Tag: outsourcing

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How to outsource

Outsourcing marketing efforts has become an essential aspect of business strategies. After all, you should focus on what you are good at and outsource the rest.

Outsourcing allows a company to put more focus on product development and overall operations. Many marketing agencies can often provide the same service as an in-house marketing department, but at half the cost.

By outsourcing you gain the following:

* Specialized skills and expertise
* More time- your most valuable asset
* More implementation
* Fast results

Every time you hear outsourcing marketing you think about how expensive marketing agencies are. Don’t forget that there are some Marketing companies that specialize in small businesses, just like BuzzBooster.  They are not in the business of selling you on expensive advertising, they focus on other strategies like internet marketing, direct response marketing and social media marketing to bring you more exposure and more results.

Here are a few  questions that should assist you in finding a marketing agency that is right for you.

* Area of Expertise. Find out what their expertise is in.  What do they focus on? Here are common areas of expertise:
o Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
o Branding
o Positioning
o Affiliate Marketing Development and Management
o Marketing Strategy and Plan Development
o Internet Marketing Strategy and Plan Development
o Lead Generation
o Sales and Marketing Campaign Development
o Marketing Classes, Seminars, and Workshops

Figure out what areas you need help in and look for consultants with expertise in those areas.

# Training/Education: What type of training and/or education is important to you. I will tell you that education is important, however experience and hands-on expertise can far out weigh education when it comes down to success in marketing.

Ask for case studies, referrals, and experience in the areas that you need assistance in.
# Company Achievements What are the notable achievements that the marketing consultant has achieved. What work are they most proud of?

Ask them to show you examples of campaigns they run for other clients.

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What to look for when outsourcing small business marketing

Outsourcing marketing efforts has become an essential aspect of business strategies. After all, you should focus on what you are good at and outsource the rest.

Outsourcing allows a company to put more focus on product development and overall operations. Many marketing agencies can often provide the same service as an in-house marketing department, but at half the cost.

By outsourcing you gain the following:

  • Specialized skills and expertise
  • More time- your most valuable asset
  • More implementation
  • Fast results

Every time you hear outsourcing marketing you think about how expensive marketing agencies are. Don’t forget that there are some Marketing companies that specialize in small businesses, just like BuzzBooster.  They are not in the business of selling you on expensive advertising, they focus on other strategies like internet marketing, direct response marketing and social media marketing to bring you more exposure and more results.

Here are a few  questions that should assist you in finding a marketing agency that is right for you.

  • Area of ExpertiseFind out what their expertise is in.  What do they focus on? Here are common areas of expertise:
    • Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
    • Branding
    • Positioning
    • Affiliate Marketing Development and Management
    • Marketing Strategy and Plan Development
    • Internet Marketing Strategy and Plan Development
    • Lead Generation
    • Sales and Marketing Campaign Development
    • Marketing Classes, Seminars, and Workshops

    Figure out what areas you need help in and look for consultants with expertise in those areas.

  • Training/EducationWhat type of training and/or education is important to you. I will tell you that education is important, however experience and hands-on expertise can far out weigh education when it comes down to success in marketing.Ask for case studies, referrals, and experience in the areas that you need assistance in.
  • Company AchievementsWhat are the notable achievements that the marketing consultant has achieved. What work are they most proud of?Ask them to show you examples of campaigns they run for other clients.
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    How to Outsource and Delegate in your Business

    You can only go so far in business without the help of other people. For most small business owners, there comes a time that they know they need to start getting help but don’t know how they can really afford to get help and are not clear on how to manage a worker.

    Usually, getting the first person to help is the challenging decision. Fear comes to stop you and you will need to overcome that in order to grow. You might have to give a leap of faith. After the first one, this will not be an issue anymore.

    Remember that you don’t have to hire an employee. You can start just outsourcing.

    I for one, don’t like to micro manage or to be stuck inside an office when I don’t have to. So far, we have a great team that is outsourced.

    Now, about the part where you are not clear on how to delegate tasks and how to outsource what to whom, a simple way to deal with that is to use a simple spreadsheet.

    It can be really frustrating if a virtual assistant comes to work for you and you just don’t know what tasks to do.

    First understand that you will have to delegate, even if you think only you can do it well. This is a trap that won’t allow your business to grow.

