Get started with outsourcing
You’ve heard a bunch of professional photographers talking about outsourcing and their VA’s. You can see the benefits but knowing where to start is all a bit confusing. I mean, what tasks can you start with, how much do you pay, which is best between Fiver, Airtasker, the specific sites for retouchers? And that’s just for listing an ad! Then you have the hiring process, onboarding, sharing passwords and training. Is it worth it?
I’m not going to lie to you, there is a process to hiring any new team member and it’s no different for bringing on a Virtual Assistant. But it is worth it, and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Here are some tools and tips to make it easier:
Screenrecord
Next time you do the task you want to outsource, record your screen and voice record instructions.
Recommended tool: Descript
Alternate Option: LoomSearch & list
Jump onto one of the hiring sites and look through the current freelancer profiles for the service that interest you. They will show examples and list an hourly rate so you can compare price points to quality, which will allow you to budget. List your ad and invite your preferred freelancers to apply.
Recommended site: People per hourCommunicate
Don’t rely on Whatsapp, Facebook DM or email to communicate with your new team members. You need to be able to reply quickly, during work hours only and have all communication easily managed on the one platform. People per Hour have a chat function that might work for you, but if you are wanting to communicate to multiple team members at once, you’ll need a separate platform.
Recommended tool: SlackTrack
Sometimes a Virtual Assistant (VA) may be paid per job (eg. per image for editing or per article for blogging), but otherwise, you’ll likely be paying per hour and need a way to easily track and manage timesheets!
Recommended tool: JibblePayment
Decide how you’ll pay and when. It could be per job, once a time threshold has been met or per pay period. If it’s per pay period, set the time frame. Be sure to communicate clearly to your new hire so they know what to expect.
Recommended Payment method: PayPal
P.S. Do you offer retouching or another service for pet photographers? We’re starting a directory! Add a free listing to our site!
Ready to start outsourcing? Join our upcoming virtual workshop to get it done!
OUTSOURCING WORKSHOP
We’ll create an ad to find the right person, troubleshoot the “hiring” process and set up your onboarding systems. Yup- in just one hour you will have everything ready and soon enough you’ll never be doing that task again.
LA - 11AM, Tuesday December 13
NEW YORK - 2PM, Tuesday December 13
LONDON - 7PM, Tuesday December 13
ROME - 8PM, Tuesday December 13
MELBOURNE - 6AM, Wednesday December 14
Grab your ticket now.
Members continue the discussion in the Mastermind Facebook Group, otherwise shoot me an email: kirstie@thepetphotographersclub.com
Author
Kirstie McConnell |
Founder
The Pet Photographers Club
When Kirstie launched her pet photography business in Australia in 2012, the genre was barely a thing. She spent the next years at the forefront of this niche, marketing not just her own business, but the concept of pet photography. Each year she photographed around 100 dogs, cats and horses per year to create wall art and albums for pet-parents.
Now based in Italy, she continues to offer pet photography to her clients back in Australia on return trips, but otherwise spends her energy helping other pet photographers build a business which will allow them to follow their dreams.
Internationally recognized as a leader in the industry, she hosts the podcast, workshops, courses and business events for The Pet Photographers Club which she co-founded.