Virtual Business Management | Bravapro

How To Embrace The Virtual Revolution

Mar 12, 2023 | Virtual Business Management

Forgive the often-used phrase, but… we really are living through the most incredible period of change. This is particularly true when it comes to the working environment, the virtual revolution is here! Historically, people have been required to attend their employer’s offices. However, as the last few years have proved for many, this travel element is no longer necessary.

Also, businesses often find themselves in an all-or-nothing situation regarding staffing. They wait until their employees are stressed before taking steps to employ additional staff. The reason for this delay usually concerns whether they can keep employees at work and justify paying their wages.

But, both these scenarios are no longer necessary. How business owners manage their day-to-day operations had started to change before the lockdown, but this has accelerated.

Why Are We Seeing a Virtual Revolution

The three main reasons for this shift:

#1 Online Systems

Immeasurable technological developments have changed many aspects of our working life. The multitude of online systems makes it possible to carry out almost any background supporting task online. Furthermore, in many cases, it’s more efficient and practical too.

#2 Global Access to Skilled Professionals

The right person to support your business may not live within a commutable distance! In addition to online business systems, online networks facilitate the contracting of skilled professionals. These virtual freelancers can be anywhere in the world. Businesses are no longer limited to hiring within their immediate geographical area. Instead, they can contract individuals or companies with the required skill sets, regardless of location.

#3 Cost-Cutting

We are in the middle of an economic downturn, and who knows when it will get better (or worse). Businesses need to look at their outgoings and assess where savings can be made. Consider the costs of rent, utility bills, furniture and equipment for staff, and the costs and complications around hiring staff. There is a significantly reduced cost involved in running an online office and outsourcing your support roles.

For this reason, many businesses realise that considerable cost and efficiency savings can be made by embracing the virtual revolution. Therefore they are hiring virtual resources rather than in-house employees.

The Perfect Support Option

These fundamental changes have created the perfect environment for virtual business managers and assistants to step up as an outstanding flexible support option. Using a range of online systems such as Zoom, Slack and Trello to communicate and collaborate on projects and tasks, VBMs can be highly efficient and productive. They can effectively support your business by applying a wide array of skills, including

writing,
editing,
scheduling and engaging on social media,
bookkeeping,
project planning,
website creation,
preparing design elements and graphics.

How To Embrace The Virtual Revolution

These virtual resources are committed to supporting their clients and often become integral to business operations, including its success and growth strategy. They can also contribute to the stability and scalability of the business. For instance, virtual freelancers can make it easier for companies to scale their staffing requirements up or down. Instead of worrying about recruiting and training employees, you can request that your virtual business manager bring further team members on board. Hence ensuring your organisation can react responsively and remain competitive at all times.

Do You Know About My 5 Business B’s?

Virtual Assistant or Virtual Business Manager: What’s the difference?

10 Signs That Prove You Need a Virtual Business Manager

Jun 19, 2022 | Virtual Business Management

Growing your small business is like a double-edged sword!

On the one hand, you start generating more revenue and having a more significant impact on the world. But on the other hand, growth means more work and stress, which could overwhelm you if not treated right.

To combat this, many smart small business owners outsource some of their work to virtual business managers to focus on the work they are strong at. But when should you hire a virtual business manager?

Here are 10 signs that prove you need a Virtual Business Manager!

You find it hard to focus and have a lack of accountability
You often find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the day-to-day demands of running your business
You do not have sufficient time to concentrate on working towards your larger goals and objectives
You lose track of time quickly and don’t understand where your time is spent or are struggling to prioritise your work.
You are frustrated with how you are spending your time; you are not finding it fulfilling.
Your business is expanding; however, you cannot keep up taking care of every little thing. You are constantly feeling anxious that you can’t get everything done.
You need much better systems to track progress, yet you don’t have the time or expertise to put these in place
You don’t know what online tools, platforms or systems are available to support your business growth
You constantly have to check in with others to make sure everything is in order. Since you are unsure who is working on what tasks and whether they will hit the deadlines.
You need a business partner that you can review and bounce ideas off and who you can turn to for ideas and suggestions

What to do if these points resonate with you…

If you relate to some (or all) of these signs, you’re probably in need of a virtual business manager.

