Take Your Small Business to the Next Level by Outsourcing These Three Tasks

Large companies have the budget and the resources to handle a variety of tasks in-house. Small businesses, however, sometimes struggle to find the time and money to accomplish everything they need to get done. In these instances, outsourcing to specialists can be a wise choice. Some tasks are better suited for outsourcing than others; web-based projects, such as graphic and web design or email marketing, are prime examples.

Here are some areas where freelancers and specialists can help your business grow.

Graphic Design

Your business needs professional, eye-catching graphics to stand apart from the competition. If you can’t afford an in-house graphic designer, consider hiring a qualified freelancer. As Upwork points out, the best graphic designers should be familiar with ad design, mobile and web design, and software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc). Ideally, they’ll have experience designing for print and web, so they can help you with your marketing materials as well as your website imagery.

Graphic design freelancer rates can vary from as little as $35 per hour to upwards of $100 per hour. When it comes to finding a graphic designer, look for portfolio samples and positive customer reviews. Find someone experienced in creating the look and feel you desire for your company’s images. Interview each potential candidate before hiring someone, and then present candidates with a detailed project scope along with due dates for completion.

Web Design

Rather than trying to build your own website, hiring a professional web designer can be worth the cost. A quality designer can build a site that looks and functions exactly as you had envisioned. Ask for a responsive website, which means your site will automatically resize to fit any screen and will work as expected on smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktops.

For example, web developers employ various tools and techniques to enhance site functionality and user experience, such as taking multiple web page screenshots with Javascript, which can be used for testing web designs across different devices. If this seems complicated, it’s a good idea to hire professionals to handle it.

Your business deserves a professional-looking website that’s engaging, easy to use, and has clearly-labeled, consistent navigation. According to Blueshoon, if you hire a third-party design firm, make sure their design and development teams clearly communicate with each other. That way, your site’s customer-facing design has a solid foundation of code, and you (hopefully) avoid issues like “inoperability and user errors.”

Marketing

Even if you prefer to handle sales yourself, online marketing can be easily outsourced. Start by deciding what type of marketing you need. Although some businesses want to cross-promote across multiple platforms, others only need help with one specific area, such as:

• Search engine marketing, or the art of using free and paid marketing efforts to increase your visibility on Google and other search engines. When done correctly, search marketing can improve website traffic and result in more sales.
• Social media marketing is just that: marketing your company across social media channels that your customers are already using. Rather than making potential customers come to you, why not meet them where they already are: on social media?
• Content marketing involves creating useful, relevant content that helps meet your customers’ needs. From eBooks to blog posts to free downloadable files, content marketing is easy to share and can lead to increased sales.
• Email marketing is a common form of online marketing. According to OptinMonster, email is the most popular communication channel. Email marketers help you join the conversation, while (hopefully) driving sales and creating “loyal, raving fans.”

After clarifying your project scope, find a freelancer or marketing firm that can deliver the results you need. Forbes recommends finding someone who’s “a good fit” for your personality and business culture. It’s also crucial for digital marketers to use a methodological strategy. Rather than taking big risks, small businesses need marketers who adhere to strategic skills.

Take Your Business to the Next Level

Nobody ever said that running a small business is easy. There will always be metaphorical fires to put out, and there never seems to be enough time (or money) in a day. Luckily, your business doesn’t have to be perfect to be a success. By outsourcing certain web-based tasks to skilled contractors, you can free up your time to focus on the big picture: running a profitable company and meeting your goals.

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