subject: How To Outsource - Planning Projects Before You Post Them On Freelance Job Boards. [print this page] During the past few years outsourcing has become a common source of earning money and getting work done on-line. Men and woman from many countries contribute to this central working hub by posting work they need help with as buyers, or by posting their profiles as providers. As this trend is becoming common-place to many people, a frequent question is commonly asked, "How to outsource projects in order to get efficient and economical solutions?" Project planning experts always say, "The effective outcome of a project depends critically upon the amount of effort and care you utilize in its initial planning". You need to take distinct measures while planning projects before you finally post them on outsourcing job boards, this is required if you want to get true value for money.
Once you get a grasp of these techniques, you will be better qualified to design and post your job, this may take a lot of practice to master. Practicing these techniques over and over will boost your project planning skills and over time you will truly learn the secrets of outsourcing.
Supplying The Correct Specification:
When you came across some task at home or in your office, that you feel you could outsource online, you should at once note it down. Later on when you decide it is something you want to follow through with, you should make a well defined and detailed account of what you require from the provider. Jot it down on a piece of paper or just use Notepad on your PC. Once you have got a brief layout, you should start to create a detailed plan for your provider so that your job can be done efficiently and effectively. Remember, an effective specification is the most rudimentary step towards efficient project planning before outsourcing a project. Kindly keep in mind the following while writing your project specifications:
The project heading should clearly express who the job is for e.g. Expert Writer for Software Documentation projects Project and .Net programmer for GPS based iPhone Graphic Interface Design.
The spec 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 two or three paragraphs is encouraged.
It should have a stipulated due date. Clearly express the capabilities required, and demand some sample projects.
You should state a budget so freelancers that see your project can make a decision whether it pays enoughfor them to persue or not.
Here are some of the hottest tips you should have in the forefront of your mind while finding out 'how to outsource'.
Cost and payment issues:
You can get anything for a high fee! But getting true value for the money you spend is and can be, quite difficult and requires a lot of careful planning. If your job will last a for a long period of time and you want to continuously keep an eye on your providers progress, it could be better that you consider hourly payments for your project. If you have a short term job and monitoring your provider is not essential then a fixed price is recommended. But remember, skillful providers prefer hourly jobs. Always sort price issues before you designate the job, try to assess your providers experience before you decide to pay the amount requested. If the prospective provider is absent any necessary skills, try to convert them to a lower sum of money.
Some Secrets!
These are important outsourcing secrets which you should know while planning your projects and learning how to outsource:
It is always recommended to request sample projects.
Tell your provider that you will have more projects if the job is completed professionally. This will make sure that the assignment gets done to the highest possible standard.
Make it a habit to put a due date four days before you want the project to be completed, this will give you the best chance to ask for any changes. This will also cover you in case the freelancer is late!
Be sure to set your budget a little lower than that you wish to pay.
If service providers have bid a large amount, ask them if they would drop their prices; you never know when they might agree!
It is the authors hope that if you got anything from this article, that it is the fact that project planning goes hand in hand with any outsourcing project, no matter what the size or budget.
