The difference between an Online Business Manager (OBM) and a Virtual Assistant (VA)
There are so many job terms flying around the remote business space that at times it can feel hard to keep track – and that’s before you try and understand what each of them do.
Two of these are an online business manager (OBM) and a virtual assistant (VA).
Both offer their expertise to business owners in a way that allows the business owners to regain time and energy to scale their business.
However, it’s important to understand that these two roles have some key differences. Both VAs and OBMs can be valuable to a business owner, but the one that’s right for you will depend on what you’re hoping to achieve.
Here, we explore the differences between a VA and an OBM, so you can make an informed decision about which role will be best placed to help your company thrive.
Online Business Managers (OBMs) are planners:
To start with: do you just have a list of tasks that you need support with completing, or do you need someone to break down your vision for the business into actionable steps? If it’s the former, then a VA could be a better fit, but if it’s the latter, you’ll definitely need the expertise of an Online Business Manager.
As a business owner, it can be hard to realise that you need extra support. Bringing in someone else can feel like a big step; you may worry that they won’t have the same drive that you have. However, there are only so many hours in the day. Plus, just because you’ve created a great service doesn’t mean that you’re also the best at business strategy, or that you enjoy it.
An Online Business Manager is there to act as a trusted second pair of hands, and bring your vision to life with the same care that you would.
They excel at planning, creating steps and coordinating other external help (if necessary) to make your dreams for your business materialise.
Online Business Managers (OBMs) offer an in-depth approach:
Part of being a VA is juggling – they usually have a larger range of clients and work on a few tasks for each of them.
There’s no expectation to be part of the wider business strategy; instead, they’re simply there to help you get tasks done.
From a client perspective, bringing in a VA can be a great way to get extra help when things get busy, and ease off again during quieter periods.
An OBM is a longer-term investment, you'll get the best out of their services when you create that long-term partnership. As a result, OBMs tend to have a select few clients, allowing them to stay focused and provide a more tailored service. This means they’ll have the time and the energy to work on your strategy in more depth, rather than keeping things at a task level.
Online Business Managers (OBMs) are managers and coordinators:
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to understand and appreciate the difference between a VA and an OBM is to picture a manager and an assistant.
Both are good at their jobs, and both are valued members of the team. But a manager tends to be in charge of managing the flow of tasks, ensuring that each element of the team is running smoothly, and making decisions to allow the team to meet the wider business goals. On the other hand, an assistant is there to make sure that tasks are completed to the best of their ability, and on time.
As a business owner, it can be hard to imagine handing over this element to anyone else. However, you’ll get the best out of your investment in an OBM when you trust them to manage any VAs or external suppliers that you may use, as well as let them tackle problems and keep your projects on track!
One of the benefits of working with an Online Business Manager is the time and energy you get back to focus on scaling your business.
Instead of just trying to keep everything together, imagine stepping back from everyday tasks, knowing your business is running smoothly and your team is in sync.
Online Business Managers (OBMs) look at the big picture:
As a business owner, it can be hard to move to the next stage of your growth. Perhaps you’ve already made the first step of getting extra support in the form of a VA, copywriter or social media manager, but you’re still not seeing the progress you’d like to make towards your goals but you simply don’t have the time or the energy to make those goals a reality.
An OBM is there to share the load, amplifying the process and making things happen in a way that just isn’t possible with only one person.
VAs can be fantastic assets to have on board, but they’re there to complete the tasks you give them – you still need to do the planning and delegating.
An OBM doesn’t need to be told what to do or how to do it. Their actions align with your wider business strategy, and they’ll act as your partner, helping the business achieve its full potential.
Take things to the next level with an Online Business Manager (OBM)
If you’re ready to scale your business sustainably, then hiring an Online Business Manager (OBM) could be a great investment for you. Not only will this give you back time to focus on the big picture and high-level tasks, but it will also tackle feelings of being overwhelmed, disorganised, or unstructured, providing you with a better work-life balance.
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