Solo entrepreneurs are always on the lookout for professionals who can help us delegate tasks to grow our businesses, especially those areas that we may not be skilled in. As we cannot grow our businesses without delegating tasks, it is wise to seek out help. We can’t expect everyone to do everything perfectly. Let me make it clear that I support outsourcing and creating a team around your goals and ambitions. This includes virtual assistants, graphic artists, accountants, lawyers, social media experts, and web designers. While outsourcing is essential for success, it should not be done without strategic “insourcing.”
Insourcing provides a valuable return.
Insourcing can be defined as “delegating work to someone within the company” (outsourcing). I apologize if this was not obvious. I was just trying to give the stage. My world is filled with solo entrepreneurs. That someone in the company is YOU.
Let me give you a quick example. Recently, I’ve been involved in website launches and/or relaunches. They have been planned, designed, and written by me, along with a talented partner who does the technical side flawlessly. Although I am not in the business of creating websites, clients have requested my help. I also do some pro bono work and have to manage marketing activities for three of my companies.
Writing and planning the content for these sites has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the businesses that I have been working with. To create the copy and design, I had to understand the target market personas and the unique selling propositions, as well as the market. Also, I had to consider the opportunities and challenges they face, develop a brand look and feel, and build trust with prospects.
Get to know your brand on a deeper level.
You won’t always have the ability to be the contact person for all your business needs. Write the brochures, design the website (OK, you don’t need to be the techie), set up your Facebook and AdWords accounts, create your autoresponders, pick your keywords, manage the email list, answer the phone, return customer care emails, and send the invoices. It may be challenging to do this all well, and you might need to outsource some. If you don’t take the time to get involved in every aspect of your business from the beginning, you will miss a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your target market and how your company operates best.
The same thing I tell my children when they refuse to try new foods is true for me: try it all at least once, then you’ll decide that you don’t love it. Before you outsource, insource.