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Starting a business is exhilarating, scary, challenging and amazing all in one go. When you first start out, you can often handle it all yourself, from updating your website, social media, bookkeeping, finding clients and all the other million and one tasks that need to be done.
Over time though, you may find that your days are getting longer, you are always going full throttle, but the wheels are spinning and you aren’t getting the traction you need to level up your business.
It is so easy to get sucked into the need-to-be-done admin tasks and before you know it, you’ve got no breathing space to even think about your higher-level strategies, let alone execute them.
That, my friend, is when you need to start thinking about bringing in reinforcements before you burn out, or even worse, lose your passion for what you’re doing.
What is an Online Business Manager?
An Online Business Manager (or OBM) is a contractor or freelancer whose main function is to take over the day-to-day operations of your business to free you up to do what you do best, whether that’s focussing on your strategic growth or dedicating your time to your clients or customers.
They can be employed on a retainer or short term basis for a project launch or if you need to step away from your business for a while.
It is an inherently tailored service based on the needs of your business, but there are three main areas they can help you in, with some examples of each area included:
- Operational Management: organising and automating your business processes through utilisation of online systems such as CRM, accounting, team communication and the creation of SOPs (standard operating procedures). This also includes all the day to day tasks such as email marketing, social media management, website management, blog creation client onboarding, as well as analytics and trend reporting.
- Project Management: managing a project launch, creating a website, or launching a membership portal, digital product or an online course.
- People Management: Dependant on how many people you either employ or you subcontract, this can become a full-time job in itself! An OBM will recruit, manage, delegate and organise your team.
An OBM can work with business owners on developing and creating their strategy and then implement systems and processes to help achieve these goals. They work independently and from their own initiative while driving business growth.
Benefits of an Online Business Manager
- Increased efficiency, simplicity and consistency by implementing online systems such as a CRM (Dubsado is our go-to) and the ultimate gamechanger, a project management tool (ClickUp is our forever favourite) as well as the creation of SOPs and business continuity plans to streamline and automate your business processes and improve team communication.
- You can work within your skillset and outsource the tasks that you don’t like, aren’t good at, or just don’t want to do. An OBM can either do them for you or find an expert who can do it quicker and with a better ROI. An OBM will also systemise your onboarding procedure and training, as well as take responsibility for the day-to-day people management.
- Effective lead generation through the implementation of all the marketing efforts you didn’t have time for, from email marketing, social media, community management, podcast editing, market research…this list is endless!
- Strategic planning and goal setting. Having someone who understands your business and you can bounce ideas off of or get a second opinion from can be absolutely invaluable, particularly when you are used to doing it on your own. A fresh pair of eyes if often exactly what a great idea needs to breathe new life into it.
- Accountability and delegation. Your OBM will help keep you on track to meet and even exceed your business goals. They can also help you work out what tasks to keep, which to delegate and which to scrap which when you are used to being a solo-preneur, can be a scary thing to do at first!
Hiring an Online Business Manager can be a crucial step in getting a step ahead of your competitors, regaining your sanity and levelling up your business. They are an investment in your company that will allow you to set bigger goals and achieve them faster, all while you focus on the areas of your business that you love and leave behind the areas you don’t.
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