How to Outsource Smartly on Employment Sites Like Elance, Guru ...

Outsourcing is not a dirty word. SMBs use outsourcing on competitive bid job websites to reduce overhead and tap expertise. Learn how to outsource with online job platforms.

Key takeaways:

• Employment websites, like Elance, Guru, etc., allow you to post jobs, solicit bids, hire contractors, and manage projects online.
• Maximize your investment by implementing outsourcing best practices.
• Best practices range from posting specific job descriptions that snag qualified contractors to being realistic about budget restrictions.

The Internet is good for more than watching funny cat videos. Competitive bidding employment platforms, like Elance or Guru, give small business owners the power to outsource tasks that are essential, but challenging to handle in-house. Whether you need a new logo or website for your business or an assistant to handle your social media or write your blogs, outsourcing on these websites can be an essential tool for building your small business or start-up.

How do competitive bidding job websites work? Typically, you post a job description, and contractors using the site will submit bids. You then choose a qualified contractor, manage the project, and pay the contractor, all through the job site.

If you want to know how to outsource to service providers in a way that gets results, check out these competitive bidding employment sites do?s and don?ts:

Do provide specific job descriptions. For each business outsourcing job you?ll be asked to submit a job description. General job descriptions can attract dozens of proposals, many of them from people who may be unaware they?re not qualified to do your specific task. Save your time (and the contractor?s) by including the specifics that narrow down the field to those able to complete the project.

Don?t fudge. Just like face-to-face relationships, honesty is the key when hiring service providers online. For example, if you dangle the promise of future work in hopes of receiving a lower bid but have no intention of delivering, it will damage any trust the contractor has placed in you. Some competitive bidding employment sites allow contractors to leave feedback regarding employers; dishonest employers develop a reputation that discourages quality contractors from bidding in the future.

Do be realistic. Do you have a low budget for your business outsourcing project? No problem; it?s a challenge faced by plenty of small businesses and start-ups. But part of learning how to outsource online is understanding that budget will play a role in the quality of contractors who bid. Don?t count on getting Lexus service for a Kia price. If the budget is low, considering tapping contractors new to the site. These professionals may have offline experience but may be willing to work at a lower price to build experience on the competitive bidding site.

Don?t assume the contractor is trying to pull a fast one on you. If you?re not able to place some level of trust in an outsourced professional, then hiring service providers online probably isn?t a good choice. Part of learning how to outsource effectively is learning to trust the professional you?re working with. Keep in mind that employers do have recourse when contractors don?t live up to the terms of the contract. For example, you may be able to post negative feedback on the service provider?s site profile.

Don?t neglect to read the site?s terms of service. If you need to know how to outsource smartly, then do not ignore this tip. Each hiring platform has different terms that will guide many of your interactions with service providers. For example, Elance requires employers and contractors to work together through Elance for the first 24 months of a working relationship; this ensures Elance receives their service fees. Violate the policy and you could be banned from using the site.

Competitive bidding job sites are a smart way to outsource critical tasks while keeping overhead down. These outsourcing best practices will guide you as you hire the pros with the know-how to boost your small business or start-up.

Tags: business outsourcing, competitive bidding sites, contract bids, contract employees, elance, guru, help wanted, hiring help, hiring service providers, how to outsource, outsource, outsourcing best practices, small business

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