How to Outsource Without Killing Your B2B Startup

Nine out of ten startups fail within the first three years. As a typical early-stage startup, the pressure to grow and scale quickly under a limited budget is enough to push you to the edge. Not to mention the growing need to remain flexible in the ever-changing environment.

In order to be among the 1 statistic that succeeds, you need to work hard and smart. And the first step is to outsource effectively.

Know what to Outsource

Outsource non-core functions and evaluate how this will affect your customers. Create specific customer–focused processes and closely monitor their response before committing to long-term outsourcing.

Some of the functions to outsource include:

• Accounting & Payroll – Startups need support dealing with the daily accounting and regulatory requirements. It is time-consuming and tedious. Outsourcing these functions leaves you feeling inspired to continue focusing on the core functions that directly affect your customers. Performing functions that fuel your drive and vision is enough to get ahead of your competitors.
• Branding and Marketing- Staying up to date with SEO is time consuming. Not to mention google algorithm changes and keyword research. It is just too much. Take advantage of digital agencies or independent b2b freelance writers specialized in internet marketing. Allow them to entice your buyer personas with the goodness of your product till they convert to customers. Results are achieved sooner when startups outsource digital marketing.
• Human Resources- no startup can succeed without a team. You need employees to handle the recruitment process and manage employees. Screening, interviewing and handpicking potential personnel is not only risky, but time consuming especially when you have a startup to run.
• Customer care- today, customer service has gone beyond addressing customer feedback over the phone. Social media pages, emails and company websites are avenues of resolving customers' concerns. Customers prefer brands to be within reach on all their pages, making it hard for startups to keep up.

Outsourcing makes it possible for customer service to be streamlined across multiple platforms to reduce response delays and increase customer satisfaction.

Choose the right team for your Startup

The right hire can be the difference between success and failure of your startup.

But how do you choose the right fit? What do you look for?

Network

There is no better candidate for hire than one from a referral. The odds of finding the right fit is high given that someone has worked for them. Go to meetups, conferences and hang around professional networking sites. Familiarizing yourself earlier in this? environment will make it easy to spot your team member when the time comes.

Sell Your vision

Take the time to write your vision. Ensure it is clear and direct for your team to understand.

Once you meet the right team members, try to make them see the bigger picture of your Startup.

And how they can contribute to make it a reality. Discuss their uniqueness and how it fits perfectly to your grand plan.

Do not just sell your vision, communicate what team members will gain. Training opportunities, career advancement and competitive incentives is enough to commit to your goals.

Make interviews engaging

Every year, $37 billion is lost due to miscommunication and employee misunderstandings. You may want to talk to your potential employees and establish their communication skills. Can they communicate and understand clearly what is expected of them? Give them actual tests and gauge their competencies and potential level.

“Hire slow, fire fast.”

Bad hires are costly and waste so much time. From taking the time to ensure they are doing what is expected of them to cleaning after them, It can be frustrating. It is better to do away with such team members as soon as you realize they are not the right fit. Given that 41% of companies counted $25,000 loss from a bad hire, take your time when scouting a new team member.

?Learn from the last hire and devise ways to spot unfit team members earlier in the recruitment process.

Communication

The success of your outsourcing strategy will depend greatly on your team collaboration. And communication is the central issue. Are you transparent? Do you assume your team knows what is expected of them?? Are your employees encouraged to give feedback on certain issues? These are questions to ask if you want effective communication while outsourcing.?

Focus on Resultsnbsp;

Benchmark your goals of outsourcing to the results metrics you have established.

Is it worthwhile? Do you need to seek another vendor?

This will help you in taking advantage of outsourcing.

Focus on the what as the vendor deals with the how.

Conclusion

Outsourcing is no easy feat. But an awareness of the opportunities for risk and success, coupled with a great team of internal and external experts, is enough to thrive as a startup.