Shock, horror. Birmingham city council is being lampooned for being a pioneer and offshoring 100 low-level back-office IT jobs to India.
I think its great news. The council, together with Capita will now be able to circumvent the unions and get people to do a hard days graft while saving the taxpayer money. I know, I sound incredibly right wing. Perhaps I am when it comes to jobs, outsourcing and offshoring. I prefer to think of it more as foreward thinking.
Why all the uproar? I got into a brief spat on Twitter with a small B2B magazine on the issue. They kept falling back on the argument "But its taxpayers money being exported". "A bad day for Birmingham." "100 jobs lost"
That's 100 people that work in IT who are now free from the shackles of a desk. They will get a decent redundancy package and if they have any sense, they will use it to get their own business off the ground. Its 100 more potential TweetDecks in the making. Its 100 people that will have to pull their finger out and do something with their lives. Its the future. Deal with it.
Its also nothing new. Taxpayers money has been walking out the door or being 'exported' for decades. SERCO, General Electric, Microsoft, Siemens and so many more global companies have been getting a slice of the action for years. Imagine if all the computers in the government had to be made by British firms? Or all the operating systems? How about all the mobile phones, cars, stationery and everything else? We would all be bankrupt and living on foreign aid.
Why is it so different when it comes to labour? If labour is a commodity and it can be provided for lower cost and higher quality elsewhere, then market forces will take their toll. Its simple economics and it makes sense to me.
Congratulations Birmingham on taking a bold first step. Here's hoping other government departments follow suit and make the most of the global economy while also ploughing the billions we save in to fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity that we so badly need to take us forward in the years ahead.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Sunday, 3 April 2011
5 great resources for small businesses
Have come across some excellent resources for small businesses recently and thought I would share them.
Xero.com
A New Zealand based outfit with offices in London and Australia offers an online SAAS bookkeeping and accounting solution. I have been using it for 6 months or so now and I find it first rate - easy to set-up, easy to share access with financial advisers and easy to issues invoices and keep track of payments.. shame the price jumps so much for handling multiple currencies - but still good value for money. It pays for itself each month when I get round to generating invoices - I used to do each one manually in a Word Doc.. major pain!
All Day PA
Just came across this and looking at giving it a try until our UK operations are scaled up enough to warrant having someone in-house - not tested it out thoroughly - but seems to offer professional service and good value for money. (£100 a month or less by all accounts - for up to 200 calls).. no contract, no setup fee. Will report back once I have given it a road test.
OnlinePRNews.com
Have used these guys for over a year now as and when I need to. Fast and professional service, have had a good response from even the cheapest packages ($12). If you are into PR distribution, suggest you give it a whirl.
UK Business Forums
A relatively new member, I dip in and out of these forums now and then - its a great source of information and advice for anyone interested in doing business with or in the UK. Probably the best forum in its niche.
Freelancer.co.uk
Declaration: I am the UK Manager (on a Freelance, but close to full time basis)
Last but not least Freelancer.co.uk is an outstanding platform to get fixed price jobs done. Average job gets about 25 bids (unless like me you have someone in mind and hire them before its even distributed to their network of 2.5m users). The Aussie based site is going from strength to strength with plenty of hard work behind the scenes to attract quality buyers and providers, improve the interface and enhance the service portfolio. It's a must try in my book - and just keeps getting better..
Xero.com
A New Zealand based outfit with offices in London and Australia offers an online SAAS bookkeeping and accounting solution. I have been using it for 6 months or so now and I find it first rate - easy to set-up, easy to share access with financial advisers and easy to issues invoices and keep track of payments.. shame the price jumps so much for handling multiple currencies - but still good value for money. It pays for itself each month when I get round to generating invoices - I used to do each one manually in a Word Doc.. major pain!
All Day PA
Just came across this and looking at giving it a try until our UK operations are scaled up enough to warrant having someone in-house - not tested it out thoroughly - but seems to offer professional service and good value for money. (£100 a month or less by all accounts - for up to 200 calls).. no contract, no setup fee. Will report back once I have given it a road test.
