We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Evan Kimbrell

People that are skilled at outsourcing can be 10x more efficient than those who are not. Knowing how to outsource effectively is an incredibly useful skill whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager, a marketer, or small business owner. Being able to incorporate outsourcing into your project, your business, or even your job can dramatically change your rate of success.

Read more

People that are skilled at outsourcing can be 10x more efficient than those who are not. Knowing how to outsource effectively is an incredibly useful skill whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager, a marketer, or small business owner. Being able to incorporate outsourcing into your project, your business, or even your job can dramatically change your rate of success.

Cost is often the single largest factor in whether or not a project succeeds or fails. By mastering outsourcing you can virtually guarantee that you get the lowest and most reasonable price every time you launch or engage in a project.

Learn how to outsource and you'll make magic with your project's to-do list. You'll be able to hit goals sooner while spending a fraction of what you planned. Save your project by going lean and shifting your attention and resources to other crucial areas.

Website development, mobile app development, logo design, market research, customer feedback, email marketing, sales, promotion, scheduling, editing, proofreading, ghostwriting, interviewing, application testing, bookkeeping, employee vetting - these are just some of the things you can outsource.

Virtually every company and startup outsources in some way. Outsourcing has endless possibilities - you just need to know how to use it.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand what is and isn't outsourcing
  • Validate your idea's preparedness and eligibility for outsourcing
  • Understand how much to budget and ways to reduce project costs
  • Navigate the biggest outsourcing platforms: upwork and freelancer
  • Use advanced search criteria to find and locate more specific outsourcing partners
  • Build a contracting strategy that works with your level of experience and your idea's level of progress
  • Intelligently choose your ideal price point and preferred region
  • Write job titles, descriptions, and settings that bring in high-quality bids
  • Use wireframing tools like balsamiq to quickly put together mockups of your idea
  • Use advanced techniques to bring your project together faster, negotiate bid prices, and vet potential partners
  • Employ common and uncommon best practices for outsourcing
  • Keep your project on track and increase transparency with tools like asana and trello
  • Bug hunt and run qa tests like a professional
  • Navigate the most common scenarios that arise from outsourcing
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction to the course (39 minutes)
Course Overview

Join the Slack community and connect with other entrepreneurs & outsourcing students

  • Network with like-minded students
  • Connect with me directly
  • Follow along and ask lecture questions as you go
  • Learn from other students that are simultaneously watching the course
  • Pitch any ideas you have
  • Ask the community for help
  • Share the project you're working on
  • Find a cofounder for your next venture
  • Find exclusive jobs and opportunities 

Details inside.

Read more
What is outsourcing?
What you should outsource and what you should not
Planning your budget and estimating costs
Section 1 review material
Review sheets - all in one PDF
Getting started (70 minutes)
Where to find outsourcing firms and freelancers
Introduction to Elance
Going further in-depth with Elance
Introduction to UpWork
Going further in-depth with Upwork
Introduction to Freelancer
Using alternative techniques and platforms to find contractors
Section 2 review material
Diving deeper (63 minutes)
Planning your subcontracting strategy
Deciding between a firm or a freelancer
Country profiles & how to pick your ideal combination
The relationship between Price & Autonomy
The Goldilocks syndrome
Section 3 review material
Posting expertise (67 minutes)
Writing a title that attracts the right bids
Hands on with writing titles
Writing the perfect description
Getting hands on with writing descriptions
Getting the settings right
Section 4 review material
Strategies for minimizing costs and time (54 minutes)
Rapid cycling posts
The $50 test
The "Keyer" question strategy
Repeating the project back to you
Getting them off the platform
The long term strategy
Using messaging to your advantage
Fixed rate vs per hour? Use our technique instead
The Specializations strategy
Section 5 review material
Best practices (74 minutes)
5 pillars for evaluating contractors
6 red flags for contractors
How important is site reputation?
Understanding your response rate
How to handle extra work and specifications
What is good? Avoid this trap
How to treat referrals
Is outsourcing a long term solution?
Legality with outsourcing
Outsourcing & Protecting your IP
Section 6 review material
Documentation (98 minutes)
Creating an overview
Creating a functions list
Example: Creating our functions list
Adding pages
Creating the user section
Creating the parameters list
Adding comments
Intro to Balsamiq
Going further with Balsamiq
An example site made in Balsamiq
Section 7 review material
Selecting the right person (41 minutes)
What to look for in their language
Further analyzing language
The response rate test
Dissecting their bid amount
Section 8 review material
Internal management skills (23 minutes)
Getting acquainted with Asana, the king of project management tools
Going further with Asana
Section 9 review material
Bug hunting (19 minutes)
Becoming a bug hunting master
Bug hunting on mobile
Some thoughts on bug hunting
TIP: Accelerate your testing this way
Section 10 review material
Common scenarios and how to handle them (39 minutes)
Low quality work
Missing Deadlines
Repeatedly missing bugs
They ask for money upfront
They bid and disappear
Contractor raises their price
Section 11 review material
Bonus Section
Bonus Lecture

