There is a long list of benefits to outsourcing some of the more technical, repetitive, and specialist tasks you need for your company to thrive. It allows you to have access to skills that you can’t afford – or don’t need – to have on site full-time, and can help bridge the chasm between your small company and the giant ones, who have all the resources of organisations with big money to spend. However, there’ll be plenty of companies who promise much and deliver little, so how do you find one that you can trust to take your business to the next level?
First Glances
You can tell a lot about the quality of a company just by looking at their online presence. If you’re looking for social media experts, then it’s logical to take a look at the social media pages you’re considering hiring. If their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages are underwhelming, then that’s a telltale sign that they’re probably not going to be able to deliver. And for any task, any company with a website that looks dated, or full of spelling errors, or otherwise clearly substandard should be a red flag.
Look at their Track Record
Don’t just rely on what they’re saying they can do, look at what they’ve done. If you’re considering outsourcing your IT responsibilities to a company, ask to see what companies they’ve worked with in the past and how they’ve helped improve their IT infrastructure. Any company can say they’re diligent, respectful, and always have their clients as their number one focus. To find a business you can trust to do the job well; you should look beyond the niceties and determine what they’re actually capable of.
Testimonials and Reviews
The internet has been a disaster for some companies, and great for others. Why? Because now, there’s nowhere to hide. If a company does a shoddy job, you can bet your bottom dollar that the client will be using the internet as a tool to air their complaints. Use online review sites to discover any issues past clients have had; it’ll separate the good companies from the bad pretty quickly. If you were looking for HR services, you’d be encouraged to read that Peninsula Group complaints are few and far between; that in itself is a recommendation of trust. If previous clients have had no issues, it’s a good indicator that you won’t have any issues, either.
Talking Directly
You should investigate a company as thoroughly as possible, but when it comes to building trust, there’s no substitute for talking with a real person at the company. You’ll have a feeling, good or bad, that a company is the right one for you just by getting a feel for how they conduct themselves, whether they seem professional, and so on.
A Trial Period
And remember this: if a company you’ve hired is failing to deliver, then you won’t be duty bound to accept their service. Make sure you’re bringing up any issues, and try to find an amicable solution.