    Now, back to the spread sheet.

    Use 3 columns.

    On the first column add areas that you could use advice or help like accountant, lawyers, marketing.

    On the second column put all the things you could outsource or teach someone how to do it.

    The third column, add things that only you could do. Remember that tasks can always be outsourced, strategies not so much, so you should focus on strategies.

    For column one, you should find the expert to help you with those tasks or teach you how to do it fast. Focus on the things that you are good at and outsource the rest. For example, I am not good with numbers, so the first thing we outsourced was accounting. It also makes no sense to spend time in something that I could pay $45 an hour to someone when my time is a lot more valuable than that.

    On column 1, you have all the tasks that could be easily delegated to a freelancer, a virtual assistant or a part-time employee.

    The third column is for high-profit activities, where you should focus. These are tasks that you get paid a premium and that you enjoy doing. If you free time with the other 2 columns you will be able to increase profits, grow your business and do things you love.

    Now, here at BuzzBooster Marketing we use an open source software to manage our products and the people we outsource to. Since we have more than one business and people are not inside our office, the software helps keep things a lot more organized and we can access anytime, anywhere, even from our phones. There are many project management softwares out there, from free to very expensive for you to use.

    In order to find people to outsource to, there are also many options. Guru.com and Elance.com are two of them.

    Prices in these places tend to be very interesting but don’t forget to check the person’s portfolio and past projects.

    Mechanical Turk.com is a new option that seems to work really well. Check that one too.

    You can pay people per project or by the hour.

    Again, don’t waste time with tasks that are not worth your time or that you are not good at. Focus on becoming even better on the things that you already excel. Outsource all the rest.

    Posted on

    How to outsource and delegate in your business

    You can only go so far in business without the help of other people. For most small business owners, there comes a time that they know they need to start getting help but don’t know how they can really afford to get help and are not clear on how to manage a worker.

    Usually, getting the first person to help is the challenging decision. Fear comes to stop you and you will need to overcome that in order to grow. You might have to give a leap of faith. After the first one, this will not be an issue anymore.

    Remember that you don’t have to hire an employee. You can start just outsourcing.

    I for one, don’t like to micro manage or to be stuck inside an office when I don’t have to. So far, we have a great team that is outsourced.

    Now, about the part where you are not clear on how to delegate tasks and how to outsource what to whom, a simple way to deal with that is to use a simple spreadsheet.

    It can be really frustrating if a virtual assistant comes to work for you and you just don’t know what tasks to do.

    First understand that you will have to delegate, even if you think only you can do it well. This is a trap that won’t allow your business to grow.

    Now, back to the spread sheet.

    Use 3 columns.

    On the first column add areas that you could use advice or help like accountant, lawyers, marketing.

    On the second column put all the things you could outsource or teach someone how to do it.

    The third column, add things that only you could do. Remember that tasks can always be outsourced, strategies not so much, so you should focus on strategies.

    For column one, you should find the expert to help you with those tasks or teach you how to do it fast. Focus on the things that you are good at and outsource the rest. For example, I am not good with numbers, so the first thing we outsourced was accounting. It also makes no sense to spend time in something that I could pay $45 an hour to someone when my time is a lot more valuable than that.

    On column 1, you have all the tasks that could be easily delegated to a freelancer, a virtual assistant or a part-time employee.

    The third column is for high-profit activities, where you should focus. These are tasks that you get paid a premium and that you enjoy doing. If you free time with the other 2 columns you will be able to increase profits, grow your business and do things you love.

    Now, here at BuzzBooster Marketing we use an open source software to manage our products and the people we outsource to. Since we have more than one business and people are not inside our office, the software helps keep things a lot more organized and we can access anytime, anywhere, even from our phones. There are many project management softwares out there, from free to very expensive for you to use.

    In order to find people to outsource to, there are also many options. Guru.com and Elance.com are two of them.

    Prices in these places tend to be very interesting but don’t forget to check the person’s portfolio and past projects.

    Mechanical Turk.com is a new option that seems to work really well. Check that one too.

    You can pay people per project or by the hour.

    Again, don’t waste time with tasks that are not worth your time or that you are not good at. Focus on becoming even better on the things that you already excel. Outsource all the rest.