Outsourcing To The Philippines
Companies looking to build websites, outsource programming work, and outsource web content on a budget should seriously look at outsourcing to the Philippines.
Its capital (Manila) is home to well-educated, English-speaking programmers and web writers who deliver top-quality work for lower rates.
However, as in all off-shoring projects, there are risks in outsourcing to Manila.
Here is a short guide to help you dodge How much does it cost to outsource programming to the Philippines? Prices still vary depending on the scope of project, but in most cases, you can probably save about 50% by hiring Filipino programmers.
If an American firm quotes $5,000 for a project, for example, you can expect a Philippine web company to quote $2,500.
Just make sure to plan out your site and discuss all functionalities and features you want integrated before you close the deal.
Last-minute changes may cost you a lot more.
How much does it cost to outsource web content to the Philippines? Filipino writers usually charge 1/3 of the regular rate of native English speakers.
The current average rate of American writers is usually $15 per 300 words.
You can get the same word count for about $5 if you hire Filipino writers.
Grammar is usually flawless because Filipino writers are trained heavily in technical writing.
Is communication a problem? The Philippines was colonized by the United States, so it is very much westernized.
Most Filipino professionals are very good English speakers and are very aware of Western trends and behavior.
You do not need to worry about cultural and language barriers.
The only problem you may encounter when outsourcing to the Philippines is that you may need to rely on emails, phone calls, or web conferences.
The time difference is huge, so you (or the Philippine company you are outsourcing to) may need to agree on a bizarre time of the day to discuss business.
How do I know that the Filipino company I am hiring is legitimate? As in any country, the Philippines has had some illegal 'boiler room' operations - these were quickly apprehended by the government, though.
Still, you must be picky when hiring a Filipino writers and Filipino programmers.
Protect yourself from unscrupulous companies or freelancers by taking time to check out the company.
Here are some handy pointers to keep in mind: 1.
If you are looking to outsource a big project, it is best to contact the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission to verify the company.
Wikipedia also has a list of Philippine companies.
2.
Legitimate Philippine outsourcing companies are very professional - they reply to your emails right away, are always available for meetings, and are not afraid to give you the contact numbers of other US- of UK-based companies they are working with so you can verify their legitimacy.
3.
Genuine programming companies in the Philippines have actual offices and actual employees.
You can gauge the success of a company by looking at its address - if it is located in the Philippines' technical hubs, namely Makati, Ortigas, Libis, Quezon City, and Cebu, then you know that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
4.
Talk to representatives from the company.
Sometimes, an email or phone call is not enough.
Set up a web conference so you can see each other.
Face to face communication does not just facilitate better meetings - it also gives you a chance to check out the company's office and assess its professionalism.
Its capital (Manila) is home to well-educated, English-speaking programmers and web writers who deliver top-quality work for lower rates.
However, as in all off-shoring projects, there are risks in outsourcing to Manila.
Here is a short guide to help you dodge How much does it cost to outsource programming to the Philippines? Prices still vary depending on the scope of project, but in most cases, you can probably save about 50% by hiring Filipino programmers.
If an American firm quotes $5,000 for a project, for example, you can expect a Philippine web company to quote $2,500.
Just make sure to plan out your site and discuss all functionalities and features you want integrated before you close the deal.
Last-minute changes may cost you a lot more.
How much does it cost to outsource web content to the Philippines? Filipino writers usually charge 1/3 of the regular rate of native English speakers.
The current average rate of American writers is usually $15 per 300 words.
You can get the same word count for about $5 if you hire Filipino writers.
Grammar is usually flawless because Filipino writers are trained heavily in technical writing.
Is communication a problem? The Philippines was colonized by the United States, so it is very much westernized.
Most Filipino professionals are very good English speakers and are very aware of Western trends and behavior.
You do not need to worry about cultural and language barriers.
The only problem you may encounter when outsourcing to the Philippines is that you may need to rely on emails, phone calls, or web conferences.
The time difference is huge, so you (or the Philippine company you are outsourcing to) may need to agree on a bizarre time of the day to discuss business.
How do I know that the Filipino company I am hiring is legitimate? As in any country, the Philippines has had some illegal 'boiler room' operations - these were quickly apprehended by the government, though.
Still, you must be picky when hiring a Filipino writers and Filipino programmers.
Protect yourself from unscrupulous companies or freelancers by taking time to check out the company.
Here are some handy pointers to keep in mind: 1.
If you are looking to outsource a big project, it is best to contact the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission to verify the company.
Wikipedia also has a list of Philippine companies.
2.
Legitimate Philippine outsourcing companies are very professional - they reply to your emails right away, are always available for meetings, and are not afraid to give you the contact numbers of other US- of UK-based companies they are working with so you can verify their legitimacy.
3.
Genuine programming companies in the Philippines have actual offices and actual employees.
You can gauge the success of a company by looking at its address - if it is located in the Philippines' technical hubs, namely Makati, Ortigas, Libis, Quezon City, and Cebu, then you know that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
4.
Talk to representatives from the company.
Sometimes, an email or phone call is not enough.
Set up a web conference so you can see each other.
Face to face communication does not just facilitate better meetings - it also gives you a chance to check out the company's office and assess its professionalism.
