How to Outsource Work as a Freelancer
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Have you ever wondered how to outsource work as a freelancer? Everyone needs a little help from time to time, even freelancers!
When freelancing, you have to be very good at managing your own time. Sometimes, this will involve prioritizing one thing over another. If you don’t have the time to do everything, outsourcing part of your work can save you from a lot of stress.
In this blog post, we’ll explain:
- What outsourcing means.
- When you should consider outsourcing work.
- How to outsource work.
Keep reading to learn more about outsourcing working as a freelancer.
What Is Outsourcing?
Put simply, outsourcing is the practice of hiring someone else to perform a service, do a task, or create something for you. This can free up time for you to focus on other things and can help you avoid a missed deadline.
Although people who outsource jobs may hire freelancers, outsourcing and freelancing aren’t the same thing. Freelancers are self-employed and work independently for their clients. Outsourcing means hiring someone else (a company, small business, another freelancer, etc.) to help you finish a part of the job you’ve been contracted to do.
When Should You Consider Outsourcing Work?
A major deciding factor when thinking about outsourcing is whether it will help you get the job done well and on time. Remember that you’ll need to pay the person you outsource to, so keep that in mind when considering if it’s a good option for you.
Outsourcing can be particularly beneficial when:
- You’re missing a required skill.
- You really want to secure a specific work contract.
- There’s more work than you can handle on your own.
- You really don’t like doing something.
1. You’re Missing a Required Skill
If the job you’ve accepted involves a task you’re not very good at, it can be very helpful to outsource that specific task to someone more qualified.
There’s nothing wrong with admitting your own limitations! Outsourcing to somebody more skilled should lead to an overall higher quality of work.
2. You Really Want to Secure a Specific Work Contract
Imagine that you’ve been offered a wonderful freelance job, but you simply don’t meet all the requirements. If you turn it down, the client likely won’t come back to you again. Outsourcing can solve this problem.
You can find someone who possesses the knowledge, experience, or equipment that you lack and outsource that part of the job to them. That way you don’t have to turn down the job, and you might get more work from that client in the future.
3. There’s More Work Than You Can Handle on Your Own
If the job you’ve accepted is a long one, and it seems like there’s no end in sight, it could be a great time to outsource and find an extra pair of hands.
If the deadline is fast approaching and you’re not confident you can finish on time, outsourcing can provide you with an assistant that you can delegate some of the work to.
4. You Really Don’t Like Doing Something
This may sound unprofessional, but it’s not! As a freelancer, you are your own boss and employee. That comes with certain freedoms and a lot of responsibilities.
When you’re working for someone else, you can’t usually refuse to do something that your boss requests. But as a freelancer, you are in charge. If there’s a part of the job you’ve accepted that you really don’t want to do, you can outsource this to someone else and give yourself the time to focus on the things you’re most passionate about.
How to Outsource Work
Outsourcing a part of your job and trusting someone else to complete it well can seem like a scary undertaking. But it doesn’t have to be! Here are a few steps you can follow that will make finding the right help easy and painless:
- Decide which task you want to outsource.
- Find a suitable candidate.
- Organize and assess the applicants.
- Pick the right person and hire them.
1. Decide Which Task You Want to Outsource
In the section above, we looked at four good reasons to consider outsourcing. Regardless of the reason you decide to outsource, it shouldn’t be too hard to determine which task(s) you need help with.
Decide what parts of the job you want to do yourself, and it will then become clear what you need to outsource.
2. Find a Suitable Candidate
Once you know what task you need help with, you need to find the right person. To do this, you should create a job posting.
Be as detailed as possible when creating your post. You don’t need to include any details about your job as a whole or the work you’re not outsourcing, but a few details can help you find the right person.
- What are the specifics of the job?
- When does it need to be completed?
- Who is the ideal candidate?
- How much will the job pay?
3. Organize and Assess the Applicants
You may get lots of replies to your job posting, but the whole point of outsourcing is to lessen your workload, not increase it. It helps to be organized when communicating with possible candidates – especially thinking through in advance exactly what information you want from them. Here are a few things you might want to check before you pick the right person.
- Make sure you have all their professional contact information.
- What is their relevant experience?
- Why are they applying for the job?
- How much do they usually charge?
- Can they provide a sample of their work?
Based on this information, you can find someone who communicates well with you, does good quality work, and fits within your budget.
4. Pick the Right Person and Hire Them
Once you know who you want to outsource to, offer them the job!
Remember that the person you outsource to is not your business partner or employee. They’ll do the task you assign them and will get paid whatever was agreed upon. They’re not part of your freelance business and shouldn’t have any communication with whoever hired you for the wider job.
To make these boundaries clear, it’s good to have the person you are outsourcing to sign a contract. If you have a lawyer, they can write one up. If not, there are a few places you can find online templates.
Becoming a Freelancer
Being a freelancer can be an incredibly rewarding career. You can accept outsourced work from others as well as outsource work to other people if you need help finishing a job.
Editing and proofreading are great freelance opportunities. If you want to take your first steps on that journey, our courses can help you, whether you’re a complete beginner or want to polish your existing skills.
Get started with a free trial today.
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