Category: Virtual Assistants

Ever think about outsourcing? Not sure where to start or how it works? You’ve come to the right place. This article goes over the true cost of not outsourcing and unveiling the benefits of having a virtual assistant. 

Alright, let’s talk about being busy – that elusive badge of honor that seems to have taken over our lives.  “I’m busy; therefore, I matter,  and I’’m important.” But let’s cut through the noise for a moment. Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re effective, despite what our overworked culture might lead you to believe. And if you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve probably found yourself buried under a mountain of routine tasks that make you wonder if you’re in the business of being busy or if you’re actually moving the needle. 

The Cost of Not Outsourcing

Many entrepreneurs find themselves swamped with routine tasks that could be easily delegated or doing tasks they simply don’t enjoy. This prevents them from dedicating their time and expertise to more high-value activities. This misconception can hinder growth and progress in business. By not outsourcing tasks that can be handled by virtual assistants, individuals inadvertently focus on low-value tasks that could be easily delegated.  Think back to the last year, the last two years, and the last five years. What actions made an impact on your business? Make a list of those actions and keep it as a reminder of your areas of expertise and what you need to spend more time focusing on. Anything outside that list, think about how and what type of person that could be delegated to. 

We have to stop undervaluing our skills. Time is a finite resource, and how it is allocated can greatly influence the trajectory of a business. When business owners are bogged down by administrative chores, they lose the chance to engage in high-value work – tasks that require their unique skills, experience, and expertise.  Examples of high-value work may include strategic planning, client relationship management, product line expansion, creative problem-solving, and decision-making. By hiring virtual assistants to handle mundane tasks, individuals unlock the capacity to channel their energy into activities that directly impact growth.

What Kind of Tasks Can VAs Help With?

•  Email Management: Sorting, responding, and organizing emails to ensure important communications aren’t missed.
• Calendar Management: Scheduling appointments, meetings, and events to keep your calendar on track.
• Travel Arrangements: Researching and booking flights, accommodations, and transportation for business trips.
• Data Entry: Inputting and organizing data into spreadsheets or databases.
• Research: Gathering information, market trends, or competitor analysis for strategic decision-making.
• Social Media Management: Posting content, responding to comments, and monitoring social media accounts.
• Customer Support: Handling inquiries, providing support, and addressing customer concerns.
• Content Creation: Drafting blog posts, social media updates, or newsletters based on provided guidelines.
• Document Formatting: Creating professional-looking documents, presentations, and reports.
• Appointment Scheduling: Coordinating and confirming appointments with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Online Research: Find resources, articles, or contacts relevant to your business goals.
• File Organization: Organizing digital files and documents for easy access and retrieval.
• Basic Bookkeeping: Managing expense tracking, invoices, and financial record keeping.
• Proofreading and Editing: Reviewing documents for errors, consistency, and clarity.
• Inbox Filtering: Sorting and prioritizing emails, flagging important messages for your attention.
• Event Planning: Coordinating logistics for webinars, workshops, or conferences.
• Personal Errands: Handling personal tasks like gift shopping, booking appointments, and making reservations.
• Online Outreach: Reaching out to potential collaborators, partners, or influencers on your behalf.

Imagine a seasoned business owner spending hours every week on email correspondence and scheduling appointments. This scenario highlights the opportunity cost of not outsourcing. While the business owner’s expertise lies in negotiating and strategic thinking, the time spent on administrative tasks detracts from their ability to make higher-value decisions. The monetary value of their expertise far outweighs the cost of hiring a virtual assistant to manage their administrative workload. By not delegating, professionals inadvertently dilute the value they bring to the table. The value of your expertise far outweighs the price tag of hiring a virtual assistant who can elegantly manage those admin waters.

Steps to Take Before Outsourcing

In the world of entrepreneurship, relinquishing control is a strategic move that shouldn’t be underestimated. As business owners, we often feel the need to micromanage every detail, yet this approach can be counterproductive. One person can only do so much work in a day, and if we are working on low-level tasks, we are distracted from making higher-impact decisions. 

Understanding the true cost of not outsourcing is the first step. To harness the benefits of hiring virtual assistants, consider the following action steps:

• Identify Time-Consuming Tasks: Make a list of tasks that consume a significant portion of your time but don’t require your specific expertise. These are prime candidates for outsourcing.
• Evaluate Potential ROI: Calculate the time you’ll save by outsourcing these tasks and estimate the value of the high-impact work you can dedicate that time to. Compare this potential ROI with the cost of hiring a virtual assistant.
• Find the Right Fit: Research and connect with reputable virtual assistant services or individuals who align with your needs and values.
• Delegate Wisely: Clearly communicate tasks, expectations, and goals to your virtual assistant. Regular check-ins and open communication are key to a successful partnership.
• Monitor and Adjust: Keep track of the impact outsourcing has on your productivity and overall well-being. Adjust your approach as needed to optimize the arrangement.

The idea of the perfect assistant is a fallacy that takes away from us taking action and hiring someone. The first person you hire doesn’t need to be the last person you hire.  Many times my best assistants evolved with me over time. The better I got at delegating, the more empowered my assistants became.  If anything, the first person you hire is an exercise in giving up control and a way to practice the skill of delegating. Delegating is a skill. It is not something people are used to doing since in school we are trained to do our work, and anything “delegated” would be seen as cheating and, we would be punished for it. However, in business, delegation is a crucial skill to help us be more productive and focus on our true strengths. 

What to Look For in a Virtual Assistant

One way to find more success with your first hire is to look for a couple of very specific traits— proactive, resourceful, and the ability to think critically. I want to avoid having to micromanage, therefore I make sure to find people who are problem solvers and able to look things up on their own without always needing step-by-step guidance. These traits will save time and headaches in the long run and I have found my most successful hires vetting for these characteristics. 

In a world where time is money, the true cost of not outsourcing goes way beyond dollars and cents. It’s about missed opportunities, underestimating your brilliance, and throwing away precious hours that could be spent on game-changing moves. By shaking off the misconception that being busy equals being effective and embracing tasks that truly matter, you’re making the kind of informed choices that can elevate your productivity and provide greater freedom in your business. 

If any this article on the true cost of not outsourcing resonates with you, shoot me a message. And if you need help hiring for a role, reach out to us!  Contact us at theresa@recruittandem.com or visit our website at recruittandem.com to fill out our start hiring form. We are a headhunting agency that finds overseas talent for a fraction of the cost.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Are you looking for an executive virtual assistant job description to help you understand this position? If you are, then you’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll go over what the job description covers. We’ll also get into where you can find one and how to set them up to work with you.

What Is an Executive Virtual Assistant (VA)?

An executive virtual assistant is like an in-person executive assistant in many ways. The reason why executive assistants are important lies in how they help business executives. They are key in managing a variety of administrative tasks. You may think that this means that the job is easy – by no means! An executive assistant juggles many things, keeping everything organized. The job centers around the top people in the company, so they need to adjust to serve individuals in a very customized fashion. 

Executive assistants also serve as supervisors to all the other assistants in the company. Because of their proximity to the top executives, they are equipped to keep an eye on things. They are often charged with getting the right information to the right people. This can also extend to making sure other assistants keep their areas of responsibility organized.

Note that this level of assistant is way above your average VA. Make sure that you are prepared to appreciate them and compensate them as they deserve. 

What Is the Difference Between an Executive VA and A General VA?

The word executive itself helps us to understand a lot about why executive assistants are important and what they do. That then helps us understand what role a general VA plays in contrast.

An executive position means the person has a certain level of power to execute plans. An executive assistant would take instructions from the boss and get them implemented. A general VA would be in an administrative position as well, but in a department under the executive. Executive positions also entail management. The executive assistant would therefore direct and manage these other general virtual assistants. 

Note that VA roles are generally flexible. A virtual executive assistant would basically supervise whichever department and other VAs you release them to supervise. 

How Can an Executive Virtual Assistant (VA) Help Your Business?

The common responsibilities and skills of most executive assistants are crucial to the success of the executive. We’ll go more into specific tasks below, but suffice to say that they take care of many vital support tasks. As such, they help your business by taking the load off your senior people. 

Many business owners and managers spend too much time doing this and that. This means they can’t seem to get around to doing the tasks that really move the business forward. Having an assistant alleviates that burden on time and energy. 

Below are some specific ways that executive assistant virtual help can be a game-changer.

Helping You Execute Business Plans

An executive VA can be your right-hand man. When you find the right person for this job, you can enjoy more time and peace of mind. They will take your plans and filter them down the pipeline. They can essentially be the implementer to your visionary role. These are the expert types of virtual assistants, and are rare gems.

Organization of Systems and Processes

Sometimes, you don’t yet have the infrastructure you need to execute plans. This assistant can create the necessary systems and processes for you. Systems and processes are necessary for properly implementing any plan. Without them, you are playing a hit and miss game. This means that you will waste a lot of resources before you get it right. 

Bringing in New Ideas

Because this level of executive assistant is above your average VA, they will be able to contribute a lot. They normally have loads of experience on top of a good head on their shoulders. They have also been on the ground and in the trenches a lot more. This means that they can see and evaluate things in a way that you can’t. The new ideas that can be birthed from this are priceless. 

Saving You Time

Just being able to pass a plan off to someone else is already a huge time-saver. You can save yourself 90% of the time it would take to implement it. When you find a gem of an assistant, they can come in even earlier. Help from someone who knows the ranks during the conception stages is precious. You will be set up for success because they will give valuable input to properly shape the plan. This helps you to avoid making last-minute changes because some people don’t fit your mold.

