Online Business Manager or Virtual Assistant
By Siân Morgan-Owen,, Digitally Dazzling
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase. I only recommend products I love.
In the beginning...
When I first started my business in 2014 I was The Admin Genie UK offering a Virtual Assistant service. I kow…long time ago and believe it or not, back then people didn’t have a clue what a VA was. Then Alexa and others came along and muddied the waters for us poor VA’s.
I’d actually never met a VA before, it was a suggestion a friend made at a party as she had met one at a local business networking event. So with just an idea and people not really understanding what a VA was, I happily went along carving out what I thought a VA should do. As it turned out (as I was told often) how I operated was above and beyond expectations and at more of a strategy level than a task level. Between me and you I did what I thought I should be doing. What I needed to do to support my client and to be honest what I thought VA’s did.
Below: In the beginning when I didn’t have a clue.
After my husband died a few years ago I realised that life is too short to not do what you enjoy. So, I decided to niche and become a social media manager because I love content creating and designing accompanying graphics. I was then fortunate enough to come across the huge online arena out there that is full of female coaches and course creators.
All the amazing ladies
I soon discovered that there were so many amazing ladies who have a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping others. They just don’t know HOW to get it out there and share it with the world.
They want to:
- Create a blog or a website to share their knowledge.
- Offer a consulting or coaching services, either 1:1 or one to many.
- Host a workshop or webinar.
- Write a book or an e-book.
- Create a course.
Lack of technical knowledge, understanding of systems and processes, not enough time, and insufficient funds can all be barriers that prevent these ladies from effectively sharing their knowledge and expertise.
I can’t do anything about insufficient funds, but I can help with the other issues, so I soon began offering other services in addition to social media management:
- Sales funnels
- Lead magnet, document designing.
- Email marketing
- Email automation
- Website management and creation (post web development)
- Membership/course creator platform management
- Simple brand design
- Blog writing
With the ability to take care of the above and other skills I possess I have moved away from being a Virtual Assistant or solely a Social Media Manager and moved into being an Online Business Manager (OBM).
What is an Online Business Manager?
An Online Business Manager (OBM) is a professional who helps business owners manage their online operations. OBMs often work remotely and use technology to communicate and collaborate with clients, as well as manage their tasks and workflow. Their goal is to help business owners streamline their operations, increase their productivity, and grow their business online.
What is the difference between an Online Business Manager (OBM) and a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
An Online Business Manager (OBM) and a Virtual Assistant (VA) are both professionals who work remotely to help business owners manage their operations, but there are some key differences between the two roles.
A Virtual Assistant (VA) typically handles day to day tasks. They may also assist with some marketing and customer service tasks. VA’s are generally task-oriented and work under the direction of the client
An Online Business Manager (OBM) typically has more experience and knowledge about online business operations. They are responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of a business’s online presence, such as website development and maintenance, email marketing, social media, advertising and handling complex projects. OBMs focus on the overall strategy and management of a business, rather than just completing specific tasks.
What is the role of an online business manager?
The role of an Online Business Manager (OBM) is to help business owners manage and grow their online operations, freeing up their time to focus on the core aspects of their business. Some of the key responsibilities of an OBM include:
- Project management: OBMs oversee and coordinate the various projects and tasks that are necessary to run a business online, such as website development, email marketing campaigns, and social media advertising.
- Customer service: OBMs may handle customer service inquiries and complaints, either through email, phone or social media.
- Marketing and sales: OBMs help business owners develop and implement marketing strategies, create and manage social media accounts, and help with advertising and lead generation.
- Operations: OBMs help business owners streamline their operations, by implementing processes and tools that increase efficiency and productivity.
- Training and development: OBMs train and coach the business owner and their team on the best practices and tools for online business operations.
- Reporting and analysis: OBMs provide regular reporting and analytics on the performance of the business, and make recommendations on how to improve.
Who would need an online business manager?
An Online Business Manager (OBM) is typically needed by business owners who are looking to grow their online presence and operations but do not have the time or expertise to do it themselves. Some examples of business owners who may benefit from working with an OBM include:
- Small business owners who are overwhelmed with the day-to-day tasks of running their business and don’t have the time to focus on growing their online presence.
- Entrepreneurs who are looking to launch a new product or service and need help getting it off the ground.
- E-commerce business owners who need help managing their online storefront, marketing and sales
- Coaches, consultants, and service providers who want to expand their online reach and attract more clients
- Online content creators who want to monetise their content and build a loyal audience.
- Business owners who want to focus on the core aspects of their business and delegate the online operations to a professional.
In general, businesses of any size and type can benefit from having an OBM, as long as they want to grow their online presence and operations.
When do you know you need an online business manager?
There are several signs that a business owner may need an Online Business Manager (OBM). Some indicators that it may be time to hire an OBM include:
- You’re struggling to keep up with the demands of managing your online presence and operations.
- You’re not happy with the time you’ve dedicated to your online marketing and therefore not produced the results you wanted.
- You’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done to grow your online presence.
- You’re having trouble coordinating and managing different projects and tasks related to your online operation.
- You’re not sure how to optimise your online operation for growth and profitability.
- You’re not sure about the best tools and strategies to use for your online operations.
If a you’re experiencing any of these issues, it may be time to consider hiring an OBM to help manage and grow your online business. An OBM can help streamline processes, increase efficiency, and drive results, allowing you to focus on the core aspects of your business.
Final Thoughts!
Although a Virtual Assistant (VA) and an Online Business Manager (OBM) are similar in that they both provide remote administrative and operational support to businesses, but there are some key differences to consider when determining which role is best for your needs.
A Virtual Assistant typically focuses on providing support with specific tasks and can help free up time and energy for the business owner by handling day-to-day tasks.
An online business manager, on the other hand, is more focused on the overall strategy and management of a business and can help with creating and implementing systems and processes to improve the efficiency and growth of the business. They work closely with the business owner to help them achieve their business goals and have a more in-depth understanding of the overall business operations.
If you’re interested in hiring an online business manager or finding out more about it then book a clarity call with me HERE.
Or please check out my website for more information on social media management, funnel creation, blog writing etc.
