If you’re like many female solopreneurs, you’re accustomed to doing it all. As your business grows, however, there comes a time where day-to-day jobs — bookkeeping, technical troubleshooting, formatting blog posts — start to sabotage your productivity. By outsourcing these jobs to freelancers, you can stay focused on high-value tasks that boost profits.
Why Outsource What You Can Do Yourself?
As a solopreneur, your time is valuable — and limited. Outsourcing can help recover the time you usually lose to mundane, non-revenue-generating work.
Imagine that your website’s contact form breaks. Sure, you can probably figure out how to fix it, but it might take two hours. A better option is to outsource the issue to a WordPress professional. They’ll solve the problem quickly, and you can spend those two hours on tasks that only you can do: working on paid projects, communicating with clients, or pitching your services to potential partners.
In some cases, outsourcing can be a great way to relieve stress and conserve mental energy. Do you dread posting on Facebook? Does bookkeeping leave you exhausted and unable to focus? Delegate those jobs to a freelancer, and you’ll be happier and able to work on tasks you love.
What Tasks Should You Outsource to Freelancers?
Start by looking for time-consuming tasks that don’t require your direct involvement or expertise. Some options include:
- Technical support for your website
- Accounting and financial management
- Tax preparation
- Graphic design
- Video and photo editing
- Pinterest posting
- Social media management
- Copywriting and blogging
- Formatting
- Marketing
- Administrative work
Outsourcing opportunities are different for every solopreneur. In general, it’s safe to delegate tasks that are outside your core competencies.
How to Find Qualified Freelancers
A few great freelancers can skyrocket your business; it’s worth spending the time to find qualified, capable professionals. Some places to look:
- Classified listings. Print and digital listings can help you find local or remote freelancers. This method is time-consuming, but it’s a great way to build long-term relationships.
- Online freelance marketplaces. Post jobs on sites like Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork, and choose from hundreds of applicants. You’ll pay a fee, but you won’t need to market your job or deal with payment processing.
- Networking. Post your job on social media and send it to your professional and personal contacts to find trustworthy recommendations.
- Virtual assistant (VA) agencies. If you need administrative assistance, these agencies can help you find qualified VAs from around the world.
When you need help on a specific project, consider hiring a specialized agency or solopreneur to complement your expertise.
Other specialized tasks to outsource are:
- Web development
- App programming
- Product photography
- Video production
Efficient Payment Methods
So the last thing you want is to outsource work and then to become overloaded with invoicing and payroll. It can put you right back at square one. Instead, learn how to stay on top of payroll with your freelancers by turning to an accounting software platform that not only automates payroll but that files taxes and offers same-day direct deposit. Again, it’s time to work smarter, not harder.
Smart outsourcing is a great way to free up your time and mental energy for high-impact tasks. With the above tips, you can find the help you need so you can focus on the bigger picture.