What is an Online Business Manager? Hint: It’s Not a Virtual Assistant
It’s only been in recent years that the term, “virtual assistant,” has really become widely known. Even now, there are many individuals and businesses that still aren’t familiar with the term. With the presence of online businesses really taking off over the past decade, many employees and contractors have seen the benefit of working remotely rather than going into a physical office space or building every day. That’s where the profession of virtual assisting really came into being.
Businesses of all kinds, both online and in-person, realized they needed the extra help with managing their online presences as social media exploded and websites became almost mandatory. They also saw the benefits of having virtual help with managing and maintaining all of the day-to-day tasks of running their businesses like bookkeeping, project management, customer service, payroll, and more. Remote workers also cost less for a company than on-site employees do, and many businesses are able to get higher quality work from people who contract their services out to them.
Now, more and more entrepreneurs and companies are looking for those who can handle the overall management of the business and take over processes for them. Virtual assistants are also seeking to expand their roles and step into that of a management position for companies instead of staying at the administrative level. Whereas virtual assisting is much more task-oriented and focused on handling a specific few things in a business, online business management is much more people-oriented and focused on handling the overall operation of a business.
Essentially, online business managers are project managers, operations managers, metrics managers, and people managers all wrapped up into one. They lead teams, delegate tasks for the business owner, ensure all parts of a project are in place, track stats, handle communications, and much more. Online business managers are also able to create and implement strategies and systems for a company to help streamline processes, improve efficiency, boost revenue, and attract more leads.
Because online business managers do a lot in a company, they should possess a variety of skills and abilities that enable them to successfully manage business operations. Some of the skills that an OBM should possess include:
Strong verbal communication
Strategic thinking
Leadership abilities
Organizational skills
Flexibility
Adaptability
Technology savvy
Strong listening skills
Taking initiative
Ability to delegate and instruct
Having an online business manager in your company is a huge asset because they’re able to run operations without needing a lot of input, guidance, or direction. They’re able to take initiative in their work, be proactive, and prioritize their tasks productively. They will also help to free up the time of the business owner and give them the ability to pursue more high-value tasks or even just spend more time doing the things they want to do!
As you can see, there are many benefits to having an online business manager in one’s company. If you’ve been considering hiring one to help you in your own business, now would be a great time to do so! An OBM can help you grow and scale your business to reach the goals you’ve been striving for!
Schedule a call with me now to see how an online business manager could help you in your business and whether it would be a good fit for you!