| v> | | | | commitment and knowledge to complete the |
| IT support is typically a large percentage of any | | | | project. Ambition and good intentions are not |
| online business. Whether it is website | | | | enough to pull off a good project. |
| development or search engine optimization the | | | | 4. Don't try to take on too much in your |
| costs can add up quickly. Utilizing offshore IT | | | | first project. Complex projects are difficult to |
| resources can reduce your costs by as much as | | | | scope and difficult to communicate. If you have a |
| 80%. In this article we explore best practices in | | | | complex project try to break it up into simpler |
| utilizing offshore IT resources. Tired of the high | | | | phases which will be easier to convey and easier |
| cost of IT support? If you answered "yes" you | | | | to manage. |
| are like most small business owners. Utilizing | | | | 5. Freelance sites such as Elance have |
| offshore IT resources can reduce your costs by | | | | escrow accounts you can place funds in. This |
| as much as 80%. Suddenly projects that once | | | | allows the buyer to place the money for payment |
| seemed cost prohibitive become feasible at these | | | | in a third party account and then release the |
| levels. Like any other service you will occasionally | | | | money only after the objectives of the project |
| run across a provider you wish you had not hired. | | | | have been met. This brings security to both the |
| That can be said for all contractors though | | | | buyer and the seller. |
| regardless of where they come from. With some | | | | 6. Finalize your agreement with the provider |
| careful due diligence and proper preparation you | | | | by developing a checklist that needs to be |
| can make offshore IT resources work in your | | | | completed in order for escrow payment to be |
| business and gain a competitive edge. | | | | release. Email this too them and ask them to |
| The following are important points that I have | | | | confirm back by email that they understand and |
| learned from multiple startup operations that utilize | | | | accept the deliverables for the agreed upon |
| offshore IT resources. Follow these keys to | | | | project price. |
| success and you will dramatically improve your | | | | 7. Communicating on the details of the |
| chances for success. | | | | project can be difficult with both parties typically |
| 1. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. | | | | speaking different languages and potentially bad |
| Preparation is key to a successful project. Define | | | | international phone connections. For this reason I |
| in your own mind what you want to achieve. You | | | | prefer to text chat with providers. This eliminates |
| don't need to be a technically savvy person to do | | | | the issues of bad connections and individual |
| this. Describe it in your own functional terms what | | | | accents that may make communication difficult. |
| you wish to achieve in your project. For instance, | | | | 8. All of the sites have private message |
| you may wish to increase the traffic to your | | | | boards that allow you to converse in private with |
| website by 20% a simple statement of that goal | | | | each provider. It is a best practice to avoid |
| would be sufficient. | | | | providing any company specific details in the public |
| 2. When interviewing candidates be specific in | | | | areas but feel free to do this on the private |
| asking how they intend to achieve the goals of | | | | boards. You never know when a competitor may |
| your project. There is always more than one way | | | | be lurking about and you do not want to give |
| to approach a problem but if you speak to | | | | them advanced notice about competitive plans |
| enough providers you will see common themes | | | | you may have in place. |
| and be able to sort out the contenders. | | | | There are a number of good sites on the internet |
| 3. Feedback is important in judging a provider | | | | that act as brokers for offshore contractors. I |
| and most popular freelance sites have feedback | | | | have had good luck with Elance but a search on |
| mechanisms for both buyer and seller. I typically | | | | "freelance sites" will return all of the top sites |
| don't go with anyone that has less than a 90% | | | | available to get you started. The first few |
| feedback. I will often entertain brand new | | | | projects can be very frustrating mostly because |
| providers though which most people stay away | | | | the time difference makes it difficult to |
| from. They are typically very hungry for business | | | | communicate in real-time. By mastering the skill of |
| and will go the extra mile to make sure you are | | | | working with offshore providers though you will |
| happy with your results. The key here again is in | | | | have a significant competitive advantage over the |
| the interview process to ensure they have the | | | | competition. |