What if you could free up hours in your day so you could focus on doing the things you love? And what if you could get rid of the tasks that bring you down — or that you’re not good at — TODAY?
Well, the good news is, you can!
In this post, You'll discover 12 tasks you can outsource immediately.
So, if you’ve ever wondered which tasks are ideal for outsourcing, this post is for you!
But first…
How Do You Start Outsourcing Business Tasks?
One of the biggest roadblocks many business owners face is knowing how to find someone to outsource their work to.
One of the biggest roadblocks many business owners face is knowing how to find someone to outsource their work to.Click To TweetThey want someone smart, reliable, and experienced, but don’t know anyone in their business network who fits the bill.
Far and away the BEST way to do this is to ask friends and colleagues for personal recommendations. All of the tasks on the list below can be done by a savvy virtual assistant. I’d start there. Then, ask for recommendations for a VA who has experience doing each of the tasks you decide to outsource.
The next best step is to check out the myriad of outsourcing websites that can help you find the right person or people to hire. If that sounds overwhelming, then check out my top recommendations for outsourcing websites.
Once you’ve found someone to outsource your tasks to, it’s time to start moving stuff off your plate and onto theirs.
Following are 12 tasks you should consider outsourcing immediately to better manage your time and business.
12 Tasks to Outsource Immediately
1. Content Marketing
This could include any aspect of your content creation and editing, including (but not limited to) your blogging, email marketing, video-creation, creating eBooks, guides, worksheets, quizzes, etc. Basically, all the content you create, publish and promote is fair game for outsourcing!
I recommend starting out by creating a style guide so all your content is consistent…and then outsource your content marketing to your heart’s desire!
When outsourcing your content marketing, create a style guide so that your content is consistent. Click To Tweet2. Graphic Design
In my opinion, this is a task more business owners should outsource. This might include your social media graphics, logos, business cards, worksheet templates, infographics, posters, etc. Having awesome graphics can make all the difference in the world; and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Have a lot of design work? Consider a monthly subscription to a graphic design service like Design Pickle.
3. Administrative Tasks
This could include answering the phone, responding to emails, data entry, setting up appointments, and so much more. Basically, these are all those tasks you don’t have time for…but that you have to do anyway! Instead, hand them off to a competent VA and spend time doing what you love and are good at.
4. Transcription
Have videos or audios you need to transcribe? This is definitely a task you need to outsource immediately! While a VA could definitely handle this task, you may want to consider a low-cost service like Rev or TranscribeMe. Starting at just $.79 per transcribed minute, this is something that just doesn’t make sense to do yourself!
5. Video Editing
According to HubSpot, 86% of businesses are now using video as part of their marketing. Unfortunately, if you’re not a skilled video editor, keeping up with this trend can be difficult. Whether you need videos for an online course, YouTube, Facebook, or webinars, outsourcing your video editing will make your life so much easier!
6. Bookkeeping
Is there anyone who actually LIKES doing their own bookkeeping and invoicing? Didn’t think so! Definitely outsource this one. I usually recommend finding someone local for this…someone who knows your local tax laws and who can sift through all those pesky paper receipts. Can’t find a good local bookkeeper? No worries…there are some great virtual bookkeeping services you can use too: check out Bench.co and Bookkeeper.com.
7. Social Media Management
Staying on top of your social media is SO important, but it’s easy to fall behind when you’re being pulled in some many different directions. While you’ll definitely want to help set the direction when it comes to your social media strategy, this a business task to outsource so someone else will handle day-to-day tasks like setting up your social media accounts, posting updates and replying to comments and private messages.
8. SEO
Do you love staying up to date on the latest Google updates? Are you passionate about keyword research? Do you have a knack for creating content that ranks #1 in the search engines? If you’re like most of us, your answer is a resounding NO! SEO is a task that can quickly become all-consuming, leaving you little time to do anything else. Outsourcing your SEO to a qualified search engine marketer is a great way to free up your time AND ensure you’re driving a steady stream of traffic to your site.
9. Web Design
I wish more business owners would outsource this business task! It’s easy to create a site using WordPress; but it’s not always easy to create a professional-looking, user-friendly site that works well on all devices. While this one will cost you up front, it will save you tons of time, money and frustration over the long term!
10. Managed Website Hosting
Have you ever had your website unexpectedly go offline or get hacked? Or have you ever accidentally deleted a bunch of blog posts…or even your entire website?? Trust me…you need this one! Managed web hosting means someone else looks after all the technical aspects of keeping your site up and running. They’ll take care of security, backups, upgrading your software, and making sure your site runs as fast as possible. Once you switch to managed hosting, you’ll never go back!
11. Customer Service
More and more, customers expect access to 24/7 support. Unfortunately, this is a level of service few small business owners can afford. Or is it? Using a service like Zendesk, you can actually have your very own customer support agent starting at just $5/month. With the option for live chat, a knowledge base, and even a call center, your customer service never has to be offline again!
12. Cleaning Your House
Okay, so this one isn’t a business-related task…BUT I still recommend it 100%. You’ve heard the saying, “tidy house, tidy mind”, right? I find this is especially true if you work from home. Hiring a cleaner is super-affordable: you can usually find someone for around $25/hour. This means you can get your entire house cleaned for $100 or less…freeing you up to engage in activities and tasks that will actually help grow your business!
Final Thoughts about Business Tasks You Can Outsource
Outsourcing can be a game-changer for your business. In most cases, the cost of outsourcing is more than covered by the increased efficiency and productivity brought by a skilled VA or contractor.
Outsourcing can be a game-changer for your business. In most cases, the cost of outsourcing is more than covered by the increased efficiency and productivity brought by a skilled VA or contractor.Click To TweetAnd on top of that, it frees you up to work on revenue-generating tasks you’re good at and that you actually enjoy doing!
Looking for more ways to grow your business? Check out my post, 6 Ways to Grow Your Business Without Working More Hours.
Which tasks are you going to start outsourcing? Let me know in the comments below!
UPDATED on May 9, 2022
