The Power of Outsourcing & Why You Should Work with Other Freelancers

I dabbled in outsourcing in the first two years of my freelancing career. Now, I’m an outspoken advocate of the power it holds. Outsourcing can be a powerful tool that unlocks your growth potential.

Unfortunately, not everyone is a staunch supporter of the practice. So in this blog post, I’ll share a little bit about the power of outsourcing and give you four points to cover when you encounter a client who isn’t too fond of the idea.

Let’s dive in.

What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing is when you delegate specific tasks to other entities. The goal is to reduce costs, free up time, and possibly leverage the expertise of other professionals.  

Now, there is one caveat to this definition: “entities” can either be people or technology. In the age of AI, some companies may outsource some tasks to software programs like ChatGPT or SurferSEO. But for the purpose of this blog post, I’m referring to outsourcing to other humans.

For example, say you're a freelance content strategist. You work with clients to develop a content strategy for their brand. You may consider outsourcing the actual content creation to other freelancers, like a freelance content writer.

This would allow you to leave the blog post writing to a qualified professional, giving you more time to focus on what you enjoy (and maybe do best), the strategy.

4 Steps to Working with Outsourcing-Cautious Clients

As I’m sure you’re aware, freelancing often requires that you educate clients on your behalf. I’m often explaining what I do, how I do it, and even how it can benefit them. The same is true when it comes to outsourcing.

While many clients will appreciate the efficiency and expertise that comes with skilled delegation, others will wonder why others are participating in a project they hired you to complete. So in this section, I’ll tackle some of these concerns and share how you can navigate this situation.

1. Be Transparent

First and foremost, transparency is key.

Both at Guiding Creatives and in my own freelancing business, I outsource. As a freelancer, I’m always transparent about when and how I outsource tasks.

In some cases, your client couldn’t care less about how you get the work done as long as it meets their expectations. But in the event that your client is on the fence about outsourcing, being transparent can help them feel more comfortable about how, when, and why you’re choosing to delegate certain tasks.

2. Emphasize Quality and Expertise

Outsourcing doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality.

I get it, your clients hired you for a reason! It makes sense that they would be concerned that outsourcing will lead to lower-quality work—they didn’t also hire the person you’re outsourcing to.

This is where being transparent can go a long way. Here’s an example from my own business.

I occasionally encounter projects that require extensive videography and editing skills. While I’m capable of doing both of these things, sometimes it makes more sense for me to outsource these parts of the projects to someone who specializes in those tasks. In these cases, the quality of the work, and subsequent project, may actually improve as a result of my outsourcing.

In most cases, freelancers outsource so they can spend more time doing both what they love and what they’re good at. If you can emphasize the quality and expertise of your practices, your client will feel much more confident in your ability to turn over a quality project.

3. Address the Concern of Originality

There is a level of irony to the client who isn’t comfortable with outsourcing. After all, aren’t they outsourcing their own work by hiring you? (I digress.)  Still, some freelancers outsource entire projects, from start to finish, to other freelancers, and that can leave a bad impression on clients.

If your client has these concerns, clarify which parts of the project may be outsourced and why. Ultimately, when a project has your name stamped on it, it should always go through your approval process, ensuring nothing is ever submitted that doesn’t meet the standards they hired you for.

4. Build Trust

Compatibility and trust are at the foundation of a strong, healthy freelancing relationship. Without these two things, your relationship with a client is likely to be full of struggle and turmoil. If, after being transparent, emphasizing quality, and addressing their specific concerns, the client is still uncomfortable with how you manage your freelancing business, they may not be the client for you.

Outsourcing, when approached with proper attention, can be a powerful tool in your toolbox. Outsourcing isn’t about diluting the quality of your work, it’s about delivering the best product or service possible. As freelancers, it's up to us to educate, communicate, and build trust with our clients, ensuring that they not only receive the best product or service but that they understand the teamwork and process behind those offerings.