1. Be realistic about your expectations

This is one of the things you must be aware of before you start outsourcing. Don't expect too much from your contractors straight away. They're just like any person starting a new job or a new project. It will take time for them to understand how you like things to be done and you will need to be patient with them so they know how you like things done. You also must remember that you will never be able to hire the one person to outsource all of your tasks to. If you need a web designer, video editor, article writer and graphic designer, one person won't be able to do all of those things. It's like asking a surgeon to operate, argue in court, create websites and do your bookkeeping. It just won't happen. They might have complimentary skills but don't expect to outsource everything to the one person. Be realistic.

2. Be open to hire from around the world

Being able to work with contractors from around the world completely changed my business. Back in 2010 I learnt about outsourcing websites and it allowed me to build my business for a fraction of the price, by hiring experts from around the world.

People used to laugh at me (and sometimes still do) when I tell them that I have outsourced to at least 12 countries throughout the world including; The United States, Canada, UK, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Australia, Bangladesh, Argentina, Croatia and the Philippines. (with the Philippines being my favorite place to outsource to). I have had full time staff, past time staff, contractors - you name it, all from around the world. You no longer have to hire locally anymore if you can't afford to, you can hire people from around the world and get high quality work done for a fraction of the price.

3. Leverage your time

One of the biggest benefits of working with a Virtual Assistant is saving time and being far more productive. You can finally outsource all of the work that you don't want to do, and instead focus on the tasks that you love doing and are generating you income.

4. Be very clear with your communications

Make sure that you're very clear about what you want and expect from your employee or contractor. More often than not if the task isn't done to your expectations, it's often because you weren't clear about the instructions you were giving and what you required. Take responsibility and always make sure you're clear about what you want.

5. Invest time into developing your virtual assistant

If you are hiring someone full time to work in your business then you must invest time in training your assistant. Training your assistant is not an additional cost; it really is an investment in future revenue. The more training materials you are able to give your assistant, the better they can adapt to your needs and they will blow you away with the work that can be done.

6. Set realistic task timelines

Make sure you set realistic timeframes for completing work. Think about all the tasks that are involved and any time to learn any new aspects and be fair with the time you set for the task. Rushing someone to do something in a really short time period can make it really tough for your employee or contractor and it won't make for a pleasant working environment for either of you.

7. Build Trust with your virtual assistant

Trust develops overtime so make sure you trust your employee/contractor to do the job, and don't micromanage too much. Make sure you show them that you believe in them and the work they are doing for you. If you have concerns about their productivity then raise these concerns, but don't micromanage. No one likes a micromanager.

8. Give praise for a job well done

If your virtual assistant has done a good job then make sure you tell them. It will help to build the relationship with them and they will appreciate the positive feedback. If you ever have any criticism then you might try to add some positive feedback as well. You don't want to scare your assistant away by nagging all the time. If you have something that you don't like, be sure to let them know what you do like and then tell them what you don't like.

9. Always pay your virtual assistant on time.

This is an incredibly important rule for outsourcing. No one ever wants to work for free and it's important that you pay your virtual assistant on time so they stay focused and are able to pay their bills.

10. Have fun. You'll learn to love it.

Having someone helping you to build your business can be a lot of fun. Being an entrepreneur and solo business owner can be incredibly lonely - so look to get some help. You don't have to do everything on your own, and you'll be able to build your business much faster by working with others and leveraging off their skills. Go and outsource. You'll learn to love it.