Projects you can Outsource

Elance, another general project outsourcing, produced some fine articles that I’d like to share with anyone who thinks they might have work to outsource, but isn’t sure.

Top 100 Projects You Can Outsource

Everyone seems to be talking about Everyday Outsourcing these days. Here’s a list of 100 projects to help you get started.

25 Projects You Can Outsource to a Virtual Assistant

Projects are posted every day by small business owners and individuals who need smaller, more everyday tasks taken care of.
We’ve compiled a list of 25 projects where a Virtual Assistant (VA) could help you get your work done faster – letting you focus on what you do best.

Do you have other ideas?

We’d like to feature YOU in our Blog

We’d like to feature YOU in our Blog.

 

Maybe something nice happened yesterday in your business.

Perhaps you have details of an unusual experience.

A special act of kindness which made a customer for life.

 

Don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid of publicity. Especially, good publicity.

Tell us. We’ll print the details in our blog. People love to read about unexpected experiences in business. It gives them ideas for their own business. But, best of all. We’ll print your story at no cost whatsoever.

It can only do you good and possibly earn you more customers.

 

We’d like to tell all our members and readers throughout the world that in Israel we can do business as well as anybody else. In some cases, do it better.

 

Let me give you the reason why I’m now writing this blog. Some time ago I joined JobShuk. I was looking for a network for my own business, (I teach people how to sing.) In addition to being a teacher I spent many years in business as an advertising copywriter for our family business.

 

On receiving the notice from Zvi about the JobShuk Online Expo last month, I wrote back to him suggesting some changes for his flyer. He made the changes. Later, when I was looking for a blog partner I placed on a notice on my profile. Nothing happened, but today I received a note from Zvi asking if I was still looking, because he liked the way I wrote and offered his assistance.

 

One thing leads to another and I’m now suggesting that experiences of this nature can be blogged and circulated. It can only lead to bigger and better things. So let’s have your story. We’ll proudly print it!

 

Lloyd Masel.

fal*****@*******et.il

 

Instructions: please e-mail Zvi at JobShuk and/or Lloyd with details, and we will develop and write up your experience in a professional, compelling manner. The story will go out to the 1100+ (and growing) list of JobShuk members, and can be used anywhere else you see fit for self-promotion.

If you have a skill that you’d like to use to improve the PR and overcome the stigma of Israeli businesspeople one-by-one, please let me (Zvi) know, and we’ll work on getting people on-board.

Israel as a viable outsourcing option: barriers to entry

I had an unpleasant e-mail exchange with a remote employer recently. Unprovoked, she told me all about the woes she had gone through trying to fill some phone sales from home positions. Here are some of he complaints she had. I’m listing these here in an attempt to educate future applicants for any position with proper (and improper) etiquette.

  1. Not following directions
    She complained that the job listing said no attachments & call in the morning, and of course, attachments and afternoon calls galore. There’s always a chance for miscommunication, but if you want the work, you better pay close attention to detail.
  2. Premature demands
    She said that people were negotiating the terms before even getting a call-back, such as pay rate. I’m not 100% with the employer here, because a worker wants to know if it’s worth their while to get involved. Nevertheless, it’s still good practice to get your foot in the door first, and then negotiate.
  3. Backing out
    Two people got the job offer, and were sent paperwork to fill out. Those two people backed out of the job, claiming not being equipped for that kind of work, mentally and physically. Don’t be too indiscriminate about applying for work, and if you must withdraw, do it professionally and courteously.

The bottom line here is a loss for Israel – she got so frustrated she isn’t going to hire people in Israel any more. She volunteered this information to me, and chances are she’ll tell her friends not to hire anyone in Israel any more. Negative referrals for the system.

There may be more behind this, either something specific to this employer, or in general to the current state of employment worldwide. But the simplest answer might be cultural differences.

Both sides need to be aware of the attitudes on the other side, and that knowledge will help them overcome the perceived unpleasantness. Even an Oleh may not retain his old cultural ways after being in Israel for a while.

Many Chutznikim have a stereotypical image of the Israeli business person, and are turned off. Visiting Israel can be emotionally trying, and doing business with such people is just too much. With this negative image, it’s no wonder why so many people refuse to make Aliya.

