Several websites make it possible to outsource one-time jobs to freelancers. These websites are becoming more prevalent thanks to a rise in online freelancers and a wide range of specializations. Through these top outsourcing websites, what was formerly a lengthy, unpleasant line at the bank and expensive wire transfer fees have become affordable and hassle-free.
While a lot of organizations are looking into the advantages of remote workers, a lot of them aren't sure where to seek the right talent. In this situation, placing an advertisement in your neighborhood newspaper won't be effective.
Upwork and Fiverr are two freelancer communities that have grown up to serve the freelance and outsourcing industry. These websites serve as centers for finding independent contractors with the particular abilities you require, assigning jobs, and even tracking your chosen virtual assistant’s progress.
Watch the video below for a quick summary of the article!
A Changing Workforce: Why Hiring Virtual Assistants is the Future
1. It is cheaper compared to hiring a full-time employee
In the realm of freelancing, there is tremendous competition, both for quality and for rates. Freelancers are permitted to charge what it would cost to hire a full-time worker. They avoid proposing excessive fees in order to persuade employers to outsource work instead of hiring additional internal employees.
Companies that use freelancers reduce not only costs but also save time. When compared to full-time employees, freelancers frequently complete tasks significantly more quickly, which can save employers money on man-hours.
You can save even more money by choosing to hire Filipino independent virtual assistants for your work. The Economist lists Filipinos as some of the top business English speakers in the world. At the same time, the Philippines is in the bottom three in the world in terms of wages; thus, employers are more likely to get the most out of their budget if they choose to outsource to Filipino freelancers.
2. It allows employers to get more work done
Virtual assistants are not constrained by set working hours like full-time workers are. While many independent contractors accept assignments on an hourly basis, many also choose to be paid according to the volume or the precise requirements of the task. As a result, employers can assign the job to freelancers in the evening and return the next day with a finished product.
Virtual assistants are able to work on the weekends and on public holidays. Employers can guarantee the continuous operation of their business around-the-clock by using a mix of full-time staff, virtual assistants, and part-timers.
3. It results in consistent and high-quality work
Virtual assistants frequently specialize in the particular type of work they conduct. They devote time and energy to developing a certain skill set, which they later promote on freelance websites. They bid on jobs that are compatible with their abilities and skills in order to build their portfolios; this practice enables them to gain experience and enhances the way they manage and carry out their projects. Many virtual assistants make an attempt to uphold a consistent level of quality in order to keep their employers and support their fees.
Freelancing Vs. Outsourcing: Which Option to Choose?
People should also take into account another distinction between freelancing and outsourcing. Freelancing is often less supervised and more project-based. While outsourcing is frequently employed for permanent positions and is normally carried out in a controlled, professional setting. When determining how to complete your work, it's crucial to evaluate both choices. Here are some important ways that outsourcing differs from freelancing:
- Roles that are continuing (as opposed to project jobs), usually need at least one full-time position.
- Managed and supported environments (HR, training, etc.)
- Account management and the structure of accountability.
- Reputable, high-quality offices with first-rate hardware, connectivity to the internet, security, and infrastructure.
- Enhances the potential for institutional expansion by enabling greater scalability of jobs, teams, and space.
- Results that are far more trustworthy and professionalized.
Top 2 Outsourcing Platforms Compared: Upwork Vs Fiverr
Upwork
Pros of Upwork
- When hiring customer support or virtual assistants, it is quite handy to be able to filter freelancers by time zone.
- Employers can design detailed job advertisements that include prerequisites for language proficiency, price ranges, the degree of industry expertise, and even the minimum amount of Upwork earnings necessary to apply.
- You should typically anticipate receiving at least 5 to 10 proposals from freelancers unless the task is really specialized.
- When looking for the ideal freelancer for your project, the user interface is simple to utilize.
- The tool allows freelancers to keep track of hourly work. A great deal of the client's worry is relieved by this accountability.
Cons of Upwork
- The rating and feedback system puts employers in a difficult situation. As one reviewer put it, "it puts me in an awkward position to provide a negative review when I know they have the passwords to my site and will be working on it in the future." Another reviewer stated, "It's uncomfortable to give an honest evaluation."
- Freelancers and clients alike frequently act recklessly. Due to the fact that work cannot be picked up pre-packaged, communication between parties is necessary. Ghosting is a simple way to avoid hiring somebody for the position.
- The platform's workflows and procedures occasionally crash. How and when to close contracts is unclear. For the freelancer or the client, reporting payments and transactions is not intuitive.
