Ryan Olsen
Toy Studio
Twitter
@Ryan_Olsen
Website
http://theryanshow.tumblr.com/
What is the most important part of being a community manager?
For me, the most important part of being a community manager is the fact that anyone has a way to directly communicate with a company and talk with someone who cares and is empowered to make things happen. While a community might not always get what they want, there is at least someone to explain reasons why.
If you could attend one conference to learn about community management, what would it be and why?
While a community manager conference might be a good idea, I much prefer the idea that community managers go to conferences and conventions their communities attend. You can learn so much about community management from the actual community by actively participating in what they do so you know how to serve the community better.
What skill should every community manager have?
People skills are the most important thing a community manager needs to have right off the bat. It would be hard to build a community when a community manager has a hard time dealing with people.
What advice would you give someone wanting to become a community manager?
Go start a community. Pick something you like and just do it. The tools are there to get your hands dirty and get experience. Each community is going to have different needs and the only way to find out what those needs are is to jump in and make mistakes, try new things and learn something everyday.
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