5 Ideas of Online Business Managers Projects
Short-term projects that build trust, demonstrate your value, and open the door to long-term work.
Not every potential client is ready to commit to a retainer on day one. And honestly? That's fine. Some of the best working relationships start with a single, well-scoped project that lets both sides see how they work together.
Here's what I've learned: your info interviews are a goldmine. When you're listening to a business owner describe their friction points, you're already hearing the brief. The challenge isn't identifying what they need — it's packaging your solution in a way that's easy for them to say yes to.
These 5 project ideas are designed to do exactly that: showcase your OBM skills, meet clients where they are on budget and time, and create the kind of momentum that leads to ongoing work.
1 Automation audit & setup
Listen for the repetitive tasks — the things they do manually every single month. Offer to audit their current processes, identify what can be automated, and build it out. Whether that's a Zapier integration to handle form submissions or automating data entry into their CRM, you're not just saving them time. You're handing back their focus so they can do the work only they can do.
2 Custom operations dashboard
When a client is drowning in data and can't see what's actually happening in their business, a tailored dashboard changes everything. Don't pitch a generic template — propose one that gives them visibility into a specific area they're struggling with. It's a one-time project with a high perceived value and a clear, tangible deliverable.
3 Single marketing campaign setup
For clients who need marketing help but aren't ready to hand over the whole strategy, start with one campaign. Optimize their list, set up segmentation, run it, and report on what happened. It gives them a taste of what you can do — and gives you a track record to point to when the retainer conversation comes up.
4 Website audit
A dated or broken website is leaving money on the table, and most business owners know it but haven't had someone hand them a clear path forward. Offer a structured review: user experience, broken links, brand alignment, and a prioritized roadmap of what to fix first. Whether they implement it themselves or hire you to do it, you've delivered real value.
5 Social media channel overhaul
For clients whose social presence is inconsistent or stale, a focused overhaul — reviewing what exists, aligning it with their brand, and providing a forward-looking guide — is a manageable, high-value project. This isn't about aesthetics. It's about making their channels work as a lead generation and community tool.
A few things to keep in mind
These projects are most effective when they come directly out of your discovery conversations. If a client mentions chaos in their tech stack, lead with the automation project. If they can't tell you how their business is performing, pitch the dashboard. Let the problem drive the proposal.
On pricing: there's no universal rate. You know your expertise and you know how long the work takes. Do the math, be transparent about scope, and price accordingly. If you need time to think through a proposal after a conversation, take it. Coming back with a thoughtful plan is a signal of professionalism — not hesitation.
The goal of any project engagement isn't just to deliver the work. It's to show a client what it's like to work with you. Do that well, and the retainer conversation takes care of itself.
Want to go deeper on how to price and position these projects? Listen to the full episode:
