June 16, 2010
Free Webinar With the Radian6 Community Team, Monday, June 28th at 11am PDT/2pm EDT
By: Teresa Basich
When: Monday, June 28th
Time: 11am PDT/2pm EDT
Click here to register.
We chew over the concept of community management quite a bit here at Radian6. It’s a huge part of what we do and how we’re structured as a company, and we’ve found that the definition of community management – once centered around forum moderation and issue resolution – is changing with the growth and development of businesses around these new online social channels and larger fundamental shifts in communication.
You can take a look at our series of posts on the way our community team is structured, read through our Director of Community Amber Naslund’s take on how community management is changing, and download our ebook about building and sustaining branded communities to help frame out your own perspective on what community management really entails.
And if you’d like some more food for thought on the subject, we’re going to be hosting a webinar at the end of this month discussing just how much community management as an individual role has changed, and break down how community management as an essential piece of organizational operations is changing the structure and flow of business as we know it.
You’ll hear from our Senior Community Manager Lauren Vargas; as well as Katie Morse, our Community Manager for our Corporate clients; Lauren Fernandez, our Agency-side Community Manager; and me, Teresa Basich, Community Manager and content maven around here. We’ll talk about everything from how the original role of a community manager was defined to how this new role is impacting business processes and company structure.
But first, we want to hear from you. What do you think community management entails? Have you seen the role of community managers change over time, and if so, how? What are your burning questions about the individual role of community managers and the development of a community team? And if you are a community manager, tell us about what you do within the confines of your community and company.
This is your chance to tell us what you think, and give us the fuel we need to speak to your direct concerns about all things community management. Share with us — we’d love to hear your thoughts.
And after you’re done sharing, feel free to register for our webinar in a couple weeks. We’d be thrilled to have you join us.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by robin seidner and Rob Begg, Teresa Basich. Teresa Basich said: The @Radian6 Community Team is webinaring! But 1st we'd like to know — what do YOU think community management entails? http://bit.ly/difiJY [...]
Hi Radian6
In order for their to be a Community Manager within an organization, there needs to be a community to manage, stating the obvious.
So what about a 'Community Builder'? Should companies start off with a dedicated Community Builder who later on becomes the Community Manager, or do communities generally create themselves, thus negating the need for a Community Builder, allowing a Community Manager to head straight in?
Or is it all usually a part of the job of the Social Media Manager within most organizations ?
Would be great to hear your views.
Thank you,
Simon
That's a fantastic question, Simon. There is definitely a shift in gears from initially seeking and developing your community to then managing it, but community building never really stops. I'll steward your question to our team and we'll do our best to address it in more depth during our webinar. Thanks for the comment!
Cheers,
Teresa
Teresa
Many thanks for your reply to my question, which you have actually partly answered in "community building never really stops".
Expanding on that; once a community is established and the manager becomes busy managing, a community builder could continue the building, giving the manager even more community members to serve and engage with.
Thus starting off small with a builder/manager, expanding the team to an additional builder, then an additional manager and so on…
Though whether these builders & managers are catered for as a part of the jobs of the social media team rather depends on business objectives, goals and available resources I guess.
Many thanks Teresa,
Simon
Teresa
Many thanks for your reply to my question, which you have actually partly answered in "community building never really stops".
Expanding on that; once a community is established and the manager becomes busy managing, a community builder could continue the building, giving the manager even more community members to serve and engage with.
Thus starting off small with a builder/manager, expanding the team to an additional builder, then an additional manager and so on…
Though whether these builders & managers are catered for as a part of the jobs of the social media team rather depends on business objectives, goals and available resources I guess.
Many thanks Teresa,
Simon