Entrepreneurs Delegate Busy Work: 4 Ways to Outsource

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

There are only so many hours in the day.

Be honest. Can you do it all by yourself?

As an entrepreneur, your time is valuable. Consider how your time is best spent.

If you’re the owner/founder of your company, how do you get the most out of your business? Do you work the phone? Do you call clients? Do you network? Do you accept in-person meetings? Do you take lunch and dinner meetings? Do you need to travel?

It takes an enormous amount of time to keep pace with your social media accounts, written content, and administrative needs. Put things into perspective and note what is making the biggest impact in your bottom line.

CONSIDER OUTSOURCING BUSY WORK 

The first way to determine your needs is to create a business plan that outlines your needs in detail. What is your mission? What is your strategy? What avenue is showing the most profit for your product or services? What is your marketing budget?

Organizing a business plan is one of the most important parts of my work with clients. If you don’t have a business plan or you’re not willing to pay for a business plan, you may be wasting your time and money. Don’t chase ideas that are only apparitions.

4 WAYS TO OUTSOURCE YOUR WORKLOAD

1. Employ a Social Media Automation Program. For your social media needs, consider joining an automated social media program. There are so many companies offering automated scheduling and posting services so I suggest you get a solid recommendation or test the program for a free month. See what program works for you. While I prefer real interaction and personal posts in an organic approach to building an audience, it’s important even if you schedule, you or someone else touches your social media daily in real time.
2. Hire Local Specialists. There are local virtual assistants, social media specialists, writers, and web designers available at the click of a few keys to ease your daily workload. Search online for local businesses, go through a local employment agency, or take a chance by posting ads on Craigslist. Most importantly, work with someone you can talk to directly on Skype, Zoom Video Conferencing, or Cisco WebEx. Better yet, hire someone who you can meet in-person for regular weekly or monthly meetings.
3. Hire Freelance Specialists. There are many companies online that offer discounted freelancers that specialize in certain areas. Do your homework. Get a recommendation from someone you respect. There are freelancers available on many sites but be prepared to meet people around the world. One of my U.S. clients paid a specialist in Bangladesh while another client paid a specialist in Norway. When another client attempted to hire a specialist in India, the specialist quit the job abruptly and unexpectedly. It can be a wonderful experience or it can leave you hanging with a job incomplete or forever hanging and unfinished.
4. Hire a Ghostwriter. Professional writers are taking over the duties of successful authors and bloggers. Many ghostwriters are doing the detailed research work required to write about certain subjects. Most ghostwriters will sign a non-disclosure, meaning they will never disclose the fact that you didn’t write every word of your own book or blog. My suggestion for authors is to find a ghostwriter who can capture your voice. But you also need to be willing towork with a ghostwriter instead of replacing yourself by a ghostwriter. If the voices change in the narrative, a reader can sense a change of writing style. Keep the style consistent and edit in your own voice whether it’s a book, a blog, or a website. Customers are paying top dollar to read your voice, so make sure your authentic voice is heard.

An entrepreneur can be more successful by choosing to outsource the monotonous work of the day. Spending all of your time researching details, doing data entry, or clicking the follow button one at a time on Twitter can be time better spent networking or building your skills.

Act as a leader and become a leader by showing your willingness to invest and delegate to a smart team.