Outsource It!!
Outsource It!! Before we start I just want to say one thing. Outsourcing is not is not just the best way to grow your business quickly; it is possibly the ONLY way. It is near on impossible to build a business alone. I want you to get into outsourcing as soon as you can. Whilst working with outsourcers, training them, helping them understand your goals….You will learn a lot about yourself – you will begin to see your strengths and weaknesses like never before! SHOULD YOU BE OUTSOURCING NOW? YES you should! I suggest you outsource something today. Just a small task! It doesn’t have to cost you £1000’s it could be something as simple as a new logo for example! I want you to start outsourcing from the very beginning and here’s why: • • •
To free up some of your time – so you can concentrate on marketing, cash flow, and other work that you enjoy! So that you can execute faster. The more help you get the quicker your website or product can be out there making you money faster! You can put certain tasks on autopilot – maybe not immediately, but if you train your outsourcers, they will be able to do what you need without constantly giving them instructions.
YES outsourcing costs money, and it does eat into your profits, however it allows you more time to concentrate on selling your products or developing new ones. How is your time spent best? Picking and packing boxes and running them to the post office, writing articles, building websites, SEO, creating graphics, driving traffic etc etc or growing your business?
©Mark Wallace Marketing 1
OUTSOURCING BUDGET RULES
1) ALWAYS start with small amounts of money. I urge you to start with simple projects of $20-$30 or less. This gives you chance to test a person out for very low risk. 2) ALWAYS hire freelancers who are mid-priced. Don’t go with the highest priced or the lowest, if you stay somewhere in the middle you will find the best people. 3) DO NOT spend your whole budget on ONE person or ONE project. If you need to get things done in little stages, that’s fine. But if you throw $500 at someone who does not deliver, you are in trouble. 4) RESEARCH what others are spending on jobs similar to yours. Just take a look on the freelancer sites. Search for jobs like yours and see what people are bidding – again go with the middle range. WHAT SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE?
In essence you can outsource absolutely any part of your business, you should be looking to outsource anything that you do not enjoy doing! Here are a couple of things I get into freelancers hands as quickly as I can: •
•
•
Writing – I don’t mind writing short articles or newsletters, but when it comes to long drafts, ebooks, website content, I just hate it, I do not have the patience to write for a long period, and I tend to waffle a lot. Design – I am great at visualizing something in my head and telling a designer to create something but I have zero design skills and have no clue how to use design software – here you go Mr freelancer! Anything Techy – I have built websites using wordpress, it takes me time and I want to smash my monitor after the 100th attempt to amend something. I give it all to my tech guy and he sorts the task!
I enjoy marketing, product creation, research and selling, so that is what I do, anything to do with the above I outsource, you may be the total opposite to me, just do whatever works for you! Here is list of what you can outsource: GRAPHICS
WEB DESIGN
VIDEO RECORDING
SEO
PROGRAMMING
SALES LETTERS
SOCIAL MEDIA WORK
ARTICLE WRITING
AUTORESONDERS
CONTENT
BLOG MANAGEMENT AFFILIATE MANAGEMENT
WRITING AUDIO RECORDING WEBSITE MANAGEMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
This list is by no means definitive! Whatever you can think of, you can outsource.
©Mark Wallace Marketing 2
Finding outsourcers: General freelance work WWW.ODESK.COM
WWW.GURU.COM
WWW.PROJECT4HIRE.COM
WWW.PEOPLEPERHOUR.COM
WWW.ELANCE.COM
WWW.HIREMYMOM.COM
WWW.THEFREELANCENATION.COM
WWW.FREELANCER.COM
Web Designers & Programming WWW.FREELANCERDESIG NERS.ORG WWW.SCRIPTLANCE.COM
WWW.CODEJUNCTI ON.COM WWW.RENTACODE R.COM
WWW.AFFORDABLEPROGRAM MERERS.COM WWW.CASTINGWORDS.COM (Transcription)
How To Write Your Project Descriptions In order for you to get the correct person for the job, you need to be very clear about what you want and need for the project, please ensure you include the following: • • • •
Detailed description of the project Timeline or deadline Any requirements you have Requests for samples of similar work
As I have mentioned previously the best way to write a good description is to see what other people do. Here is a quick example of a short description. Driven and creative writer needed for quick turnaround project. I require a reliable, proven writer for a quick turnaround project. I need 10 high quality articles writing on triathlon training. The articles will need to be 400-500 words. The articles will be due 3 days after acceptance of offer. Please provide samples of previous work along with your bid. Details will be provided upon hiring. Finally please remember the small projects rule…..always start with a project of around £20-£30. This is the best way to ease into outsourcing and to test freelancers. Don’t go and spend £1000 at the outset, you may get stung. Once your description has been written, post it on one or two sites at the most, each freelancer site is different, and most will require you to set up
©Mark Wallace Marketing 3
a free account with them. As a rule of thumb, post the job for 2-3 days, this is usually sufficient to get a good number of bids. Choosing Your Outsourcer Whatever you do, don’t rush; don’t pick the first person that looks like they can do the job. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Cut the people who are the lowest & highest priced. Rule out everyone who des not have the correct experience Create a shortlist of anyone who has a portfolio or provides samples Eliminate everyone who has no feedback/negative feedback Eliminate anyone who insists on working per hour Eliminate anyone who sends and copy and paste answer – generic answer!
