Facebook is the 12th largest website on the Internet. With over 175 million active users, it can be a promotional tool that can bring a worldwide presence to your business that was unheard of just a few years ago. The Internet is constantly changing and growing…what can this mean to your business? Do you have the knowledge to make the most from these social networking sites and do you have the time?
When you think of outsourcing, you think of billing, admin tasks, call center staffing and data mining. But a new kind of outsourcing firm has emerged. Not only a firm that saves you money on labor costs, but one that partners with your business to help it grow. One that utilizes the Internet to connect with millions of prospective customers that you sorely need to compete in this emerging worldwide business arena. With the more competetive economy, you can no longer ignore any avenue that will create a solid presence in your market.
When you think of Facebook, you probably think of school kids sharing photos of their prom dance. But like anything that harnesses the attention of 175 million users, savvy Internet marketers are using Facebook to create a powerful online strategy to promote their business. These strategies include uploading videos to show their products, networking with like minded prospects and creating pages that encourage good customer service and branding to keep your business image fresh and in the forefront of customer’s minds. These tasks are not particularly difficult to perform with the proper training and quite easily turned over to an outsourcing firm.
The outsourcing firm you choose makes all the difference in whether or not you are utilizing the Internet to it’s fullest potential. Make sure that when you are researching an overseas rep that they are well trained in social networking. This is where your customers are spending their time…nearly everyday. Building an online image for your business is not as difficult as it can be time consuming. Labor costs for Internet marketing duties can be an issue and finding the trained personel can be an issue as well. The right outsorcing firm can solve both these problems. You just have to know where to look.
Malaysia is a nation known for its very attractive business environment, and up-to-date infrastructure and also for the strong support it gets from its government which in turn has made this country a rising outsourcing option to China and India. The Malaysian government has actually positioned Malaysia as a hub for world class technological innovation and services – which has made many top rated multinationals locate some of their global or regional business’ in this country. Malaysia is also a country that has a much more stable political climate (this is important) which is also effectively backed by regular economic growth which has also made this particular offshore outsourcing nation very attractive for sensitive, high-end uses in the banking and finance industry.
Even though Malaysia is still a nation that is exploring its niche, this country has also established authority as a well respected outsourcing destination. Malaysia’s outsourcing industry has been placed together on drawing investments in third party and also captive outsourcing processes from several leading global organizations that cuts across different verticals – Oil and Gas, Banking, sales, Logistics.
You also need to understand that outsourcing in Malaysia has completely evolved (seriously!) Business owners will be glad to know that this country has evolved into offering a variety of services niche and is even integrated in IT, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and data processing in a number of industry verticals.
The Malaysian government initiatives are indeed a principal factor in the driving force behind this country’s outsourcing industry. The backing of the Malaysian government has truly helped to form institutions that effectively (and carefully) manage a variety of roles which range from setting up a small business to kick-starting a big company. In addition to this, the establishment of world class facilities and economic advantages has also contributed to attracting more and more companies to this country.
The turn of the century has indeed seen the rapid rise in the number of offshore outsourcing countries, with many countries across the world trying their very best to cut a larger piece or share of the outsourcing marketplace. Well, it is certainly no secret that India, the Philippines and China are the top three leading outsourcing destinations in the world.
There are also a couple of outsourcing destinations that are making their way to being recognized as outsourcing nations to reckon with. These counties are:
·Kenya,
·Vietnam,
·Nigeria,
·Ghana etc
The aforementioned countries have seen growth from their local outsourcing market
It is absolutely no secret that India is the country that comes straight to the mind when the word “outsourcing” is mentioned – there is even a new NBC television show titled “Outsourced”. The show is centered around a fictional company which has moved its customer service center to “India”.
When you choose to outsource, this will also mean sharing your business’ control and sometimes sensitive data with an outsourced firm. A lot of people simply see outsourcing as the best thing that has happened to the “business world”.Offshore outsourcing is known to assist in the effective use of resources, skills, investment and technology at an affordable rate. Well, according to the survey carried out by Goldman Sachs, since 2001 about 40,000 and 60,000 service division jobs have been moved offshore – they expect the number to rise in future.
Virtually anyone can outsource no matter how big or small your business is. When you choose to outsource, you basically get competitive edge without making any investment on infrastructure. Taking advantage of outsourcing is really the best option when you notice that you are losing focus on the main issues of your business because you spend most of your time on minor but necessary business facts.