What Are Some Tasks Executive Virtual Assistants Can Help With?

The executive virtual assistant job description you have may be different from what other people have posted. It helps to do an internet search to see what’s out there. In the end, though, you have to point out the exact skills and qualities you want for the tasks you need done. This list here comes from the most needed areas that we’ve collected over time. Use it to spark your thought process as to what your ideal virtual executive assistant looks like.

Administrative Work

This is an executive assistant’s wheelhouse. It’s also their first stage. Any assistant must be able to do a wide range of administrative work. An executive assistant, however, does it smoothly and with style. 

Scheduling becomes easy, and anyone who needs to reschedule or be moved leaves happy. You will approach your email inbox with joy when an executive assistant has been there first. They review every message and organize them by priority level. You don’t even have to answer them all because they already responded to the ones that don’t need your attention. When calls come in, everyone parts with a smile on their face. They get all the information they need and are treated with respect.

Personal Tasks

Assistants also help with similar tasks for you personally, not just the business. They can schedule personal appointments, maintain your personal records – basically anything that you want them to handle. When working with virtual assistants, just remember that they won’t be able to pick up your dry cleaning or fetch your spare keys! 

Project Management

This is also a more common executive assistant task. Since they are like an extension of the boss, they will manage all the company’s projects, up to a point. They also assist the managers, acting as a sort of go-between for executives. They will stay on top of all progress to be able to report to the boss at any given time.

Marketing and Sales

High-level executive virtual assistant job descriptions can include these specialized tasks. Did you know you could outsource sales and marketing tasks to an executive VA? Because of their past experience, they can handle several of these task types. These can include fielding sales follow-up calls, handling new hire onboarding, facilitating company-wide meetings, and the like. Make sure that you specify what you want them to oversee so you can attract the right candidates. 

Client Success Management

More than sales calls, an experiences assistant at this level can even handle existing clients. Relationship management is not a small task, though, so make sure you have the right person for the job. We’re sure that with the right leadership from you, any executive-minded assistant can grow into this role.

Social Media and Content Management

Getting a social media marketing calendar set up and organizing the teams involved is no small feat. This assistant can communicate on different levels to get everyone lined up. This includes the blog team, marketing copywriters, branding executives, graphic designers, and social teams. This way, you can publish all your social content on time for maximum results. They can, as an extension, also supervise the content marketing team. This can mean getting topics ready for writers all the way to overseeing analytics and tweaking content strategies.

Where Can I Find Reliable Executive VAs?

Upwork

Upwork is one of the oldest and the biggest network of independent contractors online. You can hire here for short or long-term needs. They offer free hiring since the VAs pay the fees on their end. They also have a full suite of hybrid workforce management tools that you can use. 

Toptal

Toptal is not as big as Upwork because it hosts only the best of the best. This exclusive network of top freelancers is a great place to find executive talent. They are known for being home to expert project managers, among others. 

OnlineJobsPH

OnlineJobsPH can help you find top talent whether you post a job or engage them as a recruitment service. They offer vetted workers from the Philippines, and you know we love outsourcing to the Philippines!

FreeUp

FreeUp also offers pre-vetted talent. Their biggest selling point is the speedy process for matching you with reliable freelancers. They also have concierge-level support and service whenever you need it.

Fivver

Fiverr focuses on helping you find what you need within your budget. They price per project, though, so take note of that if you’re looking to hire hourly or monthly. One advantage here is that they only deliver your payments when you approve of the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to hire virtual assistants through an agency or directly?

In general, hiring through an agency provides an extra layer of protection. Some freelance marketplaces also provide this, though the type of protection varies. You might get payment protection but not replacement guarantees, for example. If you have recommendations from within your business network, though, you can try hiring directly. Just know that you are on your own if anything goes wrong.

Can I hire part time or full time?

You can hire freelance VAs of any type for on-off projects, hourly work here and there, half days, full days – whatever you want. You can always find someone in the world who can do what you need, when you need it.

How do I pay my virtual assistants?

You can use one of several online payment processors to handle payments to virtual assistants. Different countries support different platforms, so make sure to ask. You can get relevant information from your hiring partner or the VA themselves. Figure out what works best for both of you. Some examples include PayPal, Payoneer, and Wise.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

We love the advantages that executive virtual assistants can offer. Adding another layer of support between the business owner, managers, and teams is always helpful. It provides added structure and accountability as well as assistance.

We love lists, and one of our favorite types covers virtual assistant interview questions and answers. If you’ve been following the Outsource School blog for a while, you’ve probably seen quite a few. 

In this one, we want to take you through the interview process we like to use. We’ll also give some background on the top virtual assistant interview questions we use ourselves. This way, you can get a better understanding of what we do to hire the best fits time and again.

Experience and Red Flags

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself…Where are you from? What are your hobbies? What’s important to you?

We like to build some rapport at the very beginning of each conversation. Many times, this can make or break the interview. This is the beginning of the relationship, so you want to put candidates at ease. This removes the stress that they can feel, which can taint their answers. Interviews can be especially challenging for humble and shy people. You don’t want to evaluate them wrongly simply because they were nervous about talking to a new person.

When you ask personal questions like these, you can get a lot of important information. It’s not just about making someone feel comfortable. For instance, you can anticipate power or internet service interruptions based on a candidate’s location. This is especially important when outsourcing to the Philippines, for example. You can also recognize strong potential in the person if they have challenging hobbies.

2. How long have you been working as a VA?

This is an amazing transition question. It relates to what’s important to the candidate and also steps into the realm of work. You want to quickly establish that you value experience without being too harsh. This question early in the process helps them grasp that. It also helps you determine right away if the candidate has what you need. 

Experience is a key factor in all hiring decisions. You need to know if a candidate has enough of it beyond the shadow of a doubt. If they can’t do the job, then you can move to the next candidate. That’s unless, of course, you are willing to work with them and get them up to speed. We do this from time to time if we see great potential in a candidate if they have rare qualities like integrity and loyalty.

3. Can you briefly describe your experience as a virtual assistant? What type of work have you had with your other
clients?

This line of virtual assistant interview questions and answers will dive deeper as you proceed. Initially, you want to know more about a candidate’s experience than just how long they’ve worked. You want to know their range and how flexible they are, too.

Asking these questions will also help you understand how confident they really are in their own skills and experience. Sometimes, people will “fake it ‘til they make it,” and you want to uncover that as soon as possible. If they have true confidence from experience, they will not make arrogant claims they can’t back up. 

4. What tools and software are you proficient in for remote work?

When hiring a virtual assistant, you will have particular tasks in mind for them to do. These tasks often involve the use of certain tools, like Time Doctor. This question is to determine if a candidate knows how to use the specific tools that they will be using. They may have years of experience performing a task, but with different tools than you use or prefer to use. You also need to figure out if your choice of tools is more important than, say, the candidate’s attitude. Then you can move forward with the interview or part ways accordingly.

5. Please tell me about your experience with <<type of work you are looking to hire for>>?

This is a good example of interview questions for virtual assistants that dive deeper. You can hone in on the virtual assistant roles that you are looking to fill. They may have other strengths, but these should be your focus.

Probe further so you can get details that show you the quality of their work. For example, have they worked for 8 years doing the same simple tasks? Or, have they grown in the role, learning and applying new skills? Have they done different tasks for different clients?

6. What is your internet speed and backup plan in case of connectivity issues?

Always confirm if the candidate has the infrastructure available to do the job. They may be the best assistants, but if their internet is always down, they won’t be able to work. Ask them what internet plan they are on, and what speeds that gives them. Then ask them what they do to stay online in case their connection gets cut. You may also want to know how often storms hit their area. Ask as well how often the power gets shut off in larger areas surrounding their location. Then ask how long the interruptions usually last. This will tell you how often they will not be able to get to alternate sites or how long their backup systems will cover them.

7. Why did you choose to become a VA?

Some candidates talk about this when they answer the first question. Being a VA may be important to them for several reasons. Mostly, we hear that it’s because it allows them the flexibility to work while caring for their families, and still earn decent pay. Most VAs know that this answer appeals to clients, so be wary. Follow up, for example, by asking if they have children or are a primary caregiver to elderly parents. Then you can also learn more about how much time and attention they can actually give to your business.

8. Are you comfortable with flexible working hours or working in different time zones?

The next few virtual assistant interview questions and answers may seem overly simple. We have found them to be vital, however, in avoiding false starts. You are investing a lot in the search for the right VA. Having them quit after one week because of things like the schedule or going on video is just crazy. This actually happens, though, so ask anyway, if only to confirm that they read your job post properly. (Sometimes they don’t grasp the part about the time zone and assume it’s in their time zone.)

9. Are you comfortable with video conferencing and screen-sharing tools for virtual meetings?

This question is more than just about being shy or not being able to talk at 2 AM. (Many people who work from home will avoid both audio and video calls because it would wake sleeping relatives.) Some people will conduct interviews from a nicer location and not want you to see the area in which they actually work. That’s a red flag. Some may look good on paper and interview well, but not actually have the best motives. 

Still, if you prefer to work with them while on a call, you may not want to hire someone who prefers not to do it that way. The same goes for screen sharing. If you want to share your screen for training, they need to be ok with that. If you want them to share their screens when asking for guidance, they need to know how to do that.