Westerners, if not for the money, might be mocked by people in Israel, for their formal and affected friendly natures. It’s just not how people in Israel interact, and it can appear phony and silly.

If uniting people for the sake of harmony and good will doesn’t work, then maybe the international language of money might inspire people enough to educate themselves about other cultures, be a little bit more patient, and do good business.

Jewish Standard: Area native’s Website helps Israelis find work

Area native’s Website helps Israelis find work

By Abigail Klein Leichman
Published  04/18/2008
at http://www.jstandard.com/articles/4172/1/Area-native%92s-Website-helps-Israelis-find-work

 

Zvi Landsman was determined to make a living in Israel, and he also wants to help other educated and motivated immigrants make ends meet.

In September, the 28-year-old Teaneck native launched JobShuk, a Web-based employment network that seeks to pair Israel-based freelancers and service providers with employers in the global marketplace. ("Shuk," pronounced "shook," is the Middle Eastern word for "marketplace.")


Zvi Landsman

"The alarming numbers of poverty, hunger, and unemployment in Israel are incongruous with the advanced, democratic society which we are developing," said Landsman, a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Engineering who moved to Israel five years ago.

"The country-wide financial benefit of exporting the services of Israel’s unique population of educated, native foreign-language speakers is well-known. Nevertheless, it has only been exploited by a few organizations, and has never been organized in a simple, user-friendly way for individuals and small businesses."

JobShuk‘s searchable, cross-referenced online business profiles and biddable job listings ease business matchmaking for a niche market of Israeli businesses and overseas business supporters.

Landsman said that JobShuk stimulates the feasibility and growth of freelance work in Israel while encouraging and supporting immigrants, providing untapped financial opportunities for current Israeli citizens, and creating an awareness and involvement of Israel’s talent base.

Landsman, a self-described "computer nerd," started dabbling in Web development and e-commerce as a sophomore at The Frisch School in Paramus. He’s built up two Web-based businesses, and since his aliyah has worked for several high-tech companies.

His parents, Rabbi Dan and Rise Landsman of Teaneck, helped pay the rent on his Modi’in apartment while he started JobShuk with his own resources. (They also handed out fliers about JobShuk at the recent UJA-sponsored Ben Yehuda street fair here.)

Landsman confided that while he’s pleased with the progress of the venture thus far, he has a ways to go. On April 8, he ran a virtual American-Israeli business expo using voice over Internet-protocol (VOIP) technology, but it did not attract as many participants as he would have liked.

"I was expecting about 1,000 people, and we got about 300," he said in a phone conversation this week from Los Angeles, where he was visiting his wife Meira’s relatives for Passover. "I was hoping to get a lot of people from the U.S. involved, but it turned out most of the participants were from Israel, mostly those looking for work rather than those offering it."

His task is to persuade outsourcers that it isn’t difficult to do business with Israelis. "Often they think it’s too complicated," he said. "I need to get the word out, and try to make it as easy as possible to help people recognize this is an option. Those who are already outsourcing have a feel for how it works; those who aren’t will be pleasantly surprised with price quotes from Israel."

JobShuk does not charge a fee, although buyers and service providers may buy a featured spot on the site. It serves as a clearinghouse for everything from tour guides to massage therapists to property managers.

Some of the posters are former Teaneckites like himself. Lisi Feit Geffen, who grew up in Teaneck and lives with her family in Beit Shemesh, is using JobShuk to publicize www.aboveand-beyond.com, her own business, which offers programming, Web design, and search-engine optimization services. As of earlier this week, her profile had been viewed 262 times and she had received five inquiries.

"When developing an online marketplace, we need to anticipate both a seller’s market and a buyer’s market, and create tools to take the buyer from the initial interest stage through the final payment stage of the transaction," said Landsman.

Accordingly, JobShuk.com includes business blogs and advice forums, a customizable business card page, and feedback, messaging, and rating interfaces. Buyers or sellers may initiate contact by searching through seller profiles or bidding on buyer opportunity postings.

