5 Surprising Ways an Online Business Manager (OBM) Can Elevate Your Business (+8 Signs it’s Time to Hire One)
The core purpose of an Online Business Manager (OBM) is simple: to free up your time as a business owner so you can focus on what only you can do. You may know what an OBM is, but do you know how transformative their support can be for your business? Here are five surprising ways an OBM can elevate your business while giving you the freedom to step fully into your CEO role.
1. Streamline Your Launches and Projects
As a business owner, your plate is always full. The only way to take on more is to delegate. An OBM can manage day-to-day activities and every detail of your launches, freeing you from these tasks. They can:
Develop comprehensive project or launch plans
Execute and oversee these plans
Track deadlines and tasks to ensure success
Manage resources such as time, team members, technology, and budgets
Troubleshoot challenges that arise during the process
Beyond launches, OBMs can also assist with:
Research
Setting up technical platforms like client portals
Managing new client onboarding
Course reviews and setups
Overseeing various revenue streams
Pro Tip: Check out our new course, “10 Components of a Successful Heart-Centered Launch,” to revolutionize your next launch.
2. Hire and Manage Your Team
To grow and scale your business, a team is essential. But managing and training new members can consume the time you saved by delegating. An OBM, especially from an agency like On a Mission Brands, can bring a team of specialists to handle strategy, marketing, and operations, letting you focus on your strengths.
If you have your own team, an OBM can:
Clarify team roles and responsibilities
Ensure effective communication and follow-up
Handle scheduling conflicts and team challenges
Manage reviews, budgets, and expenses
Motivate and lead the team to project completion
Act as the primary contact between you and the team
They can also help build the right team by:
Identifying team needs
Using their network to find suitable candidates
Managing the interview process
Creating contracts, SOPs, and training materials
Assessing team fit and performance
3. Serve as Your Strategic Right Hand
An OBM can significantly contribute to your growth and scaling efforts with the right marketing and operational strategies. Think of them as strategists with technical expertise. An OBM can help you:
Identify and address gaps in your marketing and operations
Define clear business goals and implementation steps, like a 90-day launch plan
Position your offerings in the market
Analyze goals and devise strategies to meet them
Identify ideal customers and craft outreach plans
Optimize business operations to eliminate bottlenecks
Create effective social media and digital marketing strategies
Some OBMs, like those at On a Mission Brands, can even build high-converting funnels to attract the right customers.
4. Design and Document Streamlined Processes
Repeated tasks and processes can eat up your time. An OBM can identify these tasks and streamline or design new processes, often using project management tools like ClickUp or Asana to automate as much as possible. They achieve this by:
Reviewing your time usage
Identifying repetitive tasks and processes
Creating templates and automated responses
Anticipating task flows based on goals and setting up systems accordingly
5. Analyze Metrics and KPIs
Understanding your business metrics and KPIs is crucial for making informed decisions. An OBM will track these metrics, set up reporting systems, and analyze data to provide insights into what’s working and what’s not. This helps keep your operations on schedule and allows for timely adjustments in your strategies.
8 Signs You’re Ready for an Online Business Manager (OBM)
The journey from startup to a stable, growing company follows a common path for most business owners. Initially, you wear all the hats, handling everything needed to run your business. As growth ensues, administrative tasks become too overwhelming, leading to the hiring of a virtual assistant. Specialized freelancers like web developers, graphic designers, bookkeepers, or copywriters often join the team to handle specific tasks.
Eventually, managing daily operations, freelancers, and ongoing projects consumes a significant amount of your time. This interference hampers your ability to act as CEO, develop new ventures, and serve your clients. This is when a manager becomes essential. An Online Business Manager (OBM) ensures everything is done correctly, on time, and by the right people. Hiring an OBM is a significant step but also a tremendous relief for a growing business owner.
Not sure if you’re ready for an OBM? Here are five signs that indicate it’s time to hire your first online business manager.
1. You Are “Too Busy”
If you’re too busy to take on new opportunities, handle everything in your business, think clearly, or enjoy free time, it’s time for a change. An OBM will free up your time, allowing you to focus on your genius zone. They manage day-to-day operations, ensure project completion, and keep you focused on your priorities. An OBM fields time-consuming questions from your team, giving you the peace of mind to concentrate on why you started your business—to do what you love!
2. Business Operations is Not Your Strength
As an entrepreneur and visionary, operations, systems, project management, and technical tasks might not be your forte. These essential aspects of your business won’t disappear, but they can be managed by someone who excels in them. An OBM thrives on getting into the nitty-gritty details, ensuring your business runs smoothly. Their strengths in organization and task management allow you to hand over these responsibilities, reigniting your passion for your business.
3. Your Vision for Growth is Clear
Knowing your current position is one thing, but having a clear vision for growth is another. If you have a defined growth plan but are unsure how to execute it, an OBM can help strategize and implement your ideas. However, if your path is unclear, working with an OBM can be frustrating. They are geared to move forward, complete projects, and accelerate your business. Clarify your goals, possibly with a coach’s help, and then let an OBM work their magic.
4. Your Revenue Has Exceeded Six Figures
While tempting to hire an OBM before hitting six figures, it’s usually premature. Your business may not have enough work for an OBM, or your budget may not allow for the investment. OBMs typically work a minimum of 20 hours per month, with some dedicating 30-40 hours. They are a higher investment than virtual assistants, so your revenue must cover this expense. Higher revenue often indicates more time needed to manage the business. Build up your revenue, cut unnecessary expenses, and then make the plunge with an OBM.
5. You Are Ready to Invest in Your Business
Hiring an OBM is a financial investment, but it’s also a commitment to growth. It involves removing mindsets hindering your progress and working with a coach or training program focused on business growth. An OBM will challenge you to rethink your current operations, opening your mind to new perspectives. Embracing the need for financial investment and operational changes is crucial for growth. Sometimes, this means spending money to fix past mistakes, but you understand it’s about investing in the short term for long-term gain. When ready, an OBM is a fantastic investment for your business.
6. You’re Still Doing the Same Things You Did When You Started
Remember when you first started your business and had to wear all the hats? Are you still updating your own website, sending out broadcasts, and answering all your customer service emails? As your business grows, your role should evolve. An OBM can help you delegate these tasks, allowing you to focus on high-level strategies and growth. They’ll lovingly ‘slap your wrist’ to remind you to let go of the tasks that others can handle.
7. You Have a Great Team, but They’re Always ‘Bugging’ You
Do you find yourself frustrated by constant interruptions from your team, even though they’re doing a great job? Your team needs someone to manage them, answer their questions, and help them complete projects efficiently. Without an OBM, this role falls to you, the business owner. Most business owners don’t enjoy being managers. An OBM becomes the key point of contact for your team, handling all their questions, requests, and check-ins, so you don’t have to.
8. You’re Stuck at a Revenue Plateau
If you’re stuck at a certain revenue point, often referred to as the quarter-million-dollar speed bump, the obstacle is usually you. This stagnation is common when you’re too involved in day-to-day operations. Start asking yourself if you need to be the one handling each task. Chances are, many items on your to-do list can be delegated. An OBM can help you identify these tasks and manage them, enabling you to break through revenue plateaus.
By recognizing these signs, you can make an informed decision about when to hire an online business manager (OBM), ensuring your business continues to grow and thrive.
If you’re looking for a talented, trustworthy OBM and team to help you scale and manage your business seamlessly, reach out to us! Our experts are ready to support you with marketing and online business management. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation, and let's explore how we can help you achieve your goals.