So why not give me a try? I’ve helped many small businesses owners grow their businesses to new heights. When working with me, you won’t have to worry about:

So if you’re interested in working together, you can schedule a coaching call with me. In there, we can discuss your business and its challenges and then find a solution that works for you. You can schedule call by calling 07736307256

Do You Know About My 5 Business B’s?

What Is A Virtual Business Manager?

Jan 29, 2022 | Virtual Business Management

We can all remember the time we first started our small business. It was filled with excitement creating your own brand, creating products and services. And once all that was done, you might have daydreamed of what it feels like to be your own boss.

But then, reality kicked in!

You had to work harder than ever before, and your personal life was non-existent. If that sounds like you, you might want to look into a virtual business manager.

But who are they, and what do they do? Keep reading to find out!

Who is a Virtual Business Manager (VBM)?

To put it simply, a virtual business manager (also sometimes called a Online Business Manager) is someone who helps you build your business by assisting you with different tasks. While that might sound similar to a virtual assistant, they are two distinct people.

Let’s define the differences with an example. Let’s say you’re looking to outsource your social media marketing. Here’s what tasks would each one do:

A Virtual Assistant would schedule new posts, answer the comments.

But a Virtual Business Manager would analyse your social media performance and help you create a better content marketing strategy.

So to put it simply, a VBM helps you strategize and manage your business. And a virtual assistant completes small tasks you don’t have time for.

What Does a Virtual Business Manager Do?

Now that you understand who the virtual business manager is and their differences, you might be wondering what problems a virtual business manager can solve?

Well, the good news is that it can solve probably anything you have but not everything. Different virtual business managers specialise in different fields. For example, someone could be fantastic with marketing while poor at automation.

Here are just a few things that a virtual business manager can do:

#1 – Project Management

Managing projects can be a hassle. With a VBM, you can ensure that your projects get completed efficiently and on time. The things that your VBM can do include:

Project plan creation with detailed timelines
Maintaining project management tools
Handling and solving challenges
Making sure everybody is on track

#2 – Team Management

If you’re struggling to solve disputes or aren’t a people person, then your VBM can become your best friend. That’s because they can:

Motivate your team members
Help you with hiring the best people for your team
Solve any conflicts in a practical manner
Keep track of your team’s daily activities.

#3 – Business Planning

Every successful business needs a great plan to succeed in this competitive field. However, sometimes it’s great if you could get an outside perspective and suggestions on how to improve it.

Well, with a VBM, you can do that. Together you can:

Set realistic expectations
Strategise your business’ next steps
Create achievable milestones and action plans to make it into reality

#4 – CRM Management

CRM (also known as Customer Relationship Management) software is essential for any small business. It helps you to organise better and access your customer data. However, this can be confusing to start. Your virtual business manager can help you:

Set up your CRM software
Organise your Customer Data
Improve your sales pipeline

Conclusion

And this is a Virtual Business Manager. To recap, a VBM is someone who helps you plan and manage your team more effectively. And if that sounds like something you need, then be sure to schedule a call with me. I’d love to help you out.

Do You Know About My 5 Business B’s?

Jul 28, 2021 | Virtual Business Management

Do You Know About The B’s That Made My Business?

Not the furry bumble bee kind, but the business B’s that make me and Bravapro what it is.

No?

And why would you. But what I’ve realised over the years is that our past, our experiences and our personal culture, shape who we’ve become. For me, I refer to this as my ‘five B’s’.

Blowing things up!

When I first left school, I joined a scientific apprenticeship. One of the tasks was known as the ‘mallet friction test’ which basically involved hitting explosives to see how they reacted. Clearly these tests required accuracy but also attention to detail, so what did I learn?

