My Problem with Outsourcing

After I was laid off and started my own marketing company there were several challenges to over come. Like how to get clients.  That’s the main thing I struggle with most of the time. When a local client that I advertise for asked me if I knew any web designers, I got thinking. Maybe I should offer web designing services.

Now the thing is.. I don’t know web design. Nor have any desire to learn. But I offered web designing services anyways. I posted an ad online around 10pm and by 5am I had 40 applications in my inbox. That’s way too much to look through. After looking at about 15 I hired one. Overseas. Now the first designer I hired performed a pretty good job. And the profit margin for the service was good too. I gave him a total of about three projects. Last week I received my largest web design project, a total of 38 pages, with a log-in form, an online store and all that good stuff.

When I asked this designer to give me ideas of what to use, he showed me some non-impressive stuff.  After about a day of looking at the ideas he had I decided to keep this designer to design logos and stuff, but go with a different web designer for now..  So I put another ad online for a designer. Again I got dozens of applications. I hired a designer with the best application and rate. The client contract was signed last Monday, with an advance payment. I sent over the advance payment and the plans for the website and there we were set to start the project. It’s now been about 7 days and we’re barely anywhere. My previous designer worked overseas but worked on US standard time. This new designer works when he pleases, which is generally not a convinient time for us to speak and walk-through.

What angered me (not ALOT but some-what) was how I tried to contact him for the past few hours (starting at 4:30), while it showed him as available. And he responds at 7:40pm, wants more details on the site, clearly showing that we’re basically no where with the design and the client wants a sample, like yestaurday morning. And he’s offline by 7:57pm because he needs to sleep. The pros of this is I can submit a report once the project is done on his ‘timeliness, availability,etc.” and that benefits others, con: that does nothing for me. I had a time problem with the last web design project but ended up leaving a 5/5 rating for the freelancer because I’m just cool like that.

Here are some things I suggest if your looking to outsource a project:

1. Look at there previous portfolio. (IMPORTANT)
2. Get references, this is easy for people looking for outsourcing through websites like Odesk, Freelancer, & Elance. (IMPORTANT)
3. Check availability. (IMPORTANT)

Although sometimes it may be a tough experience, shouldn’t just put it down. The main reason people outsource is to increase profitability. Even though the person isn’t always someone you’ve never met, you can build a business relationship over-time.

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