Hey Everyone! Happy Tip Tuesday!
I recently had a conversation with some friends inquiring on what does it take to be a Community Manager.
Is it simply just about posting content & banning unfavorable behavior?
Answer: No. It's much more than that. Being a Community Manager requires embodying a blend of technical, interpersonal, & strategic qualities. Especially when you're the one building, nurturing, & managing online (& sometimes offline) communities around a brand, product, or cause. You're the liaison bridging together your organization with its audience, fostering engagement, building brand loyalty, & gathering feedback. Essentially, they are the voice and face of the brand within the community.
Below are my top five qualities you need to be a Top-Tier Community, accompanied with some practical insights for context:
⭐Analytical & Strategic Thinking⭐
- A great Community Manager employs analytical skills to measure, interpret, & report on community performance. They must also be capable of creating, executing, & continuously refining community strategy to align with organizational goals, often leveraging data & analytics to prove community value & identify improvement opportunities.
⭐Project Management & Organization⭐
- Community Managers often juggle multiple responsibilities including content scheduling, moderation, event planning, & reporting. Strong organizational & project management skills are necessary to handle daily, weekly, monthly, & annual tasks efficiently, even with limited time & resources.
⭐Communication & Engagement Skills⭐
- An effective Community Manager is engaging, writes clearly, & proactively facilitates connections & discussions between members. They must communicate policies & foster a sense of belonging & shared value, serving as the bridge between the organization & its community.
⭐Calmness & Resilience⭐
- Communities experience a mix of enjoyable & stressful moments, especially during periods of active change or crisis. A Community Manager should remain calm, measured, & diplomatic when moderating conflict, enforcing policies, & addressing member concerns, gracefully navigating group dynamics.
⭐Technological Aptitude & Adaptability⭐
- Community management is powered by technology; managers must quickly learn & utilize community platforms. This includes leveraging automation, gamification, & other engagement tools, as well as adapting to new features & advancements to continuously improve the member experience
As you can see with just these five qualities there's a lot to be mindful of when your managing your community. There's no doubt that you'll be responsible for a lot of moving pieces, but I do hope these qualities can launch you into a new way of approaching your community.
When things might seem overwhelming, worry not. You have the full backing from your CSM, Support, & the Success Community.
