Why don't you outsource in your business?

Out sourcing some of your work can give your business a big boost


When I sold insurance I was fearful about hiring a secretary at first. Besides thinking I could not afford one, I didn't think she would earn her keep. After hiring my secretary I wanted to kick myself for not doing it earlier.


Many extremely successful internet marketers say they would do one thing differently if they could. They say they’d outsource earlier in their business. In fact, many experts advise outsourcing almost from the very beginning. If you’ve come to a point where you’re ready to seek outsourcing help, congratulations! This is an important step. Where you go from here will help determine your success.


Your First Step


Your first step may be surprising. It’s not to start asking for referrals or to do a Google search for freelance help. Your first step is to sit down at your desk and plan. 


You want to begin with a definition or a list of the tasks you need help with. These tasks will also likely include systems or a step by step of how you want the task to be accomplished. For example, if you’re outsourcing your customer service, you want to outline your customer service system so whoever you hire can step right in and do the job correctly.


You also want to plan how you’re going to outsource the task. For example, are you going to start small and outsource only a portion of the responsibility? Do you want to be able to add tasks and responsibilities as you develop a working relationship with your help? Do you want to be able to add more tasks as you can afford them? What’s your long-term outsourcing plan? That takes us to your second step.


Creating an Outsourcing Budget


How much can you afford to pay? This is going to involve two key questions:


* What is the task worth to you? (This is in terms of both time and money.)
* What is your hourly value? (How much do you make per hour?)


Your hourly value can be calculated by dividing your profits by the number of hours you work each week, month or year. For example, if you make $50,000 in profits annually and you work 2080 hours annually, then your hourly value is $24/hour. This information can help you decide if it makes financial sense to outsource a task. If it costs more than $24/hour then it might not be a wise financial step.


Where to Find Outsourcing Help


Once you have determined exactly what you’re looking for and how much you can afford to pay, then it’s time to start looking for outsourcing help. You can find good contractors in a number of places. 

1. Ask associates for referrals
2. Network online
3. Search engines
4. Freelance websites like Elance
5. Search engines


Evaluating Your Candidates


Once you have a few candidates in mind, review their work samples and references and consider giving them a test project. You want to evaluate their communication skills, professionalism and ability to do the job you requested. 


Maintaining the Relationship


Once you’ve had the opportunity to work with a few contractors and you’ve found the people you work best with, there are a few things you’ll want to do to ensure they stick around. The first thing is to work together to determine a method for communication that works for both of you. Some people communicate well with email. Others prefer phone calls or instant messaging. Make sure this communication system is established and works for both of you. Additionally, flexibility, constructive feedback and consistent work all help keep a contractor happily working for you.


Greg Cryns
Work At Home Profiles
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How to get good referrals

Picture: incredibly good looking man from Wisconsin

10 Tips to Getting Referrals

Getting referrals is not as hard as you think. It is actually very easy and can increase your business by 80%.

1. Make Your Customers Happy: Unhappy customers will not refer you. Deliver a superb product or service on time. Don't make promises you can't keep, in fact promise very little so that you can over-deliver. Incorporate a Quality Assurance Program into your business to track and improve customer satisfaction.

2. Keep Your Customers Informed: If your customers are updated periodically about your company, products and specials, they will be more likely to buy from you again when they are ready and refer you to others.

3. Make It Profitable For Them To Refer You: Why should they refer you? Because they can get a new car! No really, maybe not a new car, but perhaps a commission or a coffee mug. Make it worth their while to refer you.

4. Be Giving: If you are not right for a customer but you know another company that is, send that customer their way and let them know you did. This will be remembered by the customer who will tell others how unselfish and wonderful you are. And the other company may do the same for you.

5. Turn Your Customers into Business Partners: If you are able to add an affiliate program to your company, convert your customers into affiliates.

6. Get Your Customers Involved In Your Company: Invite your top customers to join a Customer Advisory Board at your company. This will give you insight into the minds of your customers and your participating customers will rave about you because they will feel like they are part of your company.

7. Get Your Employees Involved: Offer bonuses and contests for employees that bring you more business through referrals.

8. Ask Your Vendors and Suppliers for Referrals: They will know others in your industry who may be of need of your services.

9. Socialize in Real Life As Well As Virtually: Take your customers to lunch, go to networking events, and throw a Christmas party. But don't forget to ask for referrals while you are having fun.

10. Ask For The Referral: Before you make the sale, during the sale and after the sale you should be asking for a referral. While making the contract ask if they know anyone else who can use your services. After the deliver of the service or product ask for a testimonial. You won't get it if you don't ask.

See, getting referrals is easy. You just have to do what you should already be doing plus ask. But remember; be prepared to handle all the new business or you may end up with unhappy new customers.

Learn to grow and profit your work from home business while still having time for your family. Every aspect of marketing are covered in our website including blog marketing, cause-related marketing, internet marketing, SEO, direct mail marketing and more.

The information is developed to help you implement marketing strategies for your business and delegate it to leverage your energy to grow your business. It is created with the WAHM or work from home dad in mind.

Visit today to learn more for your work from home business.

Animoto video software

Check out an interesting new online video-maker: http://www.animoto.com

My son churned this one out in a very short time just by assembling some pictures and using his own music. That's what he does. He writes music. Need some? Noah Cryns. Contact me if you want a quote for your next video.

Here is his short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6mfSMj5jMo

Here is one I made for my chihuahua website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAl2easrG7Q
You can find the full version of the music, "Big Chihuahua" on my site at the top of the main page: http://www.gochihuahua.com

So, there is no longer an excuse for at least trying your hand at making a video for your business.

Do it. The time is now. Don' wait. It's a video world.

Greg Cryns
http://www.ziparticles.com
http://www.workathomeprofiles.com
http://www.allaboutpasorobles.com