Outsourcing: The Secret to Small Business Success
When you're a solopreneur, micro or small business every minute counts.
By outsourcing your administrative and secretarial tasks you'll free up valuable time and can concentrate on your core business, plus it's easier and more cost effective than taking on staff.
Advantages The three main advantages of outsourcing are: Reduced overheads From office space to computer equipment and business running costs, you'll save on them all.
Virtual Assistants provide their own equipment and work from their own premises.
Reduced staff salaries If you have staff you're paying for productive time AND downtime.
All those coffee breaks, lunch breaks and chats by the water-cooler add up, and that's before you add on holidays and sick leave.
And if you want your staff to keep up to date with the latest technology you'll need to invest in regular training.
Virtual Assistants are highly skilled and keep themselves up to date with the latest industry changes.
Plus, you only ever pay for the time spent on your tasks.
Increased revenue Add up the savings on overheads, staff salaries etc.
and you'll quickly discover that by outsourcing your administrative and secretarial tasks your bottom line will increase.
How to choose a great Virtual Assistant Never, ever choose a Virtual Assistant because they offer the cheapest rates.
Always consider what their value is, in other words what they're bringing to your business, and consider these criteria: Do they have sufficient experience? If they have a website, spend some time checking it out.
Does their website look professional? Are there any typos (never a good sign)? Is there a page detailing their qualifications and experience? Are there testimonials from satisfied clients? These days most people display testimonials on their site, although some prefer to keep them private and only share the details on request.
Check up on testimonials, make sure the companies exist and, if your work is of a particularly sensitive or confidential nature, call and speak to the person who gave the testimonial.
Can they meet my required deadline? Ensure that the Virtual Assistant is aware of your deadline and they have the capacity to meet it.
It's preferable to get email confirmation of the date you can expect your work returned so there's no confusion.
Is there a time difference? If your chosen Virtual Assistant is in a different country bear in mind time differences.
A different time zone can work to your advantage - your Virtual Assistant can be working while you're asleep - but it may limit you if you need to make regular phone contact.
Choose your Virtual Assistant wisely and you can enjoy a long and fruitful relationship.
By outsourcing your administrative and secretarial tasks you'll free up valuable time and can concentrate on your core business, plus it's easier and more cost effective than taking on staff.
Advantages The three main advantages of outsourcing are: Reduced overheads From office space to computer equipment and business running costs, you'll save on them all.
Virtual Assistants provide their own equipment and work from their own premises.
Reduced staff salaries If you have staff you're paying for productive time AND downtime.
All those coffee breaks, lunch breaks and chats by the water-cooler add up, and that's before you add on holidays and sick leave.
And if you want your staff to keep up to date with the latest technology you'll need to invest in regular training.
Virtual Assistants are highly skilled and keep themselves up to date with the latest industry changes.
Plus, you only ever pay for the time spent on your tasks.
Increased revenue Add up the savings on overheads, staff salaries etc.
and you'll quickly discover that by outsourcing your administrative and secretarial tasks your bottom line will increase.
How to choose a great Virtual Assistant Never, ever choose a Virtual Assistant because they offer the cheapest rates.
Always consider what their value is, in other words what they're bringing to your business, and consider these criteria: Do they have sufficient experience? If they have a website, spend some time checking it out.
Does their website look professional? Are there any typos (never a good sign)? Is there a page detailing their qualifications and experience? Are there testimonials from satisfied clients? These days most people display testimonials on their site, although some prefer to keep them private and only share the details on request.
Check up on testimonials, make sure the companies exist and, if your work is of a particularly sensitive or confidential nature, call and speak to the person who gave the testimonial.
Can they meet my required deadline? Ensure that the Virtual Assistant is aware of your deadline and they have the capacity to meet it.
It's preferable to get email confirmation of the date you can expect your work returned so there's no confusion.
Is there a time difference? If your chosen Virtual Assistant is in a different country bear in mind time differences.
A different time zone can work to your advantage - your Virtual Assistant can be working while you're asleep - but it may limit you if you need to make regular phone contact.
Choose your Virtual Assistant wisely and you can enjoy a long and fruitful relationship.
