Why Outsource in 2023 #2: The Expert in Your Corner

In this miniseries, we’re walking through reasons to consider outsourcing projects to a freelancer this year. Controlling costs during growth was the focal point of the last post, and this one is about the expertise you gain with a freelancer in your corner, giving you advice and cheering you on.  

Freedom to focus on your forte

Especially if you’re a small business, you can’t be good at everything. And even if you’re more than capable of handling every element of your business, there are some tasks you may enjoy more than others or that take you away from your initial reason for starting your business.

This is where freelancers come in handy. Outsourcing burdensome projects or projects outside your area of expertise is a smart way to use the money you have to get the job done right.¹ Hiring someone who knows design, IT security, data analytics, copywriting, or another specialized skill frees you up to do what you do best.

A competitive advantage

Yes, outsourcing can be a smart financial move for your company. But it also brings in the opportunity for fresh takes. An article from Inc. describes this as “disruptive outsourcing”—hiring freelancers to increase the agility and competitiveness of your business within your field. Freelancers can encourage companies to think outside the box, take risks, and build strategies for thriving (not just surviving).

A recently trending topic is whether or not artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT can replace human talent. While there is a place for AI-generated content, it doesn’t have the same capacity to advise and inform the strategy behind why you are generating content in the first place.

While small companies tend to rely more on freelancers, big companies can benefit too. One of our clients is a manufacturing startup. We periodically write long-form content for them, offering the expertise they need as a variable expense. We support a large MedTech company’s communications team in a different role by drafting journal articles and presentations. Although their needs are different (content vs. support for staff), both companies benefit from outsourcing.

Finding your freelancer

The beauty of freelancers is that they are one-person shops for getting good stuff done. However, they can be hard to find, especially the truly independent ones who don’t bid for projects on third-party sites such as Upwork or Fiverr or subscribe to freelancing platforms.  

One way to find these freelancers is to search for them on sites like LinkedIn or ask others in your industry or social circle for people they’d recommend. Sometimes a favorite graphic designer or copywriter will have recommendations for freelancers with complementary skill sets.

When deciding who to work with, consider how well they fit your company culture and whether their skills align with what you are missing.¹ You may also have to work out the right balance between providing briefs and feedback and giving your freelancer free rein over a project. This can be a rocky process, but it is well worth the effort. Experienced freelancers also can help smooth out the onboarding process.

Whatever happens, outsourcing to a freelancer should allow your employees to focus on their forte and get more done, not get in the way of growth and positive company culture.² If this becomes a concern, discuss the problem with the freelancer. You can always decide not to hire them for a second project.

The new year is an excellent time to try new things, like signing up for a tai chi class, cracking open a book on Danish baking, or considering new ways to complete unwieldy projects. Outsourcing to a freelancer in 2023 may be the right option for your business.  

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[1]Barrett J. Why outsourcing can be a game-changer for your growing company. Inc. https://www.inc.com/jeff-barrett/every-entrepreneur-should-use-outsourcing-just-like-their-huge-competitors-here-are-3-ways-to-do-it.html. Published April 9, 2019. Accessed January 3, 2023.  

[2]Patel D. The pros and cons of outsourcing. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/07/17/the-pros-and-cons-of-outsourcing-and-the-effect-on-company-culture/. Published July 17, 2017. Accessed December 13, 2022.