The following countries are known for the competitive advantage they offer clients are:
·Philippines
·India
·China
·Canada
·Singapore
·Malaysia
·Brazil
·Kenya
·Czech Republic
·Poland
Yup, India is a country famous for its outsourcing industries as a matter of fact, “Outsourced” is not the only television show that features Indians and outsourcing centers. There are top Hollywood and Bollywood movies which feature characters that work for outsourcing businesses.
India is one of the top outsourcing countries that a lot of organizations seek when they need to outsource Information Technology tasks. India really stands out as a country that many people recognize but the truth is, if you are searching for an outsourcing country that totally understands the American culture, then you can consider choosing the Philippines. An average Filipino understands the American culture, you will be glad to know that they also have one of the best work ethics among the entire top outsourcing countries in the world.
Choosing a good outsourcing destination is the best thing you can do in order to have a pretty strong competitive edge – so, do not settle for any ole offshore outsourcing firm.
Offshore outsourcing is known as the practice of employing the services of an outsourced firm to carryout a couple of business activities in a country other than the nation where the products and or services will be sold. Outsourcing has truly grown at a really fast pace, thanks to the development in the following:
·Modern satellite
·Internet technology
·Better connectivity
·A stable search for affordable labor in order to reduce expenses and achieve competitive advantage.
When a business employs the services of outsourced employees from less expensive countries such as the Philippines, India, Malaysia, China to handle its back office and other business functions; the company can cut down on labor costs and of course have the time to concentrate on its core competencies and thus provide better customer satisfaction.
According to a reliable report, the United States companies have saved about 8 billion dollars – all thanks to taking advantage of outsourcing to a top outsourcing country like the Philippines. There are many developing countries recognized for their outsourcing industries, and are patronized by developed countries such as the United States.
The Philippines
One of the great things about this country is its people. An average Filipino is well educated and speaks fluent English – If you are an American business owner, you will definitely want outsourced employees who speak impeccable English. Outsourced employees from the Philippines are known to be quite excellent particularly in front office operations such as sales and customer service.
The Philippines is a nation that has a really massive pool of productive, multi-skilled and teachable labor force. A large number of Filipino outsourcing firms will only employ staffs that are highly qualified for a variety of outsourcing responsibilities. There are many American owned companies in the Philippines.
If you are seriously searching for an offshore outsourcing company that will certainly provide you with outsourced employees that know their onions when it comes to effectively handling work activities such as telemarketing targeted at customers or clients in the United States, you will need to choose employees who speak impeccable English. A reputable outsourcing company will ONLY hire employees who will successfully meet all your needs for your telemarketing department.
Please note
It is important for prospective customers or clients to hear a telemarketer clearly – this way, they (prospective customers) will be able to understand the kind of products and or services that you offer.
Have you wondered why on earth you need to use outsourced employees? Or you are simply wondering when it is the right time to outsource? Well, the best time you should consider using outsourced employees is when you or your in-house employees really need to take out some quality time to clearly focus on very important business processes, other not-so-important but critical business functions can be successfully taken care of by the (reputable) outsourced company. So, a really good time to seriously think about outsourcing work is when you need to do the following:
·If you clearly don’t have the funds to invest in additional or state of the art equipments, software, technology and so on.
·If you feel it is a lot more affordable to have someone else do the work instead of doing it in-house.
·If the job or functions can be done cheaper in-house, but doing this completely drains resources which is very useful somewhere else.
·If the work process is one that you or your staff – as a matter of fact – don’t derive pleasure doing. Many outsourced employees effectively carryout those tasks that many business people do not find pleasurable to do.
·If the expertise required for a specific job is so specialized that it is not at all practical to let a regular employee do it.
·If one of your staff took a vacation or has to leave the office often or if you need to take a vacation or have to be constantly out of the office.
·If you require short-term assistance with projects
·If you just need brief assistance until you get to hire new staff.
“I would love to outsource to my call center service, but I am worried about what people would stay, I just watched the trailer of NBC television series ‘Outsourced’ and some people where really not so thrilled because they think that outsourcing is bad for the American economy”
Whether you choose to believe it or not, everybody in America outsources work! And who told you that outsourcing is bad for the economy? You obviously have not read my article titled “Is Outsourcing Good for America? Oh Hell Yeah!”
