I need your help! It's no secret I love social media. I think it has absolutely opened a world of possibilities for small business owners like you and me. What I have noticed lately is that more business owners are realizing that this is something that can easily be outsourced. Every time I speak on a stage or teleseminar I have someone ask me how they can hire someone to do their social media for them.
So I actually have two questions for you.
1. Do you think there is a difference between a social media manager and a social media community manager?
While doing research it seems that these words are being used interchangeably but I was wondering if there is a distinction to you? In his Social Media Examiner article, Micheal Brito defined social media community manager as
“A community manager usually manages an editorial calendar for a blog/community, a Twitter account and various third-party social media channels like a Facebook fan page or a YouTube account.”
In her article for Social Media Today, Maria Ogneva defined social media manager as
“A social media manager is mostly tasked with generating and sustaining buzz across social networks via content creation (blog, media and micromedia formats), where notions of community and relationships are a bit looser than in a structured community group, and where influence is also measured differently.”
I would really like to know what you think of when you hear the two phrases.
2. Have you ever thought about the possibility of hiring someone to help with your social media needs or maybe you have thought about making some extra money utilizing all the time you are spending on social media already for other businesses?
If you were going to hire someone to help you what would you be looking for? If they were a certified social media manager – would that be important? I know these are a lot of questions but I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I have had so many small business owners ask me to help them find the right social media person to help them and I am wondering what the most important aspects of their business would be.
Then I was searching around today on google and came across SimplyHired.com. I was shocked that there were 32,469 jobs available for social media managers. Wow! That brought me to the question about whether that would be something that interests you. So what do you feel like you need before you could get paid from some of these companies? Do you just not know what to charge? Maybe you feel like you need more training?
I can't wait to hear your answers!! Please comment below.
Great questions indeed.
I do not see a distinction between the two phrases yet am drawn to “social media manager”. Adding community just makes it too long and awkward.
I am in the midst of this decision as I type. I have grown fond of social media but I would like to spend more of my time having conversations and building relationships with specific people as opposed to sharing quotes, blog posts, tips, promoting events and RTing. The latter are very important tasks that anyone can do. But only I can be ME.
It’s like having a receptionist. Sure I could answer the phone, mail out brochures and schedule appointments but then I won’t be doing what only Linette can do which is coaching youth-serving executives or creating new courses for the Youth Success Academy.
So I have come to realize that although social media requires ME, I can decide how to provide the best of my presence so others are inspired and empowered.
And thanks to your question, I am now sure my decision is a good one.
Linette Daniels
http://IAYEP.com
http://EmpoweringYouthForSuccess.com
Hello Michelle,
I am a certified social media marketing specialist. I have worked with my clients in both as a social media manager role and a social media community manager role. For me there is one distinction between the two: community. As a social media manager, I connect the different social networks, optimize them, keep them working. Especially Facebook keeps giving me a lot of work :). Additionally, I create a social media schedule, recycle content, schedule the automated posts. It is less involved on my part and really more technical.
As a social media community manager, I monitor the posts, delete spam, create a social media schedule, recycle content, schedule the automated posts and keep my eyes open for networking opportunities. I would for example monitor LinkedIn questions for great questions to answer for my clients, look for Facebook pages to comment on, find blogs to comment on or find potential Twitter followers. Additionally, I would manage LinkedIn groups and Facebook pages. It is a lot more involved since I would actively go and manage the “tribe” of the client.
Just to make things interesting, did you know there is also a social networking manager? For me, social media community manager and social networking manager are interchangeable. They both deal more with networking and community building and not so much with the technical aspects of setting up, optimizing and connecting social profiles.
Great question!
Wendy LugoSantiago,
http://www.eassistantww.com
Good question, Michele! My first response would be a social media manager would partner with solo-entreprenuers, whereas a social media community manager would be someone who manages a membership site. I certainly can see a benefit of a certification program, as with any training there are specific learning objectives that would be required. Social media is the front runner in on-line communicaton, and the options are growing rapidly. Anyone completing a social media certification program would be valuable to those who want to position themselves as an expert in the field. It would also be an excellent way to educate business owners, about the benefits of and what to look for, in hiring someone who is certified in the field.
Yea Lora – I am so excited to see all the things you have been up to. It is really awesome to see your business growing and changing. Congratulations on the LinkedIn training – I know it will rock! :)) Michele