Running a business can be extremely rewarding, but for as rewarding as it is, it can be equally as stressful. You don’t realize just how much there is to do until you’re in the thick of it, and before you know it, you’re getting four hours of sleep and working 18 hours a day.
That’s not healthy for anyone.
If you run a business and you’re ready to take back control of your time, your mental health, and your sleep, consider reducing your workload by outsourcing these areas.
Shipping and Logistics
If you offer a product, one of the easiest ways to save a little time is to hire someone to do all the shipping and logistics for you.
You have many shipping options, so it’s important to understand them inside and out. For example, understanding the differences between 3PL and 4PL will enable you to choose whether you want to retain control of communication with your suppliers, or if you want your logistics company to communicate inventory needs with your supplier on your behalf.
A shipping and logistics partnership can enable you to save time in a multitude of ways because they offer many services that you might not expect, including shipment tracking, returns, and fba prep services.
Technology
No matter what kind of business you operate, it all depends on technology. When you first get started, you may do everything yourself, but before you know it, you’ve got a website to operate, an app to design, and internet systems that need to be maintained. Save yourself the time and headache of dealing with it all yourself by hiring a professional instead.
Hiring IT support comes with many benefits. You’ll definitely increase security when you rely on people who know the latest security challenges and how to overcome them. You’ll get a more functional website, a more usable app, and you won’t have to worry about your systems going down or losing important information.
Administrative Tasks
Just because something isn’t complex or doesn’t require specialized knowledge doesn’t automatically mean you should have to do it. Administrative tasks are a good example.
It’s frustrating for business leaders to spend their day rearranging desks or scheduling appointments when there are more important things to do. Outsource some of these tasks to get your time back.
Administrative tasks that can be outsourced immediately include:
- Appointments and reservations
- Answering your phone
- Personal tasks, like dry cleaning drop-off
- Research and presentation preparation
Don’t think that automatically means you have to hire a secretary that works at the front of your office. Virtual assistants are more popular than ever, and they can do many of the things a traditional assistant can do, like make appointments and research background info for an important presentation.
Marketing
If you want your business to succeed, people have to know that it exists! If you’re spending your days developing products or providing services, you probably don’t have a lot of time to devote to marketing. Instead of doing it at night or in your free time, hire someone else to do it for you.
You’ll get the most bang for your buck with a digital marketer. They can provide your business with many benefits, and they can work on a wide variety of projects that include:
- Social media campaigns
- Online advertising
- Email newsletters
- Influencer marketing
- And much more
Digital marketing professionals also know how to ensure your marketing is successful. They understand the latest SEO techniques and what will cause a customer to convert.
Don’t Outsource Customer Service
When it comes to outsourcing, many businesses hand over customer service. It’s true that it might save you time and money, but it’s the worst mistake you can make.
The quality of the customer service you offer is directly related to the success of your business. Customer service representatives that are only trained for a few weeks and know next to nothing about your particular business will never be able to compare to an actual person at your business who has insider knowledge about your products and the way you operate. It’s well worth the extra time and money it takes to keep your customer service in-house.
If you feel overwhelmed with the number of tasks you have to complete each day, consider giving someone else those things to do. By outsourcing the areas of your business you’re comfortable leaving in someone else’s hands, you can reduce your workload and focus on other areas of your business.