Let's discuss the role of a "community manager." The emergence of social media has brought about a significant change in the way companies interact and engage with their target audience. As a result, businesses have started hiring experts who can effectively communicate, manage, and tailor their brand message to constantly connected consumers. Despite recognizing the need for community managers, there is no agreed-upon definition of this role, the essential skills required, and the specific responsibilities that come with it.

What does a Community Manager do?

A Community Manager is responsible for building and maintaining relationships between a brand or organization and its audience. Here are some of the key tasks that a Community Manager may perform:

1. Monitor and engage with the community: A Community Manager will monitor conversations and interactions within the community, and respond to questions, comments, and feedback. They will also initiate conversations and engage with community members to build relationships and encourage engagement.

1. Develop and implement community strategies: A Community Manager will work to develop and implement community strategies that align with the brand's goals and values. This may involve creating content, running promotions or campaigns, and developing initiatives to build engagement and grow the community.
2. Identify and recruit community influencers: A Community Manager may identify and recruit community influencers who can help promote the brand and engage with the community.
3. Analyze community engagement and performance: A Community Manager will track community engagement metrics and analyze performance to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
4. Provide feedback and insights to the brand: A Community Manager will provide feedback and insights to the brand based on conversations and interactions within the community. This feedback can be used to inform product development, marketing strategies, and other areas of the business.
5. Facilitate community events and initiatives: A Community Manager may organize and facilitate community events and initiatives to build engagement and strengthen relationships within the community.

Overall, a Community Manager is responsible for building and maintaining a vibrant and engaged community around a brand or organization. They perform a variety of tasks to foster relationships, encourage engagement, and provide valuable feedback and insights to the brand.

Key things they can learn from community

A community manager can learn a great deal from the community they are managing. Here are some key things they can learn:

1. Audience preferences and needs: By observing the conversations and interactions within the community, a community manager can gain valuable insights into the preferences, needs, and concerns of the audience. This information can be used to create content, develop products, and improve services that better meet the needs of the community.
2. Trends and topics: The community can provide a wealth of information on current trends and topics that are relevant to the brand or industry. A community manager can use this information to create content that resonates with the audience and stays ahead of the curve.
3. Feedback and opinions: Community members often share their feedback and opinions on the brand or its offerings. A community manager can use this feedback to identify areas for improvement, address concerns, and refine the brand's messaging and strategy.
4. Advocates and influencers: A community manager can identify community members who are advocates and influencers for the brand. These members can be leveraged to spread positive word-of-mouth and help grow the community.
5. Communication style and preferences: Every community has a unique communication style and preferences. By observing and engaging with the community, a community manager can learn how to communicate with the audience in a way that resonates with them.
6. Brand perception: The community can provide insight into how the brand is perceived by the audience. Community managers can learn from the feedback and opinions shared by the community and use that information to shape the brand's messaging and strategy.
7. Pain points and challenges: Members of the community may share their pain points and challenges related to the brand, the industry, or the broader context. A community manager can use this information to identify areas where the brand can offer solutions and provide value to the audience.
8. Creative ideas and inspiration: Communities can be a great source of creative ideas and inspiration. By monitoring the conversations and interactions within the community, a community manager can find new and innovative ways to engage with the audience and create content that resonates with them.

Overall, a community manager can learn a lot from the community they manage. By observing and engaging with the audience, they can gain valuable insights into the preferences, needs, and opinions of the community, which can help them create more engaging and effective content and build stronger relationships with the audience.

How is a community manager different from a social media manager?

While there may be some overlap in responsibilities between a social media manager and a community manager, the role of a community manager is much broader than just promoting the brand and its products or services on social media. Their focus is on understanding the community as a whole.

A community manager's main responsibility is to identify and understand the ideal customer persona, including their language, interests, pain points, and preferred influencers. They must then find ways to incorporate the brand into that equation. Community managers must be active on the platform where the community is hosted, whether it be Facebook or Slack groups. Additionally, they manage the community from their own accounts, not the brand's.

In short, community managers have a more extensive focus on understanding and engaging with the community, rather than just promoting the brand's offerings. They strive to create authentic connections with the audience and foster a sense of community that goes beyond just sales and marketing goals.

Finally, Don't give up, give it time & your community will buzz

In conclusion, effective communication, teamwork, a data-driven approach, solid relationships, and adaptability are necessary for a community overhaul to be successful. You can increase involvement, encourage a sense of ownership, and have a significant impact on your community by putting these values first.

Do you already try these concepts in your community? Please tell us everything about it in the comments. Do visit and join our NbliK community.