Any successful business requires a strong team of staff behind it. It doesn't matter how strong your marketing strategy is if the people responsible for driving your business aren't committed. Knowing how to hire good staff and where to advertise for staff, however, isn't always simple.
A key dilemma many businesses find themselves in is making the decision between hiring new in-house staff or outsourcing for certain positions. It's a decision that requires an educated response. Your staff are the backbone of your company so hiring the right people is paramount.
In this article, we'll be walking you through the benefits of hiring both in-house staff and outsourced staff. Each has its pros and cons, and you should know them inside-out before committing to any one decision. Let's get into it.
Let's start with the basics. In-house staff are your quintessential and traditional workforce. They are the ones filling your offices or retail stores and are usually contractually bound to your business. Unlike outsourced staff, they do not work on a freelance basis, and they usually possess a more generalised role as opposed to specialised.
Projects or marketing campaigns solely embarked upon by in-house staff are usually called in-house operations. The full scope of the project or campaign is completed entirely by the staff within any singular business. There are no third parties or freelancers involved in the process.
There are multiple reasons why a business may decide to complete a project this way. A company has greater insight and control into its progress when all of its operations are completed in-house. This direct control is just one of the many benefits associated with only using in-house staff.
There are many benefits associated with applying your in-house staff to a new project or campaign. We've listed just some of them below to give you an idea of how this could be the best choice for you.
If you outsource a position, you potentially take a task away from an in-house member of staff who could have developed their own skills. Think of it as an investment in the future of your business and your staff members alike. The people you work with want to know that they're appreciated. Investing in their development is a great way to earn loyalty.
If your project is entirely in-house, then you will be the one allotting deadlines and specific working hours. Most of this may already be written into the contracts of your in-house staff. You don't get the same control when working with a third-party organisation or freelancer. By keeping it in-house, you have greater insight into timekeeping so results are delivered on-time.
It might sound overly harsh, but there's every possibility that freelancers don't really care about the project you involve them with. Don't get us wrong, outsourced staff can be highly diligent and dedicated to the work they complete. However, your in-house staff will be motivated by a personal attachment to the company. This attachment may drive greater results from your project.
Outsourced staff are essentially the opposite of in-house staff. They are either third party individuals or entire organisations that complete one or more tasks for a separate company. They can be made up of freelancers or their own set of employees.
The tasks completed by the third party individual or organisation are often completed in entirely separate offices from the original company. A singular company embarking on a new project or campaign may choose to outsource numerous tasks to third party providers.
Utilising outsourced staff can be a great way to lessen the load on your own in-house staff while still achieving desirable outcomes. It may also allow a company to lower costs in addition to providing greater specificity to a project outcome. It may also simply be the case that no one on your in-house team possesses the specific skill set you require, so you need to look further afield. The reasoning for outsourcing varies widely.
Lower costs and greater specialisation are two of the standout benefits that lead businesses to outsource. However, there is a mixture of factors that may make it the best choice for your business. Listed below are just some we've selected to help inform your decision.
A lack of commitment definitely isn't something you look for in an employee. If you decide to outsource, however, it can be a huge plus. Without any associated long-term contracts, outsourced staff are there for you as long as you require them. This makes them ideal for companies who can't afford to recruit an entirely new team but need specialist services for a specific task.
When working with outsourced staff, you're working with a person or group of people who are dedicated to their craft. You won't be their only client. They will have likely spent years honing their abilities and delivering fantastic results to numerous other organisations. Too much pressure on an unqualified in-house team can cause the whole project to fall apart. Don't be afraid to outsource when necessary!
This is a big one for a lot of companies. The start of a new project or marketing campaign puts a lot of pressure on all of your staff. There are numerous deadlines to meet, and they are potentially stepping outside their comfort zone. The last thing you want to do is overload them with territory they aren't specialised in. By outsourcing some of your work, you lessen the load they need to bear. A well-rested team is a successful team. Burnout can dismantle a project from the inside-out.
The answer to this varies enormously depending on what sector your business falls into. However, we can quite confidently say that there is a lot more you could be outsourcing than you presently do. Many businesses are unaware of the money they could save by outsourcing particular tasks, and it isn't difficult to do.
So, “What kinds of things can I outsource?” Graphic design and visual marketing is one example of a universal practice that is often best outsourced. Not everyone has an eye for design. Your in-house team might run the logistics side of things wonderfully, but designing a logo is a whole different ball game. Additionally, your market research could be outsourced to provide greater detail in key demographics.
Again, this varies based upon your company's own intentions and capabilities. Generally speaking, you should outsource tasks in instances that fall into any one of the following categories:
Essentially, you should use outsourcing as a means to take care of tasks you no longer have time for or tasks that are hyper-specialised. It is up to your own jurisdiction what those tasks look like within your company. They often relate to administration, data management, and customer support.
If you're looking to build your in-house team as opposed to outsourcing, you need to make sure you're advertising in the right places. Where to advertise for staff? Thanks to the internet the pool of potential applicants is bigger than ever, but this has its own drawbacks.
If you do choose to advertise online, ensure your application process has some necessary requirements. Many businesses require certain questions to be answered prior to the submission of a resume. This reduces the risk of being inundated by applicants who are not appropriate for the advertised role.
A virtual assistant, or VA, is one of the most popular forms of outsourcing available because of how many tasks they can juggle. A singular VA can take care of administrative duties, customer support issues, bookkeeping, among countless others. They are a great way to free up time and relieve pressure from your business by outsourcing repetitive tasks.
You're probably wondering, “Should I get a VA?” Only you know, based on the budget of your company, whether it is economically viable to hire a VA. They are ideal for a business that finds itself bogged down with miscellaneous tasks that ultimately don't further their core goals. That doesn't necessarily make them a perfect fit for all. Consider the whole picture before committing to anything!
Ultimately, the decision on whether to utilise your in-house team or outsource your tasks is unique to every company. Every business has entirely different expectations and requirements. Through this guide, we hope we've given you insight into the benefits of using both.
If you are interested in learning more ways to boost the success of your business, consider our coaching services. We offer a full portfolio of mentoring opportunities designed to take your business practises to the next level. Explore our website for more information!