I learnt about data analysis; how to record results and how to analyse them. This is a cornerstone of Bravapro today.

Babies

My babies have always been my why, however as a single mum with three teenage boys and later a daughter, getting everyone out of the door and in the right place at the right time was not always easy. What did having my babies teach me?

Time management. I learned to prioritise, plan and budget. These are key skills that are very much at the core of Bravapro.

Business

I have always used work to measure my self-worth. Though I am extremely proud of my children, I always viewed my role in bringing them up to be long term, whereas work, that could be a short-term measure of achievement. Throughout my career I have embraced roles in human resources, data analysis, customer service, account management (for a £3m portfolio) and have been a personal assistant.

The sheer variety means I now have a huge spectrum of transferable skills, all of which I can employ in Bravapro. Every client is different and being able to adjust to their needs is imperative.

Burn Out

As an account manager of a large portfolio, I was well paid and the role was considered prestigious – which it was, but over and above that it was extremely demanding. I was a single mum struggling with four children and the menopause and eventually it became too much. I had to leave.

This taught me how important it was to look after myself. I realised that if I didn’t take care of myself, my health, and my needs, then I could be of no use to anyone else, especially my children.

At Bravapro I work on looking after myself so that I can provide the very best to all my clients. Sometimes I’ve accepted I need to let go of the perfectionist and let others help me. This has proved to be one of the most valuable lessons in life and business.

Bravapro

Bravapro is my fifth baby and setting it up has been nerve wracking and exciting in equal proportions. The learning curve has been steep, but it has taught me so much – not least that if I want to really achieve, I need to step outside my comfort zone.

And that’s what my beautiful new baby is all about. Embracing change. Addressing difficult challenges. Moving outside my comfort zone. And ultimately….

…use the 5 business B’s to put one foot in front of the other, every single day.

A huge thank you to AnnMarie Wyncoll from Begin-a-book for helping me to tell my story

Virtual Assistant or Virtual Business Manager: What’s the difference?

Aug 13, 2020 | Virtual Business Management

If your business is to scale up, you will almost certainly need to hire or outsource some of the repetitive administrative tasks and managerial tasks. This will allow you to focus entirely on the growth of your business and bringing in the money. Once you have made the decision to outsource some of your workload virtually, then the biggest question is whether to hire a Virtual Assistant (VA) or a Virtual Business Manager (VBM).

If you are not sure what the difference is between a Virtual Business Manager and a Virtual Assistant, I have outlined below the top 7 comparisons to help you determine which would be best for your business:

Virtual Business Manager vs Virtual Assistant

1. Roles:

Virtual Assistants are assigned work or projects by the client, and they work remotely to complete the project within the agreed timelines.

Virtual Business Manager assists with the day-to-day operation of the business. They take over the managerial role of the business owner in performing the assigned roles and act in their place. This can, therefore, involve: –

Management of the entire workforce including virtual assistants,
Overseeing all projects,
Tracking progress,
Analysing reports,
Contacting clients, and
Organizing deals, among others.

2. Duties:

Virtual Assistants handle specific administrative work, which may form part of a wider project or strategy. Examples of typical tasks include:-

Personal assistance,
Content creation,
Email management,
Calendar management
Social media management,
Customer service,
Research

Typically, VA’s only manage themselves, however some VAs do have associates that they can call when necessary.

Virtual Business Managers handle various managerial duties. For instance, their responsibilities can include:

Project Management:

Virtual Business Managers can organize and plan projects, create budgets & schedules, monitor the projects against the baselines, generate analytical reports, and make managerial decisions.

Team Management:

The Virtual Business Managers typically has prior managerial experience. Hence, can be tasked with supporting you during the whole employee cycle. From recruiting your team, outsourcing to experts, orientate new members, track the team members’ progress & outputs, organize team meetings with the business owner, among others.

