Freelancing has become one of the top-rated career choices in recent times. And why not? It is through freelancing that financial stability can be achieved while maintaining personal freedom.
However, problems arise when a freelancer’s client base starts to grow, and their career begins to take off. At that point, they not only have to manage client work but also deal with client hunting, communication, social media management, and personal branding all at once. This overwhelming workload leaves freelancers wondering, “What to prioritize, and what to leave behind?” To overcome this situation, outsourcing can be the best option. Nowadays, many freelancers are leveraging outsourcing to reach a significant position in their careers in a shorter period. In today’s article, I will explain why freelancers should outsource, the benefits of outsourcing, and how you can start outsourcing.
What is Outsourcing?
Many people still believe that Outsource and outsourcing are the same thing, but this is a misconception. Freelancing involves finding clients on different platforms and directly providing services to them.
On the other hand, outsourcing refers to taking on a project or service from a client but hiring a third party to complete the work and then delivering it to the client. For instance, a freelancer can take an order from a client and hire another freelancer to complete the work on their behalf, ensuring it is delivered to the client on time.
Not only freelancers but also small and large companies are now outsourcing their tasks to third parties. From my personal experience, I can say that the benefits of outsourcing are much harder to achieve through solo freelancing.
Advantages of Outsourcing
Why Should Freelancers Outsource?
The main advantage of outsourcing as a freelancer is that it saves a lot of time, and you can dedicate that time to the most important tasks. By outsourcing, Outsource can focus on the most critical areas of their freelancing business.
If you are a solo freelancer, you already know how overwhelming the workload can be. From client hunting to completing projects, revisions, invoicing, and communication—all of these tasks must be handled alone. While it may seem manageable initially, the situation can become quite difficult over time.
Think about it—if a freelancer spends a large portion of their working hours completing client projects, they will not have much time left to find new clients or market their services. On the other hand, if they dedicate too much time to marketing, the quality of the client work may suffer.
In such situations, Outsource often face a dilemma about what to prioritize. Simple tasks start to feel like a heavy burden, and motivation and productivity begin to decline.
However, if a freelancer outsources, they can focus more on the tasks they are most capable of and experienced in. Tasks of lower priority—those that do not require the freelancer’s personal attention—can be delegated to a third party. As a result, all tasks are completed on time, clients remain happy, and the freelancer gets extra time to focus on their areas of expertise. This gradually improves the quality of their services, helping them advance to a better position in their career.
Where to Outsource Services?
One of the primary concerns Outsource and business professionals have regarding outsourcing is where and how they can outsource services at a good price. While there is no single answer, you can make a decision based on certain factors.
Typically, both companies and freelancers provide outsourcing services. If you choose to outsource services from a company, keep in mind that the cost will be slightly higher because companies charge more to maintain profit margins. If budget is not an issue, you can opt for a company.
On the other hand, if you hire freelancers from platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or social media, the cost will be much lower. Personally, I believe that hiring freelancers is the best way to outsource.
Why?
- More Options: Hiring Outsource gives you many options.
- Skill Evaluation: You can review a freelancer’s portfolio to assess their skills and experience before starting work.
- Clear Communication: Communication becomes easy, and you can regularly get updates, clear any confusion, and ensure deadlines are met.
If the client project is short-term or can be completed quickly, it is better to hire freelancers because outsourcing companies typically focus on long-term projects. However, if the client project is long-term, you may consider hiring a company.
Additionally, consider the nature of the project. For example, if the task is simple, you can hire freelancers. However, if the task requires multiple skills or is critical, it may be better to spend a little extra to hire an expert company.
How to Outsource?
To start outsourcing, the first step is to create a list of tasks that you need to complete as a freelancer. Then, identify the tasks that only you can handle. Decide whether the remaining tasks can be outsourced.
Next, conduct your own research to find individuals or companies who can help you with outsourcing. Once you find someone who matches your criteria, negotiate pricing. If their pricing aligns with your budget, finalize the contract and hand over the work. By outsourcing in this way, you can gradually grow your freelancing career.