Sample Research
The difference between an OBM and an Executive VA
An executive VA (Virtual Assistant) and an OBM (Online Business Manager) are two
different roles within a company, each with its own set of responsibilities. The distinctions
between the two are listed in detail below:
Role:
❖ An Executive VA supports an executive or team with administrative and operational
needs.
❖ An OBM (Online Business Manager) is a strategic partner that oversees all business
operations.
Scope of Work:
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❖ An OBM (Online Business Manager) is responsible for managing all aspects of the
business operations, including financial management, team management, project
management, and strategy creation.
❖ An Executive VA handles scheduling, email management, planning travel, and
document preparation among other administrative and operational tasks.
Leadership:
Strategy:
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❖ An OBM takes leadership duties including overseeing team members, assigning
tasks, and making sure that everyone is held accountable.
❖ Executive VAs have the option of working autonomously or reporting to managers.
❖ An OBM develops and implements business plans that support the objectives and
goals of the organization.
❖ An Executive VA concentrates on carrying out tasks to support the objectives of the
executive or team.
Decision-making:
❖ An OBM has the power to make decisions regarding daily operations as well as
long-term strategic choices that affect the company.
❖ Strategic decision-making is not often done by an executive VA.
Communication Style:
❖ OBMs usually take a more proactive approach to communication, getting in touch
with their clients frequently to provide them with updates, answer their queries, and
share their thoughts. They might also speak with clients more frequently via calls
and meetings to discuss strategy and planning.
❖ On the other hand, Executive VAs could have more reactive communication
patterns and react to client requirements as they come in. As they are largely
focused on doing assigned work, they might also have fewer meetings with clients
and calls.
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Education and Experience:
❖ OBMs frequently have greater training and experience in leadership, project
management, and business management. They may hold credentials or degrees in
project management, business administration, or related areas.
❖ On the other side, Executive VAs might have more specialized training and work
experience in fields like marketing, graphic design, or social media management. In
their particular fields of competence, they may hold certificates or degrees.
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Compensation:
❖ An OBM often gets a higher salary than an Executive VA because of its greater
degree of responsibility and workload. OBMs frequently offer a flat rate or
project-based fee
❖ Executive VAs often charge an hourly cost.
The difference between a social media manager and a social media marketer
Responsibilities:
❖ Social Media Manager, creating and scheduling content, interacting with followers,
keeping an eye on statistics, and reacting to comments and messages are all daily
tasks that fall within the responsibility of a social media manager.
❖ A social media marketer, on the other hand, is in charge of establishing and
carrying out marketing plans on social media platforms, including developing
campaigns, producing targeted advertisements, and evaluating data to gauge the
performance of campaigns.
Strategy:
❖ A Social Media Manager is responsible for carrying out the overall social media
strategy that a social media marketer or marketing team has devised. They are in
charge of putting the strategies and tactics into practice to help the business
accomplish its social media objectives.
❖ However, it is the responsibility of a social media marketer to create a social media
strategy that is consistent with the business's entire marketing plan. They must do
audience and competitor research, generate brand messaging, and design
goal-oriented campaigns.
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Creativity
❖ A social media marketer needs to be more inventive. In order to develop visually
appealing content that will grab the attention of the audience, they also need to have
an eye for design and aesthetics.
❖ On the other side, a social media manager needs to be imaginative while coming up
with content suggestions and organizing the social media schedule. For them to
write captivating captions and comments, they also need to have copywriting skills.
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Analytical Skills
❖ To gauge a campaign's performance and make data-driven decisions, a social media
marketer needs a deeper understanding of data analysis. They must be able to
examine the metrics and modify campaigns in light of the learned information.
❖ On the other hand, a social media manager needs to have a thorough understanding
of data analysis to track the development of campaigns and keep an eye on the
performance of social media accounts.
Communication
❖ In order to interact with followers, reply to comments and messages, and address
customer issues, a social media manager needs to have excellent communication
skills. To make sure that the content fits with the broader marketing strategy, they
must also work with the marketing team.
❖ To present ideas, discuss finances, and work with the creative team to develop
campaigns that complement the brand messaging, a social media marketer must
possess great communication skills.
The difference between Executive Virtual Assistant and Virtual Assistant
In the world of working from home, virtual assistants and executive virtual assistants
play two different roles. Both positions entail supporting clients or businesses with
administrative tasks, but the duties and qualifications for each position vary.
A virtual assistant and an executive virtual assistant differ primarily in the following
ways:
Level of Support
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❖ A virtual assistant often does simple administrative tasks including managing
emails, making appointments, entering data, and managing social media.
Additionally, they might be in charge of organizing trips, managing customer service
duties, and composing simple reports and documentation.
❖ An executive virtual assistant, on the other hand, offers CEOs and business
owners more sophisticated administrative support. More difficult jobs like project
management, financial management, event planning, and business growth may fall
within their purview. They might also be in charge of overseeing groups of virtual
assistants or other support personnel.
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Experience
❖ Virtual assistant often has some fundamental administrative or customer service
experience, while it's possible that they don't have much experience working with
executives or other high-level clientele. Using sophisticated software or tools may be
something they have little familiarity with.
❖ On the other hand, an Executive Virtual Assistant often has years of experience
working in administrative or executive support positions. They might have knowledge
of managing challenging projects, handling sensitive data, and working with
high-level clientele. Additionally, they could be adept at using specialist tools or
software, such as project management or financial management software.
Communication Skills
❖ A virtual assistant would need to speak with clients and coworkers frequently to
manage schedules, plan activities, and respond to simple inquiries. They might not,
however, require regular or in-depth communication as an executive virtual
assistant.
❖ On the other hand, an executive virtual assistant might need to speak with clients
and coworkers on a regular basis to handle complicated projects, give updates on
financial or operational metrics, and work with other team members. They could also
need to communicate with important stakeholders at a high level, such as investors
or board members, and they must be able to do it in a polished, articulate manner.
Effective communication with clients, coworkers, and other stakeholders requires
great communication skills from virtual assistants and executive virtual assistants
equally. The required level of communication can sometimes be different, however.
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Time Management
❖ To do work on time and guarantee that they are fulfilling customer expectations, a
virtual assistant may need to manage their own schedule. While they might not have
as many deadlines or urgent things to handle as an executive virtual assistant, they
still have to manage them.
❖ On the other hand, an executive virtual assistant could have to coordinate their own
calendar in addition to the schedules of other executives or important clients. In
order to ensure that all activities are finished on time, they may also need to handle
complex projects with short deadlines. To do this, they must be able to properly
prioritize tasks and assign them to others.
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Executive virtual assistants offer a higher level of service to high-level clients and
executives than virtual assistants, who both do administrative tasks. To manage
difficult projects and satisfy the needs of high-level clients, they need greater
experience, better communication abilities, and better time management abilities.