Comments on: Here’s why you’re not a community manager

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:35:48 +0000

Hi Ileane: Congrats on jumping into the community manager role. I’d love to chat with you anytime about your experiences. And please feel free to contact me if you think I can be of assistance.

By: ileaneb

ileaneb — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:33:41 +0000

Angela,
Thanks for your insights on what the “job” entails. I am new at this and trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible. I will follow up on the resources that you have shared and hope to gain a better understanding of my role.

Thanks – Ileane

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:50:19 +0000

Hi there Frank: Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective. You ask an interesting question. I don’t know how many people are in the roll-up your sleeves roll but there are many of us! Particularly in branded communities. I would say that a community manager is responsible for a certain space, cultivating and growing that space. Relaying the stories that demonstrate ROI, being an advocate for the community and a huge content contributor. They have their finger on the pulse of the community, people know who they are and they yield a great amount of influence. The success or failure of the community is largely based on their efforts and planning. I can go on. But I think you’d like me to stop, for now.

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:42:50 +0000

Well said Angela. I would be curious how many people you think have that kind of “roll up your sleeves and do it” experience in these early stages of Social media?

What would you say are the true characteristics of a community manager?

Is it because we are SO early in this game that everyone can be an expert? Social media is playing out like search marketing has over the years.

Thanks to Wayne Sutton for pointing me here. Great work.

By: Brinstar

Brinstar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:16:14 +0000

Well-said.

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:27:32 +0000

Well, said Jill. Well said!

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Hi Heather. Good to see you here. I think we are still at the very beginning and everyone is trying everything. I heard of someone charging $1,500 to teach individuals how to use facebook. It’s hard to watch when you have integrity but I am trying to accept that people do things differently, some are only after $$ and all of this talk about authenticity is garbage coming out of the mouths of some who scream it from the mountaintop. I don’t think that twitter is the only gauge of social media understanding but you should at least have a presence in the space if you are going to teach others.
I am become increasingly annoyed at the level of contradiction and hypocrisy, but that’s another post for another day.

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:23:14 +0000

You raise good points, Rich. I can always count on you to come through with a different perspective to make me think a bit further. You’re right. Community manager is not unique to this and it immediately makes me think about the ‘journalist vs. blogger’ issue as well as the citizen journalism issue. I believe that citizens can perform ‘acts of journalism’ but I know that it takes training and practice to be a real journalist…
It probably is a good thing for the craft on some levels. I still hate to see it abused. I don’t want it to be diluted, that’s where I’m coming from but as it continues perhaps those who are really doing it will emerge as the experts. thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: Richard Millington

Richard Millington — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:39:05 +0000

I don’t think community manager is unique in this.

Millions of people call themselves writers, journalists, consultants, travellers and plenty of titles without the proper credentials.

I don’t think it’s essentially a bad thing. It’s forced people to educate themselves about the different levels within those fields and judge people accordingly.

Personally, I hope many more people begin calling themselves community managers. Soon, everyone will be forced to learn what constitutes a good and bad community manager.

…and that can only be good news for you Angela.

By: HeatherO

HeatherO — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:02:37 +0000

LOL! Love your honesty Angela, and I feel your pain! Words do matter. This is all new, and therefore the terminology is as well.
Unfortunately too many people are trying to ‘leverage’ social media to make a quick buck and are picking whatever label will get them there. For others, like myself, it is the balance between finding a term that clarifies what we are really passionate about, and the value that we strive to provide, and a term that people can understand!
In any case, in the past few days I saw a tweet from someone that they were “going to speak on social media at ___Real estate office” who had NO photo, or bio and had less than 100 followers! Then a ‘new media agency’ with few followers AND had not tweeted since mid-september! Today I came across a ‘social media agency” with 9 followers on twitter!

Point is, real difference makers aren’t a label, they create results. And when it doubt, it’s pretty easy to look online and see who is making a real difference.
And most importantly, your community knows:)

So, hunker or no hunker, hold the torch high , and carry on my friend!