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores outsourcing, a significant skill for entrepreneurs, managers, marketers, and small business owners
Taught by Evan Kimbrell, a recognized expert in outsourcing
Develops skills in cost management, a crucial factor in project success
Provides comprehensive guidance on navigating outsourcing platforms like UpWork and Freelancer
Offers hands-on techniques for optimizing bid prices and vetting potential partners
Includes common and uncommon best practices for successful outsourcing

Save this course

Save Master Outsourcing | Get the best price & save time to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Moderately-received outsourcing course

Learners say this outsourcing course is moderately helpful, but some mention that the material may be outdated. The reviews do not mention exams, quizzes, homework assignments, instructors, deadlines, or certificates.
Content is practical.
"Very practical and useful"
Material may be outdated.
"Very practical and useful however looking at the dates in the presentation was in 2014, some of the material may be out of date now in 2020."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Master Outsourcing | Get the best price & save time with these activities:
Read The 4-Hour Workweek
This book provides a practical guide to outsourcing and freelancing, and it will help you to develop the mindset and skills you need to succeed in this new world of work.
View The 4-Hour Work Week on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book
  • Take notes on the key concepts
  • Apply the concepts to your own life
Network with other entrepreneurs and freelancers
Networking is essential for building relationships and finding new opportunities. This activity will provide you with an opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Attend industry events
  • Join online communities
  • Reach out to people you admire
Create a mock contracting strategy
Creating a hiring strategy will solidify your understanding of the elements involved in the process and will help you apply this knowledge later on as you develop your own strategies.
Show steps
  • Review different types of contracting strategies
  • Estimate a budget for your strategy
  • Identify potential partners
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Watch tutorial on job descriptions
Creating clear and concise job descriptions is essential for attracting the right candidates. This tutorial will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write effective job descriptions.
Browse courses on Hiring
Show steps
  • Identify the target audience for your job description
  • Develop a clear and concise job title
  • Write a detailed job description
Practice writing job descriptions
The best way to improve your ability to write job descriptions is to practice. This activity will provide you with an opportunity to write job descriptions for different roles.
Browse courses on Hiring
Show steps
  • Choose a role that you are interested in
  • Research the role and the company
  • Write a job description
Join a study group or mastermind group
Joining a study group or mastermind group is a great way to learn from others and stay motivated.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Research different study groups and mastermind groups
  • Find a group that is a good fit for your needs
  • Attend group meetings regularly
Attend a workshop on outsourcing
Attending a workshop on outsourcing will provide you with an opportunity to learn from experts and network with other professionals in the field.
Browse courses on Outsourcing
Show steps
  • Research different workshops
  • Register for a workshop
  • Attend the workshop
Volunteer your skills to a non-profit organization
Volunteering your skills to a non-profit organization is a great way to give back to your community and gain valuable experience.
Browse courses on Volunteering
Show steps
  • Research different non-profit organizations
  • Identify your skills and interests
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities

