The Marketing Buzz
Marketing Tips and Tools for Service Professionals
August 27, 2009
Word count for this week's main article: 639
Approximate time to read: just about 3 minutes
Welcome to my new subscribers! I'm honored to have you on board. If you wish to unsubscribe you may do so at the bottom of this page. I do not rent or share your name with anyone. I try to provide valuable content on a consistent basis. I would be honored if you shared this with other professionals who might find this information helpful.
Tick Tock…Manufacturing Time
There are two things we all talk about - time and the weather.
The difference is, we can't control the weather but we can control our time.
We never seem happy with our business lives. We complain when we are too slow. We complain when we are too busy. Too much time on our hands and we're bored. Too little time and we're swamped. At the heart our business lives, good or bad, is time.
You may think I am going to talk to you today about getting organized or setting priorities. Maybe the 80/20 rule, answering e-mails no more than twice a day, going over your "to-do" list the night before, or any number of things I have been taught (and spent a great deal of money to learn) that basically are just plain common sense. Nope - that is not what this is about. Today I am going to talk to you about outsourcing.
If my calculations are correct, I would venture to guess most of you just grimaced. "What - me outsource? Yeah, right. Guess again. People are losing their jobs every day and you want me to outsource?" I can hear your resistance already.
Unfortunately, when most people hear the term "outsourcing" they think of friends and relatives losing their jobs to a business in a foreign company. Images of a warehouse of people with headsets come to mind.
Although that is one way outsourcing is being used, that is not what I am talking about today. Outsourcing is not just for corporate America. Outsourcing is changing the face of small business.
First, it may be helpful for you to know the definition of outsourcing (according to Webster's New World Dictionary 4th ed.). "To transfer (certain manufacturing operations, administrative activities, etc.) to outside contractors, so as to reduce one's operating costs."
Chances are, whether you realize it or not, you have already experienced outsourcing. If you hired someone to create your website - you were outsourcing. If you hired a service to handle your payroll - you were outsourcing. If you hired someone to handle public relations - you were outsourcing.
Simply put, outsourcing is hiring an outside contractor (not any employee) to perform a function for your organization.
Just like everything else, the Internet has changed the face of business. This has never been truer than in the area of outsourcing. According to statistics published by the US Small Business Administration, 56% of US small businesses with 100 employees or less has fewer than five employees.
Owning a business that falls into that category, I can assure you I am often over-stretched for time. Although my business is growing and all my hard work is paying off, I am also keenly aware that I need to make a choice. I can choose to stay at the same level - meaning I can take on only as much work as I can personally manage (without getting sick, forfeiting my family life or putting a bed in my office) or I can choose to grow - meaning I need to outsource.
Just like any other business decision, outsourcing will require time and effort. You need to have a clear understanding of what tasks can be outsourced (typically those that can function independently), weigh the costs and be prepared to "shop" for the right person or organization.
There are a number of great articles and books to help you determine whether outsourcing is the best choice for your business. New businesses are popping up every day, many offering services to support companies looking to concentrate on growth while managing their expenses.
Regardless of whether you are a business owner or not, there is only so much YOU to go around. If you are feeling overwhelmed, over worked and missing opportunities for growth, maybe it's time for you to consider outsourcing. Who says you can't manufacture time?
Share your comments on The Marketing Buzz Blog
A Little Video About Change
I had such great feedback from the movie about service, I thought I would share another one with you about change. Enjoy! http://www.changeisgoodmovie.com
Closing Thoughts
Could it be possible that you are you hindering your own business growth? When you refuse to admit you cannot do it alone, convince yourself you can save money by doing it all yourself or even worse, ignore aspects of our business altogether, your business cannot grow. Concentrating our time and effort on those things we do best will create the fastest path to wealth.
"Your greatest asset is your earning ability. Your greatest resource is your time." -- Brian Tracy
To better marketing -
Cheryl Lohner, Owner
Phone: 231-935-3631
E-mail: success@createabuzzmarketingcom
Website: www.CreateABuzzMarketing.com
© 2009 Cheryl Lohner. All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Marketing Buzz eZine in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link. Please also notify me where the materials will appear. The attribution should read:
"By Cheryl Lohner of Create a Buzz Marketing, LLC. Please visit Cheryl's web site at www.createabuzzmarketing.com for additional marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional service businesses." (Make sure the link is live if placed in an eZine or in a web site.)
|