How to Successfully Outsource to Freelancers?

May, 23, 2013 by Linda Singer author workhoppers

What is outsourcingDespite the many benefits of outsourcing over the past decade, many companies have only recently begun to implement its use while others are still in the planning stages. Before outsourcing to freelancer, you need to understand what is outsourcing, what are the benefits and what are the challenges when executing a project. To successfully outsource to freelancers you can follow these 6 steps to make sure the outsourced project ends on time, on budget and attains the company goals.

What is outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a practice used by different companies to reduce costs by transferring portions of work to outside suppliers rather than completing it internally. Hiring freelancers to outsource projects is a common business practice.

What are the benefits of outsourcing?

Outsourcing to freelancers has many benefits: control costs, acquire unavailable skills, accelerate projects. And one important benefit is that you are concentrating and freeing up resources to focus on core functions. Further, the  outsourced freelancers help you with what they know best and enable the company to stay competitive and flexible. But at the same time, you have to be careful with what you outsource.

What are the main challenges to outsourcing to freelancers?

A company has to make sure that the functions that are outsourced have abundant supply before eliminating internal resources. Look around and be sure you have a number of talented professionals ready to fulfill your needs.

Once the decision of hiring freelancing experts is made, companies have to learn to efficiently manage these external resources. This is one of the main challenges of outsourcing.

Now that you have an understanding of what is outsourcing and have thought through the benefits and challenges. Be sure to follow these 6 steps to successfully outsourcing a project.

Six steps to successfully outsource a project

If you want to make sure that your outsourcing experience to freelancers ends up  being successful, make sure that you follow these essential steps on how to outsource:

1- Clearly define the project and the skills before contracting

2- Set up specific and measurable goals to attain with the project. Make sure you understand and communicate performance expectations.

3- Clearly state the end product and the deadline as well as the necessary resources

4- And once you hire the freelancer/consultant/extra hand, request from him a detailed Plan with activities and deadlines.

5- Have a clear map to measure the performance of the freelancer working for you and provide regular performance feedback.

6- And finally request back up plans for key steps of the project. Evaluate the risks and prepare alternatives.

Successful outsourcing to freelancers is clearly based on team work. Have all the participants and stakeholders on board and align the company’s objectives.

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Comments:

  1. otf

    I do agree with all the ideas you’ve offered to your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.

    Reply
    • Linda & Vera

      Thanks for your comment! Will be posting an article with more information. Stay tuned! 🙂

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