Outsourcing tasks related to your business is an important step to growing your online empire. However, you shouldn't step into outsourcing lightly. If it's mismanaged or handled improperly, you can end up wasting a lot of time and money. In order to prepare yourself for outsourcing, ask yourself the following questions.

What am I expecting from outsourcing?

Outsourcing is not going to save your business. If you don't have a basic plan in mind, a framework for your business and a specific set of tasks that need to be completed, outsourcing is only going to make those problems worse. Before you outsource tasks, you need to get your plan in place and figure out where your business is headed.

What specific tasks and duties should I outsource?

You should focus on outsourcing the tasks and duties that you either aren't skilled in or that aren't worth your time. For example, submitting articles to EzineArticles can be done by someone else for a low hourly rate - you shouldn't waste your time with these tasks. On the other end of the spectrum, you shouldn't spend weeks trying to learn the latest web design techniques. You should outsource to a web designer to get your latest site up and running.

What is my budget?

Don't go into outsourcing without doing some research on how much the tasks will cost. You need to create a budget and keep your budget in mind when you are shopping around. Research the average price of what you are trying to purchase. There will always be lower and higher prices but understanding the average can help you determine if you're getting a good deal or not. Paying too little can leave you frustrated with the quality of the work. Paying too much can leave you without any capital to run work on your business any further.

Am I prepared to manage someone else?

Most Internet marketers are lone wolves - and understandably so. It's not everyone who tries to run a business from their computer and try to leverage the way that search engines and online connections work in order to make money. But when you start outsourcing it's a whole new ballgame. You need to manage your new team members, make sure that they stay on track and be responsible for communicating your needs effectively. Be sure you have all of your ducks in a row and can speak clearly about what you need or you'll be disappointed with outsourcing.

Where am I going to find my outsource staff?

Internet marketers have several different options for hiring staff. Do research on a few of the major freelancing boards and get familiar with the benefits of being a buyer on these services. For example, Elance.com has a reputation of attracting very qualified freelancers. Odesk.com uses a high end time tracking system to let you see exactly what your freelancers are working on at any given moment.

With these five questions, you'll be better prepared to outsource for your Internet marketing business and more likely to find the right team members to help your business grow.