- Most of the freelancers are from developed countries like the US and UK, and thus they charge much more than expected.
Fiverr
Pros of Fiverr
- Depending on the provider, a task may be finished in a matter of hours.
- For smaller requirements, you can affordably get what you need.
- You can hire a Fiverr Pro if you want high-quality work. Only 1% of virtual assistants have been verified as pros.
- There are many skilled freelancers charging market rates in addition to professionals.
- You're likely to find someone who suits your exact niche among the tens of thousands of gigs available.
- The majority of the time, employers find that Fiverr stands by them in legal disputes and will refund payments if they're not happy with the service.
Cons of Fiverr
- When you purchase a gig at a low price, it can be challenging to request revisions or upgrades. Whatever you pay for, you get.
- Their top sellers and professionals could set improbable timelines. You might have to wait weeks for your deliverables if they have hundreds of orders in line.
- Numerous scams. There are numerous gigs that advertise greater quality work than they actually provide while charging astronomically low costs. You might get something totally meaningless and have to start over.
Should Businesses Use Any Of These Platforms?
Both Upwork and Fiverr have a lot of profiles of endless professionals offering their services across various niches. However, the platform favors freelancers that have received more reviews in the past by completing more projects. Thus, as an employer, you might not come across virtual assistants that offer quality services at lower costs just because they have fewer reviews or are new to the platform.
Also, Upwork and Fiverr charge a huge amount of commissions - both from freelancers and employers. A considerable amount adds up when you have to pay the staff you have hired. And as freelancers have to pay a percentage of their incomes to the platforms, they keep their prices higher to cover the cost.
Both these platforms consist of freelancers and virtual assistants from developed countries, and thus they charge more in terms of dollars. Thus, small businesses that are looking to hire specialists on a budget might not be able to afford the professionals available on these platforms.
There are a lot of other platforms apart from Upwork and Fiverr where businesses can hire virtual assistants at a much cheaper rate. You should consider hiring from developing countries where the cost of living is lower as compared to developed ones.
Alternative to Upwork and Fiverr: VirtualStaff.ph
VirtualStaff.ph is a Philippines outsourcing marketplace - where you can find and hire Filipino workers for various administrative and specialist tasks. The Phillippines ranks among the top three countries and has retained the title of "The BPO Capital of the World" since 2010. Also, being a former Spanish and American colony provided them with cultural compatibility with more developed countries.
IT services (54%) finance (44%) payroll services (32%) and customer service or contact centers (22%) are the most often outsourced services from the Philippines. Below are a few reasons how outsourcing to the Phillippines can help avoid the time-consuming process of acquiring and training new employees while allowing firms to expand.
1. Larger Talent Pool
2. Lower Employment Costs
3. Superior Linguistic Abilities
4. Reduced Legal Liabilities and Management Issues
5. Cultural Compatibility
6. Robust Government Support
7. High-Quality Deliverables
8. Data Privacy and Security
9. Customer Service Skills and Hospitality Values
10. Increased Customer Satisfaction
11. Strong Work Ethics
A virtual outsourcing marketplace like VirtualStaff.ph can help you find the right candidates for the desired roles. Below are some major benefits of outsourcing virtual staff:
- Post jobs and invite talent to apply to your job post.
- Message candidates and send job offers to the applicants you want to hire.
- Hire staff at almost half of the prices as compared to countries like US and UK.
- Use time tracking and management tools to monitor the number of hours worked.
- Pay staff with a click of a button from inside your account.
- No requirements for advance payments as in the case of hiring agencies.
- No responsibilities for offering taxes or healthcare benefits.
Conclusion
Freelancing will become more and more common as long as the world is changing and individuals are looking for more harmony in their personal and professional lives. Employers won't have an option as to whether or not they hire freelancers in the future. Although outsourcing may have its ups and downs, you must adapt if you want the right talent.
People looking for freelance employees can get a lot of help from websites like Fiverr and UpWork which bring communities of qualified people together on an accessible platform. However, with the rise of more outsourcing platforms, it is a good idea to consider alternatives to Upwork and Fiverr, to find more qualified virtual assistants at a comparatively low cost.
You can begin your outsourcing journey and hire workers directly using a Philippines outsourcing marketplace like VirtualStaff.ph, where you can find, recruit, and pay workers without any middlemen while being confident that you're offering them the actual salary rates! Begin your outsourcing journey today by scrolling through the profiles of hundreds of qualified professionals or simply contact the team to find the right staff for you!
