Tag Archive for: business

What is an Online Business Manager? Do I need one?

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Online Business Managers may have caught your attention, but how do they compare to Virtual Assistants? A few more ambitious VAs may even offer the same services as OBMs, so what makes them different?

OBMs are much more than just great VAs. They offer different services and their skills and priorities differ too, but there are companies like Venice Virtual that provide full-service support and cover most of what an OBM does.

Online Business Managers provide management-level support to busy business owners.  It could be on a temporary basis while the business owner takes a break, or for a limited period when things are particularly busy so that the owner can focus on more important things, manage projects, or supervise a particular department.

You could drastically change your future both inside and outside of your business if you hire an OBM. It could give you the chance to work on an idea or find time to explore new possibilities.

An experienced OBM will assist clients with strategy and provide a good sounding board for business owners who need that extra support organising their thoughts and connecting the dots.

As your business grows, so will your OBM, so they’re committed to making your company a success. Unlike you, they will be invested, but not as emotionally involved in the business, so they can remain objective, giving them a greater ability to see things clearly.

The OBM’s role is to ensure systems and processes are tightened, communications are improved, and action is taken when necessary to keep things on track. You’ll be able to focus on things such as strategy, vision, brand development and new concepts when an online business manager manages the day-to-day.

When workflows, procedures, and channels of communication have already been established, an OBM can provide you with the most freedom. In cases where you need to establish new processes and systems, an OBM can support you with developing strategy, decision-making, and communication.

They can help improve and refine systems in your operation to allow you and the rest of your team to work autonomously so you can focus on more significant things.

A strong Online Business Manager will benefit you not only by giving you more time to focus on growth, but also by bringing with them knowledge, services, and associates.

Key takeaways;

♦️  Online Business Managers provide a higher level of management.

♦️  Giving OBM the autonomy to oversee the smooth running of your business, allows you as a business owner more time to focus on growing the company.

♦️  Rates vary, but you can expect to pay at least £40 per hour up to £120. Typical retainer packages start at around £600 per month and rise to around £3000 or more.

The decision to hire an OBM or VA can be daunting and we understand you may have many questions.

This short guide should provide you with some answers, but nothing beats a one-on-one conversation where you can discuss your own business needs, which is why we welcome a discovery call to see how we can help.  Call us today. Read the rest

Why You Need to Dedicate Time for Your Business Strategies (and how to get the most out of your time)

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While planning enables entrepreneurs to plan out what they will do and when, a strategy involves the bigger picture. It is here that a business strategy differs from a plan.  If your plan is what you’re going to do to take your business up a level, your strategy is the why and the how.

During a business strategy session, you should look at some of the following:

Ø A SWOT analysis, and where you fit in and how you could overcome obstacles identified

Ø The long-term goals

Ø What is required to achieve those goals?

Ø The alternative options you could use to work towards those goals, and the pros and cons of each

Ø The metrics or review process you’ll use to measure your progress

Ø A roadmap of your goals

Many business owners sadly lack the confidence or time to put pen to paper and work out their thoughts and ideas. It is often underestimated how important taking time to strategise is for the growth of a business. However, when the landscape is always changing, these thoughts and ideas can easily get muddled, especially when we’re as busy as we are. So what are the benefits of having a business strategy?

By putting time aside to write a well-thought-out business strategy (and checking in with it regularly), we’re giving ourselves an advantage. This is the guide that will assist us through all the uncertainties we will face as business owners.

A business strategy will allow you to have:

✅ Clarity around what it is you want from your business and beyond

✅ An understanding of what success looks like for you

✅ A clear idea of what your goals are and how to get there

✅ A deeper insight into the market and your competition

✅ The foresight to plan for and overcome any complications and challenges

✅ A steady focus on the opportunities that will really serve you, and a plan for getting the most out of them

✅ A system for measuring your progression, where you can celebrate wins but importantly recognise and support areas

      where you are falling short

✅ Accountability, to learn to move past sticking points that have held you back in the past

With all of that will come the confidence and fortitude you need to start making changes and when challenges arise or you feel like you are feeling overwhelmed, you will have something to refer to to get you back on track.

Read the rest

Developing the Right Landing Page

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First impressions are crucial in business.

A great landing page can improve customer experience, only if done correctly.

We recently updated our website to reflect our vision and refresh our virtual shopfront.  We’ve pulled together some important elements you must consider when developing your landing page.

As a single, vital function, your virtual shop window generates leads and converts them into sales. It doesn’t matter how hard you work on your marketing or social media campaign, without an appealing landing page, your audience will lose interest.

By focusing on these fundamental components of an effective landing page, you will leave an excellent impression on your customers and help your business grow.

1. Engaging Copy

First and foremost, always consider having a site that is SEO compatible and it’s vital to include keywords for optimisation, this is an excellent way to ensure customers find your business and could help your ranking on search engines — which means more visibility and more visits from prospective customers.

Content will be the essence of the landing page. Therefore, the copy should be clear and to the point, conforming to the overall themes, messaging, and tone.

The landing page should strike the right balance between not being too heavy and having just enough information for your customers to learn about your business.

2. A Picture Can Say a Thousand Words

A good looking landing page is imperative in an age where we consume content through images.

If you can, avoid text-heavy content and use visuals to present your customers with engaging content. The imagery you use should be in tune with the copy and your target audience’s profile.

Ideally, the images or videos should complement the text rather than serve as mere eye candy. Understanding your audience will help you determine the correct imagery to use and the tone of your website.

3. A Strong Headline

Headlines communicate important information about your business.

An effective headline serves as a hook, but an unattractive one might dissuade potential customers immediately.

Note how the headline sounds and what it communicates. You should state what exactly your business offers as a service as the main point. Delivering the right message in as few words as possible while maintaining the right tone is the challenge.

You should avoid sounding salesy. Instead, keep your messages simple and clear.

4. Reliable Testimonials

Consumers tend to look at testimonials and bragging rights when making a decision.

Always use quotes from genuine people and include images where possible. You could also provide some video testimonials, but bear in mind those should be short and concise.

Positive scores on review sites should be put to good use and displayed on the landing page as well.

Finally, case studies could be an excellent resource for those looking for detailed information. These should be visual, as users will often be browsing, and images are more likely to increase dwell time.

5. An Enticing CTA

Lead conversion can be greatly increased with the right CTA on your landing page. By including one on your page, you increase the chance of users contacting you.

The button design and the text inside should not be ignored. Much like the headline, your CTA should clearly relay vital information and leave a strong impression. You want customers to click on the button, so it should be as inviting as possible.

Landing pages with great content will lead to more engaged audiences, which in turn will lead to more sales.

Do it right and your site will become the primary driving force for business growth. Read the rest