So, you’ve decided to use staff augmentation to fill the talent void. We have already talked about the benefits of outsourcing. But how do you successfully integrate this outsourced resource into your team?
Define your objectives
Are you launching a program and need the expertise in-house, now? Are you expanding your program, but you don’t have the bandwidth? Are you looking to increase your geographic coverage so you’re looking for a resource within an agency that can help you go global and multi-lingual?
Be clear about what you want to be outsourced
Define if you want your new customer advocacy resources to design your entire customer advocacy program until it’s up and running and your staff is trained. Or if you are looking for them to teach you best practices – from nomination and recruitment of customers to the production of stories and maximizing impact.
Evaluate the costs
Although you might think an outsourced resource will be expensive, think about potential cost savings. Will your resource be able to hit the ground running? Are they experts in the customer advocacy arena? Will you be able to onboard quickly and scale too? Can you let the resource go when you have achieved your goals?
These will all contribute to increased efficiency, lower training costs, and faster impact – all contributing to budget efficiency.
Find the right partner
When looking for a customer advocacy agency, look at their experience – and see who they work for. If you’re a global B2B tech company looking for an experienced team member, find an agency that has previously managed these types of programs.
Measure the performance
What metrics will you use to measure the success of the implementation? ROI is a good place to start the course. But think about other measurements – such as time to implement a program, customer satisfaction when dealing with experienced advocacy professionals, impact on pipeline revenue, etc.
When it comes to a successful implementation, then, be clear about what you want, how you will measure success, and make sure you get the right person to help you along the way.