Career center

Learners who complete Master Outsourcing | Get the best price & save time will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are those who start their own ventures by identifying unmet market needs. The course will help you to put your ideas into practice. You will gain insights into what it takes to turn concepts into reality.
Project Manager
Project management encompasses tasks ranging from planning to scheduling to execution to closure. This course will help you develop strategies for the effective management of people, resources, and time.
Marketing Associate
Marketing encompasses a vast array of responsibilities such as brand building, market segmentation, and sales promotion. The course will show you how to juggle these tasks and ensure the timely delivery of quality products and services.
Business Analyst
Business analysts help businesses define and refine their processes to improve profitability. This course will help you develop research and analytical skills that will be useful in any organization.
Operations Manager
Operations managers oversee the entire production process, often dealing with multiple departments and vendors. This course will help you to develop strategies for maximizing the efficiency of every aspect of an organization, from purchasing to production.
Consultant
Consultants are essentially problem solvers who work with different businesses to help them find innovative solutions. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to conduct research, analyze data, and offer solutions.
Freelancer
Freelancers, or independent contractors, work on a per-project basis, offering their skills to various clients, often through online platforms. This course, which will teach you how to leverage such platforms, will help you to build a successful career as a freelancer.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts use advanced analytical techniques to help businesses make better decisions. This course will help you develop the skills you need to collect, analyze, and interpret data in order to solve complex problems.
Product Manager
Product managers shape the development and launch of products, sometimes managing entire product lines. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to create and execute product strategies that meet the needs of customers.
Business Development Manager
Business development managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to build relationships with potential clients, understand their needs, and close deals.
Sales Manager
Sales managers oversee sales teams, set sales targets, and develop sales strategies. This course may be useful in developing the skills you need to create effective sales strategies and motivate your team to achieve sales goals.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts evaluate investments, make recommendations, and help businesses make financial decisions. This course may be useful in developing the skills you need to analyze financial data and make sound investment decisions.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers oversee all aspects of employee relations, from recruiting to training to performance management. This course may be useful in developing the skills you need to manage employee relations and create a positive work environment.
Supply Chain Manager
Supply chain managers oversee the flow of goods from suppliers to customers. This course may be useful in developing the skills you need to manage supply chains and ensure that goods are delivered to customers on time and within budget.
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality assurance managers oversee the quality of products and services. This course may be useful in developing the skills you need to develop and implement quality assurance programs.

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Master Outsourcing | Get the best price & save time.
Provides a framework for building and launching successful businesses using the lean methodology. It is particularly useful for entrepreneurs who are looking to minimize risk and maximize their chances of success.
Explores the challenges that large, established companies face when they are trying to innovate. It provides insights into how to overcome these challenges and create a culture of innovation within an organization.
Provides a guide to working remotely and managing a remote team. It valuable resource for anyone who is considering working remotely or starting a remote business.
Provides a guide to escaping the traditional 9-5 job and creating a more fulfilling life. It valuable resource for anyone who is looking to achieve financial independence and live a more自由 lifestyle.
Provides a guide to financial literacy and investing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to build wealth and achieve financial success.
Provides a guide to value investing and how to make smart investment decisions. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to build wealth and achieve financial success.
Provides a guide to strategy and tactics in business and life. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to achieve their goals and succeed in their endeavors.
Provides a guide to political power and how to achieve it. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to influence others and achieve their goals.
Provides a guide to personal and professional effectiveness. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to achieve their goals and live a more fulfilling life.
Provides a guide to achieving success in business and life. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to set goals and achieve their dreams.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Master Outsourcing | Get the best price & save time.
Outsource your idea | Launch your business for 1/4 the...
Most relevant
IT Outsourcing - Vendor Selection and Contracting
Most relevant
IT Outsourcing - Running an Outsourcing Initiative
IT Outsourcing - Dealing with Outsourcing Risks
Business Process Outsourcing Strategies in Hospitality
Canva Graphic Design for Entrepreneurs - Design 11...
Sharing Effective Visual Forecasts
Spring Framework 5: Using Spring Security OAuth2 Login
Designing Project Information Hubs for Performance
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser