In this article you will continue to gain insights on how to leverage your time and results through the power of out-tasking by learning more inside tips, tricks, and strategies used when searching for solution providers.

Proper use of out-tasking is one of the tricks of the trade that, once you get a handle on and become proficient, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.

As with any new strategy or technique though, it takes action and implementation on your part. Once you begin to apply these techniques and strategies you’ll soon recognize that it is not that complicated at all and your aptitude and comfort level will grow rather quickly.

The quickest way, as mentioned in the previous article, is to dive right in and hire a virtual assistant. This will build your out-tasking muscles and begin freeing your time to focus on revenue-producing activities. The one I use is www.LongerDays.com.

Next would be to post a project at one of the popular freelance sites: elance.com (web design, copywriting, ghost-writing, SEO, graphic design, software development, etc.). Remember, just because you post a project does not mean you must actually hire anyone. Do it just for the practice once or twice.

Now let me share with you a checklist of little tricks MikeFilsaime.com, Inc. has learned throughout the years when dealing with out-taskers.

• Ensure you have a clear vision of the end results you are seeking. Draw it out or mind map it to cover all the bases. We use www.MindJet.com.
• Post a 10-day job and hire no sooner than the 7th day. Be patient.
• Post projects in simple form and tell them you will provide an accompanying word doc with overload details (keeps job secret and not public, which could give other people ideas to run with).
• Be sure to post your budget, and use the phrase, “This is an easy job for the right person,” in the bid to keep the price low.
• Place a code word in your project that they must reply with in order to be considered. This eliminates auto-replies that sound good but most of time they never read your project requirements.
• Check referrals.
• Be sure to get a working copy of the script as soon as possible (in your hands, not on their servers), as many times projects are paid for only to disappear before fulfilling the end product.
• Always request template based scripts and fully commented code for software and scripts.
• Do not allow them to outsource to a 3rd party (very common if not addressed).
• Insist on their top people working on your project/script, not their new people.
• Have a non-disclosure agreement and a non-compete clause that states the project cannot be used to develop or bid on other projects . . . ever.
• State they may not illegally use anyone else’s technology simply because they were the prior developer.
• Use the communication tools provided by the site and not via email or IM until later stages of the project when trust has been established.
• State that you will not pay for unforeseen yet obvious needs and incremental changes that will be required.
• State that all bugs and minor tweaks will be done for 90 days after project completion with no additional charge.
• And when you do find extraordinary talented and reliable people, find a way to make them a full time virtual team member.

These are valuable insights that you can benefit from without putting in the years of trial and error we have put in.

Action step for this month is to hire a VA – if you haven’t already – and post a project in elance.com, guru.com, rentacoder.com, scriptlance.com, designoutpost.com, or 99designs.com. Begin working on those out-tasking muscles today!

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By Tom Beal
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This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of the MarketingDotCom newsletter. You can get a free copy of the latest issue for the price of shipping at http://the7figuresecrets.com

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