In recent years, partly thanks to the popularity of books such as the 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris, outsourcing has grown in popularity. For many years numerous large companies in countries such as the UK, USA, etc have outsourced various jobs – and maybe even entire departments. For example, jobs such as customer telephone support, etc to countries such as India. These companies were able to save money employing a cheaper workforce, who were English speaking, educated and qualified for the job. While outsourcing has its pros and cons, the fact is it is a booming industry.
Nowadays it’s not just big companies doing the outsourcing . Now anybody can do it – from small businesses, down to individuals wanting help arranging their holiday plans.
What is outsourcing?
Put simply, outsouring is the contracting out of a business process. It can include outsourcing to both foreign countries – and your own. Outsourcing has always been around, it’s just outsourcing to foreign countries that has grown in recent years – particularly “microwork”, which covers repetitive tasks performed by employees.
Reasons to outsource:
Save money – The workforce of countries like India and China are only paid a fraction of what would be minimum wage in the UK. By outsourcing you could make significant savings.
Save time – There are plenty of people who are time poor and cash rich, who are quite happy to outsource tasks which they either don’t want to do, or can’t do. For example, it may surprise you, but when it comes to personal tasks, it’s becoming increasingly popular for people to outsource the research, price comparison and booking of their annual holidays.
You don’t have the skills – the digital economy has expanded and businesses increasingly need a website, graphic design, banner images, presentation slides, etc. Why struggle to learn a new skill when you can pay somebody else to do it for you? Odds are it will work out much quicker, cheaper and less stressful. Do you need an ebook designed? Why spend ages learning how to do it – instead outsource the job to somebody else.
Popular outsourcing websites
There are thousands of outsourcing websites available. If you would like to try outsourcing yourself – for your business or maybe just to help with your personal tasks, then checkout the websites below, which include many of the most popular ones in the market:
99 designs – An online graphic design marketplace. It is a great place to go to if you need images edited, banners designed, an ebook cover, a logo designed or even a website. You build a design brief, launch it for their 1,007,000 designers to see, then choose the one you like best.
ODesk – oDesk is a global online work platform where you can find thousands of freelancers from around the world. It allows clients to interview, hire and work with freelancers. The specific areas of expertise supported by the site include web development and a wide variety of programming/software development skills, graphic design, writing and administrative support
Elance – Access over 2 million skilled freelancers from around the world. Find rated web developers, mobile programmers, designers, writers, translators, marketing pros, virtual assistants and more.
Fiverr – This is one of the cheapest places to outsource work such as graphics, marketing, fun, and more online services. Find original and creative logo designers, business logo designs, website logo designs and more.
VirtualStaffFinder.com – If you’re looking for a virtual assistant – full-time or part-time, then Virtual Staff Finder could be the place for you. Rather than outsourcing small tasks, you can instead hire somebody on a more long term basis. Particularly popular with small business owners, online entrepreneurs, internet marketers and pro bloggers.
The website Virtual Staff Finder is owned by internet entrepreneur Chris Ducker, who is an expert at outsourcing. Below is a short video he created explaining how you can work with a virtual assistant to manage your social media.