Running an agency is a lot like keeping many plates spinning at once, it takes the ability to multitask like a pro, top notch communication skills, laser like focus and time management that would make the military weep. It is no wonder that when agencies start to grow, the plates begin to wobble. It’s at this point that you need to outsource to increase productivity.
One lesson that every agency owner learns sooner or later is the power of delegation. When the plates are wobbling, your communication starts to break down and your time management becomes sub par. You are at maximum capacity, but you do not have to do this alone. Why not focus your time on an area of expertise, and let professionals take over the drains on your time and energy?
So what areas can you outsource to increase productivity?
Graphic Designers
So you want your client’s site to stand out with bespoke graphics and eye-catching designs, but this does not mean you have to spend hours getting frustrated with Canva. Hire an expert to realise your visual goals and execute them to higher standard than you probably could.
If you use a designer for one off work, you may have to make a point of clearly explaining your vision. However if you begin a longstanding relationship with a graphic designer, they will develop an understanding of what your clients like and need, and can make an effort of working towards your brand’s tone of voice.
Design Pickle offers unlimited edits on their work, which is great for agencies who are looking to refine their process. This will help you know what information to give up front and have a clearer idea of your visual graphic needs (sometimes you don’t know until you see it).
Copywriting
The words on the page are important for conversions, they help build authority and trust with customers, they convey the tone of the client; professional, informal, hip or perfect for older adults. That is a lot of pressure that can leave you staring at the dreaded blank page!
Ship this straight off to a professional wordsmith and save yourself the worry. Let them agonize over the oxford comma and bask in the glory of a beautifully finished product. Head over to Copify to find a Copywriter whose skill sets match up with your needs and look at some of their previous work to find out if their style suits your client.
PPC
If you are not technically minded, PPC can seem like a minefield that can quickly cost yourself and client money. Alternatively if you have a full roster of clients and you feel you are at capacity, outsourcing a couple of clients’ PPC can quickly free up a lot of time so you can concentrate on what matters most – your agency.
SEO
Search Engine Optimization is a curious combination of technical nous and creativity. Making sure your client’s site is optimized is only half the battle, but producing regular, interesting and bespoke content, that is relevant and engaging is an enormous time commitment. Instead of shackling yourself to scraping together a weekly blog post for your SEO clients, find an agency that can take the responsibility off your hands.
Scale Squad offers packages for every price range that takes care of technicalities, the content and offers monthly reports in an accessible format, perfect for presenting to the end client. They are well versed in White Label business so are experts at letting the agency shine.
Web Design
The user experience on any site is really important to retaining customers, improving conversions and furthering your client’s brand. A poor, old fashioned website or amateur website can quickly turn customers off, as they fear the client is unprofessional. If the website is slow, many customers won’t have the patience to wait for it to load, or if the user experience is lousy (a clunky form, not mobile reactive, links not working etc) they will quickly turn to a competitor.
If one of your clients is in need of an update, and you don’t have days to dedicate to the project, outsource it! Jordan Crown offers clean cut and unique websites to fit your clients’ project and take their digital strategy to the next level.
Just for you – Virtual Assistant
Sometimes the best way to increase your productivity is to ditch the admin, and there is no better way than a virtual assistant. Treat yourself to a little help at the ‘office’ and watch as you work more efficiently and you start realising your agency’s goals!
Zirtual is a great place to start for finding the key to unlocking your productivity. Zirtual offers professional virtual PA’s that can help from anything from data entry to travel plans!
The most successful and productive agencies we see are good at knowing when to use in-house resources versus knowing when to outsource workload to external professionals. So what areas could you outsource to increase productivity?
