Even if you have the best team in the world, there comes a time when it’s more productive to outsource work than to do it in-house. 

This is especially true in the current business landscape. A recent Fiverr survey revealed that 78% of business owners plan to work with freelancers to fill in gaps in their workforce during times of economic uncertainty. This trend is likely to keep growing in the next few years– the Statista Research Department predicts that by 2027, 86.5 million people will be freelancing in the United States, making up 50.9 percent of the country’s total workforce.  

In a world where organizations are struggling to attract and retain talent while striving for growth (and sometimes struggling to keep up with rapid growth due to resource constraints), relying on outsourcing can be a powerful move to increase productivity. 

The benefits of outsourcing work 

First, running a lean operation is important. Without razor-sharp priorities, teams can lose focus and experience performance dips. “Focus is crucial for startups and scale-ups. Spreading your limited team too thin can be a business killer. With outsourcing, you can look to get help in areas that aren’t your company’s focus while making sure your internal team is playing to its strengths,” according to Ryan Johnson, founder of specialized strategic consulting firm Bread & Circuses. 

Deciding to outsource work also comes with underrated benefits, such as the opportunity for learning and development. “Outsourcing can be a great way to gain new ideas on the work you are doing. For example, a freelance social media specialist may have tactics learned elsewhere they can leverage on your mandate. So there is an opportunity to learn new things,” adds Johnson. 

Considering the fact that 87% of companies surveyed by McKinsey revealed that they have skills gaps or will in the next few years, the ability to learn from the experts you outsource work to is a perk. There’s also the fact that you can even turn temporary contracts into a recruiting strategy. According to Johnson, outsourcing is a great way to “try before you buy.” 

“I’ve worked with a lot of freelancers who have become full-time employees and their freelance work was an opportunity for both parties to see if they enjoyed working together and to see if the freelancer (and eventual employee) is up to the task,” he says. 

How to outsource work

If you want to lean into the benefits of working with freelancers to increase your team’s productivity, it’s important to do it right – otherwise, you’ll just end up wasting time and money. Johnson shared a few crucial dos and don’ts to help you succeed. 

The first important step is to avoid cutting corners. You’ll want to be intentional about why you’re outsourcing work, which work you’re going to outsource, and what type of contractors you want to hire. Keep in mind that training and onboarding are still required.

“Do vet freelancers thoroughly to make sure you have the help that can add value and that they are easy to work with,” recommends Johnson. “Make sure you have documentation that explains your brand and if you are outsourcing creative work, creative and formatting guidelines. This will make it easier to onboard new freelancers should you need them, as there will inevitably be some churn.” 

You can also look at platforms that host freelancers with specialized skills, such as Compose.ly. They carefully vet content writers and match them with industries in which they are knowledgeable. Platforms like this can save you time and resources when outsourcing work.

Additionally, having realistic expectations when outsourcing work is key. “Don’t expect freelancers to be as invested in your company as full-time employees. There is a limit to the contribution they can make to conversations on broader strategies,” adds Johnson. “For this reason, it is important to be crystal clear on the roles that you open to outsourcers and the roles that are exclusively hired as full-time.”

In other words, smart resource management is still required and outsourcing is not going to magically solve any issues on that front. However, effectively managed outsourced customer support can provide businesses with the flexibility to scale, allowing them to focus on core tasks while maintaining high-quality customer service.

That being said, realistic expectations don’t mean settling for whatever you can get. “Don’t hire contractors or freelancers without continuously raising the bar. Often, companies will bring on freelancers and accept mediocre work because some effort is required to find replacements, but working with freelancers gives you the opportunity to continuously test new talent and improve the quality of what you do, so take advantage,” according to Johnson. 

With the best practices above in mind, you will be equipped to outsource work effectively and make the most of all the resources at your disposal so you can meet your goals.