What Exactly Is an OBM and How Can They Help Your Business?

If you’re running a business and haven’t heard of an Online Business Manager (OBM), you’re not alone. While OBMs are becoming a cornerstone of efficient, scalable businesses, many entrepreneurs are still unaware of what they do and how they can elevate your business.

In my article What Does an OBM Do For Your Business?, I had many people comment they'd never heard of an OBM and wanted to know more! I get that more often than not as many people think an OBM is the same as a VA. The article above talked about that difference too.

Many of us started as VAs as we moved into the online space. My first 17 years of working was in small business and corporate so many things were easy to move into online businesses. But I still had to learn things that weren't used back then; like CRM's, online schedulers, Zoom and more! Starting as VA allowed me to learn the space and what was needed and I began shifting all my experience in the corporate/small business world into my OBM business as I grew and learned.

The great thing about that? I know VA work. I know how to manage a VA and work with them to allow them to feel empowered, valued and bring their own expertise to the team! Plus I'm sometimes my clients ONLY team member, so VA and OBM tasks and management are part of my everyday work.

In this article, I’m going to break down exactly what an OBM is, what they do, and why working with one could be one of the smartest decisions you make for your business.

What Is an OBM?

An Online Business Manager (OBM) is a business operations expert who helps entrepreneurs streamline their operations, manage their teams, and oversee projects to ensure things run smoothly. Think of an OBM as the strategic right hand of the business owner—someone who steps in to take care of the details, so you can focus on growth and vision.

While a virtual assistant (VA) may help with administrative tasks, an OBM takes on a more strategic, high-level role in running your business. OBMs are the ones who help you manage your business in the big picture, ensuring that systems are optimized and that your business is running efficiently, even when you’re not working in it every day.

What Does an OBM Do?

An OBM does a lot—strategically organizing, streamlining, and empowering. Here’s a deeper look into what they handle for your business:

1. Streamlining Your Operations

An OBM analyzes your business’s processes and looks for areas that are inefficient or complicated. Then, they streamline these processes to make everything work seamlessly. They help simplify workflows and identify areas where automation can save time.

For example: If your invoicing process is taking too long, an OBM would set up automated invoicing so that it’s done without you lifting a finger.

2. Managing Your Team

As your business grows, you’ll need a team to help. An OBM ensures that your team is aligned, productive, and focused on what matters. They manage communication, assign tasks, and ensure that everyone is moving toward the same goals.

For example: Your OBM will help onboard new team members, create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and ensure everyone knows their role, helping to eliminate any confusion or miscommunication.

3. Overseeing Key Projects

OBMs also oversee important projects from start to finish, ensuring that deadlines are met and everyone is staying on track. They are great at project management, keeping your business organized and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

For example: If you’re launching a new product or hosting a live event, your OBM would manage the timeline, communicate with the team, and ensure that all moving pieces come together perfectly.

4. Helping You Scale

Scaling your business requires having the right systems in place. An OBM helps implement and optimize these systems, setting the stage for growth. They take the tasks you can’t keep up with and handle them so you can focus on strategic initiatives.

For example: They can help implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that allows you to keep track of all client interactions and sales leads in one place, making it easier for you to follow up and close deals.

How Can an OBM Help Your Business?

As a business owner, you’re the visionary, but to make that vision a reality, you need someone who can handle the day-to-day operations. This is where an OBM comes in. Here’s how an OBM can benefit your business:

1. More Time for You

By offloading tasks to an OBM, you’ll free up your time to focus on the things that only you can do—business strategy, high-level decision-making, and developing your vision for the future. You’ll be able to work smarter, not harder.

2. Better Efficiency

An OBM streamlines your processes, eliminates bottlenecks, and ensures everything is running as efficiently as possible. This means faster decision-making, less stress, and a more productive business overall.

3. Support When You Need It

An OBM is someone who supports your business vision. They understand your goals and work alongside you to ensure the business is always on track, whether you’re there or not. They act as your partner, not just your employee.

4. Scaling with Ease

An OBM helps you scale without increasing your workload. With a streamlined tech stack, delegation of tasks, and clear systems in place, you’ll be able to grow your business sustainably without losing control.

Why Should You Hire an OBM?

Let’s face it: as your business grows, you can’t do it all. The truth is, trying to handle everything on your own is the fastest way to burn out. Hiring an OBM brings a wealth of expertise and experience to your business, allowing you to:

• Focus on high-level strategy and business growth.
• Automate and streamline processes that save time and money.
• Have a dedicated expert handling day-to-day operations and helping with long-term business goals.
• Empower your team to be more productive, and give them the tools they need to succeed.
• Gain a clear perspective on your business and opportunities for improvement.

How an OBM Can Support You Right Now

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with managing all the operations of your business, it’s time to make a change. An OBM can step in and take over the operational aspects that are slowing you down, so you can focus on scaling your business.

Are You Ready for Support?

If you’re ready to streamline your systems, delegate tasks, and finally have the support to scale your business without burning out, it’s time to work with an OBM.

Together, we can set up the systems and processes that will make your business run smoothly, so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business and living your life.

Call to Action

?? Book a Session today to discover how working with an OBM can take your business to the next level!

____________

If we haven’t met yet, I’m Kimberly Laverdure, The Virtual Life Alchemist.

As a business owner, you might be too close to your operations to see the next best step for scaling and reclaiming your time. You might also miss inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or areas where automation and streamlining can make a huge difference. And, most importantly, you might not have the support you need to ensure your business can run on autopilot when you need to step back or take time off.

That’s where I come in!

I help entrepreneurs streamline their operations, automate key processes, and leverage technology to grow their businesses with ease.

With my Systemize for Success? framework and over 17 years of experience in the online business space and 17 years in corporate and small business, I’ve helped countless business owners achieve sustainable growth without the overwhelm. If you’ve been putting off launching or systemizing, now is the perfect time to take action and see the transformation in your business.

?? Like this post

?? Ring it on my profile and follow for updates

?? Let’s connect

?? Schedule your Systemize for Success? Alignment Session to discover if the program is a fit for you! https://calendly.com/virtuallifealchemist/systemize-for-success

?? Schedule your Complimentary Alchemy Session to discover how we can Systemize for Success? together and work smarter, not harder: https://calendly.com/virtuallifealchemist/alchemyignitesession

?? Get my free resources at https://virtuallifealchemist.com/resources ??

#OBM, #OnlineBusinessManager, #BusinessOperations, #DelegateToGrow, #ScaleYourBusiness