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Community Manager

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April 2, 2024 Updated April 14, 2025 14 minute read

Community Manager: Building Bridges in the Digital Age

A Community Manager serves as the vital link between an organization and its audience, fostering online and sometimes offline spaces where people connect around a shared interest, brand, or product. Their primary goal is to build, nurture, and grow these communities, ensuring they are active, supportive, and aligned with the organization's objectives. This involves creating a sense of belonging and trust among members.

Working as a Community Manager can be incredibly dynamic. You might find yourself crafting engaging content one moment, mediating a heated discussion the next, and analyzing community health metrics later that day. It's a role that blends communication, strategy, and empathy, offering the chance to directly impact brand perception and customer loyalty while interacting with diverse groups of people.

Introduction to Community Management

Defining the Role and Its Objectives

At its core, a Community Manager is a marketing or communications professional dedicated to building, growing, and managing online communities. These communities often form around a brand, product, service, or shared interest. The fundamental objective is to cultivate a thriving environment where members feel connected, heard, and valued.

Key goals often include increasing brand awareness, fostering loyalty, gathering user feedback for product development, providing customer support, and driving engagement. The Community Manager acts as the brand's voice and ears within the community, humanizing the organization and facilitating meaningful interactions.

They strategize on how to best engage members, moderate conversations to maintain a positive atmosphere, and measure the community's health and impact. Ultimately, they connect the brand with its audience, create a sense of belonging, and leverage community insights to provide business value.

A Brief History of the Role

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Salaries for Community Manager

City
Median
New York
$75,000
San Francisco
$98,000
Seattle
$124,000
See all salaries
City
Median
New York
$75,000
San Francisco
$98,000
Seattle
$124,000
Austin
$105,000
Toronto
$72,000
London
£53,000
Paris
€65,000
Berlin
€71,000
Tel Aviv
₪360,000
Singapore
S$72,000
Beijing
¥151,000
Shanghai
¥230,000
Shenzhen
¥68,600
Bengalaru
₹410,000
Delhi
₹210,000
Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Path to Community Manager