OnlinePRNews.com
Have used these guys for over a year now as and when I need to. Fast and professional service, have had a good response from even the cheapest packages ($12). If you are into PR distribution, suggest you give it a whirl.
UK Business Forums
A relatively new member, I dip in and out of these forums now and then - its a great source of information and advice for anyone interested in doing business with or in the UK. Probably the best forum in its niche.
Freelancer.co.uk
Declaration: I am the UK Manager (on a Freelance, but close to full time basis)
Last but not least Freelancer.co.uk is an outstanding platform to get fixed price jobs done. Average job gets about 25 bids (unless like me you have someone in mind and hire them before its even distributed to their network of 2.5m users). The Aussie based site is going from strength to strength with plenty of hard work behind the scenes to attract quality buyers and providers, improve the interface and enhance the service portfolio. It's a must try in my book - and just keeps getting better..
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Heading up the UK arm of Freelancer
Having worked with Freelancer on their launch into the UK market, I have just taken on the role of UK Manager. Exciting times. My remit is to raise their profile, build their brand and increase usage of the site in the UK..
Its a little weird - a cross between a full time job and running my own company - a sign of the things to come I guess - I am now part of a growing band of freelance executives - testimony that you can outsource anything online - from day to day admin - to strategic positions.
Anyway, updates to my blog may take a hit while I get to grips with the new position and get into the swing of things..
Its a little weird - a cross between a full time job and running my own company - a sign of the things to come I guess - I am now part of a growing band of freelance executives - testimony that you can outsource anything online - from day to day admin - to strategic positions.
Anyway, updates to my blog may take a hit while I get to grips with the new position and get into the swing of things..
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
A great start to 2011 for TailorMadeSupport and its clients
Its been a while since our last blog post. I have been immersed in fulfilling two very different marketing contracts for new clients we acquired at the end of 2010.
The first, an online marketing assignment for Devonshires Solicitors, a London City Law firm who we have been working with to raise their online profile. Its early days but our integrated online 'White Hat' activity has secured the firm page 1 listings for a broad range of relevant and highly competitive search terms in a matter of months.
The firm is now listed on page one of Google for terms including "Solicitors", "London Solicitors", "City Law Firm", "Solicitors EC2", "London Lawyer" and many more. We are pleased with the results and look forward to working with the firm for the foreseeable future to build on the foundations we have laid, further enhance their online presence and break into the social media space in the months ahead.
The second major contract we have been working on is an offline marketing and PR assignment for Freelancer.com, one of the most popular websites in the World! This assignment involved media planning, negotiation and buying around the launch of the Freelancer.co.uk website. Together with working on PR and obtaining media exposure.
The integrated advertising campaign broke in February and included a range of outdoor formats including 500 London Taxis, from Taxi Media (for which we were awarded campaign of the month), 100 billboards across London, Ads on the Glasgow Subway and sponsorship of the James Max Show on LBC Radio. Other activity included print advertising in relevant B2B publications, sponsorship of digital newsletters and online advertising including a homepage takeover of the Manchester Evening News website for 1 week. The activity was a resounding success. We negotiated discounts of up to 90% on some media, and an average discount of 65% across the board.
Our PR Activity for Freelancer has already secured some major media coverage including a case study on BBC World, a feature on the Register and an interview on the James Max show on LBC. Other activity included an interview for Entrepreneurship Interviews. Articles in Outsource Magazine and Start Your Business Magazine will follow in the weeks ahead.
We are delighted to be working with companies as big as Freelancer and Devonshires Solicitors and look forward to expanding our client base in the weeks and months ahead. If you want help with your online or offline marketing, or indeed any other support service for small and medium businesses then we would be pleased to discuss your requirements in more details - provided you are not a solicitor - or an outsourcing marketplace - as we only take on 1 major client in any niche to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure we can deliver the best possible service to all our clients.
