View Single Post
Old 06-22-2006   #23
JR
Members
The global leader in pay-per-view AEBN
 
JR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: in my chair
Posts: 3,320
Default Re: Webmaster outsourcing

Quote:
Originally Posted by fusionx
Who would be the best outsourcing company to use for simple HTML work like basic templates, and maybe some light customer service, like assisting newbies with CGI permissions, etc?

No phone calls required, just e-mail, IM and message board support stuff..
also... just a general answer for people to think about since the idea of "cheap labor" seems real enticing BUT usually results in headaches and lost money.


i think design is an issue seperate from all other issues. its the simplest issue to deal with. otherwise, you are basically talking about hiring an employee for other needs.. WITHOUT the benefit of an interview, a resume and talking to them at all. you are taking someone elses word that this person can fulfill all your needs to a T because you have no idea.

my personal advice from experience of managing many people remotely is to ease into it...be ready that its going to be a fuck story every time until you have some time to find the person that works for you. you can't even begin to grasp the frustration of communication issues that are waiting for you. you really can't. its going to be bad if you are looking for an ongoing relationship. everything is going to seem simple to you, clear, straightforward and the other person is going to be telling you every step of the way that they "get it" - they wont most of the time. lost money. lost time. lost customers.

i speak russian so i frequently work with a lot of russians and ukrainians and do so without problem. it took a lot of trial and error and being fluent in both languages did not make communication much easier since the whole business, porn, making a sale etc etc etc on the web is still for the most part, going to be a foreign concept to them.

like any employee/employer relationship, it begins with hiring well... if you don't have the benefit of an interview, of talking to that person about their experiences, seeing samples of their work, learning about their character and personality... in the real world NO ONE would hire someone under those circumstances.

start slow.... test the waters. don't make a serious comittment to anyone (all the idiots in the philippines seem to be big fans of the hard sell - a BIG red light). if you do, you will screw yourself and regret it.
__________________
JR is offline   Reply With Quote