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Reading list

We've selected some books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Community Manager.
Considered a comprehensive guide to community management, this book is particularly useful for those interested in building and sustaining online communities. It offers practical advice and strategies based on the author's extensive experience, making it a valuable reference tool for professionals and a solid resource for advanced students. The book delves into the operational aspects of community building, including governance and conflict resolution.
Offers an interdisciplinary introduction to networks, covering concepts from economics, sociology, and computer science. It's highly valuable for gaining a broad understanding of how networks influence social and economic behavior. It is often used as a textbook in undergraduate courses and provides a solid foundation for further study. The book includes optional advanced sections for deeper exploration.
Explores the science behind why certain ideas, products, and behaviors become popular and spread. It provides a framework of six principles of contagiousness that are highly relevant to creating shareable social media content. This is valuable for understanding the underlying psychology of viral content and is suitable for a broad audience.
A comprehensive textbook covering the theory and applications of network science. Written by a leading expert, it provides a deep dive into the fundamental principles and models of networks, including social networks. is suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students and serves as an excellent reference for researchers. It helps solidify understanding of the underlying scientific principles of social networks.
Considered a key text in content marketing, this book provides a comprehensive strategy for creating and distributing content that attracts and retains customers. The second edition includes updated insights on Web3 and community building, making it highly relevant to contemporary social media content strategies. ,
A practical guide to creating high-quality content for online platforms, including social media. It emphasizes the importance of good writing and provides actionable tips for improving content creation skills. useful reference tool for anyone creating social media content, regardless of their experience level. The second edition includes updated information relevant to the evolving content landscape.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the sharing economy, covering its history, key trends, and potential impact on businesses and society.
Provides a comprehensive analysis of the sharing economy, covering its impact on various industries and consumer behavior.
Considered a foundational text in social network analysis, this book provides a comprehensive overview of methods and their applications. It crucial resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the quantitative aspects of SNA. While published in 1994, its methodological content remains highly relevant and it is often used as a reference and textbook in graduate programs.
Explores the importance of community in business and provides practical advice on how to build thriving online communities. It must-read for anyone looking to learn more about the role of community in business.
Explores the intentionality and structure behind bringing people together, offering profound philosophies applicable to various forms of community. It's highly recommended for anyone looking to understand the fundamental principles before initiating community building efforts. While not solely focused on long-term community, its insights into creating meaningful interactions are crucial for solidifying understanding.
Provides a recent history and analysis of internet culture, focusing on the rise of online influence and the creator economy. It offers valuable context for understanding the contemporary landscape of social media content and the dynamics of online fame and power. , ,
Argues that in an age of empowered consumers, the most successful marketing is human-centric. It emphasizes building authentic connections and understanding customer loyalty in the digital age, which is fundamental to effective social media content strategy. , ,
Seth Godin offers a foundational perspective on modern marketing, focusing on building connections and serving a specific audience rather than just shouting to the masses. helps reframe the purpose of social media content creation towards building meaningful relationships. It valuable read for understanding the strategic 'why' behind social media efforts. , ,
A seminal work on the decline of civic engagement and community in America. provides essential background reading for understanding the societal context that makes community building so crucial today. It's a valuable resource for academic study and provides a broad understanding of the challenges facing modern communities.
Explores the power of cultivating passionate fans and how this can be a powerful marketing force. It provides insights into building strong relationships with your audience on social media, moving beyond transactions to create a dedicated community. , ,
Explores the profound influence of social networks on various aspects of life, from health to happiness and political views. It's an excellent choice for gaining a broad understanding of the impact of social networks on individuals and society. While accessible to a wide audience, it is based on rigorous research and provides valuable context for the real-world implications of network structures.
A practical guide specifically for content creators navigating the challenges of building a personal brand online. It addresses issues of authenticity, judgment, and self-doubt, offering strategies for sustainable content creation and online presence. , ,
A foundational text in community building, this book provides wisdom on reweaving the social fabric and fostering a sense of belonging, particularly within neighborhoods. It's valuable for gaining a broad understanding of the underlying principles of community and is often referenced in academic and professional settings.
A classic text in urban planning and sociology, this book provides profound insights into how vibrant and safe communities are built within urban environments. While not exclusively about community building, its observations on social interactions and the elements of successful urban spaces are highly relevant.
Delves into the societal impact of social media, exploring how algorithms influence behavior and contribute to polarization. While not a how-to guide for content creation, it provides crucial context for understanding the broader implications and ethical considerations of social media content. , ,
Offers a seven-step framework for creating clear and compelling marketing messages that resonate with customers. Applying the StoryBrand framework to social media content can significantly improve its effectiveness in engaging the target audience.
A classic in community organizing, this book offers a pragmatic approach to creating change and building power within communities. While focused on activism, its strategies and principles are highly relevant to understanding the dynamics of community mobilization. It provides historical context and foundational knowledge for those interested in grassroots community building.