On a side note, be wary of anyone who refuses to have their screens recorded during working time. They shouldn’t have anything on their screens that’s not related to work, so they shouldn’t have a problem with this.

10. What interested you in this position? What are you looking for?

This is a chance to get more information about why a candidate wants the specific job you’re offering. Sometimes you might get answers that surprise you. 

11. We’re looking for someone to work <<insert schedule>>, does that work for you?

If you haven’t confirmed this yet, make sure you are very specific about it. Give them the days and hours you want them to be working, and get their ok on it. 

12. The rate for this position is $X per hour. Are you comfortable starting at that rate?

Always confirm the rate that you are offering. We have come across many candidates who will interview for a job then complain about the rate after being hired. Sometimes they will not complain but will slack off because they aren’t happy with the rate. They might feel that the job doesn’t deserve their best because it pays too low. Always confirm that they are happy with the rate for the specific tasks they are expected to perform.

Attitude, Values, and Culture Fit

13. Give an example of a time when you had to handle a difficult client or situation. How did you resolve it?

The ability to properly manage difficult clients and situations is a rare skill. This question doesn’t mean that you are difficult to work with or that the work environment is toxic. You are simply trying to learn how a candidate will react or respond if problems arise on the job. When you ask about specific problem areas they faced, you learn whether you can depend on them to push through. You get an idea of whether they will complain about difficulties or adjust.

14. What are your strategies for maintaining work-life balance while working remotely?

Some people who don’t work in an office can have trouble with work-life balance. They may not be able to separate their work life and their home life. You need to confirm that anyone you want to hire knows how to draw the line. Otherwise, you can end up bearing the brunt of time management issues and burnout. 

15. How do you handle feedback and criticism from clients or colleagues?

This is one of my favorite interview questions for virtual assistants. I always want to know if a candidate will accept correction to learn and grow from it. If they can’t receive criticism with a positive attitude, then I prefer not to work with them. Get examples from them to confirm their answers!

16. Do you consider yourself to be hard working? If yes,
give an example that shows your hard work ethic.

Listen closely to how a candidate answers this question. You can learn a lot about what they think of themselves here. Are they satisfied with where they’re at or do they want to keep improving? 

17. Money or growth? Which do you value more? Why?

This is one of our all-time favorite interview questions for a virtual assistant. We want to hire people who value growth because we want them to grow. It helps them and will make them happier in the end. And as we invest in them, it helps us, too.

Final Questions

18. If you were to get the job, how soon could you start?

This question helps you understand how eager the candidate is to work with you. They should know more or less when you will need them, but you should confirm that they won’t grow impatient. It’s also a great way to wind down the interview comfortably.

19. Is there anything else I should know about you?

We always like to make sure that we leave an open space for a candidate to express themselves. This helps them feel more comfortable with the idea that they can go to you in the future if they need additional support on the job.

20. Do you have any questions for me?

This open question gives them the power, so to speak. It shows them that you are open to giving the information that they need. The best candidates will always have their own conditions because they know their value. With this question, they can confirm if you can provide the environment in which they can thrive.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

We hope this set of interview questions for virtual assistants help you in your search for the best fit. The first set will give you a good basic understanding of each candidate. They will also set and confirm the non-negotiables. This way, you will know very early on if any candidate is not a good fit. We don’t want you to spend any unnecessary time or energy talking to someone who won’t work out in the end. The second set focuses on hiring soft skills. We never skip over these types of interview questions for a virtual assistant. This is where you get into the heart of things. 

What is the actual cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines? 

We come across this question a lot because our clients notice how dramatically rates can vary. While VA rates do vary, there is a limit to what’s reasonable. 

In this post, we’re going to dive into the variations in VAs to start. Then we’ll see how that affects their rates, and what we think the acceptable ranges are.

Advantages of Hiring a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines

High Education Levels

Most Filipinos have finished high school, and many have college degrees. A good number in fact, have graduated from advanced courses. Still, many prefer virtual work because of the advantages it provides. These individuals are highly intelligent yet will often take on work that they’re over-qualified for. Again, it’s because remote work offers more than in-office jobs.

Competence in English

Most Filipinos have at least a basic ability to use the English language. Many can converse with ease. Many more are more proficient in written then spoken English. This is because English is the medium of instruction in the country. The Filipino accent is also quite clean when compared to that of other countries. Filipinos commonly speak more than one language or dialect. This makes their speech and grammar much more adaptable. 

English or a variety of it is actually a native language to many Filipinos. Note that if you want near-native or native language ability in US terms, that’s different. You will be paying more because that level of ability is rare.

Prior Experience

A good chunk of the Philippine population has experience working with foreign companies. Historically, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has thrived there. BPOs love setting up shop in the Philippines for several reasons aside from English proficiency. The population is young, and the people are accommodating and hard-working.

Since the pandemic, the number of Filipinos working with foreign companies has risen. More and more Filipinos jumped to online work when businesses closed down. Because the BPO industry opened up many doors, a lot of Filipinos have broad experience. The country hosts call centers, medical transcription centers, knowledge process outsourcing and back offices, software and game development centers, animation centers, and engineering design centers. 

Time Zone Advantages

The cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines becomes even more affordable when you think about time zone advantages. We love waking up to clean inboxes, organized calendars, and our days generally all set up for success. Not every VA we hire works while we sleep, of course. But the ability to have some working nights and some working days is fantastic. They are super flexible in this area mostly because of their experience in the BPO industry.

Work Life Balance

Filipinos generally excel at maintaining good work life balance. They value family very highly, yet pay close attention to work because work is a means to take care of family. Filipinos know when to chill and when to put their noses to the grindstone. They also know how to manage their surroundings so they can get things done. They don’t forego the activities that nourish them, but they don’t shirk responsibility, either. 

Culture Fit

Most Filipinos grow up in areas saturated with a mix of cultures. One of the most prominent is the US culture. Most often, they are surrounded by US movies and books and people who use English. The country’s own culture is actually loosely based on US culture because of their great influence. The government, entertainment and advertising industries, to name a few, are also heavily influenced by US culture. This cultural flow makes communication very easy. This means fewer chances for misunderstandings that often happen where vast cultural differences exist.

Lower Rates

After all of the above, the direct cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines is not the most attractive advantage. The rates that Filipino VAs charge are much lower than you would pay in any western country. If anything, the added advantages make it much more worth it for you to hire there.

Great Attitude

Filipinos are known to be one of the most agreeable peoples. They value relationships very highly and often sacrifice to preserve them. This makes building positive workplace culture easier. Filipino culture also dictates that they make an effort to blend in. They will also take care of clients and coworkers without having to be told to. They are naturally accommodating, respectful, kind and understanding.

Where to Find Filipino Virtual Assistants

Because working with foreign companies is so common, there are a ton of places to hire Filipinos. Whether you’re hiring direct or want an intermediary, the internet is your best option. This may surprise you because that space is notorious for scams. This is true, but you have to find the gems in the rubble. From our experience, we have curated several sites that we’ve personally used. You can feel comfortable using these Filipino VA hiring companies.

What Is the Cost of a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?

The estimated hourly rate range that we’ve come across for VAs in the Philippines is $5-$15. This covers basic skillsets and those with areas of specialization, plus a good amount of experience. If you need someone with high specialization or expertise in a field, expect to pay up to $20 per hour. This can go as high as $25 per hour if their area of expertise is rare. 

Within these ranges, you will always get excellent value for your money if you avoid the most common hiring mistakes. We also have outsourcing strategies to help you make the best decisions when hiring overseas. We advocate hiring Filipinos because they present the above advantages on top of the actual cost being lower because of the lower cost of living in the Philippines. You get the best of both worlds with high quality skills – both hard and soft – and competitive pricing.

Factors Influencing Hiring Costs

Several factors directly influence the cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines within these ranges. As mentioned, experience and skill set are the main factors, as well as specialized knowledge. Outside of these, you can find variations in rates based on the complexity of the tasks you will assign. The same goes for multiple skill sets. If you expect a single person to know several different tasks and do them well, expect to pay more per hour. You still come out ahead because you are saved from hiring multiple people to cover this range of tasks.

What it actually costs you monetarily to hire a VA is not always the same as the rate itself. You must consider other fees that you may need to pay. This depends on where you are hiring them from, and what your involvement is in the whole process. For example, if you work with a recruitment company, you may have to pay recruitment costs. You will also have some training expenses, even if it’s only onboarding to get them set up to work with you. Will you be paying for software subscriptions or special equipment? These costs are specific to your setup, so we encourage you to take note of them. This way, you will know in total what you are actually paying on a monthly basis.

How to Transfer Money to the Philippines

There are several options that you can use to pay VAs in the Philippines. These are our favorite because they are easy and cost less. 

Payoneer

Payoneer is a payment platform that integrates well with payment systems in the Philippines. We prefer to use this as opposed to bigger platforms like PayPal because the fees are much more reasonable. The process is also simple and payments are made in local currencies. Freelancers tend to appreciate this because they pay less in fees and don’t have to wait for days or weeks to get access to their money.

Wise, Formerly Transferwise

Wise is a money transfer platform. Instead of having to open an account like with Payoneer, you simply so bank transfers. The difference with Wise is that they can offer you better transfer rates. This is simply because they have a wider network. Their connections allow them to offer discounted rates compared to local banks. The less money is deducted from your VA’s pay, the happier they will be with lower hourly rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of hiring VAs from the Philippines?