In a blog entry before JobShuk went live, Landsman wrote that finances are "the modern international language and the most common reason why people don’t move to Israel." His mission, he continued, "is to close the gap of wealth between those living in Israel, and those outside — by demonstrating that people in Israel can work as hard as others, and be compensated on a similar scale so that they are as comfortable in Israel at the end of the day as anywhere else."

The Jerusalem Post: Businesses go to market

Apr 7, 2008 10:01 | Updated Apr 7, 2008 11:54
at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207486210267&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Businesses go to market

By ABE SELIG

Jobshuk.com, an on-line networking site geared toward connecting Israeli businesses and overseas companies, on Tuesday is launching a real-time, interactive exhibition via the Internet to bring together its users and potential clients worldwide.

Photo: Courtesy

Using Skype, a program that allows customers to make international telephone calls, Jobshuk is bringing business representatives from around the globe together in a virtual conference center to promote the idea of cooperation between Israeli and foreign businesses, and encourage discussion of possible opportunities in the future.

"It’s a great chance to interact with people in Israel, and realize that what we’re promoting is not so difficult," says Zvi Landsman, the 28-year-old founder of Jobshuk.com. "Hopefully, while they’re at it, people will forge a connection as well."

Anyone interested in participating in the on-line exhibition can log onto www.Jobshuk.com for more details and to register.

Launched last September, Jobshuk links Israeli freelancers and businesses with prospective clients in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, combining the ideological desire of people who want to help Israel with the business advantage of outsourcing to a foreign country filled with highly-educated, English-speaking workers.

"I want to help small business interaction between Israel and those that support Israel all over the world," Landsman says. "The vision is to boost the Israeli economy, and help people who have their own businesses afford to live in Israel. It can actually make life easier, encourage aliya and bring Israel into the 21st century."

Still, Landsman’s niche in an unforgiving world market has not been easy to carve out.

"I’ve found a lot of support from people in Israel," he says. "Some of them are already working with foreign clients, some are looking to get into that market, and they find it encouraging that someone’s out there pushing this concept. But as far as the foreign support, it’s difficult to spread that word, that message; it’s a very new concept. The idea of outsourcing, being able to have someone on the other side of the world working for you, is a very difficult concept to wrap your head around – but it’s a concept that’s growing with the increase of technology."

And Landsman is using technology as the driving force behind Jobshuk. The whole operation is Internet-based. Users post profiles on the Jobshuk Web site to advertise their products – anything from advertising services to massages. Foreign companies post freelance jobs, allowing potential employees the ability to be proactive and search for available opportunities. They can review job descriptions and place a bid on tenders.

Clients’ credibility is boosted by work samples and reviews, and while postings on both ends are free of charge, the site makes money by providing premium placement to clients willing to pay.

Jobshuk is gearing up for its Job Expo, the first of its kind for Israel, in which Landsman will connect hundreds of people from different countries, on-line, to discuss business opportunities. In addition, he hopes to tackle the issue of companies hesitating when looking at Israeli businesses to invest in, and promote Jobshuk among those who might not be aware what it has to offer.

"People want to support and stand behind Israel and really help it survive through its hard times," Landsman says. "But they’re often at a loss as to what they can do. Here we have this opportunity for people to be really involved and have a profound effect on the people living here – to have a profound effect on the lives of the people of Israel."

 

Israel National News: New Web Site Facilitates Zionist Outsourcing

New Web Site Facilitates Zionist Outsourcing

by Ezra HaLevi

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(IsraelNN.com) A new immigrant has launched a web site to help fellow olim as well as Jews worldwide who want to help on the direct, grassroots level.

Job Shuk Virtual Expo times

JobShuk.com (“shuk” is Hebrew for “market”) was created by 28-year-old Modiin resident Zvi Landsman, formerly of Teaneck, New Jersey. The site matches up Israeli freelancers and businesses with overseas companies – melding the ideological desire of people worldwide to help Israel and the Jews who are part of the ingathering of the exiles with the mutually beneficial option of outsourcing to a foreign country filled with Western, highly educated workers.

The way it works is that local freelancers and businesses post a profile advertising their product. At the same time, foreign companies post short or long-term freelance jobs, tagged with keywords for easy searching and browsing. The freelancers may then review the job description and place a bid for the cost of the job. The company then reviews the bids and bidders and selects the most desirable candidate to hire for that specific job. Credibility is bolstered by reviews from past clients and samples of past work. Postings on both ends are free of charge; revenue is made by providing choice positioning to clients wishing to purchase an edge.

