How to Take the Stress Out of Outsourcing
One of the difficult decisions many employers have faced is whether or not to keep staff they can’t afford in a shrinking economy.
Many employees who were on furlough have had to accept they may not be returning to their job after all.
During times of recession hiring a freelancer to do the work once done by a full-time member of staff can be the answer. As Forbes.com published in an article on in May:
“Freelancers are often more appealing to employers during a recession. A sole proprietor or freelance consultant does not require the heavy benefits package of a full-time employee.”
But outsourcing work, where you sub-contract an expert to do particular tasks comes with its own headaches.
You need someone who not only brings expertise but is reliable. Someone who delivers on time and to brief.
This was true for a recent client of mine who works in the tourism sector.
They acquire new holiday homes to sell each month and their job (providing a service for the holiday home owner, whose satisfaction must also be considered) is to make sure that each new holiday home is on the market as quickly as possible in order to stay ahead in a competitive industry.
But that content has to be of an excellent standard, fully optimized for search engines, and fit in with their existing content.
Happily, any qualms they had about hiring an outsider were soon smoothed away when I delivered their product descriptions on time and to their exacting standards.
But how do you know who are the good guys and who is going to make a ham-fisted mess in this freelancing wild-west?
There are no guarantees.
Word of mouth is probably your best indicator - if your freelancer comes recommended that’s usually a good sign. And if disappointed, at least you have someone you’re acquainted with to blame.
Glowing testimonials from previous clients (found e.g. on LinkedIn and on a business’s website) can give you the ‘social proof’ you need too.
And scouring their website and marketing for examples of previous projects and work can help you decide if you like their style.
Going back to the topic of product descriptions, these are an important part of any e-commerce business’s marketing content across all digital channels.
The right message to your market can make all the difference when it comes to sales.
This is why - as businesses are building momentum - my August offer is book before August 31st to receive 10 percent off all product description copywriting services.
Get in touch to find out more and how I can help you with your content needs. rachel@rachelhunterwriting.co.uk