Wherever you hire from, you will always encounter drawbacks. That being said, we have identified a few common disadvantages when hiring from the Philippines. First, we’ve encountered issues with the stability of internet and power. Mostly this is due to poor infrastructure that requires frequent maintenance. Sometimes connectivity is sensitive to the frequent storms that pass though during the rainy season. Second, some Filipinos are keen to recommend friends and family out of obligation. Be careful because they may not necessarily recommend people based on qualifications. 

Do I need to consider taxes when hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines?

If you are hiring on a freelance basis, you don’t have to pay taxes. The VAs you hire will be responsible for paying their own taxes as business owners. If they decide not to pay their taxes, you are not liable in any way.

Can I negotiate the hourly rate with a virtual assistant in the Philippines?

You can negotiate rates with any freelance hires. We recommend that you stay within the common ranges, however. If you offer decent rates then lowball candidates during the interview, you’re headed for trouble. They may accept because they’re too shy to say no, but end up underperforming. They will feel slighted and disrespected, and that will not work out well for you. Gaining the trust and respect of hires is always more valuable to you in the long run. You may pay a few bucks more, but loyalty is priceless.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

We have found that the cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines is always worth it. Hiring Filipinos always brings in more benefits, both tangible and intangible. We hope that with some hiring guidance, you can reap the same numerous blessings for your business.

We can talk at length (and have!) about the advantages and benefits of outsourcing. But what about outsourcing risks? 

Outsourcing is not without its downsides. We at Outsource School aim to provide honest answers. We also want to give you a complete picture of what your outsourcing journey can look like. So that’s what we are going to do in this post. 

We’re going to get into the most common risks associated with outsourcing. These are barriers that make most people hesitant to go down this road. While these may be very real stumbling blocks, we won’t leave you without hope! 

We’re also going to share some helpful tips and guidelines to mitigate these risks. By the end we hope you’ll have a clearer picture of the track ahead of you and the right routine to help you run through it. 

Risks of Outsourcing

1. Loss of Control

Almost any business owner can relate to this feeling. A business can feel like your baby. It’s hard to give even a little control to someone else. This is especially true if that someone lives in a different state or several miles away from you! 

The procedures and methods used to care for that business task or process might not be to your liking. There may not necessarily even be anything wrong with the way they do things. However, outsourcing means you have less opportunity to keep an eye on every single detail. If you are a meticulous person who wants to be intricately involved, outsourcing may not be an attractive solution. 

2. Communication Barriers

Ever read an email, chat, or text message and completely misread the tone? Ever got a call from a relative but their network connection was choppy and you could only catch a few sentences? 

Or have you ever visited a country where they speak a different native language from yours? Maybe you tried buying something or asking a question and it took a while before you came to an understanding.

Well, these situations are not uncommon to the outsourcing experience. 

Virtual meetings have gotten better, but you can’t always guarantee a stable connection on their end. Sometimes English is their second language, and it’s hard to get the point across clearly. 

Slow response times can be one of the risks of outsourcing that is most frustrating. Sometimes there are communication delays because of the time difference and the project gets held back. You might end up pushing deadlines, losing face, or worse, losing a client.

3. Cultural Differences

Sometimes communication barriers are a cultural thing. This can be cultural literally in terms of the country or region or in terms of company or business culture. 

Some countries are very straightforward in their communication, which may sound rude to those who have a different cultural style. Some may have customs that affect how they interact with those younger or older than them. Others might give short answers without elaborating unless asked specific questions. Some might solve problems from a different angle than you. 

This sort of stuff can lead to frustration even though you are trying to solve the same problem. 

Some outsourcing companies may also have different company cultures than yours. You might value getting work done earlier than the deadline. You might do this to account for any potential errors, improvements, or other changes. However, the outsourcing company might not have that same value and give it to you on the deadline. (Which is late in your books.) 

This can lead to culture shock and adjusting can take time, effort, and other resources.

4. Difficult to Find the Perfect Fit

Outsourcing can sometimes feel like shopping for a pair of pants. You take your measurements and even bring a good fitting pair along with you to compare. When you get there, you may find that they have different sizing mechanics, different materials, or wrong proportions. Maybe everything fits right in terms of size, but the pants don’t have back pockets. (And you REALLY like back pockets!) You may just need to go to a different store or look at a different brand.

The fact of the matter is this. Unless you build it from the ground up, piece by piece, it won’t be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s very rare that an outsourcing solution will meet every requirement or preference without making an effort.

You need to be ready to make a few adjustments here and there. Sometimes it’s your expectations that need adjusting!

5. Privacy and Security Concerns

This is probably one of the most alarming outsourcing risks and why a lot of people remain hesitant. Let’s be frank. The risk for data leakage from within your business is never 0. That number gets higher when you allow third parties access to company information. You must simply take greater care to restrict access. Make sure you can trust people before you give them greater power.

6. Lack of Experience with Remote Teams

Managing a virtual team poses unique challenges. You need to think about:

• Remote onboarding
• Communication channels
• Virtual project management 
• Performance monitoring
• Payroll

If you don’t have the experience to manage remote teams well, you could end up with more problems

These can be a lot to think about. To the uninitiated, this could easily overwhelm and discourage them from trying outsourcing.

7. Transition Challenges

When giving the reins over from in-house to third party hands, you need to evaluate the outsourcing benefits and risks. It’s true you might be freeing yourself and your team from that task. However, a change of management is pretty major. 

Not only do you have to consider onboarding, but also the rate at which you hand tasks over. For instance, say you’re moving personnel over to another area of operation. That transition can be difficult to manage, especially if you aren’t sure the third party will deliver. 

8. Failure to Deliver or Constant Delays

That brings us to this point. While this is one of the easier outsourcing risks to mitigate, it’s still a fear that holds people back.

We already talked about communication delays. However, there are other possible factors that could delay delivery including:

• Equipment malfunction or breakdown 
• Natural disasters
• New regulations in the country of the outsourcing company

Other possibilities could simply be a lack of professionalism or an overstatement of their ability to deliver. 

9. Quality of the Outsourced Product

Quality control measures are much harder to implement, maintain, and monitor when you outsource. This is doubly true if you outsource internationally. Unless you have a trial run or they have sample work output to show, all you have is their word. Of course, you can set up a trial period and see how it goes. You would have to do a probation period anyway for anyone you hire, overseas or not.

10. Geolocation Issues

This refers to problems related to a person’s physical location. For instance, the freelancer could live in an area prone to flooding and landslides. This can cause frequent power outages or network connectivity issues. The time zone itself might be an issue if you don’t  talk about what time of day you expect them to be available. Make sure you know the conditions before you commit to working together.

11. Intellectual Property Concerns

This is similar to our point on privacy and security. Your patents might be protected, but other processes and trade secrets might not be. Companies and individuals alike could create copies and sell your ideas. They can do shady things that fall in the gap between what is infringement and fair use. To be fair, this can happen with anyone you hire, from anywhere. Hiring overseas just means it’s harder for you to catch them and take steps to prosecute.

How to Manage Risks When Outsourcing

All these risks may seem intimidating, but don’t worry! Below are some practical ways you can mitigate these risks. Most of them are really simple adjustments, too. You just need to get used to the new environments that outsourcing opens you up to. Then you can take the steps to stay insulated.

1. Thorough Selection

Do. Your. Research. Better yet, only hire from reputable agencies and platforms. Then do your due diligence among the candidates there. This way, you have a hiring partner who can guarantee a safer experience.

You can avoid staring in the next outsourcing horror story by simply taking the time to explore your options. Check the candidates’ reputations. Take advantage of social proof like ratings, reviews, and comments. 

2. Setting Clear Expectations

When you’ve done screenings before you get into the interviews, make sure the job description is clear. List your roles, responsibilities, goals, objectives and everything related to the tasks and process. It’s better to over explain than to under explain. When you know exactly what you need, you’ll get a better idea of what you want out of a hire.

3. Spotting Red Flags

While researching and interviewing, check to see if there are any alarming reviews or behaviors. Check to see if their answers are consistent with what they say on other channels like their website or socials.

4. Regular Communication

Check in with your remote team regularly. Make sure to set up clear communication channels and guidelines. From as early as the interview, ensure that your expectations are understood.

5. Performance Monitoring

These check-ins can serve as your progress checks also. You can also use project tracking and management software. You can use this software to communicate with your team, assign tasks, monitor deadlines, and make sure everything is running smoothly. 

6. Data Security Measures

Have them sign legal documents that protect your data, such as an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Keep sensitive data close to the chest. Operate on a “need-to-know” basis. Do this and you’ll more likely avoid outsourcing risks related to data leaking or other related fraudulent behavior.

7. Building Relationships

This is an important step that many can overlook. This includes building relationships with other businesses and your outsourcing partner. 

With business partners, you can ask their advice and recommendations on outsourcing companies. 

With the outsourcing company, it’s all about trying to find partners and not just workers. When you treat outsourced staff like your own, they are more likely to treat your business the same. 

Don’t forget to conduct temperature checks even with outsourced staff. An unhappy worker will not be putting their best foot forward.

8. Building Your Company Culture and Values They Share

It’s so crucial to build a healthy, collaborative culture between in-house and outsourced staff. This is one of the best ways to mitigate outsourcing risks. 

One helpful tip is to look at their mission and vision statements, values, and objectives. This gives you an initial idea if you would work well together based on what you deem to be important. 

