More and more businesses are realizing the potential benefits of outsourcing.
Whatever the needs of a particular business can be you can bet there is a freelancer out there who will only be too happy to take the odious task off you.
However, outsourcing is not all sunshine and lolly pops.
It can be particularly fraught with potential complications if you are first not clear in defining what you project entails.
If you can communicate very clearly to your outsourcer your expectations and tell them what you want to do in an explicit way then there is a much greater possibility of them giving you want you want.
This article will explore 4 tips that will help you define your project before you outsource it.

• You need to define a time line.
  Don't be vague about when you expect a particular project to be completed by.
  If you expect work to be completed daily, weekly or monthly by your outsourcer then communicate that upfront with them.
  There is a chance that they might have other jobs to juggle, and if you spring on them that you expect much more from them in a shorter amount of time, it will not make anyone's life easier.
  
• You need to define a budget.
  If you have a freelance programmer, or a ghostwriter, you need to be upfront with their budget.
  This might take the form of a weekly stipend or other milestone payment.
  An outsourcer needs to be comfortable with your rate of pay before they agree to the job.
  What ever you do don't change your payment and don't be late in payment.
  
• Define what candidate you will consider.
  If you want an experienced programmer, who speaks fluent native English but works in Pakistan, then say so.
  People who will fit this criteria will then make up their mind whether they wish to bid for the contract.
  If you're happy to give new outsourcers a go then say that too.
  
• And of course, be explicit in defining the project.
  Reiterate what you want outsourced, how you want it outsourced and the if it is a larger project the steps the freelancer will need to take in order to complete the job.
  

Without having clarity before you post a job you are inviting trouble into your project.
Of course an experienced freelancer should be able to ask the right questions to get the best out of you.
Everything starts off best by being clear.