I’d be remiss if I didn’t pause for a moment and wish all community managers a Happy Community Manager Appreciation Day!
Community management may be the latest “hot” job, but it is not a new one. It’s been around pretty much since the advent of online gaming forums and support sites. What is new is the various avenues that community managers are not expected to monitor. Social networking sites, forums, blogs, practically anything on the Internet. No easy task.
ReadWriteWeb has a good write up about community management today, in honor of #CMAD.
And while it may look like the community manager spends the day Facebooking, tweeting and blogging, the community manager is actually keeping tabs on the community. The community manager is keeping tabs on your user base and feeding information to support staff, sales, marketing and perhaps the CEO. Community managers can be the first line of defense in a sticky situation, and the first to cheer or give props to users and staffers alike.
The title is up for debate, as are numerous aspects of “job function,” but today, it’s all about gratitude. Show some to a community manager near you!