What to Outsource When You’re Building an Online Business on Your Own
On your own, building an online business can sometimes feel like doing the work of five different people at once.
One day you’re writing content. The next you’re trying to design graphics, fix your website, edit a video, set up an email sequence, research a new tool, or promote and monetize the business.
All of this takes discipline, organization, and commitment. You want to establish your own standard and keep control over everything. However, there comes a point when trying to do everything yourself becomes inefficient, time-consuming, and overwhelming. What can you do?
The answer isn’t necessarily to build a physical team or spend a fortune to get the help you need. It is about working smarter by getting support for specific tasks that aren’t the best use of your time. That is where strategic outsourcing becomes useful.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything Yourself
Doing things yourself as a digital entrepreneur has an obvious advantage, especially when you’re starting out. By writing your own content, you get a better understanding of your audience. Creating your first product teaches you about the process. Building your first landing page gives you a clear view of how your business works.
Nevertheless, learning and doing everything are two different things, especially as the business grows. For example, a task might take you hours or days to complete simply because you are still learning how to do it, while someone with specialized experience can finish it much faster.
Still, that doesn’t automatically mean you should outsource the task. Ask yourself the following question:
Is doing this task myself actually helping me build the business, or is it simply keeping me busy and preventing me from completing other important or urgent tasks?
Keep the following issues in focus as they may apply you, and in the context of building an online business:
Spending too much time on low-value tasks
For example, you could find yourself spending hours adjusting a graphic, maybe formatting a document, troubleshooting a technical problem, or editing a video when you could be attending to core priorities.
Constantly learning new skills
Even if you already proficient in some areas, there is always another skill to learn – graphic design, video editing, SEO, copywriting, website development, automation, research, social media management, etc. Learning is vital, but trying to become proficient at everything could slow you down.
Taking too long to complete projects
A simple project can drag on for weeks or months – or never get done at all – because you’re learning the skill, while simultaneously trying to execute the work.
Fragmented attention
One of your biggest problems isn’t time, as you may think; it’s attention. Every additional task competes with the things that can actually move your business forward.
What Can You Outsource?
Once you are clear about what you want to continue doing yourself, it becomes easier to identify tasks that someone else can handle. Eventually, you may need assistance in areas such as:
• Content: Proofreading, editing, transcription, content formatting, video editing, and research assistance.
• Design: eBook covers, social media graphics, presentation design, YouTube thumbnails, lead-magnet design, and simple branding materials.
• Technical Tasks: Website fixes, specialized development, integrations, automation setup, troubleshooting, and technical configuration.
• Administrative Work: Data entry, research, spreadsheet organization, file organization, and routine administrative work.
The key is not to create a massive outsourcing list. Start with one problem that is clearly slowing you down.
Finding Support
If you need a specific skill for a particular project, a freelance marketplace can be a great way to find someone who can help.
Fiverr is one of the best examples. Its marketplace includes services covering writing, design, programming, video, marketing, and other business-related tasks, making it useful when you need specialized assistance with a particular job.
• Example 1: Imagine you’ve created a useful digital guide but aren’t comfortable designing the cover. Instead of spending hours or days learning professional design software, you can look for a freelancer with experience creating digital-product covers.
• Example 2: Perhaps you’ve recorded several videos but don’t have enough time to edit them. Rather than letting them sit on your hard drive, you can hire an editor for that specific task.
A Simple Outsourcing Decision Framework
- Do I need specialized knowledge? If the task requires a skill you don’t have and probably won’t use regularly, it makes sense to get outside assistance.
- How long would it take me? Consider both the actual execution time and the time required to learn how to do it.
- Could I use that time more productively? Your time is often better spent creating content, developing offers, talking to customers, or improving your business strategy.
- Can I afford it? Outsourcing should solve a business problem without creating a financial one.
How to Work With a Freelancer
Proper outsourcing begins with a clear brief. Before hiring someone, you could provide the following:
• The objective: What are you trying to accomplish?
• The deliverables: What exactly should you receive?
• Examples: Is there an existing design, article, or style that demonstrates what you want?
• Requirements: What must be included or avoided?
• Deadline: When do you need the work completed?
• Revision expectations: How changes or feedback will be handled.
The clearer the project scope, the smoother the collaboration will be for both sides.
The Goal Is Leverage, Not Avoiding Work
Although you want to maintain control and high standards, a successful online business doesn’t require you to become an expert at everything. However, you need to know enough to make good decisions, understand your customers, and manage the direction of the business.
Beyond that, you can gradually decide which tasks are worth learning, automating, or outsourcing. Think of your time as your most valuable business resource. Use it where your knowledge, creativity, and decisions make the greatest difference.
If you’ve identified a specialized task that would be better to outsource, explore freelance services on Fiverr.
Also read: From Idea to Online Business: The Basic Systems You Need to Get Started.
