How to Outsource – 3 Big Outsourcing Tips

Are you trying to figure out how to outsource tasks to a freelancer, either in the United States or abroad?

You're not alone.

Outsourcing work to freelance workers, or virtual workers as some refer to it, rarely seems like an easy thing to do. That's particularly true the first time you do it.

There are many questions that come to mind.

1. What kind of tasks do I outsource?
2. Who should I hire?
3. Where do I go about finding virtual assistants?
4. How do I go about hiring a freelance worker?
5. How do I communicate with my freelancer?
6. How do I ensure my assignments are being worked on correctly?
7. How do I know what I'm paying for?
8. How do I go about paying a freelancer?

Determining how to outsource can seem daunting, and it was questions like these that prevented me from outsourcing for a long time. I really wish they hadn't. Now that I've gone through it, I can see tremendous value in it - as a saver of time, money, and hassle.

These 3 tips can be very helpful in getting you started.

1. Use ONLINE freelance hubs!

I used to believe that job boards and classified sites like Craigslist were the best ways to find a freelancer to outsource work to. Well, I was wrong. I found that these were good ways to collect a lot of resumes… but ultimately I had no idea who these applicants were, or the kind of work they were capable of. Applicants who looked great on paper ended up being awful in reality. It was an expensive lesson.

Then finally I discovered what I'll refer to as "freelance hubs" - sites such as oDesk and Scriptlance - whose REASON FOR BEING is to bring together employers with freelancers, from all over the world.

These websites can have tens of thousands of graphic designers, programmers, web developers, writers, editors, SEO experts, and other virtual assistants ready to bid on projects. Beyond just a resume, you can see the projectsthey've taken on, the amount of hours they've logged, tests they've taken, language proficiency, and (best of all) REVIEWS from other companies who have hired them.

Bottom line, before you hire someone you can expect to have a great confidence in the person you decide upon.

These sites also make it easy to post a project, search for candidates, get applications, hire, communicate your project, and even pay your worker.

That's a lot of stress taken out of the equation.

2. Start SMALL!

Seriously, finding a freelancer seems a lot more difficult than it really is.

What IS difficult is trying to outsource a major task, with lots of moving pieces, before you've done it once. Besides, every freelancer is different. So it pays to see how well you work with someone and how they run a project, before you stress about figuring everything out yourself. The smaller the project you start with, the less pressure you'll feel to micromanage and the more relaxed you'll be. It will be a good learning experience.

3. Have a Well DEFINED Project!

Before you get started, make sure that you have your project clearly thought out. Know what you want to do, the skills required, and an idea of how much work it should take.

The more you know what you're looking for, the easier it is to find good applicants, and the easier time you'll have communicating what you want done. A well-defined project also matches your expectations with your freelancer's, paving the way to a smooth and successful completion.

Then, by the time you have a bigger project to outsource, most of your initial questions may be answered already. For example, you may already have a worker you trusttrust, you'll understand the best way to communicate with them (whether it's email, phone, IM, web conferencing, etc.), you'll know how payments are made, etc.

The bottom line...

Outsourcing may seem like a scary task, but it really gets easier as you go through the steps. When you start small, you'll reduce the risk of money and time wasted, and improve your chances of finding a freelancer you can work with for a very long time to come!