Welcome to the third video in our Top 10 Question series re: how to find, hire and work with a virtual team. (Click here to access a list of all videos and to sign up for email notification of new videos)
Today’s video answers the question:
What do I delegate vs keep to myself?
There are things that you want to give to your team for sure and others that are best kept on your plate… and be aware of one thing that most people want to delegate but shouldn’t!
Questions? Thoughts? Pings? Aha’s or eek’s? Please share via comments below…
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Tina:
I’m enjoying your videos however, I have to disagree with your advice that marketing cannot be, or should not be, delegated in the early stages of a business.
If we’re talking about any type of media marketing, whether it be print, social, or other types of internet marketing, I believe hiring someone who knows what they’re doing is the best idea. Just as a new business owner shouldn’t concern themselves with learning how to set up a shopping cart, the kinds of marketing I’ve just listed really have a huge learning curve and take the business owner away from other things that will grow their business and provide income.
That said, the person hired should work closely with the business owner to determine specifics of the business so that the marketing will have an effect.
Lots of web builders know nothing about the business they’re building the business for and consequently, the hundreds, or thousands, of dollars spent are wasted. This may be what you’re thinking of.
It is definitely important to find someone experienced in copy-writing for web marketing and SEO.
If by marketing we’re talking about cold calling, then yes, the business owner should do that themselves. Otherwise, I say find a good marketer and hire the task out.
Great clarifying point Ruth. Totally agree with you for certain specialties like copywriting, SEO and such – there are some marketing strategies that require a high level of technical knowledge/expertise that wouldn’t be wise for most business owners to try to do themselves.
It’s the relationship building marketing activities that I think are really hard to outsource – things like writing, speaking, JVs, leading classes, talking to potential clients (sales) and such. Those things can be really hard to outsource until there is a set/proven model in place that the business owner knows works to bring in clients (and even then they may still keep it for themselves.)
I do agree with you when you say that most sales and marketing tasks should be done by the business owner, especially if the company has just been put up. The task of testing and evaluating which processes work, and then eventually developing strategic courses of action should fall into the hands of the owner. And like you said, after plans and standardized processes are in place, perhaps outsourcing some marketing tasks would be the optimal choice. I’ve seen this work for most cases I’ve worked with and outsourcing does offer very cost-effective solutions.