Focuses specifically on influencer marketing, a significant aspect of social media content strategy. It provides a framework for developing and implementing effective influencer campaigns, valuable for those looking to leverage this approach.
A classic in the field of psychology and persuasion, this book outlines six universal principles that influence decision making. Understanding these principles is crucial for creating persuasive social media content and understanding consumer behavior online. The new and expanded edition includes updated research and applications relevant to the digital age. , ,
A practical guide to building communities, this book offers actionable steps and real-world examples. It's particularly useful for those new to community building and provides a solid foundation for understanding the process.
Delves into current topics in social media marketing, including the role of influencers, AI in content creation, and social media analytics. It's highly relevant for marketing professionals and students interested in the contemporary landscape of social media. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the evolving strategies and challenges in this area.
This edited volume brings together key papers on the structure and dynamics of complex networks, including social networks. It is valuable for graduate students and researchers looking to delve into the theoretical underpinnings and advanced models in the field. It serves as a strong reference for understanding the mathematical and computational aspects of network analysis.
Joe Pulizzi, a leading voice in content marketing, outlines a model for building a business by creating valuable content and building an audience. provides a strategic business perspective on content creation that is highly relevant to social media content entrepreneurs. The second edition offers updated strategies.
Explores the concept of small-world networks and their prevalence in various systems, including social networks. It's an important work for understanding the structural properties of many real-world networks and the implications for information diffusion. Suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in network dynamics.
Emphasizes the importance of local assets and the power within neighborhoods and families to build strong communities. It offers a perspective rooted in community development and is valuable for understanding how to leverage existing strengths for collective action.
Understanding data is essential for optimizing social media content. provides a deep dive into digital marketing analytics, helping readers make sense of consumer data to inform their content strategies. This is particularly relevant for advanced students and working professionals.
Prepares students to conduct social network analysis by covering basic methodological tools with illustrative examples from various fields. It takes a conceptual rather than a purely mathematical approach, making it accessible to social science students. It useful textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses, demonstrating how SNA methods are used in research.
Provides case studies and examples of how the sharing economy is being implemented in different industries.
Gary Vaynerchuk provides a guide to social media marketing that emphasizes delivering valuable content ('jabs') before making a direct ask ('right hook'). The book offers platform-specific advice and highlights the importance of adapting content to each social network.
Focuses on the application of community building principles in a brand or organizational context. It explores the importance of belonging, mutual concern, and shared experiences in fostering loyal relationships. It's a valuable resource for professionals in marketing and community management, offering practical insights into a specific area of community building.
Provides context and best practices for influencer marketing in a global context. It useful resource for understanding the dynamics of digital influence and how to work with influencers effectively.
Focuses on the crucial aspect of measuring the return on investment for social media activities. It provides frameworks and methods for analyzing the effectiveness of social media content and strategies. This is particularly valuable for professionals and those in higher education programs.
Provides a practical introduction to social network analysis with a focus on applications in the context of startups and the social web. It's suitable for professionals and students interested in applying SNA to real-world data from online platforms. It offers a good balance of concepts and practical examples.
Introduces the concept of 'social physics' and how the flow of ideas and information through social networks can be measured and understood. It offers insights into collective intelligence and the dynamics of social learning. It's relevant for those interested in the application of data and computational methods to understand social phenomena.
Offers a controversial but insightful look into media manipulation and the viral nature of online information. While not a guide for ethical content creation, it provides a critical understanding of how information spreads (and can be manipulated) in the digital age, offering valuable context for anyone working with social media content.
Written by a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, this book offers a powerful account of community organizing and social change. It provides a contemporary perspective on building communities for collective action and is particularly relevant for those interested in social justice movements.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of community organization theories, tools, and strategies. It is designed for students and professionals in helping fields, offering a structured approach to understanding and implementing participatory change efforts in communities. It serves as a solid academic resource.
A recent release, this book offers an inspirational guide to the core qualities of healthy communities and provides pathways for creating deeper connection. It's a contemporary resource for those looking to build community for both personal connection and social change.
This popular book explores how ideas, trends, and social behaviors spread like epidemics, drawing on concepts related to networks and contagion. While not a textbook, it provides compelling case studies and a highly readable introduction to the idea of network effects and diffusion. It's valuable for gaining a broad understanding of how social dynamics can lead to widespread change.
Explores the principles and practice of mutual aid as a form of community building and social solidarity, particularly in times of crisis. It offers a contemporary and action-oriented perspective, valuable for those interested in grassroots organizing and community resilience.
This comprehensive guide covers a wide range of social media platforms and strategies for business. While some platform-specific information may become dated, it offers a broad overview of social media marketing concepts and tactics, making it a useful reference for understanding the landscape.
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