6 Tech-Related Business Tasks That Are Best for Outsourcing
Outsourcing some business tasks is a great way for business owner to focus on different things, and not have to do everything themselves.
As a start-up, you may not have the financial muscle to create a self-sufficient IT department with professionals in all IT-related fields. But, even if you are an established company with a sound financial base, it's prudent to outsource some IT-related tasks to cut operational costs. Whether you are a start-up or an established business, the coworking experts at Croissant have some suggestions on IT-related services you should consider outsourcing.
1. Business Formation
Whether it's a sole proprietor, partnership, or a limited liability company, how you form your business will determine how you pay taxes, your liability, and other critical business aspects. As you can see, forming a new business involves a lot of legal issues and paperwork. If you’re wondering how to start an LLC in your state, an online formation service can help you get everything set up and provide you with all the documents you need.
If you’re looking for office space to use while you establish your business, use Croissant to find available coworking spaces in your area. These spaces can also be a great way to network with other local entrepreneurs.
2. Web Design/Development
Web design is a one-off activity that doesn't warrant permanent staff. For this reason, it's best to outsource this service to a competent company that can design the website and let your IT department manage it. Even though content management systems like Wordpress, Squarespace, and Wix offer free web creation tools to create a functional website, unfortunately, such services don't allow much customization.
If you have some technical and design skills and choose to build your website yourself, look for online resources that can help you through tough spots. You can always search for the specific problem you’re encountering, but it’s a good idea to queue up some reputable sources that cover common coding problems. Because it’s likely that if you’re asking a particular question, other people in your situation have asked it, too.
3. Social Media Management
Social media is a vast marketplace that no serious business can ignore. The advantage of advertising on social media is that it is free and can reach millions of people globally. The starting point is to create your business profile on all social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.
For your social media marketing endeavors to be effective, you'll have to be active on all your social media accounts all the time. This is the only way to engage your potential customers and address their needs. The task of engaging people on social media is quite overwhelming, which is why you need to hire a socially savvy and experienced social media manager.
The individual or company you hire should be conversant with SEM, SEO, and other digital marketing techniques. Outsourcing your social and digital strategy to a well-qualified freelancer or digital marketing company is the surest way to stay ahead of your competitors.
4. IT Services
When you partner with a managed IT services provider, you'll free some time for your internal IT department to concentrate more on their core functions. Your in-house IT team may come in handy when you need some basic on-site help but may be limited in its specialized IT knowledge.
When a problem arises that your internal team can't handle, you have to call a specialist who may take hours or days to come, depending on how busy they are. This can lead to downtime and the loss of clients. The best way around this is to outsource your IT services, so you have a team that ensures your IT system runs smoothly 24/7.
5. Software/App Development
Many people find it easier to use apps than to rely on websites. That's why, as your business grows, you may need to develop a customer-facing app or a customized application. Your staff may not have a professional app developer, meaning you'll have to outsource this service. A specialist will develop a new app from scratch or advise you on an existing app that can satisfy your business needs.
6. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity requires specialized training, meaning your in-house staff may not know how to protect your IT system. In addition, cybersecurity is too critical, too complex, and too large to handle on your own. This is because hackers are working around the clock to find new ways of accessing customer information from companies. If your IT system gets hacked and your customer's personal information is leaked, you may suffer insurmountable legal and financial consequences.
Consider Outsourcing Key Tasks
If you've never thought about outsourcing, you've been missing a lot. But it's never too late. You can meet with your IT staff today and decide which IT-related services you can start outsourcing right away from the above list. Outsourcing saves money and time while at the same time increasing efficiency.
Whether you’re a freelancer or a busy professional in need of a quiet workspace, you can use Croissant to find available coworking spaces in your area.