“JobShuk aims for the niche market of Israeli freelancers for bidders, and Israel or American-based Zionist organizations or individuals,” Landsman explains. “But any budget-conscious employers would benefit from outsourcing projects to Israel.”

Landsman hopes the site will bring about a paradigm shift in the world of philanthropy and the charitable decisions of Jews worldwide. “Why are people so generous when solicited for a charity organization,” he asks, “but cheap when it comes to business dealings, often avoiding business with a Jew to get a better rate from a foreigner or non-Jew? And when we can do business with Israel, supporting Jews settling the homeland, and also get great prices, we’d be foolish to do anything else!”

The Grand Plan
“Almost 60 years ago, G-d gave us the opening that we’d been praying for,” muses Landsman on JobShuk’s blog. “After the most massive national punishment known to modern man, G-d proclaimed, ‘I’ve punished you enough – now I will return you to me, and you shall return as you were promised. Come back into your land, which I have given you. Comfort the fallen city with the sounds of children playing in the streets. Follow my commandments, and we shall restore the days of old, and be united like husband and wife once again.’”

Landsman said this reality led him to ask: “So what am I doing? I’ve taken my personal steps: moved to Israel, served in the army, taken a beautiful wife, began to have children. But as for the national responsibilities? What should I do to expand my circle of influence and help others return to G-d and Zion, so that this generation will be the one to rebuild the temple and not destroy it?

“The gift which G-d has given me is not in Torah or rhetoric: I am a computer nerd with sensitivity to my surroundings. In a ‘Super-size Me’ world, everyone is so focused on acquiring their sustenance that they don’t recognize when it’s doing more harm than good. The mission that I’ve taken upon myself is to close the gap of wealth between those living in Israel, and those outside. By demonstrating that people in Israel can work as hard as others, and be compensated on a similar scale so that they are as comfortable in Israel at the end of the day as anywhere else – by using finances, the modern international language and the most common reason why people don’t move to Israel, I hope to restore this country to its glorious days of old.”

The uniqueness of Landsman’s grassroots tool is its natural bypassing of the Israeli government and major philanthropic organizations or Israel Bonds agents to aim for what Maimonides termed the highest level of charity: giving someone a livelihood. “[For] those Israel supporters whose mission is not to move to Israel, I’d like to give them the opportunity to support the country, not through donations, but through the highest form of charity, with a job and a profession, so that [the new Israelis] never ha[ve] to rely on charity.”

A viral email announcing the launch of JobShuk was passed around featuring a New Year’s resolution Landsman invited other to sign on to: “Despite my political efforts on Israel’s behalf, the every-day lives of those courageous men and women living in Israel are unaffected,” he wrote. “I recognize that these people rely on their own indomitable spirits and belief in both G-d and the Jewish state to keep the pulse of Israel strong. In the coming year, it is my resolution to be more involved with the social and financial lives of the people in Israel, to learn from them and provide my whole-hearted encouragement and support.”

Recipients of the resolution were asked to sign on and forward it to their friends.

Already Happening
A perusal of the site shows the concept is already taking off. A Ben Bar-Eli from New York City is seeking to pay $10,000 – $50,000 dollars to bring a patent-pending computer-mouse project to the production phase. Two Israeli bidders have already responded with questions about the project – one offering to complete it for the low figure in three weeks’ time.

Other eclectic businesses are showcased as well. Baltimore, MD olah (immigrant) Miryam Heiliczer posted her Tov Maod Events business, offering to plan weddings, bar mitzvahs or any other events for Israelis, visitors or non-profits.

The site is not limited to olim. Even a business run by veteran Kibbutzniks (members of a socialist cooperative community) in the Galilee has posted to JobShuk. Galilee Silks markets its unique hand-painted silk garments from Kibbutz Beit HaEmek.

Upcoming Virtual Job Expo
JobShuk.com is holding the world’s first exhibition of Israel’s talented service providers and businesses – over the Internet.

The expo will take place Tuesday, April 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. Israel time (10 AM to 1 PM EST).

