Kristine
As business leaders are trying to make the most out of this difficult economy, many are choosing to outsource key tasks in order to cut expenses and save time. Some companies may utilize outside resources on occasion, like when they need additional assistance with new or unexpected projects, whereas others outsource to help them manage daily business tasks.
“Businesses of all sizes will have reservations about increasing staff size too soon as the economy returns to some degree of normalcy,” explains Paul Weber, a Forbes Business Council member and the CEO of EAG Advertising & Marketing. “The fastest way to close the gap is to outsource services rather than hire new employees.”
With so many employees now working remotely, this is prime time for managers to identify weaker aspects of their business and consider how an outside provider could strengthen these areas. Regardless of what your company needs to thrive, there’s a solution out there for you. Here are just 10 lesser-known outsourcing opportunities that can give your company the boost it needs during this challenging time:
1. Bookkeeping and Accounting
Outsourcing a bookkeeper is often cheaper and more secure than hiring an employee in-house to handle financial matters. Instead of trying to train a new bookkeeper (which is especially difficult if you’re not completely sure of all the procedures), outsourcing your bookkeeping tasks to a professional will give you peace of mind and allow you more time to work on other essential tasks.
Furthermore, bookkeepers can easily work remotely while keeping all of your data private and secure. They are capable of handling a wide number of duties, such as managing client accounts, logging receipts, compiling expense reports, and tracking profits and losses. Having a trustworthy bookkeeper will also be a lifesaver during tax season!
2. Business Planning
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, creating a detailed business plan is an essential process that requires thorough research into your competitors, the future outlook of the industry, and financial sources to fund your start-up.
A business planning service can do the hard work for you, helping you bring your idea to life faster than you would have thought possible. Companies like Flatworld Solutions offer services that will help your business get off the ground, and they’ll continue providing relevant data and research to give you the information you need to flourish.
3. Eco-Consulting
While working remotely is certainly one way to help your business “go green,” an eco-consulting service can help you choose other sustainable practices to implement. They will frequently offer solutions for your company, as well as employee education and community involvement. For example, eco-officiency will conduct an assessment before creating a customized sustainability plan that includes:
- Energy and water usage.
- Waste reduction and recycling programs.
- Employee transportation plans and incentives.
- Electronic records management or paperless office management.
- Purchasing and supplier guidelines.
- Green communications and reporting.
- Community engagement and volunteer programs.
4. Photography and Photo Editing
High-quality photos will capture your audience’s attention as soon as they click on your website or social media page. Since people are heavily relying on online shopping for everyday products, great pictures will give them confidence that your products (and your business) are trustworthy. A photographer can make sure your items are shown in the best possible light, or they may even be able to edit or retouch your existing photos to make them appear more professional.
5. Video Editing
Creating videos to show off new products, provide tutorials, or show behind-the-scenes glimpses of a typical workday have the potential to captivate audiences more than a clever Tweet. Some people prefer to learn through a video format, and this strategy has become increasingly popular as multiple online platforms have made it easier than ever to share this kind of content.
However, editing something as short as a product review or a daily vlog can be unbelievably time-consuming, especially if you’ve never had previous experience with editing. Simply recording a video and outsourcing the editing portion to another provider will free up your time and create highly engaging content your customers will want to watch.
6. Administrative Tasks
Virtual assistants are becoming more commonplace for small and medium-sized businesses since they help reduce costs, take care of crucial daily tasks, and are already known for working remotely. Outsourcing your administrative tasks can include a wide range of services, including:
- Booking appointments with clients.
- Managing calendars.
- Conducting research for blog posts or articles.
- Doing transcription.
- Creating basic reports.
7. Customer Service
While you may associate customer service with call centers, customer service professionals also use email and social media to connect with consumers to answer questions or handle complaints. Outsourcing your customer service department “almost feels like cheating,” according to AnswerFirst, a company that provides services ranging from technical support to virtual receptionists to scheduling and reservation options. “If you want your business to thrive, you need to step up your game by employing a highly skilled team of outside professionals,” explains an AnswerFirst article.
Outsourcing your customer service needs will allow your buyers to be able to get a quick response no matter when or where they contact your business, and this type of quick response time will be immensely valuable to consumers.
8. Human Resources
Finding qualified job candidates, interviewing prospective employees, narrowing down your options, and then training new employees is obviously essential for every growing business, but it can be discouraging and frustrating when you can’t seem to find the right person for a specific job.
Outsourcing the hiring process or onboarding process to an HR professional will relieve you from the stress of constantly poring over resumes or making desperate posts on job sites. Some HR professionals can also handle administering benefits to employees, managing payroll, and addressing attendance issues as well.
9. Shipping and Logistics
Courtney Rogerson, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner, says that businesses are coming to rely on third-party providers when it comes to shipping and delivering their products to customers. “Digitalization, globalization, and rapidly evolving customer expectations demand a shift in how leaders responsible for logistics approach outsourcing strategy,” explains Rogerson. “The task for supply chain leaders responsible for logistics is to also know how the logistics function will be used to achieve business success.”
The increasingly complicated logistics of shipping management, combined with pressure for faster delivery, means that business leaders should look for providers that offer end-to-end visibility, real-time operations management, and efficient time to market. Plus, it’s been reported that 75% of companies that use a third-party shipper have seen reduced costs!
10. Content Writing
High-quality written content makes up the heart of your company’s online presence. Without accurate product descriptions, relevant blog posts, engaging social media content, helpful FAQ pages, and enticing email newsletters, your customers wouldn’t know what your business truly has to offer. People today desire helpful information and applicable tips, not blatant advertisements. To appeal to your audience, you must be capable of identifying their wants and needs and creating written content that they’ll want to engage with.
Consistently writing great blogs, articles, and social media posts takes several hours of research and editing every week, and not every business has the staff in-house to take care of their content marketing needs. This is where a professional team of writers can be utilized to breathe new life into your old marketing strategy. To find the right content writer for all of your needs, check out the best content writing services here!
