When Does Outsourcing Stop Sucking?

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CorrectAD

CorrectAD

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I'm not good at graphic design.

I don't like programming anymore.

Articles and other content? Ya, mine blow goats.


So, how do I work around those stumbling blocks? I outsource.

Problem is, every time I outsource, I feel like I'm getting roaylly FUCKED by the provider.

I check portfolios. I read their examples. I look into references.

But it seems like every single time I put my money and time on the line for a fucking provider, the results leave me with a massive case of BLUEBALL!


Basically, it typically seems like my outsourcers are... outsourcing!


For those of you finding success with using these types of services:

1. Graphic/Web Design

2. Content Development

3. Programming


What would you say was your turning point in not getting sub-par service?
 


My biggest beef has been with article writers. I dont mean to bash Indians and people from the Middle East but if you are advertising your ENGLISH content writing services, at least have proper grammer....

My turning point was when I refused to a pay a writer for 10 articles that would have required me to almost completely rewrite them myself to fix grammatical errors...I told him I wasnt going to pay unless these got fixed, to my expectation, quick...

Mysteriously, he had them back to me, the next day with just about perfect English, for the sake of my site I ran them through Copyscape and they came up clean...

At this point, thats the way I do it, I dont pay up front, I check the product first, if 1 fucking thing is out of order, I deny payment until its too my standard, im the customer, im paying for the product and the product better fucking be what I wanted..
 
For article writing, see if you can get their samples, or see if there's any live links of their work.

If you're really skittish about design, see if you can pay for a spec'd mockup first, without putting all your money down on a design that won't deliver.

I'm not sure what to say about programming. Have you tried guru or elancer?
 
I've used ALL the outsourcing contract sites, so I know HOW to outsource.... it's just getting the fucking project done MY way that seems so elusive.

Holding out on the money is fine, but a lot of times, it's the time I waste WAITING that sucks the most, and a reason why I usually just say fuck it and spend the money for an at least USABLE product.

That's why I want to know what someone like Jon does/says/pays to get an outsourced job done right the first time.
 
My key -- *full time.* I have a full time programmer and he rocks. He isn't fast, I know he's not popping Adderall all day, but he does quality work and can answer all of my questions immediately.

If you can't hire a full time employee, you must be able to speak directly with them on AIM or phone. Playing e-mail tag is fucking retarded and it can take weeks to fix something you could have straightened out in a 10 minute chat.

Seriously, find good people are hire them full time. Pay them a premium. Outsourced workers are real people. Money + job security can go a very long way. And the added bonus is they will understand how you work and what you expect so you won't have to explain it over and over again. An extra few hundred or a thousand dollars a month is very well spent, in my opinion.
 
Andrew is definitely right, getting to know a programmer team and dealing with language barriers for each outsourcing, is a huge PITA for me.

However, for now, I deal with it. I will eventually have a full time programmer.

Andrew, how did you find this guy? I could have a dude working for months with all of my ideas. After a few of my outsourcing projects get completed and revenue builds, I will want to hire a dedicated dude.

Thanks
 
Outsourcing does suck- right now my biggest problem is keeping my team to keep working at this stupid problem they are having w/ my site... unless I hand hold them through the problems they don't seem to know how to work them out on their own!

Can't afford a full timer anytime soon though - would love to be able to do that!
 
definitely, a big problem with sites like getafreelancer.com among others, is a lot of the people are half a world away, and getting to actually speak to them is a hassle in and of itself due to timezones and not-so-perfect english. I don't know what to say, once you find someone good, treat them right.
 
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