Date: Monday, March 29th at at noon pacific / 3:00pm eastern

As an Online Business Manager you need to have solid email list-building skills - not only to grow your own business but also to lock yourself in as an invaluable resource to your clients.  Once the word gets out that you know how to bring leads streaming in, your client base is that much easier to grow.

Join product launch manager Dave Navarro (”The Launch Coach”) as he steps you through critical list-building strategies that will help you learn:

• How to create a compelling offer thats draws people onto your list daily
• Balancing content and promotion to make subscribers buy without making them feel sold to
• Social media tactics that build your list without sucking away your time
• Tips for writing headlines that get readers to open your emails
• Three key ingredients of email copy that get people to click your links

… and more.

Dave Navarro is a product launch manager who has helped run successful five- and six-figure launches for online entrepreneurs like Andrea J. Lee, Jennifer Louden, and Naomi Dunford.  You can learn more about Dave and download 3 of his popular workbooks at The Launch Coach Library (no opt-in required).

Call-in information for live call is on your member login page. Missed the live call? Get the audio download on your member login page within 48 hours. If you do not have your password, e-mail us at support@obmconnect.com

If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

Date: Tuesday, February 23rd at at 1:00 pacific / 4:00pm eastern

As an Online Business Manager your skills and abilities are especially suited to working with high-end business owners. And those business owners are clamoring to hire a high-end support professional such as yourself.  Sounds like a match made in heaven right?

More than anything I’m asked “where do I find the high-end clients who want to hire an OBM?” If you are looking to work with high-end business owners, join us on this discussion to learn:

• What makes someone a high-end client (or not)
• The 5 best places to find high-end clients
• How to connect and establish a relationship that leads to getting hired
• How to prepare yourself for working with these clients

This class is hosted by Tina Forsyth, Founder of the International Association of Online Business Managers.

IAOBM Members: You can access the recording for this call in the Member Area. If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

Date: Thursday, January 21st at at 1:00 pacific / 4:00pm eastern

As companies cut back on travel, many are hosting virtual events so that employees and business owners can upgrade their skills from the comforts of home or office. Yet many of these companies have no clue how to plan, organize and launch a virtual event, let alone one that features a multitude of speakers, exhibitors and sponsors. They end up making many mistakes that cost them time, money and their reputation.

As an Online Business Manager, you can manage your client’s online business needs with ease, but what will you do if your client asks you to plan a multi-speaker virtual event? Can your skills as an Online Business Manager transition to planning a multi-speaker virtual event? Join Leesa Barnes, a leading authority on virtual events, as she shares with you how you can help your client plan, promote and make money from multi-speaker virtual events in an exciting new role as a Virtual Event Manager.

What You’ll Learn:

• The similarities between Online Business Managers & Virtual Event Managers
• The #1 mindset you already have that will be of benefit to virtual events
• Why planning a multi-speaker virtual event is much more than booking a conference bridge line
• How to start offering virtual event management to your clients

Leesa Barnes is President of the Association of Virtual Events Managers, Organizers & Hosts and is a leading authority on using virtual events to become the #1 expert in your niche market. Nominated as one of the Top 50 Most Influential & Powerful Women in Social Media, Leesa helps independent consultants, entrepreneurs and business owners leverage virtual events and other online tools to boost profits. To learn more about Leesa, visit www.virtualeventsuccess.com.

IAOBM Members: You can access the recording for this call in the Member Area. If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

It’s official - the next Online Business Manager Training & Certification program is now open for application.

As a member of the International Association of Online Business Managers I wanted to invite you to learn more about the training and get your application in before we announce it to the world at large later this week.

Details on the training can be found at:
http://www.certifiedobm.com

The first step in the application process is to book a 1-1 phone call with yours truly - Tina Forsyth. During this call I would love to get to know more about you, your business and your goals for 2010 and to also give you details on the upcoming training program. (And to learn about a change to the training that we are REALLY excited about.)

We want to ensure that this training is the best fit for you and the growth of your business - it will just be a quick 15-20 minute call so as to not take up too much time in your busy day.

