Finding really great service providers can be a powerful channel for taking your business to the next level. Unfortunately, in the process of locating great outsourcees, it is difficult to determine where to look, how to identify them, how to know whether you can trust them, and how to keep them once you have begun working with them.
Always Be on the Lookout
Many of the best outsourcees you find may not be online. Retired individuals who have spare time or competent college students who would like to earn some extra cash from home can turn out to be your greatest assets. Stay-at-home moms are yet another group who can turn into great service providers. Keep your eyes open. You never know when you might run into someone who’s looking to do exactly the tasks you’re looking to outsource, at just the right price.
Finding Them Online
There are many places you can look online for outsourcees:
* There are online forums, such as the Warrior Forum and Digital Point. Though these tend to attract more beginners, they are usually more internet and SEO savvy.
* There are freelancer websites, such as eLance, Guru.com and Freelance.com. These tend to be dominated by experienced, inexpensive freelancers, often from developing countries.
* And then there are classified ads such as Craigslist. The audience you get really depends on what country you post in and what section you post in.
As a rule of thumb, try out all three. Each of them attracts a slightly different audience.
Testing the Waters
Start by getting references and checking out their samples. What do you think of their work? Do you get a good feeling about the quality? If you are on a freelance site, read through some of their feedback and remarks from other customers. Start them off on a test assignment and go from there. If that one assignment is up to par, then give them more work.
Keeping the Great Ones
It’s a lot more work to find a great outsourcee than it is to keep a great one. When you find someone who works out, do everything you can to foster a great working relationship.
The most basic of basics in in business relationships is to pay on time, but it is also an area where many business owners go wrong. If you’re a client who consistently pays on time, that alone will make outsourcees love you.
