Do you know what the first thing I do upon logging on to my laptop each day? No, it’s not checking email. I head directly to my Tweet Deck, to check out Twitter and then I head over to my company’s forum. To me, this is the equivalent of walking into work first thing and stopping at the water cooler or my friends’ desks for a little chit chat. Except that it’s my job. Even if it wasn’t my job, it would still be all about community and people. It’s what I do, it’s what I like to do, and it’s what I am.
When I manage a community, I give it my all. I live, breathe and sleep that community. I check in first thing when I wake in the morning and last thing before I go to sleep. I stop by on weekends and even on holidays. Not because it’s my job, but because it’s my community. I don’t know that many folks who aren’t into the whole online community thing would get this, but it’s a passion.
Anyone looking to take on a community management role must be aware that it’s not just a job. Good community managers form relationships with people and wish to see them succeed. They care about the people in their group and get to know them in a way customer service reps never will.
If you’re thinking of taking on a community management role simply because you want to spend more time on Twitter, please reconisder. While this is a fun job, there’s more to it than hanging out in the social networks. It’s making personal connections with real people and fostering a community among individuals. It’s a 100% committment, not a 9 to 5 job.
So I ask you, how vested are you in your community?
