Top Skills Every Aspiring Community Manager Should Master

In an increasingly digital age, community managers play a pivotal role in building, nurturing, and maintaining communities. Whether it's around a brand, a product, a cause, or any shared interest, these professionals are the bridge between organizations and the public, facilitating engagement, fostering relationships, and driving loyalty. Aspiring community managers need to master a diverse set of skills to excel in this dynamic and fast-paced field. Here is an exploration of the top skills every community manager should master, along with tips on how to hone them.

Communication Skills

1. Clear and Effective Writing: A majority of a community manager's interactions occur through written communication. Whether crafting a tweet, responding to comments on a forum, or sending out a newsletter, clear and effective writing is essential. To improve, practice daily writing, read extensively, and perhaps take a writing course.

2. Active Listening: Community managers must listen to understand community sentiment and respond appropriately. Hone active listening by intentionally engaging in conversations, seeking clarification, and reflecting on what is heard.

3. Public Speaking: On occasions where verbal communication is required, speaking clearly and confidently is key. Join a local Toastmasters club or engage in online speaking courses to build this skill.

Technical Proficiency

4. Social Media Platforms: Community managers need to know the ins and outs of various social media platforms. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and features by following industry blogs and participating in social media-related webinars.

5. Data Analysis: Understanding how to interpret community engagement metrics helps in tailoring strategies. Resources like Google Analytics Academy provide a good starting point for learning data analysis.

6. Content Management Systems (CMS): Managing content effectively requires knowledge of CMS. WordPress is a common platform, and many online tutorials can guide you through the basics.

Strategic Thinking

7. Brand Awareness: Being the face of a brand, a community manager should embody its values and message. Follow brand-building thought leaders and participate in branding workshops to deepen your understanding.

8. Crisis Management: Dealing with negative feedback and crises tactfully is crucial. Crisis communication courses can prepare you for such scenarios.

9. Creative Campaign Planning: To keep the community engaged, plan creative campaigns. Study successful campaigns and consider doing a course in marketing or creative writing.

Interpersonal Skills

10. Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of the community is a cornerstone of effective community management. To build empathy, practice active listening, and put yourself in others' shoes.

11. Networking: Building a network of contacts can help in knowledge sharing and community growth. Attend industry events, engage on LinkedIn, and join professional groups.

12. Persuasion: A community manager often needs to persuade others to take action. Read books on influence and persuasion, and observe how successful influencers operate.

Personal Development

13. Time Management: Juggling multiple tasks effectively is a daily requirement. Use tools like Trello or Asana for personal project management, and learn prioritization techniques.

14. Adaptability: The digital landscape changes rapidly, requiring adaptability. Take an improvisation class or engage in activities that push you out of your comfort zone.

15. Continual Learning: The most successful community managers are perpetual learners. Subscribe to industry newsletters, listen to podcasts, and enroll in relevant courses to stay ahead.

Conclusion

The role of a community manager is multi-faceted and demands a blend of technical, communicative, strategic, and interpersonal skills. By focusing on developing these areas, aspiring community managers can set themselves apart in the field. Remember, the essence of community management lies in building authentic relationships and creating value for members. Mastering the above skills will not only enhance your capability to manage communities effectively but will also enable you to contribute to the success of the organizations you serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of a community manager?

A community manager acts as the bridge between organizations and the public, facilitating engagement, fostering relationships, and driving loyalty within a community. They are responsible for building, nurturing, and maintaining communities around a brand, product, cause, or shared interest.

How important are communication skills for a community manager?

Communication skills are vital for a community manager as a majority of their interactions occur through written communication, active listening, and occasionally public speaking. Clear and effective writing, active listening to understand community sentiment, and the ability to speak confidently are crucial aspects.

What technical skills should a community manager possess?

A community manager should have proficiency in social media platforms, data analysis for interpreting community engagement metrics, and knowledge of Content Management Systems (CMS) for effective content management.

Why is strategic thinking important for community managers?

Strategic thinking helps community managers in areas such as brand awareness, crisis management, and creative campaign planning. Understanding the brand, managing crises tactfully, and planning engaging campaigns are essential for effective community management.

How do interpersonal skills contribute to successful community management?

Interpersonal skills like empathy, networking, and persuasion are key for successful community management. Building empathy with the community, networking to grow contacts, and using persuasion to drive action are crucial aspects of the job.

How can personal development skills enhance a community manager's performance?

Personal development skills such as time management, adaptability to change, and continual learning are important for a community manager to juggle tasks effectively, stay adaptable in a rapidly changing digital landscape, and keep up with industry trends through continuous learning.

Further Resources

For further development in the field of community management, here are some valuable resources to enhance your skills:

Communication Skills

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): A comprehensive resource for improving your writing skills with tips, exercises, and examples.
• Coursera - Communication Skills for Engineers Specialization: A specialization that covers various aspects of communication skills tailored for engineers and technical professionals.

Technical Proficiency

• HubSpot Academy: Offering free courses in social media marketing and analytics to improve your technical knowledge in managing community engagement.
• Codecademy: Learn coding and web development basics to understand content management systems and enhance your technical skills.

Strategic Thinking

• Brandwatch Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends and insights in brand strategy and community management.
• Coursera - Crisis Communication: A course focusing on crisis communication strategies and best practices.

Interpersonal Skills

• Dale Carnegie Training: Known for its interpersonal and communication training programs, Dale Carnegie provides resources to improve networking and persuasion skills.
• Harvard Business Review - Influence and Persuasion: Access articles and resources on influential leadership and persuasion techniques.

Personal Development

• TED Talks - Time Management: Inspirational talks on time management and productivity to help you optimize your schedule.
• Udemy: A platform offering a wide range of courses for continual learning and skill development in various areas relevant to community management.

Investing time in these resources will further equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel as a community manager and navigate the challenges of this dynamic role effectively.