How to Use Outsourcing to Scale Your Business

We've got a business that's steadily growing. It can make you feel like a superhero. You are CEO by day, customer service by night, marketer in the morning and occasional accountant when the invoice is rolling. It's exciting to be the person spinning so many plates that a business is starting to bloom and grow. But it's exhausting. And this is where outsourcing swoops in with a cape, the Robin to your Batman ready to save the day.

Whether you're running an e-commerce brand or a tech startup, it doesn't matter. Even if you have a content platform that leans into digital fan engagement, outsourcing can help you to scale without working yourself into the ground. It's not about handing over your control, but growing in a way that is smart. But how do you do it? And what should you outsource? First, let's take a look at how you can use outsourcing to scale your business up.

At its core, outsourcing is just hiring someone outside of your business to handle tasks that you'd otherwise do yourself.Thank you. Whether you're looking at outsourcing to an Onlyfans chatting service or you're looking to outsource to a new accountant, the point is you're looking at where you are overworked and you are creating a way for yourself to manage better. You’re the boss, you’re the one in charge, but you’re delegating and running things like the pro you are.

Why should you do it?

Besides needing some sleep, running a business can feel like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle and it doesn't have to be that way. You can use outsourcing to take some of the flaming swords out of your hands so that you can get further toward your goals without the accompanying burnout.

Outsourcing saves you time, allowing you to reclaim your hours and focus on the things that will offer you high impact. You can look more into your strategy, networking and even take that much-needed break for a change! You’ll also find outsourcing to be more cost-effective than you think. You can hire a full time employee if you want to but that means looking at paying salaries, benefits, training sessions and taxes. When you outsource, you don't have to worry about most of this and you will find that it costs you less.

With all of that, you end up with expert-level work, with outsourcing allowing you to reach out to and network with the pros! You can live and breathe your business without feeling crushed by the weight of what was missing. The best part? It scales up with you - whether you need five hours or fifty hours of help a week.

What should you outsource?

Not everything your business requires outsourcing right away. There are some tasks that are better suited to outsourcing than others, however. Some of those tasks include:

• Customer service support. If your inbox is overflowing or your refund requests are piling up too high for you to catch up with, you can get rid of those time-consuming tasks and hand them off to someone else. They can answer your emails or schedule your meetings, and they can even deal with the nitty-gritty so you get a chance to turn your eyes to the bigger picture.
• Content creation. Content is king and always will be, whether that’s in the form of video or written content. If writing or editing isn't your strong suit you don't have to worry because it doesn't have to be. Content creators and copywriters are talented individuals and can help you to maintain your brand voice.
• Social media management. Without social media, your business isn't going to grow as far as you thought it would. All that time replying to DMs and managing content can take away from the business empire you’re building. Look for someone who truly understands your niche and matches your tone.
• Bookkeeping. You don't have to manage the finances alone, you know. This one is a no-rainer, especially if you’re not familiar with programs that can help with managing money. You want to keep your numbers in order, file your taxes and help you to make smart financial decisions. Peace of mind when tax season rolls around is exactly what you need.
• Sales. Lead generation is such a difficult thing to achieve, especially if you’re great at the data without being great at the rest of it. If your business is growing fast and you can’t personally handle every new lead, that’s absolutely fine! There is a reason that there is a growing pool of experts out there and you can take full advantage of said experts. Look for the pros who understand what your industry does and you’re halfway there.
• Tech support. When was the last time you rocked up at a HTML and coding class? Probably never! Websites have a tendency to break and platforms glitch out on occasion. Apps require updates and instead of Googling how to fix it, hire a tech expert to work on keeping your site where it should be. Handing things over to a developer who knows what they’re doing is a smart business decision to make. You’re going to save time, save money and save your digital image!

Finding talent

Outsourcing has never been easier than it is right now. There are so many platforms for finding experts and there are agencies out there that can give you the support you need, too. You can ask for recommendations on social media, within your circle and within your network. Word of mouth travels fast and you should capitalize on that network while you can.

Outsourcing isn't something that you set and forget because to make it work in your favour, you have to communicate effectively. You need to make sure that you are open with the agencies you use about what you need, check in regularly and give feedback where it’s needed. And, as magical as outsourcing is, there are some things that you should avoid outsourcing, too. These can include:

• Your core business strategy.
• Your brand voice and big picture making - these should be handled by you!
• Customer relationships. Outsource customer support, but stay as connected as possible to what your customers are saying as a business leader.

Outsourcing is worth it - of course, it is. But like anything, it’s not without a challenge or two. You’ll have to vet people, invest your time up front and be okay with a little trial and error. Once you find the correct team and service, the results will speak for themselves. The fun part is in figuring out exactly what your business needs and then leaning into it wholly. By taking the time to do this, you get to keep your business moving forward.

Flexibility is much easier to find when you take the busywork off your plate and put your business into high gear. Growth is important and whether you’re hiring an assistant to wring your calendar out or you need a content creator, you can outsource.

Scaling doesn't mean that you have to work more hours, but it does mean that you have to boss those hours and take charge of the situation. You are the one pushing for greatness, so finding the right scale and the right balance with outsourced services is the way to go!