9. Proper Management

This is true both on your end and on the end of the third-party service provider. Your experience with outsourcing benefits and risks really depends on how well project managers handle relationships and projects as a whole. 

If you don’t have experience managing an outsourced project, you have options:

• ask people who have experience for advice
• hire a manager
• train someone
• rely on your outsourcing partner to help you out

Outsourcing Strategies

The three main outsourcing strategies are onshoring, nearshoring, and offshoring. You can learn more about them by clicking that link. Basically, onshoring is hiring a company from the same country as your business. Nearshoring and offshoring involve hiring from outside your locale and internationally.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

And that’s our outsourcing risk list! 

Our goal for this article was to help give you the routines and practices you need to outsource successfully. We hope we helped give you the legs you need to jump these hurdles with ease. Now, onwards toward crossing that finish line to business success! 

 

If you’re one of those people who wonders whether insourcing vs outsourcing is better, you’re not alone! We get this question a lot, even from business owners who have tried both before. In fact, we wondered this ourselves way back when we first started running businesses! 

In this post, we are pleased to present the major insourcing vs outsourcing pros and cons. We’ll name them, give you some examples, and drop a few tips, too. This way, you can start your hiring journey off on the right foot. Spoiler Alert! When you know how to make good hiring decisions, you can succeed with either strategy. 

What is Insourcing?

Insourcing has two main meanings in the business world today. 

One meaning is looking for people from within your organization to do a task or fill a role. This entails either adding responsibilities to an existing role, promoting someone to a new position, or moving someone to a different role. 

The other major meaning is hiring someone to work in-house to accomplish a certain job. This entails getting someone new, not currently employed at your company, ready to work within your office. 

Advantages of Insourcing

When you insource, you can benefit from knowing the people you are assigning a project to. In many cases, they have been with you for a while, so you know what they can realistically do. You won’t have to spend any time testing out their skills on paper. The only step would be holding an onboarding meeting to get them integrated into the new role. You also know how they work – their attitudes and the hiring soft skills you already vetted them for. You know they’re a culture fit, so they can get straight to work.

In addition, insourcing vs outsourcing gives you a way to incentivize working with your company. You can present promotion tiers for those who stay on long-term. You can also offer flexibility and growth opportunities for stellar performance. 

Disadvantages of Insourcing

Insourcing by pulling people from existing roles or adding to these roles can be stressful. The people you are moving or tasking can find the changes to be burdensome. You can avoid this by making sure that they are not only willing and able but happy to do the new tasks. Incentivization is a powerful tool in combination with proper performance evaluation.

What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing means looking outside your company for someone to do a certain function for your business. There are two main ways to do this.

You can outsource on your own, which means hiring an agency or individual directly. You can also choose to hire an outsourcing company to provide third-party services.

Outsourcing is our favorite way to bring specialized skills and knowledge into our businesses. That is, if we don’t already have them in-house, or want more affordable options. Hiring overseas is a great way to expand hours in a cost-effective manner while not sacrificing quality. 

Advantages of Outsourcing

Whether you hire freelance contractors directly or hire an agency, you can benefit. Because freelancers are business owners and agencies have track records, you can access both greater expertise and broader experience. Outsourcing vs insourcing also opens you up to a much wider talent pool. You can find experts in areas that are not available in your locale. You can also hire experts overseas who you wouldn’t be able to afford locally.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing

Outsourcing vs insourcing has its risks, like not having as much control as with someone working in the office next to yours. Being virtual in nature most of the time, outsourcing is also associated with higher rates of data leaks. These can be avoided, however, with the proper protocols and safeties in place. 

For some businesses, like manufacturing operations overseas, the disadvantage is the great distance you must travel to do quality checks. But you can outsource even this, and we actually recommend it, especially when you don’t speak the language. For the most part, however, businesses hire VAs.

Differences between Insourcing and Outsourcing

Insourcing vs outsourcing is not all that different, but we’ll clarify a few vital distinctions here. For the areas that can be a problem for you, we know some workarounds. That way, you can ensure the greatest advantages and limit the disadvantages.

Types of activities that can be delegated

The main difference of outsourcing vs insourcing is simply what tasks you can’t do over the internet. Everything else can be outsourced to anywhere in the world with internet connections that are fast and stable enough. These days, we have so many online tools that were not available before, so it keeps getting easier. 

Scalability and flexibility

When you hire in-house, you generally need to sign contracts that guarantee employee benefits. This includes insurance, social security, and termination clauses. With online freelancers, you can hire and let go without any restrictions. You also do not need to pay benefits of any kind. They even pay for their own overhead! This means that outsourcing can cover your changing needs better than any in-house deal.

Quality Control Capabilities

Outsourcing has gained a reputation for instability. We think this is a matter of perspective and taking responsibility. 

In terms of worker instability, we like to call this flexibility. If you benefit from someone who will work whenever you want, you have to accept the caveat. They may not always be available because you can’t expect them to sit around waiting for you to call. However, you can always plan and book them in advance. Alternatively, you can look for someone else. The online pool is so great that you can find multiple people for most tasks quite easily.

When you talk about quality control, this is always the responsibility of the company. The leader must set the example and the expectations. Insourcing vs outsourcing is the same when it comes to checks and balances. It’s only the implementation that changes. For example, an in-office worker would get a visual inspection and an outsourced hire would have monitoring software installed. 

Cost for the company

Outsourcing is much more affordable than insourcing. Mainly, this is due to location. Hiring from less developed countries gives you an instant minimum wage advantage. When you hire from outsourcing companies or agencies, you can also get bulk discounts. This works great for bigger teams like corporate customer service. It also works for several individuals across different departments all hired from one company.

Knowledge sharing

Sharing information used to be difficult when working with overseas hires. Today, however, we use the internet even for in-house communications. This means that there’s hardly any difference. 

If you want to get detailed, you could say that clarifications are easier with in-house persons. Yes, but actually meeting face to face is usually unnecessary. We would further argue that the online tools we have today are more advanced than ever. This is mostly because of the outsourcing needs that pushed for innovation. With such advancements specifically geared towards online work, outsourcing starts looking like the better option, all other things being equal.

Security risks

The security of your data can be poor whether you have someone working next to you or across the oceans. It all boils down to the safeguards that you have in place on their devices. Of course, we have to admit that hiring overseas makes it harder for you to prosecute. It really doesn’t have to come to that, through, if you’re careful.

How to decide: Outsource vs Insource?

We’ve scattered some tips throughout, but here are some additional ones. 

Stage of company

When you’re just starting out, hiring a full staff complement may not be feasible. Even if you have the founding to do it, it’s not generally wise to do so. Hiring freelancers makes a lot better business sense because of the flexibility. As your business adjust and grows, the hiring strategies can flow along with the changes.

Speed of delivery

Hiring in-house tends to be a much longer process than outsourcing to a freelancer. The process of recruiting and doing up contracts alone can take months. Outsourcing gives you so many more people to choose from, and you can do everything online. This means you can find someone faster and get them working sooner. 

Industry standard requirements

If you need to meet certain industry standards or follow local laws, insourcing may be your best bet. Foreign individuals and companies, no matter their experience, may not know the local ins and outs. Sometimes you can find a company that specializes in the area you need work in, but it’s not common. 

Most often, hiring locally will give you the best chance of getting things done right. For example, you need a local lawyer because of government licensing requirements. You can hire an assistant overseas to help with paperwork, though. You also need a local accountant because they know the updated regulations that your business must comply with. Then you can hire a virtual bookkeeper to prepare the books and other documentation for them. This setup saves on time and money and increases quality.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

We hope that our explanation of the main insourcing vs outsourcing pros and cons helps you! If you need more help to determine which option is best for you, schedule a call! We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and assist on your hiring journey.

If you’re wondering how to create and implement your own effective outsourcing strategies, you’re in the right place. 

Outsourcing isn’t something exclusive to large businesses. Sure, larger companies can reap the benefits of outsourcing on a larger scale. However, outsourcing can be a valuable asset to even startups and small businesses. 

Below, we’ll go deeper into how to develop your outsourcing plan. 

What is Outsourcing?

This is the process of sourcing an individual or company outside your own to perform a task or take over a business function.

Types of Outsourcing Strategies

1. Offshoring

Offshoring outsourcing is hiring an international company or independent contractor to do work for you. Among the strategies of outsourcing, this is probably the most recognizable and most common. 

2. Nearshoring

Nearshoring outsourcing is similar to offshoring. The difference is that nearshoring is hiring a third-party from a country close to your base of operations to take over a duty. 

3. Onshoring

Onshore outsourcing, as you may have guessed, involves hiring a third party within your own country. This can be a company or freelancer within your own state or region or even within your own city. 

Advantages of Outsourcing

1. Cost Savings

Its cost-effectiveness is what leads many companies to begin constructing their outsourcing strategies. 

Here are three ways you save money through outsourcing:

• No employee benefits and overheads 
• Lower comparative rates from countries with lower costs of living 
• Cost of tools, software, education, and equipment 

2. Increased Efficiency

An outside team allows you and other team members to focus on other tasks. Often, the outsourced tasks are those that take a lot of time. Either that or they aren’t the most effective use of your skills. 

As a business owner, you should be focused on growing your business. You shouldn’t leave core business on the shelf for necessary yet lower priority processes. 

