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We use virtual labor all the time. When we need a special job performed and don't have in-house talent or horsepower, we post the job opening on Guru.com, a virtual employment agency for artists, researchers, engineers, copywriters, editors, Web designers, telemarketers, and other specialties.
The beauty is that you can get talent working on a project with very short notice. You don't have to pay any benefits or provide an office, phone or computer, and you can let them go anytime you wish.
Guru.com freelancers live all over the world. You usually never meet them in person. You communicate by email and phone. They sign up, review jobs posted by employers, submit resumes and proposals, and bid competitively for the jobs so prices are generally quite reasonable.
I recently published a children's book. We found both the illustrator and the layout artist on Guru.com. We posted each job, evaluated the bids, picked five finalists, then interviewed each and sampled their work. In both cases, we were very happy with our final choice.
Maybe you would be, too.
(Note: Guru.com does not compensate this publication in any way and does not know we are publishing this article.)
This article originally appeared in The Business Owner Journal, the periodical of choice for owners of small and midsize private businesses. All rights reserved, D.L. Perkins LLC. © 2010.
This publication is intended to provide general information on the subject matters covered. It is sold and distributed with the understanding that neither the publisher nor any distributor or advertiser is engaged in providing legal, tax, insurance, investment or other professional advice. The advice of a qualified professional should be sought before any reader applies a concept presented herein to his or her particular situation or business.
D.L. Perkins, LLC is solely responsible for this content.
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