subject: How to Outsource - Planning Projects Before You Begin To Post Them On Freelance Job Auction Sites [print this page] How to Outsource - Planning Projects Before You Begin To Post Them On Freelance Job Auction Sites
In the last few years outsourcing has become a popular source of making money and getting work done online. from many countries contribute to this industry by posting projects they require as buyers, or by posting their profiles as providers. As this trend is becoming common-place to many people, a frequent question being asked is, "How to outsource projects in order to get efficient, effective and economical solutions?" Project planning experts always say, "The success of a project depends on the amount of effort, skill and forethought you enforce in its initial planning". It is important to take particular steps while planning projects before you finally post them on outsourcing websites, this is recommended if you want to get real value for money.
Once you get a grasp on these facts, you will be better qualified to design and post your job, this may possibly require a lot of practice to get the hang of. Applying these techniques over and over again will improve your project planning techniques and over time you will truly discover the secrets of outsourcing.
Rendering The Correct Specification:
When you come upon a task at home, that you feel you could benefit by outsourcing it online, you should at once note it down. Later when you make a decision it is something you want to pursue, you will need to make a well defined and detailed description of what you desire from the freelancer. Write it down on a piece of paper or just use Notepad on your personal computer. Once you have got a brief layout, you should get started creating a detailed specification for your provider so that your job can be done effectively and efficiently. Remember, a great specification is the most fundamental step towards efficient project planning before outsourcing a project. Kindly keep in mind the following while penning your specifications:
The heading should clearly show who the job is for e.g. Expert Writer for Information System Documentation Project and .Net software engineer for GPS based iPhone Ring Tones.
The specification must be short and explained in plain and easy language, you should make it reader friendly so that providers don't hesitate reading it. Usually a short but vivid specification based on three to four paragraphs is recommended.
It should have a defined due date. Clearly express the skill-sets required, and demand some sample projects.
You should give a budget so service providers who view your project can come to a decision whether it profitable enoughfor them to persue or not.
Here are some of the greatest tips you should keep in mind while learning 'how to outsource'.
Pricing and issues about payment:
You can get anything for lot's of cash! But getting true value for the money spent is and can be often difficult and requires a lot of thinking and planning. If your job will take a long time and you want to continuously keep an eye on your providers work, it might be better that you go for hourly payments for your project, or if you have a short term project and monitoring your provider is not important then a fixed price is recommended. But remember, good providers favor hourly jobs. Always sort price issues before you assign the job, attempt to assess your providers capabilities before you decide to pay the amount requested. If the prospective provider is lacking any necessary skills, try to persuade them to a lower sum of money.
Essential Secrets!
Here are some outsourcing secrets which you should know about while planning your projects and studying outsourcing:
Always request sample assignments.
Tell your provider that you may have more projects if the job is completed effectively. This will guarantee that the job gets done to the best possible standard.
Always put a due date three days before you want the project to be completed, this will give you the best opportunity to ask for any changes. This will also prepare for any delays in case the service provider is late!
Always set your budget lower than that you wish to pay.
If freelancers have bid a large amount, ask them if they would drop their price; you never know when they are likely to agree!
It is the authors wish that if you got anything from this article, that it is the fact that project planning is an integral any outsourcing project, no matter what the size or budget.