Also, developing your own in-house solutions can take a lot of resources. Ultimately, it would take a while before getting to a point where you can get fast results. This is where an outsourced team can be a worthwhile investment. Having worked with many companies, they have streamlined their operations. This allows you to do what you’re best at while they do the same.

3. Access to Specialized Expertise

With years of experience and expert driven processes, you can’t really go wrong. A third-party might have experience working with similar businesses as yours. This means they likely have the expertise to know what will work best for you and your company. As mentioned, they can do things efficiently without sacrificing a lot of quality. They typically have their own tried-and-true processes. They’ve tested and know which course of action will yield the best results. Knowing how to handle errors and find solutions to problems quickly is also an advantage.

Steps for Developing an Effective Outsourcing Strategy

1. Define Goals and Objectives

Before you even start canvassing for potential outsourcing opportunities, you should have a plan. As the old adage goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” It may be a cliché, but some clichés can be the best advice. 

So, what would an outsourcing plan look like?

The Big Goals

Well, for starters, you want to know what the endgame is. Identify what you hope to achieve by outsourcing. Often, this process involves pinpointing problem areas and evaluating your pain points. This “painpointing” allows you to first justify the need for outsourcing. Not only that, but it also provides a benchmark to monitor progress. 

Checkpoints 

If your goals are your main destination, then you can view objectives as milestones or checkpoints. It’s valuable to break down goals into smaller obtainables. For one, it makes the goals seem like less of a major undertaking. Another thing is it gives you a more concrete picture of the journey towards the finish line.

2. Identify the Right Partner and Negotiate Terms

Now is the time to begin your research journey. There are several ways you can find outsourcing partners. You can try freelance websites, agencies, social media, business networking sites, and recommendations from business friends. 

What should you look for when picking the right outsourcing partner? 

Reputation – How can you know that a person or business has the skills to back up their claims? One word – reviews. Reviews give you a glimpse into what your experience might be like looking for a partner. 

You can look at popular review sites like Trustpilot or Glassdoor. 

Experience – How many years have they been in business? How many companies have they worked with? Are they similar in size to your business? Have they worked with businesses in your industry?

Pricing – Flexible pricing plans mean you can scale together with them. You want someone who can cater to your needs without charging you a fee for services you won’t use. 

After you’ve chosen the correct partner, it’s time to.discuss the terms of the agreement. This involves questions such as: How long is the project for? How much are the rates? What are the payment terms? What are the exact roles and responsibilities of the job? 

3. Establish Clear Communication Protocols and Procedures

Communication is key. It’s another cliché that holds water. This can already be a struggle with teams who physically interact with each other on the daily. Imagine how much more difficult it can get with virtual partners. 

That’s why it’s important to have protocols in place for virtual meetings and remote teams. Setting up the proper comms channels early on is essential for you to succeed in your outsourcing strategies. 

You need to determine what platforms to use, how often to meet, and at what times. This is especially important if you are working in dramatically different time zones. 

Consider coming up with a communication SOPs (standard operating procedure) as well. These SOPs provide step-by-step instructions on who to communicate to, where to communicate, and how often. For some, this might seem excessive. To others, this can save a lot of hassle down the road.

4. Monitor Progress and Performance Regularly

The checkpoints we talked about earlier can help with progress reports. We can use checkpoints as the basis for “check-ins” with your outsourced team. 

When you hit a milestone or due date, these are great opportunities to touch base with your team. You can discuss the status of the project. Are things running on schedule? Were there any hiccups along the way? How is the outsourced team doing? Are there areas that the outsourced team thinks you can improve? 

These are good questions to be asking. Remember, just because they are an outsourced team, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned for them. Whether in-house or outsourced, maintaining good relations is never a bad idea or a waste of time. 

Best Practices for Outsourcing

1. Set Realistic Expectations

A lot of business relationships fall apart when you do not clearly define roles and responsibilities.. These provide a framework for your partnership. 

This involves

• Listing the tasks needed accomplished
• The level of skill and experience required
• Education requirements
• Specialized knowledge needed for tools and software  

Clearly communicating the job description is so crucial. This sets up expectations for your partnership moving forward. 

Outsourcing companies can make all the promises they want. It is still your due diligence to research people and teams who you believe fit your needs the best. 

All your strategies for outsourcing will benefit greatly from you taking initiative and responsibility early on. 

2. Establish Performance Metrics

This process includes creating and setting up KPIs or Key Performance Indicators. These are measurable targets to aim for during your operations. 

These can be customer satisfaction, gross and net margins, customer lifetime value, and much more.

The KPIs you set up ultimately depend on your goals and objectives. 

3. Maintain Transparency

First, you need to know your needs. Second, you need to be open and honest about your needs. If you don’t communicate these effectively to your outsourcing partner, they won’t be able to help you. 

This includes letting them in on any mistakes you’ve made. Some people have this notion that by revealing the flaws in their business, they compromise themselves. You compromise yourself by not addressing a flawed process or system that you have in place. 

If you don’t know what your needs exactly are, that’s not something to be ashamed of! Some outsourcing solutions provide guidance if you need it. You simply need to communicate clearly with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of work is commonly outsourced?

According to Blackbear’s top outsourced services, the list includes:

• SEO
• Social Media
• IT
• Data Security
• Marketing
• HR
• Customer Service 

We also have a list of 101 tasks you can outsource to a virtual assistant. 

What are the disadvantages of outsourcing?

• Lack of control
• Data security risks
• Miscommunication 
• Time zone challenges 
• Cultural challenges

How do I reduce the risks of outsourcing?

• Set clear goals and expectations.
• Do extensive research.
• Hire from a reputable marketplace/ hire a reputable agency.
• Establish clear communication channels as early as possible.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Our goal with this post is not only to help you get started but be successful. Outsourcing strategies can come in many shapes and sizes. This is one that we’ve seen work most often, and we hope it works out for you too!

Have you ever worked with a copywriting virtual assistant? You’ve probably heard of hiring a copywriter. But a virtual assistant who can handle copywriting – probably not. 

Though the really skilled ones can be rare, they do exist! And when you find one, here’s a list of 15 tasks you can pass over to them. This way, you can get quality help and save your own precious time.

1. Writing compelling sales copy for product descriptions or landing pages

Writing good sales copy that gets results requires finesse. This task also requires some understanding of A/B testing and data analytics. You may know your products well, but don’t really want to spend all that time tweaking campaigns. Maybe you’re already working with a sales virtual assistant. That’s perfectly fine! Just make sure you introduce the copywriter to them so they can work together and not end up clashing.

2. Crafting engaging blog posts or articles on specific topics

Blog posts and articles aren’t technically copy as the marketing world understands it. However, you still want these longer form content types to be attractive to customers. Blog posts and articles aren’t just for providing free information, after all. You want content that can pull readers in to make more sales.

3. Creating attention-grabbing headlines and subheadings

This is a great example of what I mentioned above. These parts of blog posts and articles can use the practiced touch of a copywriting virtual assistant. Of course, headlines and subheadings apply to other types of content, too. They are used in product descriptions, social media posts, landing pages, and almost every kind of text content.

4. Proofreading and editing content for grammar, spelling, and readability

A top tier copywriting virtual assistant will be able to help you get every piece of content just right. With better skills and more experience, they can proof all your text content and tweak it to perfection. This way, you can capture your intended audience and make sure they aren’t turned off by glaring errors or even phrases that feel slightly off.

5. Conducting keyword research for SEO optimization

An SEO copywriting virtual assistant is the rarest of these rare gems. A good SEO virtual assistant who won’t ask you for the moon as payment is already quite challenging to find! But again, they are out there if you know where to look. With this treasure, you can get quality keyword research and the actual copy itself done seamlessly. We cannot stress enough how valuable this is! Smoothly integrating keywords researched by someone else into finished copy is not as easy as it sounds.

6. Writing persuasive email newsletters or campaigns

Persuasive writing is what copywriters do best. However, there’s additional skill involved in creating newsletter content and email campaigns. Email is one of the most underrated marketing tools that businesses have at their disposal. Getting your email marketing done right can boost your business quickly and sustainably over the long term.

7. Developing scripts for video or audio content

For this task, make sure you advertise for a copywriting virtual assistant who specializes in video or audio content. Script writing is not the same as composing an email, laying out a complete product description, or putting together a compelling call-out on social media. The right copywriter for this job will have experience plus more creative writing talent than your average copywriting marketer.

8. Creating social media posts and captions that resonate with the target audience

Social media is its own animal, and we all know that each platform has its own culture. Writing social media posts and captions that grab these varied audiences requires experience. Hire someone who has been on the different channels you need for a while and knows their lingo. 

9. Crafting compelling product or service descriptions for e-commerce platforms

Like product descriptions on website landing pages, eCommerce platforms require a specific type of copy to be effective. A virtual assistant who knows the platforms you’re on and what their customers like can be a valuable asset.

10. Writing case studies or success stories to showcase business achievements

Case studies are another highly specialized area of copywriting. Success stories can also be challenging to write, especially for niche businesses. You definitely need a good copywriting virtual assistant to capture the essence of your value as a company and communicate to potential customers the value that they can expect to enjoy from your products or services. 

11. Creating persuasive copy for advertisements or promotional materials

As mentioned above, persuasive writing is right in every copywriter’s wheelhouse. However, advertising is a highly specialized field. If you have a writer who isn’t well-versed in ad copy or how to do successful promotions, you might not see much success. Hire a copywriting virtual assistant to create ads that not only draw clicks but sell more product.

