Outsource or Inhouse?

Are you in or out? Or a hybrid of both? …

Do you want to grow your business with capacity and also capability?

Do you need consistency in your business but without you being bogged down with the day to day detail?

Are you limited on time to manage/oversee your business yourself eg there are not enough hours in the day!

If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, then have you considered outsourcing? A recent stat I heard is39% of small business owners worry that there are not enough hours in the day.

What is outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a business practice in which a company hires a third party to perform tasks, handle operations or provide services for the company. Outsourcing allows all parties to play to their strengths.

Flexibility and freeing up time are just two of the benefits of outsourcing for business owners.

Who outsources their marketing?

According to cybercrew (and Marketingsignals.com survey), Marketing is outsourced by 42% of UK businesses. And most do so because they aren’t able to find someone with the necessary skills or don’t have the resource to handle it internally.

As business owners and those in an owner managed business, we often wear all the hats and do all of the work and fulfil all of the roles. This isn’t sustainable for the long term in terms of trying to do it all yourself, but you may not yet be ready to recruit either. So outsourcing could be a good half way house solution.

Have you ever told a fib or little white lie but with all good intentions behind it when it comes to your business?

For me, I will tell the kids I will call back in a minute but it ends but being more likely to be longer as I get engrossed in my work. So not exactly whoppers or lies with consequences. I like to think I am quite transparent when it comes to business. I have also been lied to by clients. Again, not whoppers or lied to with any malice. Example fibs with good intentions I have been told are ones like:

* I/we will implement the marketing plan in-house if you create/write one for us.

* Or we are consistent with our marketing and always follow up.

* I love sales so if you generate the leads, we will certainly do the follow up and sales

* We have tried every marketing channel or tactic but no one of it works

As I said, clients often have good intentions and genuinely believe these statements at the time, but the reality is they often don’t do what they say/intend in the end as business/life gets in the way or they find the marketing harder or more time consuming than they thought or they realise they don’t have the resource/head space needed for dedicated consistent marketing. They aren’t deliberately misleading me or themselves, it is just what happens a lot in my experience. Marketing, lead gen and sales can be challenging for sure.

Outsourcing your marketing – what can you outsource?

• The businesses marketing strategy and plan
• Some or all of the hands-on delivery of the activity and campaigns across all channels
• Monthly measuring and reporting this activity
• Handing over the role of the businesses Marketing director/manager role

How outsourcing can help your marketing?

One solution could be outsourcing your marketing. This could be all of the marketing for the business or certain parts of it. What you outsource will depend on need, budget, timings and resource.

A consultant or agent, like me, can work with your internal team. We note the team’s skillsets so that everyone plays to their strengths within the business and we plug any skills gaps and enable the smooth implementation of your business and marketing plan.

I make sure the team in whatever format this looks like is well organised and proactive with its marketing. And as a consultant and from an outsider looking in perspective, as I have no preconceived ideas on the business or any bias. I see things as they are meaning you get what you need and when you need it, nothing more nothing less.

The role of someone like me in an outsourced role is to hold your hand as it were and to give support to you and your business.

Do I outsource?

Yes. I am grateful to have an accountant/book keeper, as well as other suppliers, to outsource some of my business tasks too. And these are tasks I cannot do or don’t want to do or are not time efficient for me to do.

I wish people would stop thinking outsourcing is weak, lazy etc. It is a strong trait to say I need help or support and why struggle or why waste time when you don’t have to. There are many challenges in business these days, and tracking/measuring as well regularity and consistency are just some of them. But these can be solved with outsourcing.

Outsourcing can help owner managed businesses go through stormy times at some time or another and we all need a guide or someone to act as a compass to steer us through choppy times.

?Pinpoint Marketing has helped many past and current clients to weather such storms, by helping them deal with sales and mainly marketing challenges and situations without as much difficulty as they would of otherwise had to deal with. From bringing in more leads to niching and USP, to which channels to use and defining a target audience. Plus creating plans of action to achieve marketing consistency, regularity and results.

Are you ready to stop wearing some of your hats?

Find out more about our outsourcing your marketing package