Certified OBM® and Certified Online Business Manager® are registered and/or pending trademarks of the International Association of Online Business Managers (IAOBM) in the U.S. and around the world. The designations may only be used by one who has become certified through the International Association of Online Business Managers.
What does an OBM do?
The official definition of an Online Business Manager (OBM) is:
A virtually based support professional who manages online based businesses, including the day-to-day management of projects, operations, metrics and team.
The role of an OBM is to make sure the right THINGS, get done at the right TIME, in the right WAY and by the right PEOPLE.
An Online Business Manager is responsible for:
- Project Management – laying out plans and managing projects through to completion, including launches, managing programs, creation of new revenue streams, updating websites, etc.
- Operations Management – automating systems and creating processes for all day-to-day activities in the business to streamline and simplify how things are run
- Metrics Management – tracking stats for key business activities to see what is working and what is not working so that decisions can be made for ongoing growth
- People Management – outsourcing, managing, and leading the efforts of the team to meet business goals
Who do OBMs work with?
An OBM specializes in working with business owners on the journey from 6 - 7+ figures and is the 'liaison' between the business owner and the rest of the team - similar to the role of an Operations Manager or COO in the traditional business world.
>> Click here for an article on the 5 Signs that it's time to add an OBM to your team.
Looking to hire a Certified OBM®?
>> Click here to connect with our Certified OBMs via the OBM Directory & our RFP posting system (free to access!)
When you hire a Certified OBM you are hiring someone who:
- Has demonstrated their commitment to being an Online Business Manager by making a significant investment of time, money and effort in the Certified Online Business Manager Training Program.
- Has successfully completed the week long Certification process which involves them working on a series of real-life client projects.
- Has taken the Online Business Manager Pledge in dedication to their clients – present and future – and in acknowledgement of their own commitment to the profession.
What is the difference between an OBM and a VA?
Doing vs. Managing
The role of a virtual assistant is to be a DOER in the business. What they do will vary from person to person depending on their area of expertise - admin, customer service, tech, marketing, etc.
The role of an online business manager is to be a MANAGER in the business - to make sure the right things get done, in the right way, in the right time, and by the right person.
Responsibility
A VA is responsible for their OWN tasks and projects being completed and delivered in a timely fashion.
An OBM is focused on what the entire team is doing - making sure that EVERYONE is completing their tasks in a timely manner, to ensure that progress is being made toward the established business goals.
Planning
A VA needs to manage their time and workload effectively to ensure that their own work is being completed.
An OBM is planning for the business at large - always looking ahead to what is coming up and creating plans & systems to ensure the business is running smoothly and effectively (vs. functioning in a constant state of reacting to ‘last minute’ requests and overwhelm that is so common when we don’t have a plan).
Working with the Team
A VA is very focused on their own work, and will engage with fellow team members as needed to complete their own tasks.
An OBM is the key point of contact for the entire team - working closely with them on a day-to-day basis, to ensure that everyone is clear on their tasks & deadlines and has what they need to do their best work.
Put simply - a VA works independently with a focus on completing their own tasks, and will often rely on the business owner telling them what needs to be done. Whereas an OBM is able to plug into the big picture, layout plans and work with the entire team to ensure that everyone is ‘getting the right stuff done’ and progress is being made to meet the goals of the business.