12. Conducting market research to identify target audience pain points and preferences

Market research is not the most glamorous of marketing tasks. It can get really tedious! However, a copywriting virtual assistant can help you, and they can actually do it better than a researcher can. This is because they know what details about your targets are vital to create successful copy – like consumer pain points and preferences.

13. Writing persuasive call-to-action (CTA) statements for various marketing channels

If you’ve ever struggled with composing the perfect call to action, you’re not alone! Most business owners can relate to the experience. Let’s be honest – we’ve all thought at some point that it can’t be that hard, then tried and failed to write something that didn’t smell like grandpa’s favorite cheese. Don’t sweat it. We all have our weaknesses! Hire a copywriting virtual assistant and keep your peace.

14. Crafting engaging website content that captures visitors’ attention

Apart from blog posts, articles, and landing page copy, our websites all need text for each of their other pages. A copywriting virtual assistant knows what else can be added to these pages to avoid redundancy and make the best use of the prime internet real estate.

15. Creating content calendars and planning content strategies for blogs or social media platforms

When you’re running campaigns, you cannot do without content calendars that reflect well thought out strategies! And who better to set all this up than the one who knows how to implement it all? You got it, your all-star copywriting virtual assistant can come to the rescue once again. But don’t forget, these VAs have unusual skill levels, so you need to be prepared to pay higher than average rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications and skills should I look for in a copywriting virtual assistant?

The realm of copywriting is vast. The copywriting virtual assistant you hire should have the qualifications and skills that you need specifically to fulfill the task that you need help with. Use the above examples as inspiration, and be specific in your job post so you can attract the right one.

What tools and software should a copywriting virtual assistant be familiar with?

Again, this can depend on the specific tasks you are hiring for. For example, WordPress, if that’s where your website is hosted that they are writing landing page copy for. Or, Amazon, if they are composing product descriptions for products you sell on that marketplace. However, most copywriters will have a go-to writing tool that they know well, such as ProWritingAid.

Can a copywriting virtual assistant work on a project basis or only on an ongoing basis?

Yes, like most VAs out there, a copywriting virtual assistant can definitely work based on the terms that suit you best. You just need to know what you prefer and find the one who is willing to meet those expectations. Some can even accept either project-based, short-term, or even long-term commitments. 

How do I effectively communicate and collaborate with a copywriting virtual assistant?

Make sure that you have set clear expectations with the person you hire. First, they need to know how you want them to report to you. For example, do you want daily updates? Where they can reach you, and when? Second, give them clear instructions on what you want done and the results you expect. Set clear deadlines as well. 

Effective communication is vital, and we at Outsource School can help if you struggle in this area – just book a call and we’ll get a meeting set up shortly!

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Copywriting is not a simple task. This job involves a lot more than simply throwing a bunch of phrases together, loading them up with keywords, and adding in some sophisticated- sounding words. Copywriting is a delicate process that balances the science of marketing and the art of creative writing.

So, how exactly can you get a copywriting virtual assistant – the perfect combination of rare expertise and affordable help? Set up a call with us and we’ll help you find one of these absolute gems!

We think that outsourcing to the Philippines is the best option for small businesses. And that’s not just from a bunch of research that we’ve done here at Outsource School. In fact, it’s the result of many years of experience actually outsourcing to the Philippines! Outsource School founders Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan hired their first virtual assistant in the Philippines when they were in college. 

In this post, we’ll run through all the reasons their experience has taught them why your small business needs to hire from the Philippines.

1.  Skilled Workforce

The Philippines boasts of a highly skilled workforce. The country is home to so many skilled people ready to work that many of them won’t find appropriate employment locally. The lack of jobs to suit their skill levels is one reason why many Filipinos have sourced work elsewhere for decades. When you decide to try outsourcing to the Philippines, you’ll find many individuals ready and willing to give you their best. You can find almost any range of skills that you might need, including graphic design, content writing, app programming, website development, IT support, marketing, customer service, and project management. 

2.  English Proficiency

The Philippines has a literacy rate of 96-98% (the numbers vary by source). This is not just the native languages and dialects, but includes English. English is actually the official language of government, the medium of instruction as mandated by law, and the primary language of commerce. The country ranks 2nd in Asia behind Singapore in English proficiency. Although fluency levels do vary, the general familiarity with English makes working with Filipinos much easier.

3.  Cultural Compatibility

Filipinos have been working in other countries and working with foreign businesses for several decades. This has helped them to be one of the most culturally adaptable peoples on the face of the earth. Filipinos in general are already quite easy going. So, this adaptability makes them just that much more well suited for work with other nationalities. If you have a multi-cultural team, Filipinos will blend in nicely.

4.  Cost Savings

The cost of living in the Philippines is much lower than in western countries. This immediately makes outsourcing to the Philippines a money-saving option. When you add in the high-quality workforce, ease of communication, and cultural comfort, it’s a winning deal. But the cost savings don’t end there. When you hire overseas, you eliminate the need to provide and pay for many things that are required for in-house hires. These include office space, furniture, equipment, electricity, benefits, etc. This makes outsourcing much more efficient.

5.  Quality of Work

More than the skills that they bring to the table, Filipinos are generally known worldwide as hard workers. As long as you set clear expectations, pay them reasonable rates, and treat them with respect, you are almost guaranteed quality work. Filipinos do not, on average, have that feeling of entitlement that can be so prevalent in today’s workforce. 

6.  24/7 Operations

One of our favorite benefits of outsourcing to the Philippines is the ability to extend operating hours. While asleep in the US, you can have a team working happily on the other side of the world. This is so valuable for eCommerce businesses especially, which technically never close. We all know that providing amazing customer service is the standard that today’s shoppers expect. Giving them the ability to not only shop with you anytime but also get their questions answered whenever they please is a real reputation booster.

7.  Excellent Work Ethic

Filipinos know the value of work. They also bend toward commitment and dedication when treated well. It’s part of their culture to want to form bonds and maintain relationships. A Filipino who prefers a transactional work vibe is rare! This stems mostly from their strong sense of family values. This contributes to their success at work because they are highly motivated to provide well for their families. They don’t shy away from long hours or a learning curve when they know the job ensures that their loved ones will be taken care of. 

8.  Low Initial Investment

Outsourcing to the Philippines does not necessarily require any initial investment whatsoever. If you’re hiring freelancers through online marketplaces or Filipino virtual assistant companies, you can find some that do not ask for any fees upfront. This means that you can search for, interview, hire and get started with a freelancer with no money down. All you need to put in is time. Simply figure out what you need, put together a job description to attract the right candidates, and go through the selection process. With most marketplaces and even some agencies, you pay when the work is done.

9.  Improved Productivity

You can bring a higher productivity rate to your business by outsourcing. A lot of this has to do with having people who are able to work around the clock, without paying exorbitant night differentials. When you can speed up your delivery cycle with reduced times for process development, you can serve more customers and make more money. 

10.  Improved Work-Life Balance

Filipinos have a good understanding of work-life balance, so they usually perform well over time. As long as you manage them properly, you will always have a happy team ready to give you their best on the job. Because they value family so highly, you may have to give them a bit more flexibility than you’re used to. This is usually in terms of taking hours or days off here and there. Still, outsourcing to the Philippines is a great choice because Filipinos know how to give grace for grace. They will make up for missed work with gratitude, and build loyalty towards you for being understanding. They also do not usually insist on keeping all the local holidays and will gladly work overtime to help you out in a pinch.

11.  Access to Larger Talent Pool

The number of young people far outnumbers the numbers of elderly and children. These are people in the workforce or nearly ready to enter it. Moreover, colleges and universities in the Philippines graduate more than half a million students every year. That makes for a very large pool of qualified workers. 

12.  Scalability

Outsourcing opens you up to a pool of freelancers. This means you can hire someone for an hour, a day, a week – however long you need them. You don’t need to make any commitments like you would when hiring an employee. This really takes the pressure off, financially in particular. You can get help when your business needs an extra set of hands, and release them when peak season is over. 

13.  Saves You Time

Outsourcing to the Philippines saves you time primarily because you can get what you need almost immediately. When you work with experienced marketplaces and agencies, they can get you up and running within the day in some cases. You can also outsource almost any task you can think of that doesn’t require a physical presence. Because you pay much lower rates than you would locally, you can outsource more. This means you can pass of almost every task that you don’t need to be doing as the business owner. 

14.  Flexibility

Because you’re not hiring based on long-term contracts with severance packages on the line, you can be flexible. You can try out a lot of things that you would normally be afraid to risk. If they don’t work out, there’s no mess to clean up in terms of HR. You can move hiring resources around as needed and form longer-term teams only when and where it makes the most sense.

15.  Good Attitude

Another of our favorite benefits of outsourcing to the Philippines is the cheeriness of the people, even in the face of adversity. Rarely will you find a melancholy Filipino. It’s almost a cultural taboo to frown! The positive attitude and friendly demeanor of the Filipino is even contagious. If you have a bunch of Filipinos on your team, you can actually see other team members start to act happier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of services can I outsource to the Philippines?

You can outsource almost any type of service to Filipinos. As long as they can do it online, you can find someone qualified to get it done right.

How can I ensure data security and confidentiality when outsourcing?

When outsourcing anywhere, setting up digital safeties on your end is always recommended. With data being accessed over the internet, you are vulnerable to a number of cyberattacks. In terms of freelancer security, make sure that you are giving access only as needed and that you retain administrative control. Setting up monitoring is also vital to ensuring data security and confidentiality.

