OBTM, OBM, WTF?
You’ve heard of an OBM right? So what the heck is an OBTM?
Gem Roberts
Your friendly Tech VA making the world of Virtual Assistance and Tech, easy and simple to understand.
You’ve heard of an OBM right? So what the heck is an OBTM?
Gem Roberts
Your friendly Tech VA making the world of Virtual Assistance and Tech, easy and simple to understand.
May 4th 2025
Why I’m Transitioning from Tech VA to Online Business Tech Manager (OBTM)
(And why I chose this over becoming an OBM)
My journey started out much like most of yours in the online VA world, you become an associate, do all the tasks until you realise that there are some that you love more than others.
When I started out as an associate VA I was doing inbox management, social media scheduling, Facebook group management and DM monitoring.
And oh boy did I become bored!
Either by sheer chance or that she could see I was getting bored with what I was doing, the lead VA gave me a sales page to set up. The copy was done, as was the layout, it was a case of transferring it over from Canva to Karta.
I loved it!
And the rest the say is history. Actually it was the start of learning what the heck a funnel was.
When you are new to the VA game, the info around you tells you, you should niche down. If you have a valuable skill right off the bat, like web design or a super savvy when it comes to automations, then go for it, but otherwise learn all that you can, your niche will find you.
What Have I Been Doing?
For the past few years, I’ve been working quietly behind the scenes as a Tech VA — setting up systems, fixing funnel glitches, troubleshooting course platforms, and helping online business owners feel less overwhelmed by their tech, and I’m pretty darn good at it!
I mean look at these reviews 🥰
[Gem]…has this magical ability to take all the techy, complicated, “I-don’t-speak-this-language” stuff and explain it in a way that makes sense…She breaks it down so simply that I’m sitting there like, “Ohhhhh, why didn’t anyone just say it like that?
It’s like she knows exactly how my brain works and gives me just what I need—no fluff, no jargon, just straight-up clarity.
– Melissa, PLR Cookie Jar
I’m not comfortable with all these tech platforms out there, and there are soo many needed to get a business up and running. And…keeping it maintained too! [Gem]…has explained how they work to me, how they work for me, so that I can keep up with the daily grind of an online business! Communication has been so easy and seamless.
– Kim, Foodie Finds PLR
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But over time, I realised:
I wasn’t just executing tasks. I was monitoring. Maintaining. Managing. I wasn’t working like a VA anymore. I was working far beyond what a tech VA is hired to do.
And the next logical step should have been OBM… right?
Except it didn’t feel right.
Why OBM didn't feel right
An Online Business Manager is someone you can hire to essentially be your touchpoint to everything that is going on in your business without having to be in your business.
They will work with your team, or hire one to work with them, delegate tasks, oversee projects and a bunch of other useful stuff so that you don’t have to worry about the day to day running of your business.
Customer issues, your OBM will deal with that.
Social Media scheduling, they will delegate to a team member to schedule your posts.
But here is the main difference, an OBM will move further away from the actual implementation and running of platforms to allow them to run the team essentially.
And as I love Tech so much...
Becoming an OBTM (Online Business Tech Manager) seemed the logical next step.
But what's the difference?
So what does an OBTM do, exactly?
Think of me as your business’s tech safety net. I check what’s working, what’s not, and what’s about to break. I manage the tools your revenue depends on — funnels, emails, checkouts, member areas — so they don’t let you down when you need them most.
I give you space to lead while I handle the backend. You stay front-facing. I stay backend-facing. Your clients see a polished experience — because I’m making sure the wheels don’t fall off.
I’ve outgrown the tech VA label. But I’m not here to lead a team or strategise your operations. I’m here to protect your business. To support your growth quietly.
To keep your systems running smoothly, so your business can run smoothly too.