Community Summit Wrap Up

By On July 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Online community management gurus gathered with social media and business professionals at the Moscone Center for the Community Summit in the heart of San Francisco on June 28 to discuss online management in the age of social media. Topics included building community through internal and social engagement; the role of community relations in monetization and sales; managing social media to build community; and PR, marketing and community.

“It’s always great to hear about the pros and cons of the latest tools and services in community and social media management from the professionals who use them daily,” says Ellen Steuer, a community management and social design consultant who discussed monetization during the summit. Steuer spoke among more than a dozen panelists who have been online building communities since well before the term “social media” existed.

While analytics and monetization are important, Steuer says the secret sauce to building community isn’t found in the numbers alone. “It’s a bubbling brew consisting of a great product, an authentic voice and truly listening and getting to know your customers, not just tracking their behavior,” she says. “Anyone can set up a Facebook Fan Page or a Twitter ID, but building and fostering community is a skill that requires a thick skin, a level head and a sense of humor.”