Is it possible to have real-time collaboration with teams in the Philippines due to time zone differences?

Absolutely! Freelancers in the Philippines are used to working with companies in different time zones. They understand the nature of the work and are always willing to find time to meet during client business hours. 

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Outsourcing to the Philippines can be the best decision you ever make for your business. We have lived this and recommend it to you because we know it’s true! Try it for yourself today at little to no risk and see how much it can boost your business.

Did you know that you could reap the benefits of outsourcing to India, even if your business is small? In fact, most smaller businesses these days are taking advantage of outsourcing software development to India, along with many other tasks. 

In this post, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of SEO, customer service, software outsourcing to India, and more. We’ll also look into how businesses normally take advantage of outsourcing to India. Finally, you’ll catch a glimpse into how to outsource work to India once you’re ready to give it a try.

Benefits of Outsourcing to India

You may be asking, “Why outsource to India in the first place?” Well, the benefits of outsourcing to India include several major factors, which we’ll go over here. 

Cost Savings

The first of the major advantages of outsourcing to India is cost savings. It will cost you a lot less when you’re outsourcing customer service to India, for example. If you hire from the US, Canada, UK, or other western country, you can easily pay double or triple for the same work. Because India’s economy is different, your dollar will go further than it would at home. As long as you’re still paying decent wages, you should be able to get the quality services that you and your customers deserve.

Access to Skilled Talent

Let’s say you wanted to try outsourcing SEO to India because of the cost savings. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that many Indians are highly technologically savvy. By this logic, outsourcing web development or software development to India is a good idea as well. If you were to ask other businesses out there, you would probably find that most have had at least one Indian involved at some stage in their project. 

Time Zone Advantages

Hiring from a country that’s several hours ahead may not sound like an advantage at all. However, we think it’s another of the best benefits of outsourcing to India. While you’re still cozy in bed, an Indian team can be hard at work on your app or website. This way, you can immediately have a look at their progress. Then, you still have time to give further instructions for them to do before their workday ends. If you’re outsourcing customer service to India, the time difference means that you can have people taking care of your customers while you sleep. And you’re not even paying the usual night differential!

Technology Infrastructure

India is one of the few countries in the world that have massive technology infrastructure for serving overseas industries. India is known for tech savvy, exposure to western culture and the English language, and low cost of living. Because of this, they are one of the BPO giants. BPO stands for Business Process Outsourcing, which is an industry centered on helping other countries with outsourcing and offshoring to India. It’s a huge industry because businesses always look for ways to save on costs while getting the same quality output. 

Challenges of Outsourcing to India

Outsourcing to India is not all rainbows and roses. Every option out there is going to have some caveats. You need to be aware of these pitfalls, but don’t let them scare you away from outsourcing to India.

Cultural and Communication Barriers

India does have a lot of contact with the western world. However, this does not guarantee an absolute match in terms of culture. It also does not mean that every individual you come across will speak English the way you expect. 

Many will say that they speak English fluently. That means, however, that they speak well according to their standards. It’s a different variety of English, just like British English differs from American English in vocabulary and accent, and even grammar. Maybe their teachers – also not speakers of your native variety of English – told them they speak very well. They are likely not aware that people in other countries can’t understand them or don’t hold the same values and norms as they do.

One thing that warrants its own paragraph here is a warning about Indian holidays. Make sure that you ask anyone you hire about the holidays that they observe because Hindus and Buddhists especially have some very lengthy holidays that the west isn’t accustomed to.

Lack of Privacy and Security Laws

Every country has its own rules and regulations. Outsourcing to India means managing your expectations in terms of what laws they must abide by. When it comes to Asia, you need to know that the law tends to be less advanced in the areas of technology. This means that you need to cover your bases more thoroughly than you would if you were hiring locally. We recommend consulting a lawyer who is well-versed in the privacy and security laws that will affect you.

Unforeseen Expenses

Hiring overseas will always come with the risk of unforeseen expenses. You won’t be able to control the work environment, for instance, because it’s not your office. You won’t always know what might pop up for an overseas hire, either. However, you can easily reduce these risks by going over the details of the job and setting clear expectations. 

Take note of any instances when a hire doesn’t comply. Take steps immediately to ensure higher compliance next time around. Still, they may simply not meet your expectations, or don’t seem to be trying to. In this case, be prepared to safely stop work at a reasonable point in the project and let them go. If you have the proper milestones set up, you should have zero problems hiring someone else to pick up where they left off.

Types of Services Commonly Outsourced to India

You can outsource a lot of different tasks to India. We don’t want you to think that there is a limit on what you can hire for there. These are just a handful of the most common outsourcing examples. 

Software Development

Outsourcing software development to India is probably the most well-known of all. Getting software built from scratch can be super expensive. This is the main reason why India is a go-to option, since they can do the work just as well as developers from the other side of the world.

Mobile App Development

Software outsourcing to India isn’t just desktop stuff. These days, a lot of companies are getting their own apps made. This is because just about everyone has a smartphone, and prefer to use it. More than this, companies can target more users with mobile apps because people are on their phones loads more than they are on computers. If you want an app built without getting into debt, consider outsourcing to India.

Digital Marketing

Outsourcing SEO to India is another really common one. SEO is really technical, and India has a long history of focusing on technical skills. It takes a special mind and special training to understand SEO at a high level. When your business is at stake, you want to hire only the best optimizers to get you quality hits to make bank.

Back Office Services

We highly recommend to all our clients that they pass off administrative type tasks as quickly as possible. These tasks are tedious and time-consuming – not the type of stuff a business owner should be handling. These tasks usually don’t require a ton of skills, but it’s always good to hire someone who understands all the tech that you use for business operations so they can do their job well.

Customer Support Services

A lot of businesses shy away from outsourcing customer service to India. They prefer to go with the Philippines or Latin countries because the accents are easier to understand. However, you can find a number of Indians who actually have very clean English – you just have to be willing to pay more than a few dollars per hour! It will still be totally worth it. In addition, accents have nothing to do with grammar, so if you need some non-voice talent, there’s nothing stopping you from outsourcing to India.

Alternative for Outsourcing

Outsourcing to India is not your only option! You can outsource to many different countries all over the world. You can actually hire anyone these days who has the ability to work online. We have a favorite, however, which is the Philippines! Our whole team, actually, almost exclusively consists of freelancers we’ve hired from the Philippines.

The reason why we so highly recommend hiring from the Philippines is because they have the best scores in the areas we mentioned above. The costs of hiring in the Philippines are comparable to those in India. Sometimes, they can be higher, but this is because you get better quality. 

The time zone advantages are the same, and most Filipino freelancers are actually willing to work odd hours. They are very accommodating – it’s part of their laid-back culture! – so you can quite easily come to an agreement on hours. The BPO industry in the Philippines is also booming, so they have the experience and the infrastructure to support outsourcing. One of the things we love the most is that Filipinos speak English much better overall than the rest of Asia. Although some may have some accent and grammar issues, it’s not hard to understand them, comparatively. You will still need to look into privacy and security laws and set clear expectations to avoid unforeseen expenses. But you should be doing this with any hire, anyway!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I save by outsourcing to India?

The amount that you can save by outsourcing to India versus hiring locally depends on the task you are hiring for. As mentioned above, you can expect to save up to 70% for the most part. This takes into consideration salaries and benefits, overhead, and equipment. If you require special software and are paying lower hourly rates, most freelancers will not agree to pay for the software.

What are the risks associated with outsourcing to India?

Outsourcing to anyone is risky because you have a lower level of control. You do not work in the same space, and cannot supervise them closely. When you outsource overseas, this level of control drops further. You can manage these risks quite well, though, if you set up the right checks and balances and keep a close eye on operations – or hire someone to do that for you!

How do I ensure data security and confidentiality when outsourcing to India?

For the most part, limiting access to data is the best way to ensure data security and confidentiality across the board. Always keep backups, and set up safeguards so you are always in control of your data. This is especially important for financial data. Scammers are everywhere! The only reason why we all worry about getting scammed overseas is because it’s much harder to prosecute an overseas scammer. Moreover, the reason why countries like India, China and Russia have a bad reputation when it comes to scams is because of numbers – there are many more Indians, Chinese and Russians in the world than other nationalities. 

What are the cultural differences that I need to consider when outsourcing to India?

One major hurdle for many western businesses when hiring Indians is the expectation of advancement. The Indian mindset is hierarchical because their society is hierarchical. An Indian hire can quickly lost motivation if not given opportunities for advancement. If you have a flatter operating structure, you may want to adjust for your Indian team to keep them performing well. 

To meet their aspirational goals, you will need to develop performance metrics to apply to them that unlock benefits. For example, if they finish a project faster without a lot of bugs, they get a bonus. If they fix bugs before the set deadline, you give them a nice review to post on different sites where they get work. Commendation within the company is also a good way to motivate people who love knowing that they can climb the ranks and hate feeling like they are commodities.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

 

Conclusion

After weighing the drawbacks and benefits of outsourcing to India, you may still feel uncomfortable pulling the trigger. We understand how making that first overseas hire can be daunting. However, we are confident that if you know how to outsource work to India, you’ll be totally fine. It’s really about hope much attention you pay in the early stages, as you prepare to get an overseas hire ready to start working. If you need help in this area, we are, of course, available to you. Just book a call and we’ll get together to see how we can be of assistance.