The Expo will be run via the Skype application, which can be downloaded free at Skype.com, and will feature hundreds of live business representatives in Israel. “Businesses run the gamut from tourist services (guides, masseurs, property managers) to outsourcing specialists (programmers, designers, virtual assistants),” literature for the expo says. Participation is free for both exhibitors and attendees. Exhibitors must complete a business profile and attendees are also encouraged to pre-register at JobShuk.com/expo.

The Jewish Press: Help Wanted. Must Live In Israel

Help Wanted. Must Live In Israel
By: Jeremy Wimpfheimer

Date Posted: March 12, 2008
Originally Printed at http://www.thejewishpress.com/displaycontent_new.cfm?contentid=30661&mode=a

 

The option of doing business with Israeli-based service providers has recently become much easier. A new online initiative, JobShuk.com is essentially just as its name describes, a network of individuals and small companies in Israel who are available for a wide variety of jobs and projects – primarily on behalf of employers and businesses located abroad.

Zvi Landsman, the founder and developer of Job Shuk, conceived of the idea for the site out of his belief that the Israeli marketplace represented a wealth of professional talent, which could allow business owners abroad an excellent opportunity to show their support for the Jewish State. “The site enables not only individuals to promote their professional skills, but is in fact promoting all of Israel as a viable business option,” says Landsman who moved to Israel from New Jersey.
Of the several hundred “job seekers” who have signed up for his site since its launch in September 2007, the majority are olim, he says, but many native Israelis have expressed interest in the concept and have also signed up to try their hand in the international marketplace. Landsman says that even while choosing to do business with service providers in Israel is a reflection of solidarity, it also makes sense from a dollars-and-cents perspective: “With the lower cost of living that exists in Israel, we are able to charge lower rates which benefits buyers who are looking for a high quality product without spending higher prices.”
To date, Landsman has focused his marketing efforts on spreading the word about his site through local e-mail lists and word of mouth – primarily directed at American and Jewish audiences, but in the long term, he thinks that people all over the world and of many backgrounds stand to benefit from the service. “Our goal is to spread the message of working with Israel not only to Jews but to all supporters of our country,” he says.
Zvi Landsman
At present, the site is in a relatively basic graphics form but work is already underway for a full overhaul of the look of the site, designed, of course, by local Israeli designer Aaron Ovadia whose profile is featured prominently on Job Shuk. Ovadia says he welcomes the opportunities that are presented to Israeli business with sites like this. “Israeli freelancers have a great deal of talent that we’re interested in sharing with customers abroad,” says Ovadia who runs the site photoshopcandy.com, a blog for budding designers and web professionals. “Job Shuk gives us an additional ability to market our services to clients that might otherwise be inaccessible. It also gives friends of Israel a great way to work together with us.”
The website is very user friendly with profiles categorized based upon key words. When designing a profile, the service providers are able to insert descriptions of their services and then choose the keywords that will enable them to be located by buyers. The site welcomes users to include photos and images with their profiles.
A “buyer” thus can simply enter the area of expertise they’re looking for and a list of profiles is offered with the name of the service provider and the city in Israel where they are from. Buyers are also encouraged to develop profiles when they are in search of a particular service. Unlike many of the larger websites designed to assist freelancers, JobShuk will not take any percentage of projects secured through the site. Rather, Landsman says, revenue will be generated from sellers who purchase space on the “featured list placement service.” This service allows sellers to be placed in prominent locations on the site, and be in the full view of buyers thus substantially increasing the chances of securing a project.

The site includes an active blog managed by Landsman, who is encouraging submissions from other users. The blog has a strong focus on Jewish and Zionist themes where he enlightens readers on how supporting Israeli business is well rooted in Jewish tradition. Summing up what Job Shuk is all about, he concluded one recent posting writing, “The next time you’re looking to hire someone for work that can be done wherever, remember your obligation to the people in Israel who are determined to live there, even if their financial situation is difficult.”

