When you are a small business owner, your business is your life. Your business is years of dreaming, years of saving, years of hard work, of grinding of not spending as much time with your family as you would like. All of this makes it extremely hard to let go and let others take on some of your work. But if you’re still managing all of your small business marketing efforts, letting go may be exactly what your business needs to grow.

Let’s face the facts: you cannot do it all. And even if you technically can fit everything for your business into a 24-hour period, it doesn’t mean you should. When you try to do it all, your business will suffer. It will not reach its full potential. That’s where outsourcing comes in.

Why Outsource Small Business Marketing

Outsourcing for your small business - whether it be social media management, graphic design projects, blogging or email marketing - means you get expert help in vital areas of your business and you save precious time. Outsourcing means you can get back to the parts of your company that only you can do.

So now you’re probably wondering how to outsource marketing for your small business. There are a few ways you can go about finding the virtual marketing help you need, depending on your budget and goals.

How to Outsource Marketing for Small Businesses

1. Use Freelancing Websites: There are so many websites today designed to connect freelancing professionals with business owners. From Fiverr and Upwork to Catalant and We Work Remotely, there are millions of freelancers waiting to apply to your jobs. These services are great for businesses in need of help with single projects or those with a lower budget. But for businesses in need of ongoing help with marketing efforts, this may not be the right fit.

2. Explore LinkedIn and Social Media Groups: Professional networking platforms are a great way to find virtual marketing assistants for your business. Use LinkedIn to search for freelance marketers, or join a Facebook group for small business owners and entrepreneurs. These groups are great places to ask questions, get advice and connect with freelancers eager to work with you! If you’re looking for a long-term freelance marketing assistant, professional networking groups are a great place to look, since you have the opportunity to build a relationship before hiring.

3. Go Local: If you’re a small business with a brick and mortar store or do most of your work in your local community, hiring a local freelance marketer could be a great choice. A local freelancer will understand your community and may have unique insight into your local business market. A local freelancer can also visit your business in person to better understand your mission, company culture and goals, which is a great opportunity to build a long-term business relationship.

Hiring a Freelance Marketing Consultant

Once you’ve found some leads for a freelance marketing consultant, it’s important to schedule a face-to-face meeting or phone call. Prepare a list of questions to ask the freelancer - including the availability, rates, past work experience and expertise - ask for a portfolio of their previous work and, if possible, get references.

Just as importantly, pay attention to whether the freelancer is asking YOU questions. Hiring a freelancer is not the same as hiring an employee and your meeting should not be a one-sided interview. A great freelance marketer will ask you questions about your business, your ideal customer and your business goals, and will show that they truly want to understand how they can best help you.

Once you’ve discussed your needs and how a freelancer could help, ask for a proposal. Be sure to read proposals carefully to ensure they reflect your conversation, the services you want help with and the timeframe you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to negotiate or speak up if you’re not completely happy with the proposal. Every freelancer I know wants to make their clients happy - so they need you to speak your mind!

Last but not least, always sign a contract before a freelancer does any work for you. A contract protects you, your business and the freelancer, and should be mutually beneficial. A strong contract will outline the work expectations, payment and terms, and is a vital part of hiring a freelance marketing consultant.

Getting Started with Freelance Marketing Consulting

Now that you have the knowledge to get started with hiring a freelance marketer, it’s important to step back and review which parts of your business you’re able to part with. This is a challenging step for many business owners.

Your business is your baby, and you know it better than anyone else. Handing over a part of your business - even a small part like social media management - takes a huge amount of trust. But with the right freelance marketing assistant, handing over this work can mean big things for your company.

The fact is, a freelance marketer cannot be the face of your business. They cannot work with your clients directly and they certainly don’t have the same depth of knowledge as you when it comes to your product or service. They can, however, help grow your social media following, manage your email list, create engaging graphics and branding and help grow your business.

Most importantly, a freelance marketing consultant can get you back to focusing on the work you truly love.