Social Media Manager vs. Community Manager

As social media continues to develop, so do the roles within it. Among these are the roles of social media manager and community manager.

I’ve teamed up with Tim McDonald, a well-known community manager in Chicago, to help in defining both.  Today we reveal our individual responses!

What’s your definition of a social media manager?

Rachel:

A social media manager takes the lead in managing the overall efforts of a company social media platform. This can include writing and/or posting content, monitoring accounts, and reporting/communicating ROI.

Tim:

A social media manager is responsible for creating content specific to a product or brand strategy across social networks. They monitor and create engagement to achieve goals of a specific campaign.

Do you believe they vary for a small business vs. an enterprise?

Rachel:

Absolutely! An enterprise may want multiple staff to manage specific aspects of online marketing and social media, while a small business may just want an effective presence on one or two channels.

Tim:

Yes. On the enterprise level, they may not create the content or develop the strategy.

What’s your definition of a community manager?

Rachel:

A community manager is tasked with managing a specific community and/or platform for business. They wear the hats of: listening post, brand champion, and chief engagement specialist for that community.  I consider a community manager to be more detailed and involved in certain aspects of social media, whereas a social media manager can manage more of the bigger picture aspects of online marketing.

Tim:

A Community Manager uses online networks to be the voice of the company to the community and the voice of the community to the company.

Do you believe they vary for a small business vs. an enterprise?

Rachel:

Yes, as I believe a small business may not hire a community manager, but rather a social media manager due to both the level of complexity and financial resources.  I would assume a business with over ten employees may want to consider a community manager. This could all be an assumption, which is why I am glad Tim is also providing answers to these questions!

Tim:

While there are many similarities, a small business community manager is likely to wear more hats and respond directly to community questions. Enterprise community managers are more likely to assign the response to the appropriate party. Small Business community managers may also be involved with in person events, bridging online and offline.

And finally….

For Rachel: Since you are a social media manager, what else can you say about this role?

This role requires one to wear a lot of hats so it’s important to have certain skills such as: time-management, organization, flexibility and a delicate balance of creativity and structure. An organization looking to hire someone to manage social media should not just be looking for a ‘young person’ but rather someone who understands the role social media plays in the marketing puzzle and can manage themselves and their time effectively.

For Tim:  Since you are entrenched in community management, what else can you say about this role?

The main difference between Community Managers and Social Media Managers is Community Managers are more empathetic. They are the champions of the voice of the community.

A Community Manager is like a Shepherd. A community is like a flock of sheep.

A Shepherd tends to their flock. They live among the sheep, but they are not a sheep. They foster a healthy environment by allowing the sheep to work out conflict without bringing harm to each other. They keep the sheep together and moving in the direction of green pastures, so the flock can grow and expand. They protect the sheep from outside predators. The Shepherd always knows the count of the heard.

What is your definition of a social media manager? A community manager? What can you say about these roles?