| > | | | | designer to develop header and ebook cover graphics |
| | | | for your sales page. Telling the designer nothing more |
| Outsourcing can be an Internet Marketing | | | | than the title of your ebook and expecting the graphics |
| Professional's best friend or worst enemy. Learn how | | | | of your dreams to result is just not going to happen. |
| to avoid common oursourcing pitfalls and make | | | | The more detailed you can be about your likes, dislikes |
| outsourcing a profitable business move. | | | | and expectations, the greater the chance that you will |
| Outsourcing is the latest buzz word to hit internet | | | | be thrilled with the end result. Remember, just because |
| marketing circles, teleseminars, and niche websites. It is | | | | the designer has skills that you don't, one of those skills |
| certainly not a new concept to outsource work, but like | | | | probably isn't reading minds! If you don't like the color |
| so much else in our lives, the Internet has given rise to | | | | green, there is no way someone is going to know this |
| a new dimension of this popular technique. Because of | | | | unless you tell them. |
| this, there are a number of issues to keep in mind | | | | Another area where internet marketers get into |
| when looking at outsourcing as a viable alternative to | | | | trouble is when the outsourcing project involves |
| doing it yourself. | | | | technical skills or programming. This can be particularly |
| For good reason, outsourcing is a concept that internet | | | | difficult if both sides are not communicating properly. |
| marketing professionals and newbies alike should | | | | A non-programmer often sees a project as being far |
| acquaint themselves with. Because a large number of | | | | less complex due to a lack of knowledge about the |
| internet marketers are running the show by | | | | mechanics involved in the programming process. End |
| themselves or with a limited pool of additional | | | | users are used to just clicking buttons and having |
| assistance, there are just too many tasks to complete | | | | things work; they never have to deal or think about |
| alone. In addition to the time factor, it is simply not | | | | what goes on with the coding behind the scenes. |
| possible for any one individual to possess all the | | | | This can have both an impact on the perceived value |
| technical skills necessary to accomplish all aspects | | | | of the outsourcing bid as well as the time frame and |
| running an internet marketing business. | | | | ultimate functionality of the programming project. |
| With time and skill level being the two primary factors | | | | Misunderstandings with all of these things can be |
| that lead internet marketers to outsource, it is important | | | | greatly reduced by taking time to clearly and concisely |
| to understand which of these two needs you are | | | | define the project parameters ahead of time. Again, |
| fulfilling when you proceed to outsource. | | | | the importance of communication here cannot be |
| When analyzing your outsourcing needs on the basis | | | | stressed enough. |
| of time constraints, it is advisable to have a good | | | | Finally, it is never a good idea to outsource anything |
| understanding of what an hour of your time is worth | | | | you don't understand or cannot measure. This isn't to |
| relative to the task at hand. | | | | say that you need to understand the mechanics |
| For example, let's say it takes you six hours to | | | | behind the process, but you definitely need to |
| accomplish a redundant task and it would take about | | | | understand the result. |
| 15 minutes for you to teach someone else to do it for | | | | For example, it is not unusual to see bid requests on |
| you. Then look at what you may be able to | | | | popular outsourcing sites requesting 200+ inbound links |
| accomplish in that same six hour period. Would you be | | | | from PR7 or greater sites to be completed within 24 |
| able to use that time to finish an ebook that could be | | | | hours. While this may or may not be an exaggeration, |
| resold for untold profits, or write thousands of lines of | | | | the point is, if you are asking for this and adamant that |
| code to package and resell? If so, then any modest | | | | you want to get your money's worth, you better be |
| fee that is paid to outsource that redundant task could | | | | prepared to have a means in place with which to |
| be worth its weight in gold. | | | | judge someone's performance in completing this task. |
| Outsourcing on the basis of skill level becomes a little | | | | Otherwise, it is just a recipe for disaster. |
| trickier and this is where most internet marketers who | | | | Simply put, if you want something done to your |
| are new to outsourcing can get themselves in trouble. | | | | satisfaction, you need to be prepared ahead of time to |
| It is imperative to keep in mind that even though you | | | | know when that point is reached. |
| may be outsourcing an activity that you are not | | | | Remember, outsourcing in many ways is just the |
| capable of doing yourself, you still need to be in control. | | | | virtual version of an employee or subcontractor. If you |
| This is your business and your image and income | | | | have ever been an employer who created a job |
| depends on it. Failure to have a firm grasp on what | | | | description, along with it you most likely implemented a |
| you are outsourcing will almost always mean that the | | | | means of gauging the employee's performance. And |
| end result will not live up to your expectations. And this | | | | as an employee, you knew exactly what was |
| is not productive for you or the individual you have | | | | expected of you and the consequences of failure. |
| contracted with. | | | | Today's outsourcing concepts are based upon the |
| Communication is the key component when | | | | same time honored principles used in business |
| outsourcing a task that you are not readily able to do | | | | throughout the ages and understanding this will greatly |
| yourself. For example, let's say you are not the | | | | increase your odds of success. |
| greatest artist in the world and you contract with a | | | | |