Outsourcing for business

8 Jan

I worked with a lovely client at the end of 2024 who had been reluctant to ask for help with improving her website. At a networking event she met a website designer who persuaded her that it was a good idea to call in the professionals and then through recommendation (thank you to those involved), she came to me for help with her web copy.

She knew what she wanted but she didn’t have the time herself to invest in making it happen, to learn how to fix her website or to ponder over the ‘right’ words. But, thanks to collaboration between us all - the web designer and I getting to know her and her business; her listening to our advice and ideas - we completed the website and the client loves it. In an email she admitted that it was hard for her to hand over to someone else, but she was glad that she had.

Outsourcing is something we all do whether we realise it or not - it could be by employing a cleaner, a gardener, being part of a carpool or even buying ready meals! We’re delegating a task to someone else and more often than not, it’s their specialism.

As someone who works from home, several years ago, I recall discussing whether I should employ a cleaner with a bookkeeper friend of mine. I thought that it might be easier and less disruptive if I did it myself in work breaks, but she introduced me to outsourcing maths: quite simply, if it’s worth it (you can define worth), outsource the tasks that are stopping you from getting on with the job! At the time, we talked about worth in terms of my financial income versus paying the cleaner, but these days I think about worth in terms of time, self-care and making my life easier. The worth is less stress.

Here I delve into outsourcing and some of my network chip in at the end too! Look out for them on social media this month.

What can I outsource for my business?

I think we should ask, ‘what can't you outsource?’ as that’s the reality. For my business I have outsourced:

Bookkeeping
Web design
Branding photography
Graphic design
Business coaching
Work location - you might not consider coworking ‘outsourcing’ but in my opinion it is. You achieve so much more when you outsource where you work that it really is worth it.

I think that’s it for me but there’s so much more that you can delegate - marketing strategy and planning, social media marketing and planning and actual posting, accountancy, payroll, executive/virtual assistance, SEO work for your business and, of course, copywriting! That list isn’t exhaustive, I should add.

Benefits of outsourcing

Time

Employing someone else to perform a business task should save you time. You can then spend this time as you wish! Working on your business, regaining some work life balance - however you like. Time is precious.

Generates income

By delegating a task that you don’t like or know will take you longer than you have available, you’re freeing up time. If you choose to use that time on your business, you’re likely to be working towards generating income. That doesn’t have to mean direct sales in that time, but it could be customer service, product development, networking, research, precious thinking time or planning. All of these things are working towards growing your business.

Expertise

If you outsource tasks for your business, make sure that you’re delegating to someone competent. It won’t be an efficient exercise in time, energy or money if you have to do the task again or ask someone else to do it. It’s a good idea to employ experts and, then, by definition, you benefit from their expertise.

Delegating this way means that you’re not only gaining time but the task in hand will be completed to a higher standard than if you’d done it yourself. You’re really raising your game, elevating your output, maximising your ROI - the task is completed really well and you’ve had time to work on other aspects of your business or regain some work-life balance.

Supporting local economy

Many people who work in these industries are freelancers and so by employing them to help you, you’re supporting their businesses. The ripple effect in your and their local economies is not to be underestimated.

Bespoke attention

As freelancers, many people who offer these services can deliver a more personalised service. They might be able to be more flexible on a package deal to suit your needs, or the times that you meet, say. You’re not just a number to them; you’re a person with a business, just like them, and they’re more likely to empathise with the challenges and, importantly, the moments of success.

Why people worry about outsourcing

People don’t like outsourcing because of cost and the time it takes to find someone to do that dreaded task but there’s another reason too. People don’t like relinquishing control. They worry that it won’t be carried out as they’d like. Nerves kick in around not being able to say ‘no’ or ‘I don’t like it.’

Let me allay your fears.

Service providers like me and my friends mentioned below want to deliver a truly excellent service. We take pride in what we do and we care about it deeply. We want your business to succeed.

We’re used to speaking to a variety of business owners and we understand your concerns. We all know that we need to check in with you before proceeding, nothing is final until it’s signed off and that collaboration is key. As for you, you must ‘trust but verify’ - trust us to get on with the job but when we ask you to review something, make sure you do. You know the saying about assuming …

Hopefully you will consider outsourcing now, free up some time and gain some expertise just as my client did but if not, here are some freelancing friends helping to build the case! If you’re ready to get started with me, get in touch.

“Outsourcing is so beneficial to small and large businesses. Not only is it more cost-effective as you're not incurring headcount and you can switch on and off the resource when you require, but it means you're paying for the true expertise of a professional. They will be super quick and efficient and much faster than tackling a project in-house and they will be impartial bringing a fresh unbiased perspective to your business.”

Natalie Sharp of Sharp Thinking Marketing

“There are a number of reasons you should outsource your website.

A well-designed website will help you attract the kind of clients you want to work with.
A professionally designed and built website will provide you with a more professional appearance giving you more credibility.
A professional will save you time. Time you can use to focus on other, more profitable activities.”

Marie Brown of Beyond the Kitchen Table website design

“Coworking spaces provide an affordable, scalable solution that grows with the business, offering flexible membership options, access to professional amenities, and the ability to adjust the workspace as needed.

Additionally, coworking environments foster collaboration and brings together like-minded professionals and entrepreneurs. Shared office space encourages networking opportunities, idea-sharing, and cross-industry partnerships that can help with creativity and productivity.

By outsourcing coworking services, companies can not only reduce overhead costs but also enjoy the freedom and flexibility of a workspace that adapts to their evolving needs.”

Hattie Butler, Office Tribe Coworking spaces.

Outsourcing certain activities is common for small business owners. Bookkeeping and Accounting are obvious examples. However, managing your digital presence is often overlooked or carried out personally, consuming valuable time that can be better spent on business growth and engaging with clients. Time is not the only benefit gained from outsourcing.

When you outsource you gain years of experience and knowledge for a fraction of the price it would cost to employ someone full-time or to gain the knowledge yourself. Some examples of this are;

Connecting and configuring Google Search Console and Google Analytics to the website
Creating a Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy
Implementing appropriate security measures to protect the website from hacking
Backup to enable the site to be restored

Leveraging their cross-industry expertise and knowledge can provide valuable insights to grow your business.

Dominic Potts, Full Pivot

Caroline Kings