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OBM Tip of the Week – The role of the Online Business Manager
I like to look at the role of the Online Business Manager through the lens of how we help support our clients.
What do clients need? What are they asking for help with (and having trouble finding!)?
What is truly going to help them grow and expand their business?
After all, if it wasn’t for the needs of our clients, the role of the Online Business Manager wouldn’t mean anything. We are here to serve them and their businesses, so it is essential The Role of the Online Business Manager to really understand their needs in order to provide the best level of support.
Together with Andrea Lee, I’ve spoken to hundreds of small business owners over the past few years who are desperately seeking the help of an Online Business Manager. They didn’t know that’s what they needed; they just knew they needed help!
Here are some of the most common challenges that people have shared with us:
“I am so overwhelmed and just can’t do this on my own anymore – help!”“I’m making a good living, but just can’t seem to make my business grow beyond where I am now.”
“I’ve worked with a bunch of VAs but I can’t seem to find one that can do what I need. Why is it so hard to find the right person?”
“There’s so much going on in my business but I’m not sure what is getting done and what isn’t. I wish I had someone to manage all those pieces for me.”
“My brain is bursting with new ideas for my business, but I’m busy enough as it is. I guess all these ideas will have to wait …”
Are you considering becoming an Online Business Manager? Get the full scoop here: http://www.BecominganOBM.com
OBM Tip of the Week – Providing Solutions Not Options
In our Online Business Manager Certification Training one of the Certification projects will be to layout a plan for a brand new project. Start to finish.. the systems, software, team, timeline ect. Many times we see from Certification trainees brilliant ideas, honestly, info we hadn’t even considered for that project (there are some VERY creative OBM’s out there). But what will draw a red flag from the Certification Committee is when we see options being presented but no actual solution.
Let me explain if your client comes to you and says “Hey, I would like to do a webinar series offer and record it live then set it up on a drip systems to be continually purchased after the live program”. At that point we (the OBM) will need to create a project plan to see this webinar series come alive.
Many times we will need to research various software or systems for anything from live componants to recordings to the platform we need to deliver on after the live event. Many moving parts, many decisions to be made many options to choose from.
Once the options are compiled we then need to determine the best route in which to run this project (including budget for any new software, systems or team members) and offer that plan to the client… what does NOT need to happen is a compiled list of “well we could or these are the options’.
Here’s why: OWNERSHIP! Once the client has given you the ‘I wanna’ we need to respond with ‘We will’… this will give the client the since of partnership and freedom they need to continue being creatively brilliant and confident their team can handle the direction they are taking their business.
So don’t provide options to your client provide solutions..
OBM Tip of the Week – People want to hire YOU (not your business)
A lot of folks in the virtual support industry (OBMs, VAs and such) will get caught up in the idea of “looking like a *real* business.” Spending time on finding the perfect client name, creating a big ole fancy website, getting a load of business cards, etc.
These things are important and play a role of course – but keep in mind that clients want to hire YOU and not your business. When someone wants to hire an OBM they want an individual who can come in and really plug into what is going on – they aren’t looking for “Corporation X” to come in. It can actually work against you to try to be too professional – you may not connect with clients and if you represent yourself as something you are not that could set you up for failure. (ie: If you say “we” on your website and it’s only you – big pet peeve of mine!)
Be real, be authentic and come from a place of service – you are enough to serve your clients simply being you vs. trying to build up something “bigger” around you.
OBM Tip of the Week – Are you asking for testimonials?
Simple question – are you asking your clients for testimonials?
Many of us aren’t doing this and yet it’s a great way to establish credibility upfront. If people visiting your site can see some testimonials from your clients it becomes what is called “social proof” – you know what you are doing and people are getting what they want working with you.
Some of us might feel shy in asking for a testimonial and I invite you to challenge that. If your clients are happy with your work they will be more than willing to give you one. All you need to do is ask and make it simple for them to do so.
The sticking point for most folks is deciding what to say – so if you help craft a testimonial for your clients then you are much more likely to get one from them. You can ask them to answer some specific questions or even give them a “sample” testimonial for them to edit. In the past i’ve literally written my own testimonials and had people tweak/edit them to suit what they wanted to say (and then you are much more likely to get a testimonial that highlights the stuff you want to focus on as well.)
So go go go – send those testimonial requests right here and now.
OBM Interview Series – Video #1
Video #1 is with Certified OBM™ Lynn Pearce – who went from the world of high-tech project management to life as an OBM
Want to hear more stories and explore becoming an Online Business Manager?
>> Click here to Register for a Free 3-part Training Series exclusively for folks interested in creating a high-end virtual support business that allows you to have a consistently full practice of top-notch clients who can easily afford your services (and are a blast to work with) <– woo hoo!