You already know the power of outsourcing and how much better business can be when you’re focused on profit building tasks. I won’t waste your time rehashing those details. Instead, I’m going to give you an introduction to what an Online Business Manager (OBM) can do for you – and cover the difference between a Virtual Assistant and an Online Business Manager.
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Online Business Manager
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Virtual Assistant
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| The Big Picture |
Understands the big picture and works with the business owner to outline & oversee the steps necessary to get there. |
Typically aren’t concerned about the big picture; instead they focus on doing the tasks. |
| Responsibility |
Responsible for ensuring the business runs smoothly, by creating operation manuals, training assistants, managing assignments, schedules and staff. |
Responsible for completing tasks assigned to them – i.e. formatting ebooks, conducting research, sending newsletters, working in shopping carts. |
| Achieving Success |
Success is achieved when the business is operating efficiently & the entire team is happy. |
Success is achieved when the work is completed & delivered in a timely manner. |
| Overall Goal |
To build long-term, trusting relationships with business owners who value the working relationship and compensate accordingly. |
To increase their work hours, thus income, for each client without having the added responsibility of managing others. |
| Why hire… |
OBM’s are hired when business owners have grown beyond the startup phase. They simply cannot manage everything and still continue to grow; or perhaps, they’ve grown tired of managing the day-to-day operations. |
VA’s are typically hired during the early stages of business. They help set up websites & shopping carts, create mailing lists, and so forth. Once the business is going, they continue to work on individual tasks. |
As you can see, the role of an Online Business Manager is much different than a Virtual Assistant and yet, you can clearly benefit from hiring both.
In other blog posts I explore this topic further and explain things like what you get when you work with an Online Business Manager and how to find the right OBM for your business.