The Community Roundtable

Empowering global community leaders with research-backed resources, training, and tools.

  • Who we are
    • Our Values
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
      • Client Success Stories
    • Community Leadership Awards
      • Community Leadership Awards 2022
      • Community Leadership Awards 2021
      • TheCR Awards 2020
      • TheCR Awards 2019
      • TheCR Awards 2018
      • TheCR Awards 2017
    • Careers
      • 2022-23 Community Management Fellow
  • What we do
    • Benchmarking and Audits
      • Community Performance Benchmark
      • Community Readiness Audits
      • Community ROI Calculator
      • The Community Score
    • Models and Frameworks
      • Community Maturity Model™
      • Community Engagement Framework™
      • Community Skills Framework™
      • Community Technology Framework™
      • The Social Executive
    • Research
      • The State of Community Management
        • SOCM 2022
        • SOCM 2021
        • SOCM 2020
      • Community Careers and Compensation
      • The Community Manager Handbook
        • 2022 Edition
        • 2015 Edition
      • The Social Executive
      • Special Reports
    • Training and Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • Data-Driven Community Management Workshop
      • Connect
        • Connect 2023
        • