There are numerous benefits to outsourcing when it comes to managing the different aspects of your business. From administration to graphic design and content capture, there is almost always an option to hire externally to help get the task you need done.
Hiring externally not only helps to save time and resources compared to building out your own team in-house, but it also means flexibility when it comes to scaling operations according to the needs of your brand.
This is where it gets tricky- how do we get the most out of these partnerships?
Select Wisely
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting external providers for your business.
Research, monitor, and even have a few interviews and conversations to better understand your candidates. Ultimately, it is the provider that aligns with your brand values the most, and has the relevant experience that will be most likely to achieve your business objectives.
OUR TOP TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask for past work examples or references to help you better understand a provider’s capabilities.
Align on Objectives, Scope, and Expectations
Every partnership deserves a strong start. Ensure the long term success of both your brand and your provider by establishing which areas of expertise you need the most, and prioritising them accordingly. This helps external collaborators better understand the vision and expectations of your brand.
From here, you will be able to set up specific requirements, timelines and tasks with your collaborators, and be able to monitor progress on projects effectively.
Another example of how this can be done is through a Preliminary Meeting to help understand needs and metrics of success, something we do with all our clients at NB Media.
Collaboration and Communication
Maintain open lines of communication so that you and your provider can keep each other in the loop of progress, updates, and even last minute changes. This will give you the opportunity to provide regular feedback on work being done, helping ensure that you get the most out of your investment, and the end products (plus results!) that you want.
By constantly communicating through a platform of your choice, you will be able to leverage on the expertise of your provider, and their skill set so that you can gain more valuable insights and suggestions that may not be apparent within your business.
Evaluation
If it cannot be measured, it cannot be managed.
Having consistent check-in meetings is critical in ensuring the long term success of your outsourcing initiative. We recommend touching base with your team at least once every fortnight at the start of a partnership, and gradually moving into monthly catch ups once workflows have stabilised.
Setting aside the time to evaluate and assess the success of the previous weeks allows both parties to communicate ideas and suggestions to improve. Once that has been done, you can then compare that against those goals that have been set at the start to gauge progress, and adjust any strategies if needed.
Outsourcing is a great resource in any business’ toolkit- taking the time to select the right provider and build that working relationship can make all the difference when it comes to building a strong brand, while still focusing and supporting core business operations.
Want to learn more about Outsourcing?
Reach out to us today.
