While it's probably not true to say that the traditional 9-5 job is on its way out, it IS true that more and more businesses these days are starting to see the value of outsourcing the jobs they can't cover themselves. Things like copywriting, PR, programming ? even secretarial and admin support - are being outsourced to freelancers working from home or running their own business. But why?

Well, if you're a small business owner, outsourcing makes a lot of sense.

Take copywriting, for example. Good copy for your website, press release, sales letters and, well, everything else that needs content, really, is an absolute must. But not everyone is a born writer ?and not everyone has the time to learn. So you have two choices: you either do it yourself, and muddle through somehow, or you outsource your copywriting to someone else who can do it for you.

Option one is certainly the cheapest option, and for new business owners struggling to deal with all of the myriad costs of starting a new business, the DIY option can seem pretty attractive. Think about it, though. If your house needed to be rewired, would you do it yourself (assuming, of course, that you're not an electrician)? Nope, you'd hire a professional. If your car broke down, would you try to fix it yourself? Well, maybe ? but unless you really knew what you were doing, you'd probably find a professional to do that too.

The fact is that there are some jobs that are best left to the professionals. Copywriting, ghostwriting, programming and design all fall into that category. If you don't know what you're doing, you could end up doing more harm than good. That's why good freelancers can be worth their weight in gold. But will they charge their weight in gold? Well, it depends on the freelancer, of course, but in general terms, outsourcing a specific project can actually be pretty cost-effective. Here's why:

1. Freelancers normally work from home. That means they provide their own desk, chair, computer, electricity ? even their own coffee and snacks.

2. When you outsource a project, you're paying by the project ? so you don't waste money paying for time spent doing other things (like making that coffee, or opening the mail).

3. Good freelancers are normally experts in their field. Because they freelance for a living, they've worked for a wide range of employers on an even wider range of projects. In simple terms, they have the kind of knowledge and experience that you probably couldn't afford to buy if you weren't paying by the project.

Your final problem, then, is where to find quality freelancers to outsource your projects to. This can be a difficult one. To go back to the example of copywriting, unless you're a copywriter yourself, you probably don't know the difference between a good one or a bad one. That's where agencies can help. Freelance agencies like www.WritingWorld.org (an agency for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders and translators) can take the details of your project and budget, and find the right freelancer to fit it. If you think you know what you're looking for, you can post your project on the jobs board, and let the writers come to you.

There are countless other sites online which will help you find freelancers in just about any profession ? and at a price that you may find surprising. Why not check them out?

Amber McNaught is the owner of http://www.WritingWorld.org, an agency for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders and translators.

Amber is also a director of Hot Igloo Productions Ltd, the website design and small business specialists.