Most business owners are well aware of the fact that telemarketing is indeed one of the most affordable and professional ways of getting more business.
If you go on to outsource your telemarketing services, you will definitely notice that it is a successful way of connecting with lots and lots of prospective customers and client than you can meet one on one. Competent outsourced telemarketers offer successful lead generation and help boost the sales of goods and or services at a much more affordable price.
Here are top 2 ways an outsourced telemarketers can do for your business:
i.Help keep Costs Down
It sure makes a lot of sense to save good money on running your business and thankfully you can do this by simply do outsourcing your telemarketing. Instead of paying for an office space to accommodate in-house telemarketers, outsourced telemarketers work from a call center – this way, you will not have to worry about renting an office space. You do not have to worry about spending money purchasing or replacing furniture for the office. You will save loads of cash on buying office stationery, equipment and so on.
ii.Expand Your Business
One of the smart things to do is to outsource your telemarketing to a firm that employs the services of well trained telemarketers who understand not just the American culture but other cultures as well. For example, the NBC television series show, “Outsourced” where the outsourced customer service operators learn and understand the American culture. Another way to reach different people from all across the globe is to hire an outsourcing firm that hires the services of telemarketers from different parts of the world. If you have plans for expanding your business the way it was done a couple of years back, it is going to cost you an arm or leg. Well, the way it was done a couple of years ago involved opening branches of your business in various parts of the world which will involve the following:
·Renting office spaces
·Training staff
·Salaries
·Benefits
·Insurance etc.
Outsourced telemarketers usually get paid for the number of hours they work.And many of them know how to effectively sell your products to customers from all over the world and many reputable outsourcing firms also come up with effective ways to market your products and or services to customers in not just the English language but also in their native dialect as well.
These days, the word outsourcing is viewed in a whole new light, maybe it’s because of the new NBC TV show “outsourced”. Well, you do not have to own a company that manufactures novelty goods in order to enjoy the benefits of outsourcing.
If you run a small or large business and you need to get certain tasks done, outsourced virtual assistants (also fondly referred to as VA’s) will be of great help to you.
Here are just some of the benefits that outsourced VA’s can offer you:
·They only charge you ONLY for the amount of time that they have spent working for you.
·Virtual assistants will use their own equipments and stuff – you do not have to shell out money to buy a new headset, monitor, software etc.
·You do not have to deal with paying sick workers (who may or may not be actually sick), employee compensation, retirement funds, and employment insurance.
·You can kiss agency fees goodbye. Temping agencies usually charge a fee in order to work with them.
·You can take advantage of the time zone differences. While you are sleeping your virtual assistant is working you.
·Thankfully, you also do not have to worry about footing the training cost for specialized skill, why? Because outsourced virtual assistants are already well trained.
Here are just some of the tasks that outsourced virtual assistants can carry out effectively:
i.They can add press pages to your company’s web site – if your company’s site doesn’t have a press page, then add a press page now! Outsourced VA’s can even create a press page and go on to add links to the articles that feature your business on a day to day or weekly basis – it’s your call.
ii.You can also delegate the responsibility of the distribution of your company’s articles and press releases to variety of directories to your virtual assistant. You of course know that it is important to write articles and press releases on a regular basis, but writing these articles and press releases will not mean squat if they are not read by the right audience. Outsourced virtual assistants will help you distribute them to various directories online.
iii.Virtual assistants can help translate your website to another language. For instance, if you are doing business with Spanish speaking people, a virtual assistant who is very fluent in Spanish can translate your website into Spanish.
Of course it is a great idea to outsource your call center service! Before we go to the reasons why some people think that outsourced call centers are a bad idea, let’s first take a look at the benefits of outsourcing your call center service:
·You do not have to shell out money every couple of months in order to invest in the latest telecommunication systems. In case you do not know this, these equipments do not come cheap and I am sure you have other plans that need financing. The outsourced call center service worries about getting state of the art facilities and providing top quality service – your job is to expect results.
·Worrying about employees shirking their responsibilities will be history and you will also not worry about firing an employee for incompetence yourself (most business owners absolutely HATE doing this). Outsourcing companies only hire people who are ready and willing to work and if they have to fire an employee, you will not be the one to give him or her the axe (Yay!)
·Why should you pay for an extra office space for your call center services when you do not have to worry about this and still get top quality service?
