What is outsourcing really?

After all, many of us working in the adult Internet do so on a contractual basis. We might have our favorite contractors but we’re not really anyone’s employees. We do jobs for other people, without the perks of a company car, lunchroom or health insurance. The paysite owner hires an outside designer. The affiliate program hires offsite account reps. The Canadian, adult webmaster resource site pays some geek from Texas to write articles. Isn’t this outsourcing?

Sort of.

According to Merriam Webster, OUTSOURCING IS:

“The practice of subcontracting manufacturing work to outside and especially non-union companies.”

Also according to Webster, SUBCONTRACTING is defined as:

“To engage a third party to perform under a subcontract all or part of work included in an original contract ­ sometimes without."

In other words, outsourcing is just another word for subcontracting.

"Many of us working in the adult Internet do so on a contractual basis. We might have our favorite contractors but we're not really anyone's employees."

Lately, the subject of outsourcing has become rather controversial. Many large mainstream companies have cut down the numbers of their on-site staff by using contractual labor from (primarily) other countries. These aforementioned companies save money because they choose outside workforces from nations and regions where employees are paid comparatively less. The controversy stems from the loss of jobs locally. Critics of outsourcing also complain that production/service quality suffers under the onus of lower-wage workers.

As adult webmasters, we’re all sort of outsourced. I can’t shoot content so I buy from an outside provider. I can’t afford my own server (much less, pay a tech to run it) so I turn to a virtual hosting company.

My boss can’t spell so I write articles for Cozy. While there are plenty of online porn companies that employ an in-house staff, there are so many more of us that try to do everything by ourselves.

A lot of adult webmasters work alone and probably will never hire someone else to do even the most mundane of tasks. I admire these people. Not only are they talented, they’re disciplined and driven.

However, as a contractual employee, I’m eternally grateful there are people (like the folks at Cozy!) who know when it’s time to pay someone else to perform outside services.

Are you an overworked and overwhelmed webmaster? Have you gotten yourself involved in a project where you simply can’t do everything? Have you come to the understanding that if you want something done right, you might just have to pay someone else to do it? Do you dream of a staff but find yourself short of funds? Are you so sick and tired of working 20-hour days that you’re ready to pay someone else so you can get some sleep?

Then maybe you’re ready for the newest trend in the Internet porn industry: Adult Outsourcing.

Granted, there are lots of companies that provide services and products to the adult webmasters but actual outsourcing is relatively new. The concept really came to fruition sometime last year and has already produce three fine examples:

Webmaster Labor
(http://www.webmasterlabor.com)

This company specializes in writing services. From blogs to gallery descriptions to message board marketing posters, if it involves the written word, they do a good job. In fact, the comments from other webmasters about them are so positive, I’m a little jealous!

Adult Outsourcing
(http://www.adultoutsourcing.com)

This South East Asian company offers their services to a worldwide market. Need a graphic designer? Need a video editor or a photo editor? With a staff of over 150, you can cut your workload while still maintaining a level of quality.

XXX Outsourcing
(http://xxxoutsourcing.com)

This company stresses their excellence in graphic art and they even have cartoonists! Their employees are in office 8 hours a day, six days a week. With prices ranging from $895-$995 a month, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than hiring your own employee.

Mind you, outsourcing is not some miracle cure. There are too many lone wolves in this business doing just fine, thank you. Still, if you are one of the weary, stressed out few that could use the closest thing to a staff, then contemplate on outsourcing.

You don’t have to provide insurance or a retirement package. You don’t have to rent office space. You don’t have to furnish employee parking. You don’t have to look at the same faces every day or hear them talking about you in the lunchroom. You just have to find the adult outsourcing company that’s right for your needs!