Pick the most relevant person to your posting, do they have good feedback and relevant experience. Are they mid-priced, ask more probing questions – you will soon get a feel for the right candidate!
Outsourcing in itself is an art, you have to ensure you pick the contractors that will deliver what you expect, but you have to be very clear in your own mind what you want doing! I am aware that the sites detailed above are only a handful; there are 100’s of mini outsourcing “gig” sites such as fiverr.com. Here is a quick list of the top 24 courtesies from an EPR student!
WWW.Fiverr.COM WWW.GigBucks.com WWW.Zeerk.com WWW.TenBux.com WWW.GigsLand.com WWW.Fourerr.com WWW.UpHype.com WWW.Jobsfor10.com WWW.JustaFive.com WWW.Fivesquids.com WWW.MyCheapJobs.com WWW.FittyTown.com WWW.Tenyt.com WWW.Twentyville.com WWW.Hundoville.com WWW.Weelance.com WWW.WebsiteMarketing.com WWW.HQ.com WWW.BuySellBits.com WWW.FiveBuxs.com WWW.Goferr.com
WWW.Goferr.com WWW.TaskArmy.com WWW.Dollar3.com WWW.eNetJob.com WWW.Writeswap.com WWW.PeopleStox.com WWW.GigBlasters.com WWW.GigBux.com WWW.Even.com WWW.Gigs.com WWW.SevenStew.com WWW.7Richer.com WWW.Mini.com WWW.MartJobs.com WWW.FeverFiVe.com WWW.WebsiteMarketing.com WWW.HQ.com WWW.BuySellBits.com WWW.FiveBuxs.com
©Mark Wallace Marketing 4
To free up some of your time – so you can concentrate on marketing, cash flow, and other work that you enjoy! So that you can execute faster. The more help you get the quicker your website or product can be out there making you money faster! You can put certain tasks on autopilot – maybe not immediately, but if you train your outsourcers, they will be able to do what you need without constantly giving them instructions.
YES outsourcing costs money, and it does eat into your profits, however it allows you more time to concentrate on selling your products or developing new ones. How is your time spent best? Picking and packing boxes and running them to the post office, writing articles, building websites, SEO, creating graphics, driving traffic etc etc or growing your business?
©Mark Wallace Marketing 1
OUTSOURCING BUDGET RULES
1) ALWAYS start with small amounts of money. I urge you to start with simple projects of $20-$30 or less. This gives you chance to test a person out for very low risk. 2) ALWAYS hire freelancers who are mid-priced. Don’t go with the highest priced or the lowest, if you stay somewhere in the middle you will find the best people. 3) DO NOT spend your whole budget on ONE person or ONE project. If you need to get things done in little stages, that’s fine. But if you throw $500 at someone who does not deliver, you are in trouble. 4) RESEARCH what others are spending on jobs similar to yours. Just take a look on the freelancer sites. Search for jobs like yours and see what people are bidding – again go with the middle range. WHAT SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE?
In essence you can outsource absolutely any part of your business, you should be looking to outsource anything that you do not enjoy doing! Here are a couple of things I get into freelancers hands as quickly as I can: •
•
•
Writing – I don’t mind writing short articles or newsletters, but when it comes to long drafts, ebooks, website content, I just hate it, I do not have the patience to write for a long period, and I tend to waffle a lot. Design – I am great at visualizing something in my head and telling a designer to create something but I have zero design skills and have no clue how to use design software – here you go Mr freelancer! Anything Techy – I have built websites using wordpress, it takes me time and I want to smash my monitor after the 100th attempt to amend something. I give it all to my tech guy and he sorts the task!
