Top 7 Skills Needed To Be A Social Media Community Manager
Social media community managers are responsible for creating, running, maintaining, and motivating online communities. These communities can be one of their own interest or they can be created to represent a brand the manager works for.
Social media community managers wear many hats. They have several responsibilities they are entrusted with on behalf of the community. Many community managers create the communities they are trusted to maintain. Maintaining these communities takes an innovative person to support the ongoing engagement. These individuals are the face of their own community and career, therefore they are much more attainable for members of their community, often working in closer proximity with stakeholders or members of the community.
To be a successful social media community manager, there are many attributes and skills that one must master. We’re going to focus on the top seven skills needed to find success in this profession.
1. Good Listener
There is a strong need to be a good listener in the world of communication. More than half of surviving in the field is being a good listener. A community leader must be able to listen to what the members and stakeholders need from the community. While many different forms of information are attributed to the community, the leader must be able to provide for the movement and success of the group.
2. Strong Sense of Voice
The internet is a massive place. There are many different voices within the platforms that one will be operating within. It is essential to set yourself apart on the platforms and within the group you are working with. While the subject matter itself might set one apart, there need to be some flavor and voice added within the group to entice members to participate and stay.
3. Devoted to the Craft
Unlike posting on a blog once or twice a week, an internet community is ever evolving and consistently on the go. A devoted community manager will have the appropriate amount of time set aside to give the community the leadership it deserves. These positions are not for the faint of heart, it is a full time job, always moving.
4. Customer Service
A community manager needs to have the heart for customer service. While there are many responsibilities this profession requires, one must understand they are working with real stakeholders on a daily basis. Handling their emotions and needs in a professional way is essential to the community’s success.
5. Creative and Innovative
Community engagement is always moving and changing. The leader of a successful online community needs to be creative and innovative when supporting the group and strengthening its communication. Groups can survive for many, many years and learning to introduce new and exciting forms of posts and ways to interact will keep the group exciting and thriving.
6. Efficient and Organized
There are many ways to keep the group organized and moving efficiently. This is a highly important attribute to community managers, however, there is not a clear cut way to conduct oneself in this area. Many managers will need to operate in their own ways to create the best outcome in this area.
7. Awareness
Community managers need to be highly aware. These roles need to be aware of their group, the actions of the members, who the members are, and what is going on outside the community. Ongoings outside the community can greatly impact what is happening inside, and the members need to be supported during any issue that may arise.
Social media community managers are responsible for many jobs within their profession. To stay on top of those responsibilities, these managers need to possess many different skills to be successful. In addition to the seven previously mentioned skills, there are many more that would benefit someone of this profession. Keep in mind, this manager requires a dynamic individual that, at the very least, is always willing to learn and grow.
