When it comes to running your own business, it can be tempting to handle as much of the upkeep as you can yourself. We get it, things can get expensive and at times, it may feel like you are just paying more and more money. Being able to take control and handle any issues in-house is not only a great way to learn new skills when it comes to marketing, sales and technology, but also in looking at ways you can reduce your overheads.
Be it minor fixes and repairs (turn it off and back on again first just to be sure!) or handling as many jobs as possible. It is tempting to do it all yourself! But honestly, the only thing that will do is have a detrimental effect on how effective you can be and your health. Doing too much will cause you to burn out quicker and stretch your focus away from where it needs to be.
Let’s have a look at some jobs that it is better to outsource to help you remain focused on what you do best and build your company without having your time and attention pulled in a million different ways.
Tech Repairs
So you tried turning it off and back on again and it still didn’t fix the problem. Are you about to consult YouTube for a DIY quick fix video? Surely it can’t be that hard, can it? As a general rule, if something requires a professional to train in that particular area, it needs more than an online fix it video.
Are you having issues with your Mac or MacBook? Maybe your iPhone is playing up, then, in this case, it is worth consulting an Apple computer repair specialist. Especially if you have no knowledge of the problem or technical skills. also, it may invalidate any warranty you have on equipment if you try to fix a problem yourself. So on this one, bite the bullet and pay a professional for any tech-related repairs you need carrying out.
Marketing
Marketing your company can be almost as time-consuming as actually running it. It can also be expensive to pay a marketing agency to take this on for you, especially if you are unsure if you will get a decent ROI. But do you really have the time to dedicate to running a full marketing campaign?
Keeping on top of getting the word out about your business is an ongoing job, and with the advancement of technology, something which requires you to adopt many different techniques. Gone are the days of advertising in your local paper or phone directory. you need more than a business card and targeted leaflet drop in the neighbourhood. Honestly, you need to use at least one or all of the following marketing techniques. and if you can’t yourself, then it may be worth your while to employ an agency to take care of this for you.
- Leaflets
- Radio Ads
- TV Ads
- SEO
- Blogger Outreach
- Influencer Marketing
- Branded Merchandise
- Google Ads
- Online campaigns and sponsored adverts on authority sites.
- Website
PA or VA
The last thing you want is to be too busy doing everything that you run out of time to take a call or reply to an email from an existing or potential new client. this looks bad on you and your business and you may find that quickly, people jump ship and go to your competitor. the customer experience needs to be a top priority.
Returning calls, answering queries, replying to emails and messages quickly and efficiently is essential. If you are a solo outfit running your company alone, then taking on a personal assistant to work with you in an office or a virtual assistant who works remotely could be the way to go.
Assigning specific duties to a PA or VA will leave you free to focus on other areas whilst safe in the knowledge that all of the above are being taken care of promptly and professionally.
If you are competing with bigger more established companies, then this will give you the appearance of being a bigger company that is able to handle everything that is thrown at them.
It is worth noting that VA’s mostly are trained in many different areas, so make sure you are happy with the level of expertise offered and it is beneficial to the job role you are hiring them for.
Alternatively, there are many companies that specialize in offering these services without you having to go through the hiring process. Simply outsource to a reputable company that can deliver on what you need.
Image Credits: Lukas
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