Outsourcing for Small Businesses - How it Can Benefit You

First suggestion is to stop only associating outsourcing with large manufacturing plants and overseas call centers. Although these exist, outsourcing includes so much more. For example, utilizing managed services and working with independent contractors or agencies.  These skilled resources are not just overseas, they can be found much closer than you realize.

Today, we will take a comprehensive look at the benefits of outsourcing. Also included are the top five services that are excellent to outsource. Read on to start taking advantage of outsourcing to obtain suitable business solutions.

Most companies outsource due to one primary reason — reducing overhead expenses and employment costs. However, this is not the only benefit of outsourcing for small and medium businesses. Here are four other key benefits of outsourcing you can't ignore.

Finding trained professionals to accomplish complex tasks in your establishment can prove to be a rather daunting task. However, an outsourcing company offers you instant access to a large pool of skilled and dedicated labor. These companies have professionally trained employees with years of experience within your industry.  They are often available for short or long term projects, so you are not locked in for the lengthy annual contracts.

Let's say you are looking to start a new social media marketing campaign. Going to a digital market service provider like Digiedg ensures high-quality work that converts more leads at an affordable price. It is an excellent option compared to having an unqualified in-house employee doing the work or hiring an entire team.  When you outsource your digital marketing services to a company like Digiedg, you are typically getting the services of a social media strategist, graphics specialist, web designer, advertisement specialist, etc., all for the same flat monthly fee.  Clearly a significant savings when compared to hiring all of those skills in-house.

Working with independent agencies or managed services providers lets you enjoy all the benefits of larger organizations. These companies let you quickly expand your business depending on your current needs and target. Equally, you can downscale operations at a moment's notice when the market does not favor you.  Another way of looking at this is that you are able to pay for services On Demand, or only when needed.

Meeting customer demands becomes difficult when your organization can't keep up with market changes. Thus, you risk going out of business due to increased industry competition and your inability to meet the requirements of existing and potential clients. However, outsourcing services let you quickly adapt to any market changes. Thus, you can stay competitive while safeguarding your bottom line.

Working 24/7 is not as easy as it sounds, yet it is quickly becoming a necessity or expectation. Most customers prefer doing business with an establishment that can meet their needs and concerns at any time of the day or night. However, providing effective 24/7 services can be rather costly when you hire more employees rather than outsource.

You cannot ignore the advantages that come with having a 24/7 operation — from improved customer services to increased sales and consumer loyalty enhancement. Outsourcing lets you enjoy all the benefits of having a 24/7 team without spending a fortune. If operating 24/7 is an absolute necessity, then having an offshore team will ensure that you can work in different time zones, thus serving a wider market.

Some responsibilities are tedious and time-consuming, especially when you don't have a skilled workforce. Software development, for example, can take up a lot of time when you don't have the necessary expertise. You will waste valuable time, trying to learn new skills from resources such as tutorials.  The rule of thumb is, if someone else is more qualified to perform the task, it is best to have that person perform the work.

Having an external team handle these tedious tasks allows you to focus more on core business activities. You won't have to waste a lot of time on tasks such as training new in-house employees and recruitment. It is, therefore, much easier to work on improving your bottom line and staying ahead of the competition.

Every process that can be managed from a different location can be outsourced. But not all of them offer great returns on investment. Therefore, it is vital to understand the value and objective on why you are outsourcing.  Here are five services that you should consider outsourcing. 

Advancements in technology make it strenuous to keep up with specialized digital marketing services such as SEO and social media management, digital advertisement and social listening. However, outsourcing companies typically invest the necessary time, training and resources, ensuring that they stay up to date with the latest technology offerings.  In today's environment, technology seems to be changing every six (6) months or so, which can make it very expensive to maintain those skills in-house.

If you are a small business owner, you will need legal assistance at one point or another during your business journey. Hiring in-house counsel can be rather expensive, especially when you need their services a few times per year. Outsourcing your legal services ensures you find a qualified and trusted attorney who is familiar with your industry.

More calls mean you have more leads, thus translating to increased sales. However, closing sales is not as easy as it seems. It will help to have a team of brilliant salespeople who can effectively handle new and existing clients. It is also easier and cheaper to outsource customer support rather than maintain an in-house support team.

Keeping records of all business transactions can be a rather tedious and time-consuming task. Failure to keep up-to-date records can result in serious complications — including losing your business.  The IRS doesn't play.  Therefore, outsourcing bookkeeping and tax services ensure you stay compliant while saving you time to focus on growing your business.

In-house payroll management seems like a simple task when you have a few employees. However, it gets complex very quickly when you expand your business past 20 employees. Payroll processing takes up lots of time because you need to track every employee's hours, salary, bonuses, deductions, leaves, and so much more.  Unless this is the type of service you offer, you should strongly consider outsourcing your payroll processing services.

Boosting sales starts with reaching a wider market through digital business promotions. Outsourcing your digital marketing services ensures you get high-quality leads that easily convert. At Digital Edge Marketing Agency, we will help you thrive in the digital space and take your business to the next level. Ensure you contact us today to get started.