To go ahead and reserve your 1-1 session go to:
http://www.certifiedobm.com/bookasession/

Timeslots will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis so be sure to go ahead and reserve your spot now.

I really look forward to connecting and learning more about you and your business, and to possibly creating a powerful next step for you as an Online Business Manager in 2010.

Tina Forsyth
Founder and Lead Trainer
Online Business Manager Certification & Training
International Association of Online Business Managers

Date: Wednesday, December 16th at 1:00pm pacific / 4:00pm eastern

Online business owners still aren’t “getting” SEO copywriting. Many consultants still aren’t doing it well. The left hand isn’t talking to the right. What’s going on? Why is this stuff so hard to learn and even harder to execute with success?

When done right, SEO copywriting is a powerful tool for boosting your profile, attracting and supporting clients. When done without understanding of the fundamentals - even when outsourced - SEO copywriting can do more harm than good. In this teleclass, our guest expert Karri Flatla will deconstruct the mythology of SEO copywriting. She will also provide simple, anyone-can-do-it tactics for improving your own web message, your client’s web message and working with the SEO and copywriting professionals who appear to hold all the cards.

Karri Flatla is the principal of snap! virtual associates inc., a coaching-consulting firm specializing in web marketing and copywriting for entrepreneurs. Well known across the web for her take-no-prisoners writing style, Karri’s articles and tips have been featured at Search Engine Guide, the VAnetworking Blog, Fuel Net, Problogger’s TwiTip, and Smart Company Magazine. She is also the author of Alpha WAHM Blueprint: An Empowerment Guide for Work-at-Home Moms (http://alphawahmbook.com). You can read and subscribe to Karri’s Outsmart business blog at http://snap-va.com.

IAOBM Members: You can access the recording for this call in the Member Area. If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

Date: Thursday, November 19th at at 9:00am pacific / noon eastern

As Online Business Managers we always have so much on the go – new clients, current clients, new technology, new strategies, new ideas and from time-to-time… new headaches. Join Tina Forsyth for this open style member-only Q&A call – we are opening up the lines for you to ask a question and get an answer so as to be able to move forward quickly.

What is weighing on your mind? Causing you to feel frustrated or stuck? What do you wish you knew right now? Looking for new tools or tips? This is an ‘anything goes’ call – we are open to all of your questions from A to Z - so bring ‘em on.

This class is hosted by Tina Forsyth, Founder of the International Association of Online Business Managers.

CIAOBM Members: You can access the recording for this call in the Member Area.

If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

Now cue the drumroll please… I’d like to introduce you to our newest Certified Online Business Managers! Let’s give a round of applause to:

Ana Lucia Novak	Brenda Violette	Linda Horowitz	Joanne Kay
Kenya Halliburton	Debbie Lonergan	Mariko Nakaya	Linda Phillips

These ladies tackled the second round of our admittedly tough Certification process and came out shining, and so it is our absolute pleasure to award them the designation of Certified Online Business Manager. Feel free to click their names to learn more about these truly talented women.

Date: Monday, October 19th at at noon pacific / 3:00pm eastern

• Do you feel like you’re stuck in your business and you’re not sure why?
• Wonder why you aren’t making the kind of revenue you thought you would make?
• Not sure how to get new clients or more referrals regularly and consistently?

Regardless of what type of financial situation you’re in, many people struggle because of lack of love in their life… love and support for or by a significant other, love and confidence in yourself or love for life in general.

It may not be something you think about very often in regards to your own success as an Online Business Manager, but lack of love in any capacity can surely hold you back from creating the success, growth and income that you and your clients deserve.

In this talk you will learn:

• Multiple Ways to Think Bigger and Go After What You Really Want
• The 7 SIMPLE STEPS to Loving Your Way to Big Money
• The ONE THING That’s More Important Than Any Marketing You’re Doing
• How to Uplevel Yourself to the Expert You’re Destined to Be

Our guest expert for this Member-Only call is Katrina Sawa of Jump Start your Marketing. Katrina is known as The JumpStart Your Biz Coach because she literally kicks her clients and their businesses into high gear.  She works with highly motivated women entrepreneurs that want to maximize and fast-track their business to make more money and enjoy more free time.  Katrina uses online and offline Relationship Marketing Systems & Strategies to leverage your resources, contacts and your expertise; plus she kicks you in the butt to implement it all too!

