Member Spotlight
Altima Interactive provides web business consulting, web design and web development to help people grow their business online. Read more
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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
69% - Sure! The more the merrier.
25% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
5% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Work smart | Outsourcing
Being a soloist doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own. It is important to determine what to do
yourself and what tasks you would be better off outsourcing to others.
From employing a virtual assistant
to learning the art of
delegation, this section provides valuable tips and resources on discovering the business benefits of
outsourcing. If done well, business outsourcing can increase business
productivity and give you more time to spend on more profitable activities.
When is it time to hire an employee?
11 May 12Brad CallaughanIf you are planning to bring on an employee in order to help grow or support your business, just how should you go about it? Read more
Comments: 1Keep it local
04 Apr 12Brad AndersonThinking about hiring someone through one of the international freelancing websites? Sure, it might be cheap, but should price be the only factor you consider? Read more
Comments: 11How to brief a creative
02 Mar 12Sara HowardSoloists wear many hats and while you may be happy to take care of admin and client management, at some point, probably early on, you’ll need the help of a creative. Here are some tips to develop a creative brief. Read more
Comments: 4Choosing a business advisor
12 Jan 12Sue HirstLiterally thousands of people offer business advice; some are fantastic and some are dreadful. This article will help you find a great advisor and work with them effectively. Read more
Comments: 3Choosing and using a virtual assistant
01 Dec 11Heather SmithA virtual assistant (VA) can be a godsend to your business. But how do you choose one, and what should you ask them to do? Here are some tips on using a virtual assistant. Read more
Comments: 16Delegation skills: The magic hats of small business
09 Nov 11Karl VeitchSoloists wear many different hats. One day you’re a sales person, the next a marketing guru and the one after that you’re wearing the finance hat. On any given day you could be changing hats repeatedly, which is why you need good delegation skills. Read more
Comments: 5How to successfully outsource your marketing
25 May 11Jo MacdermottHow do you do outsource your marketing activities without being taken advantage of or wasting precious time or money? Watch out for these five warning signs. Read more
Comments: 10Six freelancing tips
29 May 10Patrina KerrFreelance consulting can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to achieve work / life balance while also delivering customer satisfaction and hitting deadlines. Here are six successful freelancing tips. Read more
Comments: 4An introduction to outsourcing work
06 Apr 10Patrina KerrOne of the biggest challenges small business owners face is the need to wear all the hats. And the smaller the business, the more aspects of it you need to look after yourself. It may be time to consider outsourcing work. Read more
Comments: 8Outsourcing tasks: Charlie’s an angel
05 Apr 10Robert GerrishJust imagine someone who takes away all the niggling chores that get in the way of success and prosperity. Meet Charlie. We hope to soon and here’s how we’re doing it. Read more
Comments: 15Outsourcing to virtual assistants
31 Jan 10Kate JamesI recently started thinking about ‘what I shouldn’t be doing’ in my business and my new perspective changed my outlook completely. Give it a try! You might find outsourcing to virtual assistants a good option for you. Read more
Comments: 13How to outsource your life by offshoring
05 Oct 08Andrew MayHave you used offshoring in your business? In this article I will discuss the pros and cons of offshore outsourcing as well as provide tips for a good offshoring experience. Read more
Comments: 17Outsourcing and offshoring: Is it worthwhile?
19 Jun 08Kathie M. ThomasIn recent times, there has been a good deal of debate as to whether the cheaper costs of offshoring are outweighed by the benefits of outsourcing locally. Read more
Comments: 15Six ways to reduce outsourcing risk
18 May 08Greg PritchardOutsourcing can provide an array of strategic and life-balancing benefits to soloists. But there are risks in having a third party take on our business functions. This article provides six tips for reducing your outsourcing risks. Read more
Comments: 3Supplier relationships: Supporting your brand
01 May 08Kate TribeEvery business from soloist to multi-national, invests in their brand. But there are external factors such as supplier relationships contributing to other’s perception of our 'brand' that we may not be aware of. Read more
Comments: 4Where should Virtual Assistants be based?
13 Mar 08Linda AndersonWhen people explore the idea of working with Virtual Assistants, they struggle with the virtual part. The answer to the question ‘where should my VA be?’ depends on your needs and preferences. Read more
Comments: 17Five tips for working with a Virtual Assistant
15 Nov 07Linda AndersonI came to the realisation that my business could not keep growing if I was the only person working on it. I was running out of time and energy. It was at this moment I began to explore the idea of engaging a Virtual Assistant. Read more
Comments: 24Working virtually: A definition
05 Jun 07Kathie M. ThomasIn recent years, 'working virtually' has come to describe the home-based worker. But not everyone understands the concept. For example when I tell people them I’m a Virtual Assistant, the typical response is ‘what’s that?’ Read more
Comments: 14How to make the most of June: Do suppliers add value?
31 May 07Karen MorathJune is the ideal time to assess just how much value suppliers have added to our business. There is nothing like looking at the bottom line of these expenses for the year to help us decide if our business is better off. Read more
Comments: 4Increase productivity by outsourcing
11 Jan 07Summer NelsonOutsourcing elements of our solo business can help us double our productivity and buy back important life time. It makes sense as many soloists struggle to work within their skill set alongside the day to day running of their solo business. Read more
Comments: 8Business management skills: The art of delegation
19 Sep 06Linda AndersonDelegation is one of the business management skills often neglected by the soloist. You have to do it all yourself … right? Wrong! Learning the art of delegation could alleviate your stress. Read more
Comments: 5Discover the business benefits of outsourcing
27 Mar 06Karen MorathOne of the most important skills for soloists to develop is an understanding of what to undertake themselves and what to outsource to others. Read more
Comments: 7
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Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.
