Outsourcing is all about working with the right people – you want to find someone that’s a good fit for your business. They’re representing your brand in the work that they do, so whoever you choose should be compatible with your business values.
So, how do you choose the right outsourcing partner? Follow these steps to get started:
Define Your Outsourcing Needs
Picking the right outsourcing partner starts with knowing what you want. We recommend outlining your business needs and goals before you start your search – what are you looking for exactly?
Evaluate Potential Partners
After you’ve defined your needs, it’s time to check out potential partners online to make sure you have the right fit.
Look at their reputation and experience, see how they communicate, and the value they offer for the cost of their work. Will you work well together? Do they have positive or negative reviews? Do they come across as unreliable or argumentative?
Establish Clear Expectations and Goals
Clear communication is key. Set expectations, define goals, and schedule regular check-ins – while the purpose of outsourcing is to free up your time to work on other things, it’s still important to keep an eye on the work you delegate to others. That way you both know where you stand and what you need at all times.
We recommend that you introduce Service Level Agreements (SLAs) into your working relationship. They’re like a contract that sets clear expectations and deadlines for the services provided. It goes both ways, after all – whoever you outsource work to will likely want to be paid on time and be given reasonable deadlines!
You can use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure performance when outsourcing work. These measurable factors include:
- Turnaround Time: the amount of time it takes them to complete a task or a set of tasks
- Quality Metrics: these are error rates, satisfaction scores, or other measures of the quality of the work being performed
- Cost Efficiency: this is the cost savings achieved by outsourcing
Top Tip: To fully understand how to be a good client, visit an outsourcing/freelancing website forum and have a look at what bad clients do. Make notes and learn what mistakes to avoid!