EVERYTHING in the online business world revolves around having a solid planned out strategy. Of course, we like to say the Online Business Manager is where strategy meets implementation! So with that in mind, it’s only natural one of the key attributes to being an OBM is strategy.
Strategy, as it pertains to the OBM (or virtual support professional in general) is not about WHAT is next for the business. That is for the business owner (hopefully with a skilled coach) to decide. It is all about the HOW that what will be created.
How will you, the OBM make it happen… what are the steps, best course of action, proven processes and established formulas to seeing the result come to pass?
The reality though, is that not every person has a natural gift toward strategy. For some it is a strength and comes super easy for them… for others they don’t see all the pieces the same way. This is one of the reasons I love our Online Business Manager Certification Training so much. Because throughout the entire training all the strategies for leading, growing and managing an online business are laid out for you!
What strategies are key for an OBM to master?
- Communication: It is a key strategy because if you cannot effectively communicate both with client and team you will not have a successful experience in ensuring all the pieces are coming together. Clarity, in communication is a golden tool in the hands of an OBM. If you really want your team to love you, ensure they have everything they need to be successful when they sit down to perform a task. A lack of solid communication will lead to wasted time, the wrong work being done or it not being done correctly.
- Workflow: every project needs a clear and executable plan of action. This takes a precise strategy of understanding what comes when in each project, how long it takes and who is going to successful implement it. As OBM’s we are looking for the most efficient way to accomplish any task and to ensure we are keeping an eye on budget and/or hourly rates for team.
- Marketing: this is the one folks don’t like for me to throw in the hat for the OBM so I want to clarify it a bit. Online business is marketing, plain and simple. If you do not market you do not gain prospects, without prospects you do not sale, without sales you do not have a business. So with that in mind a marketing strategy is a continual effort to be put forth by business owner and OBM. However, it is the business owner’s responsibility to really have a clear vision on their marketing plan and the OBM is there to create the strategy around how to execute it 😉
- Process Creation – online business move at lightning speed. Things do not take years or even months to get in place often an idea can go from conception to creation in the matter of a few hours. So the prospect of keeping processes up to date in the business is an ongoing strategy of both awareness and discipline. Not a glorified strategy but one that will save your butt if you ever have a team member leave and need to do a quick recruit and get the next person plugged in.
The thing to remember about strategy is that what you are really looking for is the most streamlined effort for a maximized result. If you can get the habit of seeking that out for all initiatives you will become a master strategist before long 😉
——————–
Don’t forget I would love to connect on your organizational tips and tricks as you serve your clients… feel free to leave a comment here: http://www.facebook.com/iaobm
Want to find out more about becoming an Online Business Manager? Check out the Certified OBM Training program here: http://www.CertifiedOBM.com