Data is king; these days, the world runs on data, and being able to use this data to your advantage means you can elevate your business and improve efficiency. If you don’t have the right data at hand, then you are likely not working to your full capacity.
Multiple studies have shown that around 54% of businesses don’t know how to access their data or use the data they have. And this goes hand in hand with not collating enough or the correct type of data in the first place.
However, collating, interpreting, and managing data can be time-consuming, and choosing to outsource data entry jobs can help you free up your time and use the skills and services of someone who is adept at such tasks.
But finding affordable data entry assistants isn’t as easy as putting an ad out. These tips will help you find the right people for your data entry jobs.
Define Your Expectations
First, you need to define your expectations and the scope of the work required. Understanding the job role and what is capable of being done in specific timeframes can allow you to manage your expectations and needs to avoid expecting work to be completed in unrealistic time frames.
Determine the scope of the data you need inputting, the software and format it is completed in, and the type of data you need to be digitized. This will help you to get an expected turnaround time for the completed work and ensure that the person or persons you take on have a better idea of what is expected so they can prepare for it.
Freelance or In-house
Next, you need to consider whether or not you want to have an in-house member of staff or team or you want to outsource to freelancers or service providers. Typically, cost-wise, it is cheaper to use freelancers or outsourcing providers as then you don’t need to provide any equipment or added extras you need to offer when paying staff. While having an in-house data entry assistant might be preferable, if you want to keep the costs down, it’s often cheaper to use outside services on a virtual basis.
Research Service Providers
Researching your options regarding data entry jobs means finding out what services are offered and the costs for your required work. You can look for freelancers on sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour or use specialist data entry job boards. This will give you an idea of the prices charged by service providers and freelancers and what you can expect from them for your money.
Read reviews and check out testimonials to get an idea of the level of satisfaction from previous clients and ensure this aligns with what you are expecting. Remember, you get what you pay for, and while looking for an affordable data entry assistant, you also want to ensure their standard of work is high quality.
Ask for A Sample
Once you have narrowed down your shortlist, be it potential employees, service providers, or freelancers, you need to ask for a sample of their work to get a better feel for what they do and how they do it. Focus on skill sets and delivery times over costs, as this will help you finalize the search and get the right people for the job.
Communicate
When searching for someone to help with data entry jobs, you need to be clear and concise in your communications, as everyone knows where they stand. If you are unsure of any variables, terminology, or expected timelines, you must research and understand what is on offer before negotiating. Then, you need to be able to translate this to a potential data entry assistant so you can ensure you are both on the same page and nothing is lost in translation. Know what you want and need regarding data entry points, timelines, accuracy, formatting, etc., and ask if they have any concerns or requests so both parties understand the agreements and what is expected before commencing.
In conclusion, if you aren’t using your data sets to your advantage, it is likely that you won’t be able to operate as efficiently as you need to or be able to reach your potential, especially when it comes to retaining customers or expanding into new markets and jumping on board with recent trends and patterns in behaviors. Data can help you do more with your company, and hiring the right people for your data entry jobs is something you need to do to move forward.
