and hired a logo designer who did my new logo for $10.00. I got several concepts to look at and the unlimited revisions- for $5 bucks! I just hired a WordPress specialist to go in and customize my theme to my specifications bc I do not know how (tried though!), and she can do it 1 hour while it would take me all day, assuming I could even figure it all out. There are other sites such as Upwork, and Opportunity where you can also find freelancers (though not at $5, but still very inexpensive). On all these sites, you can search but also post a listing for whatever you are looking for and then interested freelancers will send you quotes. Like an auction, you pick who you like. Prices are usually negotiable, but it is you who decides in the end what you are willing to pay and for what.
Additionally, you can hire a 'virtual assistant", who can do a variety of tasks for you, whether they be data entry, email campaign management, social campaign management, and more. You can also hire copywriters to provide content for your site and graphic designers to design the cover of your new book. Literally you can outsource most any task. This is an exercise I give my clients to decide what can be outsourced: for about 2 weeks, keep a running list of all the things you do during the day, (personal care excluded), and then after 2 weeks break down the list into things you can delegate and those that MUST be and can only be, done by you. Remember no one is an island and most everything can be delegated. You have to be willing to give up control over the process and just keep control over the approval of the final product. I have lots of tools and templates for delegating, project management and keeping track of who is doing what. These are important; you do need to have some form of system so nothing falls through the cracks.
One thing that people do not consider is just because you "can" do something does not mean that you that should be doing it. A freelancer who does the task all the time will do a much better job than you would anyway. Your time as a business owner should be used to generate revenues, such as giving webinars, selling products, having meetings with clients, creating promotional campaigns etc.. All of these tasks will generate revenue but formatting a web page will not. It is not good value for your time, you could generate say $100 or even $1000 in an hour and yet be paying only $20 for theme customization that will then go on to generate earnings as well.
I am a big believer in outsourcing and have been doing it for over 20 years. With Fiverr gigs at only $5.00 each (that is for a basic gig and then there are add-ons at additional fees, but still cheap!), there is really no excuse to look into it and try it out. I have been working with Fiverr for many years so if you need a task in particular please let me know and I can refer you to the right person. I do not receive any incentive or referral fees from any of them. I just like to promote good work.
So stop feeling overwhelmed and start liberating your time of all the work that you should not be doing. Do your 2 week list and then see exactly what you can farm out and get your business up and making money faster and better than you could do it yourself!
Just think of it like this: outsourcing is not an expense - it is an investment in your business that allows you to generate revenues 10x if not more, than what you put in.
Note: You can gain some extra insight on my Getting Started Blog entry at https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/lori3030/blog/gett...
Want more information, have a question? Want me as your private coach? to work with me? Learn more at www.lorikarpman.com, email me at lori@enliten-ment.com.
Recent Comments
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Lori thank you for this info. I agree that it can be a time management benefit to outsource. In my case I have very little time to devote to WA. If I get an hour a day than I am doing good. I am going to look to outsource some of the technical aspects of the program.
Oh my, Lori. This just raised a whole lot of questions for me. I have spent more time learning how to do the technical side of web design...than I have on generating income and it sure feels like a marathon.
Your post makes me begin to consider where I want to take my knowledge.
My options are many...straight up affiliate marketing...SEO for clients...B2B marketing....and more.
I am learning all of these at WA plus web design.
Like many here, I tend to reinvest my earnings into the business so outsource spending is tethered to that.
Thanks for bringing a new perspective.
Janelle.
I'm not sure what you mean by "where you take your knowledge", but make sure whatever you are working on is your passion and you are doing the parts that you do well and enjoy.
Sell your strengths and buy your weaknesses.
Most people do have trouble outsourcing but when you realize the value of your own time compared to what it costs to outsource it becomes clearer why it is essential that you have to do it. The owner's sole role is to be generating business not doing admin/technical work.
Sell your strengths and buy your weaknesses.
I'm one of those people that finds it hard to outsource so I'll take any advice I can get. Thank you Lori for getting us on the right track.
Wow that was fast! Thank you I am glad you like it, means a lot to me that you took the time to say so.
Best
Lori
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Outsourcing is an area that people often overlook, but you’re right that it can be really powerful.
In fact, I think the practice is much more common than most people realize. After all, a lot of people don’t acknowledge outsourced work on their site, so they could easily have a number of ghostwriters on there contributing to content.
absolutely true= you would be amazed at how much content is outsourced, and as for techie work- an even larger part of that is.
and in fact they do, i know that I have ghost written for several companies. You can't expect to have all the skills you need. Outsourcing is the same as when a company hires an employee except that here you only hire one for the tasks and time that you need them. So unlike an employee you do not pay them a full time salary. This is what they call a "virtual assistant".