Check out our website (which still needs to be redeveloped) or ring me on 07966 960 625.
The firm is now listed on page one of Google for terms including "Solicitors", "London Solicitors", "City Law Firm", "Solicitors EC2", "London Lawyer" and many more. We are pleased with the results and look forward to working with the firm for the foreseeable future to build on the foundations we have laid, further enhance their online presence and break into the social media space in the months ahead.
The integrated advertising campaign broke in February and included a range of outdoor formats including 500 London Taxis, from Taxi Media (for which we were awarded campaign of the month), 100 billboards across London, Ads on the Glasgow Subway and sponsorship of the James Max Show on LBC Radio. Other activity included print advertising in relevant B2B publications, sponsorship of digital newsletters and online advertising including a homepage takeover of the Manchester Evening News website for 1 week. The activity was a resounding success. We negotiated discounts of up to 90% on some media, and an average discount of 65% across the board.
Our PR Activity for Freelancer has already secured some major media coverage including a case study on BBC World, a feature on the Register and an interview on the James Max show on LBC. Other activity included an interview for Entrepreneurship Interviews. Articles in Outsource Magazine and Start Your Business Magazine will follow in the weeks ahead.
We are delighted to be working with companies as big as Freelancer and Devonshires Solicitors and look forward to expanding our client base in the weeks and months ahead. If you want help with your online or offline marketing, or indeed any other support service for small and medium businesses then we would be pleased to discuss your requirements in more details - provided you are not a solicitor - or an outsourcing marketplace - as we only take on 1 major client in any niche to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure we can deliver the best possible service to all our clients.
Check out our website (which still needs to be redeveloped) or ring me on 07966 960 625.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
WhichLance Promotional Video
Just produced and published a promotional video for http://WhichLance.com
Anyone interested in getting similar work, contact http://www.tailormadesupport.com. Outstanding work, fully managed and guaranteed from only £175!
Anyone interested in getting similar work, contact http://www.tailormadesupport.com. Outstanding work, fully managed and guaranteed from only £175!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Is big business coming after the freelancers lunch?
In the latest issue of Outsource Magazine (Issue 21, Page 78: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxteu/EMP/OutsourceIssue21/#/78) Dr Bharat Vagadia, CEO of Op2i wrote a piece on SME Outsourcing which raises the spectre of the big boys in BPO and KPO eyeing up what is currently the small, independent freelancers meal ticket.
Dr Vagadia says "With the large enterprise market beginning to saturate in terms of opportunities for vendors, all have eyes firmly fixed on the SME market as the next target for growth". A cursory search on Google reveals Vagadia is likely right, everyone that's anyone in outsourcing thinks SMEs are the next cash cow.
So, should this sound alarm bells for the freelance VAs in the Philippines, programmers in Russia and researchers in India?
My gut thinking is there is some cause for concern. The big boys have plenty of muscle and financial resources at their disposal, they have the ear of the global media machine and they have the wherewithal to saturate and dominate this growing market. But, do they have the nous? Do they have the intimate understanding of the intricacies of doing business on such a small scale?
I have no doubt they can break into the market, displacing, or more likely swallowing up an army of independent freelancers as they go, but can they make it pay, for both the ex-freelancer and their shareholders? Can they convert this sector into a significant enough addition to their bottom line to be able to generate a dividend from it? Maybe not. Or, not yet anyway.
There are of course other ways the Outsourcing giants can break into the market. One of these would be through freelance marketplaces. So, what impact will the big boys muscling in on the market have on the current big boys like Elance, oDesk, vWorker, Freelancer and the like?
This depends on the route they take. They could take a hard-nosed, arrogant approach, and decide the marketplaces are an unnecessary evil or middle man and seek to enter the market without them. Or, they could take a more level headed approach and appreciate these are the very people who have been building, supporting and nurturing the very market they want to enter.
