Tips for Outsourcing Success

 By guest author Logan Strain

Outsourcing can free up a lot of your time, but it can also lead to a lot of headaches if you do it wrong. Here are some solid guidelines that will make sure your every outsourcing experience goes smoothly.

Clearly Describe the Project – The first step to getting the right candidate is clearly defining what you want done and the qualifications of the ideal applicant. This will hopefully deter candidates who may not have the skills or experience you are seeking, and give the successful candidate a good idea of how to go about doing the first project

Don’t Go Cheap -  “You get what you pay for” sometimes goes for outsourcing as well.  While it is entirely possible to get ace work done for very little, don’t always count on it.

Check the portfolio – Any reputable freelancer will have a portfolio that will allow you to check out their previous work.  Bear in mind that this portfolio usually contains the absolute best work they have ever produced, so don’t be surprised if the stuff they actually produce for you isn’t quite as good.

Test the Waters-  Give your vendor a small project to start with. If the results aren’t quite what you were hoping for, don’t be afraid to ask for corrections or edits. Some freelancers just need some minor guidance to get a solid idea of what you are after. After the edits, give them another small project to make sure that they understand what is expected of them.  Once you are certain everyone is on the same page, it’s time to give them larger projects.

Get Your Legal Ducks in Row -  If you don’t want your outsourced copywriter using your content somewhere else, get that in writing.  If you don’t, you won’t really have much recourse if it does happen. All terms of the agreement should be negotiated and signed up front.

This has been an outsourcing, delegating and time management by guest author Logan Strain on Kick Back Life, a Marketing Ideas for Personal Trainers website