Business Management:

Virtual Business Managers can review and automate business systems & processes, outline new systems and procedures of operations, manage financial expenditures and income, handle tax, licenses, and insurance issues.

Launch Management:

Virtual Business Managers can oversee the organization of virtual business events and product launches. This includes creating plans, sales and landing pages for the launch, and mobilizing the responsible teams.

Management of Public Relations:

The Virtual Business Managers can oversee the public relations for the business, such as coordination with event organizers, preparing press releases & bios, highlighting new networking opportunities for the client, creating itineraries, and any required materials.

Time Management:

Creating alternative efficient systems to save time, implementing lean operations, and preparing schedules to maximize productivity

Management of Income Streams:

They manage and create new opportunities & systems for multiple income streams such as memberships, loyalty programs, and autopayments, among others.

Website & Social Media Management:

They oversee, review, and analyze data on your social media platforms for consistency, relevance, and performance. They also oversee updates on your blogposts & websites, as well as search engine optimization.

Marketing & Customer Relationship Management:

The Virtual Business Managers can handle the creation & automation of newsletters, email marketing campaigns, implementation of the marketing strategy on all platforms, and identify new marketing opportunities.

3. Work Approach:

The approaches to work between a Virtual Assistants and a Virtual Business Managers are certainly different.

A virtual assistant work is reactive. They follow instructions provided by client in order to complete the assigned project. Over time, they may understand the client’s needs in their specific area and hence make suggestions for improvement in that area. However, these suggestions are limited to the scope of their work.

Virtual Business Manager’s approach is proactive. Actively providing suggestions of directions and solutions to the client based on the business’ vision and goals. The VBM identifies new opportunities for the business in the various aspects they oversee, as opposed to the VA who only delivers on the client to assign the work or project.

4. Area of Focus:

Virtual Assistant’s area of focus is in the completion of the tasks or project assigned to them in time. Their scope only lies within the duties assigned to them.

Virtual Business Manager’s focused on a wider scope of work within the business. VBMs are usually multi-skilled and hence can carry out the work themselves, if required, however, there true value comes from their prior management experience. Hence are able to also plan, strategize, organize, coordinate and monitor all aspects of your business. Ensuring your goals are met within time, budget and to the required standards. VBMs are overseers, as well as doers, and thus focus primarily the management and strategy as well

5. Level of Responsibility:

A Virtual Assistant only takes responsibility for the work assigned to them.

The Virtual Business Manager is a right-hand person to the business owners. The actions and decisions of the VBM impact the entire business and its operations.

6. Measure of Performance

Performance is based on quality and timely completion of the assigned tasks.

The success is measured based on the performance, efficiency and general success of the business.

7. Maximum Number of Active Clients

Virtual Assistants have a lower level of responsibility and work on projects of a lower complexity. As such, they are usually free to work with around 10-12 clients at a time. However, this would depend on the tasks and projects allocated, as well as their speed of delivery required.

As a result of the wider scope and level of responsibility borne by the Virtual Business Manager, they usually have to limit themselves to a maximum of 3 clients or businesses at a time. Dedicating themselves to a smaller number of clients enables a VBM to understand the intricasies of the business and bring valuable suggestion to drive the business forward to the owner.

Virtual Business Manager or Virtual Assistant….The Verdict

In conclusion, the decision to hire a Virtual Assistant or a Virtual Business Manager depends on the structure of your business, the kind of responsibilities you wish to outsource and the level of input you want to dedicate to the outsourcing.

If you are looking to simply outsource a few tasks to be completed remotely by an independent contractor with specialised skills, then hire a Virtual Assistant.

However, if you are looking for a strategic partner to oversee your business operations, manage your all your projects, proactively move your business form and potentially manage your staff or VAs then hire a Virtual Business Manager.

Either way, the decision lies with you, you know your business best and what resource you need to move you forward.

Is An Offshore Virtual Assistant Right For You?

How To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed

« Older Entries