Those large companies who appreciate the latter and afford the existing online outsourcing marketplaces the respect they deserve are more likely to succeed.
I think, some will take the high road and some the low road. Many will fail along the way.
Those who take the time to understand the micro-outsourcing industry, nurture relationships with the current leaders in the field and learn from them will have the best shot at not only capitalising on the recent growth in SME outsourcing, but pushing the boundaries and making it mainstream.
About the Author
Saif Bonar is Founder of WhichLance.com, the online outsourcing comparison site. He produces the Freelance Marketplace Review, on a quarterly basis and has over 7 years experience on both sides of the fence of micro-outsourcing.
Dr Vagadia says "With the large enterprise market beginning to saturate in terms of opportunities for vendors, all have eyes firmly fixed on the SME market as the next target for growth". A cursory search on Google reveals Vagadia is likely right, everyone that's anyone in outsourcing thinks SMEs are the next cash cow.
So, should this sound alarm bells for the freelance VAs in the Philippines, programmers in Russia and researchers in India?
My gut thinking is there is some cause for concern. The big boys have plenty of muscle and financial resources at their disposal, they have the ear of the global media machine and they have the wherewithal to saturate and dominate this growing market. But, do they have the nous? Do they have the intimate understanding of the intricacies of doing business on such a small scale?
I have no doubt they can break into the market, displacing, or more likely swallowing up an army of independent freelancers as they go, but can they make it pay, for both the ex-freelancer and their shareholders? Can they convert this sector into a significant enough addition to their bottom line to be able to generate a dividend from it? Maybe not. Or, not yet anyway.
There are of course other ways the Outsourcing giants can break into the market. One of these would be through freelance marketplaces. So, what impact will the big boys muscling in on the market have on the current big boys like Elance, oDesk, vWorker, Freelancer and the like?
This depends on the route they take. They could take a hard-nosed, arrogant approach, and decide the marketplaces are an unnecessary evil or middle man and seek to enter the market without them. Or, they could take a more level headed approach and appreciate these are the very people who have been building, supporting and nurturing the very market they want to enter.
Those large companies who appreciate the latter and afford the existing online outsourcing marketplaces the respect they deserve are more likely to succeed.
I think, some will take the high road and some the low road. Many will fail along the way.
Those who take the time to understand the micro-outsourcing industry, nurture relationships with the current leaders in the field and learn from them will have the best shot at not only capitalising on the recent growth in SME outsourcing, but pushing the boundaries and making it mainstream.
About the Author
Saif Bonar is Founder of WhichLance.com, the online outsourcing comparison site. He produces the Freelance Marketplace Review, on a quarterly basis and has over 7 years experience on both sides of the fence of micro-outsourcing.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Writing gigs
I am trying to get back into writing and journalism, having gotten a little bit rusty since shunning writing news (or doing anything) on SurfLondon.co.uk in favour of paid work back in 2001.
So, in addition to this blog, I have taken on a couple of regular writing gigs to brush up on my skills, while also helping some clients of TailorMadeSEO.com to improve their SERPs.
So, from today onwards you will find I will be writing several pieces a week on Email Marketing and Email Deliverability, for EmailExpert.org. I will continue writing the Freelance Market Review, for WhichLance.com and will also be contributing a few stories each week to BSR-Russia.com, a rapidly growing English language news site focused on Business, Politics and Economics in Russia.
I am thinking about some other writing offers which have cropped up - but will share more later!
So, in addition to this blog, I have taken on a couple of regular writing gigs to brush up on my skills, while also helping some clients of TailorMadeSEO.com to improve their SERPs.
So, from today onwards you will find I will be writing several pieces a week on Email Marketing and Email Deliverability, for EmailExpert.org. I will continue writing the Freelance Market Review, for WhichLance.com and will also be contributing a few stories each week to BSR-Russia.com, a rapidly growing English language news site focused on Business, Politics and Economics in Russia.
I am thinking about some other writing offers which have cropped up - but will share more later!
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