I enjoy marketing, product creation, research and selling, so that is what I do, anything to do with the above I outsource, you may be the total opposite to me, just do whatever works for you! Here is list of what you can outsource: GRAPHICS
WEB DESIGN
VIDEO RECORDING
SEO
PROGRAMMING
SALES LETTERS
SOCIAL MEDIA WORK
ARTICLE WRITING
AUTORESONDERS
CONTENT
BLOG MANAGEMENT AFFILIATE MANAGEMENT
WRITING AUDIO RECORDING WEBSITE MANAGEMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
This list is by no means definitive! Whatever you can think of, you can outsource.
©Mark Wallace Marketing 2
Finding outsourcers: General freelance work WWW.ODESK.COM
WWW.GURU.COM
WWW.PROJECT4HIRE.COM
WWW.PEOPLEPERHOUR.COM
WWW.ELANCE.COM
WWW.HIREMYMOM.COM
WWW.THEFREELANCENATION.COM
WWW.FREELANCER.COM
Web Designers & Programming WWW.FREELANCERDESIG NERS.ORG WWW.SCRIPTLANCE.COM
WWW.CODEJUNCTI ON.COM WWW.RENTACODE R.COM
WWW.AFFORDABLEPROGRAM MERERS.COM WWW.CASTINGWORDS.COM (Transcription)
How To Write Your Project Descriptions In order for you to get the correct person for the job, you need to be very clear about what you want and need for the project, please ensure you include the following: • • • •
Detailed description of the project Timeline or deadline Any requirements you have Requests for samples of similar work
As I have mentioned previously the best way to write a good description is to see what other people do. Here is a quick example of a short description. Driven and creative writer needed for quick turnaround project. I require a reliable, proven writer for a quick turnaround project. I need 10 high quality articles writing on triathlon training. The articles will need to be 400-500 words. The articles will be due 3 days after acceptance of offer. Please provide samples of previous work along with your bid. Details will be provided upon hiring. Finally please remember the small projects rule…..always start with a project of around £20-£30. This is the best way to ease into outsourcing and to test freelancers. Don’t go and spend £1000 at the outset, you may get stung. Once your description has been written, post it on one or two sites at the most, each freelancer site is different, and most will require you to set up
©Mark Wallace Marketing 3
a free account with them. As a rule of thumb, post the job for 2-3 days, this is usually sufficient to get a good number of bids. Choosing Your Outsourcer Whatever you do, don’t rush; don’t pick the first person that looks like they can do the job. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Cut the people who are the lowest & highest priced. Rule out everyone who des not have the correct experience Create a shortlist of anyone who has a portfolio or provides samples Eliminate everyone who has no feedback/negative feedback Eliminate anyone who insists on working per hour Eliminate anyone who sends and copy and paste answer – generic answer!
Pick the most relevant person to your posting, do they have good feedback and relevant experience. Are they mid-priced, ask more probing questions – you will soon get a feel for the right candidate!
Outsourcing in itself is an art, you have to ensure you pick the contractors that will deliver what you expect, but you have to be very clear in your own mind what you want doing! I am aware that the sites detailed above are only a handful; there are 100’s of mini outsourcing “gig” sites such as fiverr.com. Here is a quick list of the top 24 courtesies from an EPR student!
WWW.Fiverr.COM WWW.GigBucks.com WWW.Zeerk.com WWW.TenBux.com WWW.GigsLand.com WWW.Fourerr.com WWW.UpHype.com WWW.Jobsfor10.com WWW.JustaFive.com WWW.Fivesquids.com WWW.MyCheapJobs.com WWW.FittyTown.com WWW.Tenyt.com WWW.Twentyville.com WWW.Hundoville.com WWW.Weelance.com WWW.WebsiteMarketing.com WWW.HQ.com WWW.BuySellBits.com WWW.FiveBuxs.com WWW.Goferr.com
WWW.Goferr.com WWW.TaskArmy.com WWW.Dollar3.com WWW.eNetJob.com WWW.Writeswap.com WWW.PeopleStox.com WWW.GigBlasters.com WWW.GigBux.com WWW.Even.com WWW.Gigs.com WWW.SevenStew.com WWW.7Richer.com WWW.Mini.com WWW.MartJobs.com WWW.FeverFiVe.com WWW.WebsiteMarketing.com WWW.HQ.com WWW.BuySellBits.com WWW.FiveBuxs.com
©Mark Wallace Marketing 4
