What Does an Online Business Manager (OBM) Do?

An online business manager (OBM) is there to provide support to people who need expert skills to help run their business.  Unlike a virtual assistant, an OBM has a leadership and managerial role to fulfil, such as handling teams and complex projects.  They also have freedom to make decisions that impact the business.  A good OBM will use their skills to increase revenue and profits, drive growth, as well as taking some of the weight off the business owner. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the tasks an OBM might do:

Project management

An OBM leads projects and uses their initiative to ensure goals are met within planned timelines.  After discussing priorities and outcomes with a business owner, an OBM develops strategies, plans and processes for their team to follow to achieve those desired goals.  In this role, an OBM will be liaising with their team as well as outside sources such as contractors, organisations, and individuals that are involved in the project.

Team management

Organising a successful team includes hiring, firing and working with people to get the best from them.  An OBM needs to have excellent communication skills, not just to be able to tell team members what to do, but also to listen and have empathy with them.  This allows an OBM to solve team problems quickly and fairly.  The success of a project relies upon a cohesive team that works well together and, when team members feel valued, they do a good job.

Marketing

This is an example of a business area that can be delegated to an OBM to run.  An OBM may coordinate the activities of copywriters, social media managers, and SEO experts.  They are also able to study the measurable data, such as website analytics and social engagement, in order to see what works well and how to improve.  Not all clients will require every aspect of an OBM’s skill set, but being able to hand over a whole operation such as marketing allows business owners to use their time on other things.

Operations management

Being tech savvy and experienced in a number of processes means that an OBM is in the best position to suggest helpful changes that make operations run more smoothly.  This could include improving bottlenecks, automating processes and devising and implementing new strategies and workflow systems that get things done more efficiently.

Actively seeks new opportunities for the business

An OBM can take a proactive approach in driving the overall success of a business by finding new opportunities.  This could be new ways to generate revenue, expanding customer reach, improving brand image and engaging with potential clients or customers.  This might also include networking to identify new partnership options and other opportunities that could be of benefit.

Hiring an OBM

For business owners, hiring an OBM can be the step that takes their business to the next level. It allows you to free up time if you are feeling overwhelmed with tasks, to explore new ventures, or perhaps you need a fresh set of eyes to help your business grow more quickly.  Whatever the reason, an OBM is an asset that many business owners can’t do without!

One of the joys about being an OBM is that every client is different.  That means no two OBM roles are the same.  It keeps things fresh, interesting and with a large scope to grow and develop professionally.

As an OBM, I really enjoy getting to know business owners, helping to solve their problems and improve the way their businesses run.  If you would like to have a chat about whether an OBM is right for you, or about what you could delegate, please get in touch!

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