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Outsourcing Administrative Support Services Over Web

Posted by sd2187 on 8/9/2004 at 10:46 AM ET 200 Points

hi ,
I am a Small Entreprenuer from INDIA.
I am keen to Provide 'Administrative Support Services '
i.e. Data Entry, Word Processing, Web Research,Mailing List Developement etc. through elance and other sites.

Could u suggest me how to compete among the large
no of service providers. How can i create trust with buyers.(any certifications,assessment frm third party,
? )any emarketing, announcement ?? any success story/model .........

I am an MBA(marketing) from iiswbm.edu . I have
3 yrs developement exp in vb 6. I have formed a small
team of 3 technical and 1 designer.

thanks,
sd

Posted by Sharon on 8/9/2004 at 10:33 PM Accepted

sd,
First you should use those MBA skills to do a market analysis. Figure out whether there is a need for a smaller more flexible service, which you would clearly provide. Discover what the weaknesses of the current services are, where their customers think they could improve, or better yet, the areas their customers think they are inherently weak (ie, flexibility, speed, or cost).

From there, develop a business plan outlining your plan of attack.

I'm curious, do you have business now? With a team of four, you must have some business to support those salaries. How did you get the customers you already have?

Best of luck to you.
Posted by sd2187 on 8/10/2004 at 4:04 AM Author

Thanks sharon for the reply.
I have developed applications for local businesses.
A/c and inventory etc. Also done web designing etc.
In my team 2 guys are fixed. rest work on freelance
basis.

regards
sd
Posted by telemoxie on 8/10/2004 at 8:21 AM Accepted

Sorry to be brutally honest, but if you want to stand out from the thousands in India, TRY USING PROPER ENGLISH. From a quick scan of your first post, I would say that you made at least twenty (20) minor errors (including spacing, spelling, etc.).
Posted by Michele on 8/10/2004 at 10:52 AM Accepted

You have three options: either 'job shop', go to market with a developed application or compete for bespoke work.

It is difficult to try and sell development work without an agent located in the area that you are trying to do business in. Some amount of face to face work is always useful to clarify the project objectives and minimise scope creep. See if you can find someone you trust to try and sell your work in other regions.

Do you have a website for your entity? Start with that - make sure it is well written and states what you do. Then try online networking applications like Linked In, Spoke, or Ecademy. See if you can get some PR around a solution that you have already developed - that should create some interest and awareness in your company.

I must say that I do agree with telemoxie - every piece of writing that you do is part of your overall image - make sure that you eliminate spelling errors and lazy abbreviations - they do not create a professional impression. Download IESPELL from www.downloads.com!

Michele.
Posted by sd2187 on 8/13/2004 at 8:02 AM Author

Thanks michele, telemoxie for the support.

I have thought about my action plan.
I have two software applications which I can market.
First is a utility tool (to maintain contact details) and another is an Accounting and Inventory Application for jewelers(work in final stages).

I have low priced the utility tool for impulse purchase.
This week I approached three existing customers and all purchased without really trying the software!

I am also looking for representative/partner in US, Europe, Australia to get projects related to jewelers. He can be a tech savvy jeweler or an accountant working for jeweler
or someone who is confident of getting projects. I can give commission on projects.

I can use remote control software like ultravnc and chat tool to communicate . I am also trying to improve my english. And get my content for website written by a content
writer/journalist.

So please suggest how can i find a representative. Newspaper ad ? Or you know any online community for jewelers. I will also search at ryze, ecademy etc.

I have postponed the idea of getting work from elance etc. so that I can concentrate these two applications.

Regards,
Sd2187

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