How to choose a bidder to subcontract your project?
You have made the decision to outsource your writing work to a freelancer in a distant land. It seems that this freelancer can write in your preferred language and the initial impression is favorable. The bidder has provided a reasonable cost and time period within which the content must be received. So far so good and seems to be satisfied! Now you wait for the results to return in the stipulated time frame, allowing you to implement your precious goal of having a website that will become the envy of others!
Days go by, even a couple of weeks have passed and you haven’t heard from the bidder that you so carefully chose to write your web content. He is frustrated and knows that nothing can be done, since the distance that separates him from his bidder is not easy. There are no responses to your desperate emails and there is no way you can find out what happened! Now I wish I had learned how to choose a bidder in this business first!
The Seven Steps to Top of the Outsourcing Ladder!
We all wish there was a foolproof method of doing business on the Internet, but there isn’t! We still have to rely on “word of mouth” as a means of finalizing an outsourced deal. There are many outsourcing agencies, bidding sites, and freelancers who live to succeed in the corporate world. Therefore, it is good to think about the seven golden rules to choose a bidder from the crowd of freelancers who respond to your project inquiry. It’s like climbing all 7 rungs of the ladder to success, knowing full well that each rung could give way and you would fall all the way down like in the “snakes and ladders” game! How do we keep climbing this proverbial outsourcing ladder?
1. When choosing a bidder for your project, look at the profile with a little more attention than a cursory glance. Read between the lines and try to put yourself in the shoes of your bidder, and what would you do if you were the bidder on this project. In short, know your bidder as you would love to meet your client.
2. It is a very attractive world in the field of outsourcing, as several bidders will give you attractive proposals. You must remember that it is the “meat” in your offers that is important and not the number of words they write to win your offer. Few words that speak volumes are the key to making a good deal with outsourcing bidders.
3. India, Pakistan, China, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries have made a mark on self-employment due to their lower overhead and cost of living. This is one of the reasons outsourcing has become such an attractive alternative to the developed nations of the world. Understanding the criteria that guide these freelancers or companies can give you a more viable outsourcing of your project.
4. English is a language spoken in many parts of the outsourcing world. If you are in the Western Hemisphere like the US, Canada or the UK, or in Australia where English is the medium of conversation, you need to hire or outsource freelancers who are fluent in the language. Please review this point before deciding on the final bidder.
The financial aspects are the most important, since the consequences in this context can lead to misunderstandings and a breakdown of the outsourcing concept. Escrow funds, PayPal, Moneybookers, the means of transferring funds are points worth clarifying before sealing the outsourcing agreement.
6. Check the credentials of independent bidders as it provides valuable information.
7. Last but not least; Try to have direct contact with the freelancers. This is now feasible via instant messaging, Skype, Google Talk, and other cheap means of communication!
Nothing is more frustrating than the collapse of an outsourced project and we should all try to avoid it by taking the right steps in processing our projects.
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