IAOBM Members: You can access the recording for this call in the Member Area.

If you are not an IAOBM member yet, find out more about IAOBM Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://www.obmconnect.com/membership-benefits

Drumroll please… I’d like to give congratulations to the world’s very first Certified Online Business Managers.

Let’s give a round of applause to:

Charly Alexander

Denise Milligan

Donna Frindt

Heike Miller

Janet E. Smith

These ladies tackled our admittedly tough Certification process last week and came out shining, and so it is our absolute pleasure to award them the designation of Certified Online Business Manager. Feel free to click their names to learn more about these truly talented women (and yes, they are available for hire.)

Our next Certification Week starts September 28th, getting ready for round 2!

Do you want to hire an Online Business Manager? We’ve just launched a brand new Request for Proposal (RFP) system at the International Association of Online Business Managers. Along with browsing our member profiles in the OBM Directory, you now have the option of completing an RFP form and sending your information directly to our members… who will then be able to apply directly to you if there is a fit.

Get to the front of the line and be one of the first to submit your RFP here.

What makes someone a great Online Business Manager? That’s a bit of a loaded question, and of course a big discussion all on it’s own as there are a myriad of things to consider. However one thing I know to be true is this.

A good Online Business Manager will present you with solutions and not just options.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say you are Bob, a business owner who is looking for some help with picking a new broadcasting system for your newsletter. You aren’t happy with the one you have now and want to change it.

You ask a member of your team Suzy to look into this for you. Here are two potential responses that i’ve seen in this type of situation.

Response #1:

Hi Bob

I did some research and found some broadcasting systems that look pretty good. Here is a list of what I found:

[insert big list of URLs here]

Which did you want to use?

Suzy

Response #2:

Hi Bob

I did some research and found some broadcasting systems that look pretty good. I found a number of systems and these are the ones I took a good look at:

Option 1 is great because of ABC, however they don’t have D which I wish they did. Otherwise I quite liked it, would be easy to import and start using.

Option 2 could totally work, they do have D but don’t seem to be quite as robust as Option 1. Plus they have a pretty stringent re-opt in requirement when importing a list which could mean losing subscribers.

Option 3 could work as well, they seem to have great features however i’ve heard of some deliverability issues with them so I hesitate to use them.

My suggestion would be to go with Option 1 - I know of a number of people using this system and they are quite happy with it.

Let me know your thoughts? If you agree I can get started on a plan to move the list of Option 1… or if you have further questions I can look into those as well.

Suzy

Now putting yourself in the shoes of Bob - which response would you prefer to receive? I’m guessing you picked #2, but of course.

The difference in these two responses is obvious - and the reason why this is so important is that you are making it EASY for a decision to be made. Theoretically yes, the second response could (and in a real response probably would) go much deeper… however you can see in the example the focus on providing the best solution.

Business owners already have enough on their plates - and when you send a response of options (such as in #1) that just gives them more work to do. That kind of response is asking me to go to each site and check things out on my own… which most business owners don’t have the time or inclination to do!

In response #2 everything has been laid out, so that I can take a quick peek and immediately be able to respond with “yes, lets do it” or “hmmm, what about X… can you look into that for me?” No more work on my plate, and progress is made.

I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again (like a broken record, hehe). The role of the Online Business Manager is to take things off the business owners plate, so they are free to do the things only they can do in their business (marketing, strategy, development and such.)

And this includes lightening the ‘burden’ of making decisions as well as regular ole to-dos. Present your clients with solutions so that the decision making process is quick and easy. Don’t let them get ‘buried’ in having to figure things out on their own (and run the risk of not making a decision at all.)

Comments, thoughts?