Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Tips For Outsourcing



The numerous steps, processes and landmines that make up the whole of outsourcing can be very daunting for someone who is new to them. However, if no steps are missed and no processes ignored, you will avoid most of the landmines and come out having had a very positive and rewarding experience.

The first and perhaps most important step is project planning. Know what you want, how you want it, and when you want it. Make sure you can describe these in detail before you try posting a job online. Remember, if you can't explain it to yourself, you can't explain it to anyone else, so be clear about your needs up front.

Choose a freelance website that offers the features and programs you want and fees you can live with. Open an account, set up your profile, and get your finances figured out (will you use escrow? how will you add money to your account?). Using the website's guidelines, post your job with a detailed description, skills required, timeline, etc. Give providers what they need to bid on your project accurately.

Once you've hired a freelancer, put together detailed management tools, and involve your provider in the creation of them. Estimate the time and expenses required for each task, schedule milestones, and prepare to review your provider's progress on a regular basis. Keep records of your experiences, so that you can reference them later for new projects and so that you can learn from past mistakes.

The quality of your outsourcing experience is in your hands. Be thoughtful, honest, and dedicated to the best-possible end result. Your efforts will not go unrewarded.

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