·Do you honestly want worry about paying someone who has the habit of calling in sick just because he/she felt like sleeping in after having one too many drinks?! With outsourcing call center services, you will never have to worry about paying employment insurance, staff compensation, and retirement benefits. Outsourced cal center employees are generally dedicated to doing their jobs.
Some people think that outsourcing call center service is a bad idea because:
Accents! Accents!! Did I mention Accents?!
Oh please! Many of us have had the experience of speaking to a person over the phone in a call center in the Philippines or India and most times, we are not able to tell the difference! I’m sure you must have viewed the trailer of the upcoming NBC TV show “Outsourced” where one of the employees at a top Indian based call center service mimicked an American accent PERFECTLY! He even said the word “corndog” the way an American would say it.
Geez, there are so many talented outsourced call center employees that will do a great job answering question from customers, taking orders and so on.So stop hating!Wake up and smell outsourced call center services.
A lot of businesses are looking for effective ways that they can cut down costs – especially if the business is still very new. One of the smart and common ways to cut down the cost of running your business is by identifying the business processes and department that incur too many expenses. After you have done this, many business managers identify firms outside the company who can successfully do all of the required tasks at lower costs. This is known simply as “outsourcing” – outsourced partners do company tasks at lower costs without compromising on the quality of work.
In order to choose an outsourced partner who is great at handling your company’s outsourcing needs, follow these guidelines:
·Ensure that you clearly identify the needs and motivation for a really successful outsourcing partnership. This will of course involve cost cutting and quality control measures.
·Make sure that you take some time to check out the alternatives that are available in the market – a good way of doing this is by investigating what other businesses have done in similar situations. This will give you a good idea of what kind of outsourcing company you can hope to get the best results from.
·You should check out the top industry players and make up your mind as to which outsourced partners will help you in furthering your business strategies and the type of value that the outsourced partner can add to your business.
·You also need to make sure that you run a background check on the would-be outsourced partner(s). It is important that you do this, especially if you want to find out what kind of reputation the outsourcing firm you are thinking of working with.
·You should also figure out some kind of standard for recognizing an outsourced partner that you can trust to effectively handle all your outsourcing needs. Pick the BEST method of getting potential outsourcing partner interested in working with you. The common methods are tendering and of course, bidding.
·Ensure that you get the prospective outsourcing partners to inform you about the kind of services that they are capable of providing that your in-house staff will be incapable of providing.
·You should match the professional background of every prospective outsourcing partner against the standard that you set. You should then choose the most competent and efficient outsourcing partner and work with them.
Okay, the main reason you started your business in the first place is to make good proceeds, and there are some times when you have to shell out good money in order to generate good leads but to no avail. These days, many people are poster, flier and even billboard blind. Because a whole lot of people are very busy making ends meet, they really never have the time to watch TV ads, and when they do find time to watch television, they usually get up and go to the kitchen to fix a snack or get something whenever an ad comes on. Outsourced telemarketers have very effective ways to get prospective customers or clients to know about and buy your goods and or services.
You need to understand that there is no way a television ads, leaflets, billboards and posters are going to respond to questions from potential clients or customers – especially if you sell novelty products just like the ones on NBC’s new television show “Outsourced”– customers will DEFINITELY have loads of questions. As a great option to running an in-house telemarketing department, why not take advantage of outsourcing? If you take advantage of outsourcing your telemarketing when your business is still quite new and still growing, you will be glad you did. Like the characters on the show “outsourced”, there are many young, smart and intelligent outsourced telemarketers in reputable outsourcing centers in the Philippines.
Here are some of the great advantages of outsourcing your telemarketing:
·Outsourced telemarketers are known for their abilities to help boost sales. Many reputable telemarketing outsourcing companies ONLY provide well experienced sale persons who are very aware that their own success basically depends on their utmost dedication and expertise in getting the job “well done” for clients.
·If you are only interested in getting results from your sales department, then the best thing you can do is to outsource your telemarketing. Reputable outsourcing firms only hire and choose a telemarketing team that will be perfect for your project. Do you honestly want to go through the hassles of recruiting and training a telemarketing team yourself? Didn’t think so.
·You also no longer have to put up with silly excuses that some employees take their sweet time to come up with and you also do not have to worry about being slammed with a law suit by some bitter employee who is just looking for a way to get back at you for giving him or her the axe – even though they deserved it.
