--- title: "Daily Buzz: Define Your Community Manager’s Role" id: "47803" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-define-your-community-managers-role" published_at: "2019-08-28T21:47:07+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T15:56:01+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/28/daily-buzz-define-your-community-managers-role/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/28/daily-buzz-define-your-community-managers-role.md" excerpt: "A lack of clarity over what a community manager is supposed to do could lead them to focus on the wrong things. Also: Why you should keep your data organized—but ready for play." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "community engagement" - "Content Creation" - "Membership" - "reengagement" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Define Your Community Manager’s Role If you’re a community manager, you might find that you’re asked to do a lot of heavy lifting outside of your area of expertise. Part of the problem may be a lack of clarity about the community manager’s role in your organization. In a post on *Community by Association*, American Society of Civil Engineers Senior Coordinator of Online Community Tirza Austin [describes five areas (opens in a new tab)](https://communitybyassociation.com/2019/08/25/your-role-as-a-community-manager/) that community managers typically have some responsibility for. She says that managing content and engagement are the most important parts of the job. “I urge you to look at community discussions as user generated content,” Austin says. “It is not engagement for engagement’s sake. Every post and thread should add value to your members, especially if they are receiving digest subscriptions.” She adds that creating content is not part of the community manager’s job description. Instead, “you should be working with community members to create content. This encourages accountability and involvement with the community,” she says. Although the least important areas for community managers are the business and strategic elements, it’s important to keep these in mind, she says, as they are “what separates good community professionals from great ones.” ### Play Around, But Keep It Sorted > “Sometimes need to treat your database like a playground to discover new patterns that could be of use to you.” Learn more about leveraging your attendee data in this article [https://t.co/AGUWltB6Pe (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/AGUWltB6Pe) > [#eventtech (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventtech?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#events (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/events?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#expochat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/expochat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#techforgood (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/techforgood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Event Tech Group (@EventTech_Group) [August 28, 2019 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/EventTech_Group/status/1166743512370614273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Speaking of defining parameters,** it’s important to have an understanding of how to use your data—and why, sometimes, you should be playful with it to allow for experimentation. This can lead to new ideas and approaches for personalization, says Erin Shy, vice president of event technology at Community Brands. But that doesn’t mean you can get sloppy. “I think your database is like your garage,” [Shy writes on Association Success (opens in a new tab)](https://www.associationsuccess.org/invigorate/using-personalization-to-stop-choice-overload/) . “You wouldn’t want everything just thrown in there haphazardly that it makes it too difficult to find what you need later. As long as you can keep it neat and organized, you’ll be able to navigate.” ### Other Links of Note **You may be wary of using Siri** after recent news coverage revealed Apple has been listening in on conversations. [The company has promised changes (opens in a new tab)](https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20836760/apple-apology-siri-audio-recordings-privacy-changes-contractors) , *The Verge* reports. **Are you a procrastinator?** You can still [pull off a useful to-do list (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fastcompany.com/90392932/to-do-lists-for-procrastinators) . *Fast Company* explains how. **The MTV Video Music Awards** are often a major spectacle. How’d they do this year? *BizBash* [asked event planning experts for their reviews (opens in a new tab)](https://www.bizbash.com/production-strategy/opinion-experts/article/21084179/mtv-2019-video-music-awards-event-producer-review) . (AndreyPopov/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#community engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-engagement/) [#Content Creation](https://associationsnow.com/tag/content-creation/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#reengagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/reengagement/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoForesightWorks Live– The Shifting Environment for ContentJune 25, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/06/25/foresightworks-live-the-shifting-environment-for-content/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) - [VideoMix Old and New for More Memorable EventsNovember 6, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/11/06/mix-old-and-new-for-more-memorable-events/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Why Slower Marketing Can Drive Stronger Member Engagement (Episode 27)June 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/25/associations-now-presents-why-slower-marketing-can-drive-stronger-member-engagement-episode-27/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F08%2F28%2Fdaily-buzz-define-your-community-managers-role%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !