Running a business can feel like a juggling act—keeping all the balls in the air while making sure none of them drop. This is where an Online Business Manager (OBM) comes to the rescue. But what is an OBM, really? And how do you know if you need one? Let’s dive in and find out how an OBM can bring some much-needed order to your entrepreneurial circus.
What is an OBM?
An Online Business Manager (OBM) is your business’s secret weapon. Your gladiator. Your very own Olivia Pope of the business world. When you’re beaten down, tired, overwhelmed…an OBM can take care of the day-to-day operations, projects, team management, and other tasks so you can focus on what you do best (like, ya know, what you started your business to do in the first place). Think of an OBM as your business’s chief organizer, turning chaos into calm and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
What an Online Business Manager does
OBM’s can wear a variety of hats to help take the pressure off of you in your business. Here’s a list of some of the things an Online Business Manager can take off of your plate:
Project Management
OBMs are the masterminds behind your projects. They create detailed project plans, set deadlines, and ensure that everything is executed according to plan. By coordinating all the moving parts, they make sure that projects are completed on time and within budget, freeing you up to focus on strategic decisions.
Team Management
They’re the glue that holds your team together. OBMs assign tasks based on each team member’s strengths, monitor progress, and provide support where needed. They ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals, boosting team productivity and morale.
Process Optimization
OBMs are always on the lookout for ways to make your business run smoother and faster. They analyze current processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements to streamline operations. This can result in significant time and cost savings, allowing your business to operate more efficiently. This can include coming up with efficient processes for your CRM, your Project Management system, and anything else that involves how you run your business and serve your clients. Some examples of the process optimizations your OBM can handle are:
- Analyzing your current inquiry process, conceptualizing an efficient workflow and then building out the workflow and automations necessary in your CRM
- Establish SOPs for your current operations and workflows
- Streamline communications by implementing communication tools like Slack, Asana, or within your current project management tool to centralize team communication and reduce the clutter of email chains
- Streamline project management with softwares like ClickUp, Asana or Basecamp to better track project progress, deadlines, and responsibilities
- Developing a more efficient sales funnel by analyzing current sales strategies, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions like CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) to manage customer relationships more effectively
- Automate repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier or native integrations to automate routine tasks, such as email responses, social media postings, or invoice generation, saving time and reducing human error.
Strategic Planning
Online Business Managers can help map out your business’s journey. OBMs work with you to develop and implement strategic plans that align with your vision and goals. They ensure that your business stays on track and adapts to any changes in the market, helping you to stay competitive and grow.
Operational Oversight
From crunching numbers to nurturing client relationships, OBMs ensure all parts of your business machine are humming along nicely. They handle financial management, oversee marketing efforts, and maintain customer satisfaction, ensuring that your business remains profitable and your clients stay happy.
How to Know if You Need an OBM
Feeling Overwhelmed by Daily Operations
If you’re constantly drowning in tasks and can’t find time to focus on the big picture, an OBM can throw you a lifeline. They take over the operational side of your business, allowing you to concentrate on growth and innovation without getting bogged down by the day-to-day grind.
Growth Has Stalled
If your business feels stuck in a rut and you’re itching to grow, an OBM can help you find the path to expansion. They analyze your current operations, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies that drive growth, ensuring your business scales efficiently.
Team Management is a Struggle
If managing your team feels like herding cats in a room full of laser pointers, an OBM can bring much-needed order and efficiency. They ensure that tasks are delegated effectively, team members are held accountable, and everyone is working cohesively towards your business goals.
Inefficient Processes
If your business processes are a hot mess, an OBM can whip them into shape, making everything run like clockwork. By streamlining workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and improving communication, they can significantly boost your business’s efficiency and productivity.
Need for Strategic Guidance
If you’re not sure which direction to take next, an OBM can provide the strategic insight and execution to get you moving forward. They help you set clear, actionable goals and develop a roadmap to achieve them, ensuring your business stays on the right track.
Things we do differently as your OBM at High Spirits Creative
Our team can handle all of the above and more for you and your business as your OBM. But we like to do things a little differently around here. One of the things we are best known for over in our brand + web design studio is our client experience. Time and time again we get told how much of a delight and refreshing it is to work with our team. And that was one of my priorities from jump with my business. Working with us should be fun and exciting, not make you want to grab the nearest bottles of tequila and Tylenol. So when I set out to build High Spirits, I knew that a service focused on helping other business owners crack the code on having their own amazing client experience was a no-brainer.
That’s when the Client Concierge service was born. This is a service unique to High Spirits and I developed it specifically for business owners who don’t need the support of a full on OBM, but still want the benefit of having someone manage your projects and clients.
Think of our Client Concierge service as a scaled down OBM service, but it still packs a mighty punch. As your Client Concierge, we handle all aspects of your project management and client experiences. In other words, we make sure that every client has a seamless, personalized experience while working with you. And we make sure that you stay on task while only having to jump in when it’s your time to work on the project. No more checking deadlines, wondering if you need to be doing something for Client A while jumping on a call with Client C, double booking yourself, or wondering what you should be working on.
Here’s an example of what it can look like to have High Spirits Creative as your Client Concierge:
- Your CRM templates, workflows and canned emails are designed, written and implemented with automations
- Your project management system is organized and optimized for how you like to do work. Deadlines are managed and client communication is taken care of as necessary, only needing you to jump in when needed
- Inquiries through your CRM are tracked and qualified as needed, followed-up with and scheduled as appropriate
- New clients are onboarded with a white-glove experience
- Inquiries and client communication via email are responded to in a timely manner
- Project tracking and management ensures that your projects meet deadlines and stay on track
- Assignments are delegated to your team as needed to ensure efficient performance
- Client payments and due dates are monitored to ensure projects are paid on time
- A seamless offboarding experience ensures your clients feel taken care of even as the project comes to an end
- Thank you cards/boxes for client appreciation are sent out after the completion of projects
- Birthday/Anniversary/Holiday cards are sent to your address book throughout the year
- Post project support inquiries are managed and responded to
Our Client Concierge services have been known to help our clients increase bookings by up to 40%, reduce client late and non-payments, decrease time spent on proposals and booking consultations by up to 60% and increase spontaneous Happy Hours on random Tuesday afternoons by up to 60%.
Ready to chat about what we do as an OBM and how we can help you and your business?
