The Netpreneur Blog

I believe that one of the keys to running a successful ‘one-man-show’ web business is outsourcing non-core, repetitive, menial and time-consuming duties, as well as those specialist projects that you don’t have the time or expertise to perform yourself. 

Take ten minutes of your time right now to critically assess the tasks that you undertake on a daily basis and ask yourself the following questions:

• Are these tasks critical to the running of my business?
• Could somebody else do these tasks on my behalf?
• Could my time be better spent on something else?

And now ask yourself some questions about things that you want to do with your business, but haven’t got around to doing…

• What activities do I need to do / functionality do I need to implement to grow my business for the long haul?
• Can I realistically do the work myself?
• Would it be more time efficient and effective for a specialist to undertake this work for me?

Outsourcing is the answer!  Just ask Timothy Ferriss, whose bestselling book The Four Hour Workweek is based around the concept of outsourcing.

Over the past year or so, I have really got into outsourcing and it has really changed the way I do business.  My business is currently being assisted by a data-entry service and a web development company in India, a design firm in Singapore and numerous content developers and bloggers in Australia.   These services allow me to concentrate on more important elements of my business, rather than getting bogged down on tasks that can be performed by others.

All I need now is to find a good, cost-effective MYOB bookkeeper in Adelaide…can anyone help?

Thankfully, the web makes it quite easy to source people to help you with your business.  The following sites allow you to post your specification online and receive quotes and responses via the web:

• elance – this is the site that I have used routinely to source the specialists that now assist me with my business.  Write your spec, post it online and wait for the quotes to come rolling in.
• Rent-a-coder – How software gets done!  This site is for outsourcing your web development projects.  Receive bids from
  a pool of over 230,000 registered coders. Review work histories and resumes online, and then conduct business stress-free using the escrow service.
• Guru.com - Find freelancers, get free quotes, and get your project done.
• oDesk - Hire, Manage, and Pay remote contractors as if they were in your office.
• 99designs – Need design work done?  This Australian site uses ‘crowdsourcing’  to have logos and website design templates produced in a short period of time.  Simply post your requirements, offer a ‘prize’ and you will receive a bunch of concepts from designers around the world vying for your prize money.  Pick the best one and the design is yours.
• ServiceSeeking.com.au - An Australian website which is not limited to just web-based work – you can even find a cleaner or a handyman to help you around the house.

Some quick tips for outsourcing:

• Write a good specification – don’t expect your contractor to read your mind!  If the spec is detailed and there is no room for confusion, then there shouldn’t be any disagreements about what is ‘in scope’ and what is ‘out of scope’ at a later stage – this is a common problem and often results in the premature death of projects.
• Pay a deposit with remainder payable on completion – this ensures that the contractor is motivated towards the work and has a goal to work towards.  A full payment up front could mean that the contractor slackens off and doesn’t deliver (particularly if the project is protracted and extends longer than expected); a zero payment up front may not gain the necessary ‘buy in’ from the contractor.  I routinely pay 50-50.
• Apply a project management approach to the work – agree to milestones, a timeline and reporting requirements.  It’s important that this is documented and that both parties understand the other’s expectations.  If this is not agreed, then timelines will blow out and the work will be unstructured.  Make sure that you question the contractor when deadlines or milestones are not met.  For my Getaroom web development project, I have a documented ‘fix list’ that is submitted to me on a weekly basis by the contractor and we converse via Skype on a daily basis.
• Ensure you get ownership of IP – prior to commencing work, you should have the contractor agree expressly to a transfer of ownership (from them to you) of all IP created during the work.  If you don’t own the IP, then it could get messy later on if you want to sell the business.  You’re paying for the work to be done, so it is important that you have full freedom in relation to the concepts, images, code, etc. that is being developed on your behalf.
• Communicate regularly – keep in contact with the contractor – contact them every day if need be.  Answer their questions and make sure that you keep them on track.