Community manager
The Community Manager acts as the direct link between a company and its online community.
The Community Manager is the brand ambassador. He or she is at the forefront of the deployment of the company's digital communications strategy. Their activity and degree of autonomy varies from one structure to another, but the main actions are identical. They are responsible for creating varied and engaging content, such as articles, videos and newsletters.
Through each of these publications, they are in direct contact with the community, responding to comments and questions from consumers on social networks. The aim of these actions is to rally internet users around the brand, acquire new leads and customers, and increase the company's visibility on the web.
A good command of spelling and syntax is essential for creating clear, professional textual content. The community manager must have a strong ability to regularly monitor new trends on the web and in the business sector (competitors, partners) to stay up to date and responsive. Social networks hold no secrets: they know how to publish content in a way that engages their community (Social Media Optimisation).
Last but not least, they have skills in creating multimedia content: producing videos, photos and web articles. Knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and traffic analysis (Google Analytics 4) is appreciated.
Creativity is at the heart of this profession. It enables the community manager to create original and captivating content that will stand out from the crowd. Organisation is one of the qualities most highly prized in this job: the professional carries out multiple tasks across different media and editorial calendars, while ensuring that deadlines are met. What's more, the community manager has the listening skills to understand the needs of the community and respond appropriately.
To become a community manager, you need to have trained in communications or digital marketing. You need to have a level of study from bac+3 to bac+5. There is a vast range of courses available, both at university and in private or public schools.
Students can start with a 3-year information communication degree (BUT) or a 2-year communication diploma (BTS). These are generalist courses covering everything that goes to make up a communications strategy. There are also bachelor's degrees in communication and digital strategy (bac+3), which allow students to specialise in digital communication.
To maximise their chances of finding their first job quickly, students can then complete their course with a 2-year master's degree. Business and communications schools offer many masters degrees with specialisms in digital communications. These courses can usually be taken on a sandwich basis, giving the future community manager the opportunity to build up a portfolio of achievements and showcase his or her skills on the job market.
Community managers may aspire to become social media managers, where they would be responsible for overseeing a company's entire social media strategy, often while managing a team. They may also move into the role of digital project manager, either in a communications agency or directly within a company. In large companies with a dedicated communications department, you can aim for the post of communications manager.