This article was contributed to CO— by Daniel Ramsey, founder and CEO of MyOutDesk, founder of California non-profit (501c3) corporation, the MOD Movement, and host of “Scale The Podcast.”
If you find that you’re spending too much time handling business-related tasks — like working on social media campaigns when you really don’t know how, or managing and scheduling client meetings when you barely have time to attend them — then it may be time to consider outsourcing.
Outsourcing work-related tasks can give you back the time you need to focus on growing your business. And, when you find the right support, it might even help you attain better results than you ever could get doing everything on your own.
According to Statista, the global market size of outsourced services was $85.6 billion in 2018. The money being poured into outsourcing around the world means several things, including:
- Businesses are increasingly outsourcing work to either remote work teams, freelancers or agencies.
- The market is thriving, and if you want to hire a remote worker, there are numerous options available.
But — as many overstretched, overtasked business owners can attest — it can be overwhelming to recognize when it’s time to transition from doing everything yourself to reassigning certain projects and tasks to lessen your load.
I suggest answering the following questions:
- Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to accomplish?
- Are there things you are not doing that you should be doing?
- Do you work long hours regularly?
- Are you losing out on the chance to onboard new clients simply because you can’t respond promptly?
- Do you spend several hours a week doing repetitive tasks?
Your responses will help you determine if you should start outsourcing to help streamline your work processes.
Outsourcing work-related tasks can give you back the time you need to focus on growing your business.
Daniel Ramsey, founder and CEO, MyOutDesk
Outsourcing
Expert Daniel Ramsey explains how making the decision to first hire outsourcing help for a small business can be intimidating. Read on for more information regarding outsourcing.
How — and why — you should consider outsourcing
Businesses can outsource nearly any task that doesn’t require being in the office to complete — from bookkeeping and email management to customer support and social media.
Some remote workers, agencies or virtual assistants, for example, specialize in a specific industry or particular task. For instance, while one business might choose to outsource IT and technical support, another might prefer help and guidance with social media outreach and marketing efforts.
The process begins with carefully deciding the following:
- Which specific tasks you want to outsource, and which ones you want to keep in-house.
- Why you want to outsource these tasks.
- How outsourcing these tasks will prove beneficial to you and your business.
In general, the most successful tasks to outsource are repeatable and low-impact, but that also consume a lot of your time and resources. Here are three reasons why you should consider outsourcing:
Outsourcing can give you peace of mind
You can focus on what you do best when working with an extended team member on the job. Many business owners who outsource feel less stressed and have senses of relief and assurance that the job is getting done.
Outsourcing provides access to experts
Outsourcing specialists are experts in what they do, whether it’s accounting, website creation or anything else. They frequently deal with many other clients similar to you and can give practical advice based on their expertise and years of experience.
Outsourcing allows you to focus on the core business
Without having to run an IT operation or a social media team with permanent, in-house staff, for example, you can shift your focus toward boosting productivity and completing projects faster.
Freeing up your time can be priceless
Outsourcing is a real necessity in today’s constantly evolving professional world. Enlisting third-party support can save you valuable time to invest in growing your business, help you streamline your processes, and allow you to take back your life and precious time.
Keep in mind, whatever your main purpose and reasoning for outsourcing, make sure you conduct a thorough time-and-cost analysis to decide which tasks would be most beneficial to outsource.
Ultimately, when you find the right person or team to help provide support for your specific needs, they will open up an entirely new world of growth for your company.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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