Remote Recruiters Pros and Cons

Many recruiting and headhunting firms have adopted a business model that incorporates off-site, geographically dispersed personnel under the moniker of remote recruiters. Much of the increasing popularity of this model is attributable to the flexibility made possible by the growth of the Internet. Connectivity permits a firm to increase its market presence without incurring the overhead of brick and mortar facilities. While the concept is powerful, recruiters must be cautious about remote opportunities that are little more than skillfully crafted scams. Firms forced out of business, only to emerge with a new name and an even better deal for unwary recruiters litter the playing field.

Carefully researching the firm under consideration is a recruiter’s best defense. Start-ups and emerging businesses do not have a track record, so you must dig deeper to discover whether they have achieved financial stability. Especially examine a firm’s relationships with recruiters, clients, and candidates. It takes sound relationships built on long-term trust in all three categories to achieve a reputation for reliability and success. Of course, you should always scrutinize the offer. Firms that entice recruiters with the bait of exceptionally high commission schedules-sometimes ranging over 60 percent-are seldom in a position to offer anything more.

Too often, the term remote characterizes the relationship between the firm and its recruiters. A we-they mentality is a harbinger of failure. For reasons outlined here, regional may be a more expressive term for these recruiters. Ideally, both regional recruiters and the firms for which they work enjoy an invigorating synergy. Firms that nurture and empower their recruiters, treating them as valued team members rather than distant associates, lay the foundation for greater success than either party could anticipate alone. Regional recruiters ought to expect: 

  • a robust corporate infrastructure with its legal and financial responsibility, including accounting and marketing services;
  • use of the same recruiting toolset available to the home office recruiters, including shared access to openings, candidate resumes, and job orders;
  • access to support, training, and staff personnel, characterized by free-flowing communication; and a comprehensive set of business manuals, handbooks, letterheads, warranties, timesheets, governmental, and insurance forms. These recruiters are anything but remote;
  • they are as fully supported in their regions, as they would be at the home office.

Organizations that successfully adopt this business model have deployed appropriate technologies and assigned staff members to focus fully on support of their regional recruiters and their specific needs, ideas, and concerns. In this way, each regional recruiter plays an important role in day-to-day operations as well as contributing to the organizational culture. These intangible benefits increase the confidence of their recruiters and the success of the organization.

Well-established firms offer their regional recruiters the same employment benefits available to other employees. They have the integrity and stability to treat regional recruiters fairly. These firms know that when recruiters can focus on recruiting, everyone wins. If you think that regional recruiting is for you, take the time to choose well.

– Brad Redd

Brad Redd, Manager of Professional and Regional Recruiters CTR Corp

br***@**rc.com

www.ctrc.com

(from http://www.net-temps.com/recruiters/infocus/article.htm?id=1115 )

Nisht in Shabbos Gereht, vol. 22: Parshat Tzav

Why does the Torah go into so much detail about Korbanot? Most people nowadays fall asleep when the Parsha goes into detail about the Mishkan construction and the sacrifices. We even see in the Haftorah for Tzav, taken from Yirmiyahu, that Hashem didn’t command the forefathers with sacrifices. All He asked was that they hear His voice, and that alone will form the foundation for a G-d-nation relationship. Yeshayahu before him spoke of the futility of the nation’s multitude of sacrifices, "lama li rov zivcheichem," if not rooted in a deeper commitment to Hashem.

So why do we have Korbanot? Because we asked for them. The Rambam explains that Bnei Yisrael had been exposed to so much idolatry, particularly in Egypt, and they grew accustomed to worship via sacrifice. Like sexuality, Hashem doesn’t command us to abstain unequivocally.  Instead, He recognizes the temptation, and instructs us to carefully practice, following His rules. By laying down a framework for worshiping Hashem with sacrifices, He grants us opportunities to behave appropriately while satisfying our idolatrous desires.

The message here is that the customer is not always 100% right. The customer must be treated with respect, and shouldn’t be turned away empty-handed. But what would’ve happened if Hashem didn’t give us specific laws of sacrifices? If we had the green light to offer  whatever, wherever and however we wanted, or if it had been forbidden completely, I can imagine chaos would’ve ensued. Customers and clients often have less of an understanding than the business person in certain areas, and must be guided along with instruction and boundaries, taking everyone’s best interest into consideration. It’s not a good moral practice, but helping a client succeed despite their insistence on another path is good for future business.