Let's be honest with ourselves. To promote a business marketers will always go for outsource different aspects of a project in order to focus on other things. Yet, in order to make this method truly effective, consider the following blogging tips on how to use outsourcing to improve your blog's productivity:
Determine Exactly What You Want to Outsource:
To make the most of your outsourcing, you need to first determine exactly what tasks you want to do away with first. For example, if you despise doing keyword research, you can find someone specifically to take care of the task for you. With your newfound freedom, you will then be able to dedicate your time to other aspects of the blog or on other projects altogether.
Some popular aspects of marketing that marketers like to outsource include:
- Content writing (including blog writing, guest posting, etc.)
- Social media management
- Infographic designing
Determine Your Budget
When preparing to outsource different aspects of your blog, you need to determine exactly how much money you will dedicate to paying freelancers. If you pay too little, you may get low quality freelancers that will be more trouble than they are worth. However, if you pay too much, you may have to sacrifice quality in other areas to make ends meet.
Find the Right Contractor:
Finding the right freelancer can be a scary task. With so many people trying to get work (and others looking to con hardworking people) it can be really hard to find someone to work with. However, I've had success with the following:
- Guru
- oDesk
- vWorker
- eLance
Once you have found someone to work with, be sure to do your research to discover how knowledgeable and capable they are. To get a good idea of a person's work ethics and reputation, you can also check out portfolios and available testimonials. When all else fails, you can ask for recommendations from trusted friends and peers to help relieve the stress.
Clearly Outline the Project Details:
When you have found a freelancer that you think is perfect for the job, it is very important that you clearly outline the project details. By doing so, you will make sure that everything is covered and that the freelancer clearly knows what you are looking for. However, you really have to make sure not to come off as being too pushy or you may not create the greatest impression.
While the guidelines for different projects will vary, you have to remember to let the freelancers do their own thing as well. After all, if you are outsourcing the work, you are likely choosing people with expertise in different areas that you are unfamiliar with. By allowing them some freedom, you will improve your chances of getting high quality work in return.
Discuss Payment Options:
We've all experienced awkward situations when payday rolls around. However, you can eliminate the awkwardness by being upfront before the project even starts. Once you and the freelancer knows exactly how much will be owed for the project, you will both rest more easily.
You will also need to discuss how payment will be done (such as paying half upfront and half upon completion) as well as how it will be sent (such as via PayPal). Additionally, you will also need to take into account different currencies and laws if you are dealing with people outside of your country (or even within it).
Get Everything Down in Writing:
To best protect yourself, I highly recommend getting everything down in writing. Once both parties have everything down in writing, things will run more smoothly. I would also print off the details (and especially any invoices) to store away.
With these blogging tips on how to use outsourcing to improve your blog's productivity, it will be easier for you to make money without burning out too quickly. Once you have the right freelancer to work with, you will build a relationship that could potentially serve you well for years to come.
