Outsourcing some of your own work? (Full Version)

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Brandon -> Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 9:52:53)

I do web work on the side, but lately I've been getting people that want like database stuff, or a little higher programming. I can look at the code and figure it out, but I couldn't sit down and write everything. So I wanted to know, has anyone ever outsourced some of these kinds of things to other web guys and gals? I was thinking, if I ever get another client wanting something like this I could take the job. I could do the front-end stuff, and then have another web designer do the other stuff. Is this a good idea? Has anyone ever done this? Where would I go to find some help? How much would you pay? Thanks for any advice you can give. [:)]



jaybee -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 13:01:02)

quote:

Is this a good idea? Has anyone ever done this? Where would I go to find some help? How much would you pay?
Yes.

Yes.

Ask on here or on a specialist forum

Cost you negotiate first, preferably before you quote to your client.

I keep a list of people I know do quality work. If I need help then I mail them first. If they're busy then I put out a help required post on relevant fora.

Some people on here don't yet know they're on my list. [;)]



rdouglass -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 13:14:09)

quote:

Some people on here don't yet know they're on my list.


Yes, we want to know *which* list. [:D]

That is done far more often than folks realize. There are soooo many diciplines in this industry that it is hard to do them all and still make any money at it.



mar0364 -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 14:23:12)

Very true. Do your cost benefit analysis and decide what you are better off farming out. Its not that you can't do it. But if someone else can do it in 1/3rd of the time???

quote:

There are soooo many diciplines in this industry that it is hard to do them all and still make any money at it.




Tailslide -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 14:31:53)

I've done this. There's so many areas that you have to learn and usually I manage to figure out what's necessary to do the job even if I've never done it before - but there are occasions when you're just so busy that it makes more sense to farm it out.

The issue is finding people you can trust to do the work and ensuring that they're up to the required standard. I've found that a lot (but not all) of "backend" people have no interest at all in "web standards" ("you want it to work in Firefox.... really!?") and a lot of front-end people have little idea about stuff like database security etc.



jaybee -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/16/2006 15:48:36)

quote:

Yes, we want to know *which* list. :)
It's a secret. [:D]



Brandon -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/17/2006 9:31:32)

Thanks everyone [:)] I also noticed those freelance web designer sites. Has anyone ever used one, or hired anyone from them?



jaybee -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/17/2006 9:40:00)

No. I'd rather use people I know unless absolutely neccessary.

You have to be so careful. You can see on here how confusion arises when talking to people who have English as a second language for example. There's also the fact that a lot of people think Java and Javascript are the same thing. I've been talking to one today (completely outside of my project but an old friend of my client) who has happily informed my client that it's perfectly possible for him to change the content of a Java program using a content management system [:@]

When you have a client deadline the last thing you want is to suddenly find your contractor doesn't actually know anything about what you've agreed and has either gone off and done their own thing, realised their mistake and started trying to learn it on your time or suddenly thrown their hands up and said OOOOPS!



mar0364 -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/17/2006 10:29:11)

There are folks here that charge fair rates and have always helped out anyway. This is just me talking but If I'm going to pay someone I'd rather pay someone I know.



eTechSupport.net -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/20/2006 2:26:21)

You could get contact with a freelancer who are well proficient in designing aspects instead getting it done from different sources, as its like golden rules of an orchestra: start together and finish together. [sm=fie.gif]



Mango Himself -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/20/2006 13:18:55)

quote:

who have English as a second language


True, yet I've had bad experiences with India. I find it absolutely stupid that India prides itself in being the country with the largest number of "English native speakers". I have a lot of respect for India and good friends there but, truth is, their english is practically useless in most cases.

I do not mean to trash India's english in any way but it's not english! It's some strange combo. Being from Spain, I see a lot of similar situations in LatinAmerica and their spanish. If I speak to someone from the Caribean nations (Cuba, Puerto Rico) their spanish is so poor and distorted that it takes a while to understand. I I speak to a mexican or sarlvadoran the same thing happens. In the US it's even worse. If you go to a bank and ask for a spanish speaking investment banker, you end up with a totally unprepared person. Why is that? Because that person quite likely is the son or daughter of poor mexican farmers who crossed the river one generation earlier. Obviously, his/her command of either english or spanish leaves a lot to be desired. So, why is he/she in a position of relevance at his/her work? Because the idiot who put her there lacks the ability to evaluate the language skills.

Back to the original subject: Yes, I outsource but only with people I know will perform an outstanding job.



eTechSupport.net -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/21/2006 5:58:29)

You may consider to have a trial before you opt for outsourcing as to judge their english and capability. As you said " Know them well" before you make a final deal.



Brandon -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/21/2006 9:50:18)

@Mango
First I would like to say you avatar is going to give me nightmares! [;)]

One of the biggest problems is trying to find someone that you can trust. I live in a small town, so there isn't anyone here that I would like to outsource my work to. I feel we have a lot of people that don't know the first thing about W3C standards, and serve a lot of tag soup. [:'(] They are the type of company that will come in at the last min. and under cut your price, and then give the customer a bad site. However, the client doesn't know this, since they have no clue about coding or standards! Sorry everyone, some times you just have to vent! [:D]

Back to topic, I like the idea of testing someone out before you put them in the big game. I like to work at a fast pace, and try to get the job done. That's why I think I want to get a couple people on retainer, so if one's to busy to take a job, I would have someone else to fall back on.



Brandon -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/23/2006 12:19:46)

Does anyone know anyone that does flash work?



yb2 -> RE: Outsourcing some of your own work? (8/23/2006 16:08:33)

I've started outsourcing frontend stuff to people I know, as I know they can do a better job in a shorter time. I (think) there's more money to be made if I knock out more stuff as a team.

I'm dipping my toe in the water really, as sometimes it's difficult to get good level of communication going just because (as Tail rightly pointed out) they have no idea what I'm talking about. And they are native English speakers!

As to indians, you have to find a good speaker, there are all different levels out there. Main problem is with mindset (IMO). Indians are generally very good once they've been told what to do - don't expect them to be creative in their work. Western individualism leads to "thinking outside the box", it appears. But I think a lot of westerners expect indians to think the way they do. Just watch some Bollywood films and understand that they don't!!![:D]

Can't help you with the Flash, sorry Brandon. I was supposed to meet my Flasher ;) today but she's nowhere to be found![:@]



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