Nov 21, 2021 | TOP TIPS
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but for many business owners it can also be the busiest. Outsourcing can be a great way to save some time this festive season and give yourself the chance to enjoy the holidays. In this blog post, I will share the tasks you can outsource this season.
1. Ensuring all 2021 admin is complete
The most stressful December task for many is ensuring everything is ticked off your to-do list ready for January before you close for business for the year. I can save you time by ensuring your database is up to date for 2022. I can also help with your invoicing ahead of the new year, helping you to get paid and start the new year without any outstanding invoices.
2. Christmas cards
Writing and sending out Christmas cards can be an exhaustive task, by outsourcing this task you can save yourself a lot of time and effort whilst still wishing your contacts a Merry Christmas. Last Christmas, I hand-wrote all Christmas cards and envelopes for a client enabling them to send them out ahead of the Christmas rush, assisting them to build upon their client relationships during the pandemic. There are many advantages of sending handwritten post, you can read them here.
3. Christmas gifts
Sourcing and sending the perfect corporate Christmas gift can be a logistical nightmare. It is expected to be even more challenging this year due to delivery driver shortages, making it vital to be a thought for now, rather than later. I understand many business owners have clients and staff throughout the UK and into Europe, who may still be working from home or live in areas where travel restrictions make it still difficult to visit them, therefore it is vital for gifts to be easy to post. I can work collaboratively with you to find and send the perfect corporate Christmas gifts for your requirements this year. Before sending out cards or gifts you must also ensure your database has been updated to guarantee items are posted to the correct addresses. Database management and maintenance is something you may also wish to outsource.
4. Planning or researching ready for projects to kick-off in the new year
The new year is a time many businesses launch new products and projects, for this to happen research must be taken prior to January. A remote support service like Busy Lives! can carry out effective research so you are able to start your new year projects with the best possible information. I can work closely with you to create clear research goals to ensure suitable and effective information is gathered ensuring your business is ready to start 2022.
To learn more about outsourcing the tasks mentioned above or anything else, call Busy Lives! 07 565 722 031. Alternatively, you can drop me a message on LinkedIn / Messenger on Facebook or email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk to discuss your requirements!
Sep 21, 2019 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
One of my favourite top growth tips which I read frequently is all business owners should consider outsourcing and delegate anything you can! This blog post explores the rationale behind this.
-
What is outsourcing?
-
Why Outsource?
-
What are the most common areas outsourced?
-
What are the benefits of outsourcing?
-
Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?
-
Why outsource to Busy Lives!
What is outsourcing?
- Outsourcing is the business practice of hiring a contractor outside your business to perform services or create goods that traditionally were performed in-house by the businesses own employees and staff.
- Outsourcing can be used for any position whatsoever. It’s function is to provide support to the central infrastructure of a business or in in the day to day operations of a business
- Shift tasks, operations or jobs or processes to an external workforce by contracting a third party.
- Businesses outsource to perform or tasks handle operations and provide services that that the business is struggling to do or keep on top of.
- The process of hiring another business for a specific focus and length of time.
- Paying to have part of a business’s work done by another business.
- Outsourcing is associated with efficiencies, it aims to produce higher or equal returns.
Why Outsource?
It’s interesting how the size of your business influences if you outsource and to what degree. There are a few common services that apply to all sizes of business – such as insurance and accountancy but after that it becomes much more open ended.
Outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. The benefits from this can include operational cost reduction; having a specialist to work on areas not a current strength or take a long time; improved efficiency and releasing internal staff for specialist projects.
So, which of the following could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?
What are the most common areas outsourced?
Administration Analytics Application support
Bookkeeping Business support Catering
Change management Cleaning Coaching
Database management Data Entry & analysis Document & data processing
Form processing Grounds Maintenance HR
IT Technical support Legal services Marketing
Maternity/Paternity cover Mentoring Minute taking
Payroll and pensions Project management Staff supply
Strategy & problem solving
Outsourcing helps you to focus your energy and passion on those parts of the business that you enjoy and are the expert at!
What are the benefits of outsourcing?
- Increased efficiency for the business.
- Variable capacity.
- Increases focus and time available for strategy / leadership direction.
- Access to specific skills or resources.
- Flexibility to meet changing business conditions.
- Cost effective if only required at certain times of the year.
- Lower overall costs than an employee as tax, NI, pension is not paid.
- Flexible time durations from an hour if remotely, to half full days, weeks, months.
Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?
Can you remember the famous Aesop’s fable of the Lion and the Mouse? The Lion was great and mighty, but it was actually the mouse that had just the right the skill set to help the Lion succeed with the problem he had!
Why is it we automatically turn to the big companies with the products and services we know?
Is it because that’s the name we know or have heard of?
Does this always mean we get the best possible service and products by using them?
Some of the greatest advantages small businesses have over their large competitors are: flexibility; innovation and the freedom to think outside of the box to find your solution; great customer care; precise tailored responses to your individual needs; agility and adaptability to respond quickly; not having to conform to corporate bureaucracy (9-5 timings) and; building up over time an unique professional relationship where the small business owner cares about your individual needs and success, in addition to their own.
Larger service provider companies may well have a pool to draw from, but have they always got the specific skill set for the job that you may be hesitant to delegate, to save you both time and assist your work demands. Freelance executive, virtual and personal assistants are a growing highly skilled work force community, with many diverse strengths and experiences from different corporate backgrounds. We are professional, efficient at delivering high standard results and care about what we do.
Be strategic for your business and with your time. Make use of the small business executive, personal and virtual support out there.
Why outsource to Busy Lives!
I have a vast skill set that I acquired as a Head teacher that can be useful to anyone, as I now help those businesses with large workloads with a plethora of priorities and deadlines. I’ve been in that position of being time poor and totally understand and know what it’s like. Take a look at my page about me!
So, which of my following services could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?
Administration Analytics Application support
Business support Constructing Presentations Database management
Data Entry & analysis Document & data processing Formatting documents
Form processing Maternity/Paternity cover Mentoring
Minute taking Organisation of files Project management
Recruitment Staff supply Strategy & problem-solving
Social Media Training resources
I Do the things you don’t like to do,
the things you don’t have time to do,
the things that may take you much longer than me to do!
The other key benefit of using Busy Lives! is that I can do the work at your business, remotely or at your home to suit your precise needs.
Freelance outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. If you know someone who is struggling with everything and really busy please share this blog post or tell them to either email: Karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk or give me a call: 07 565 722 031
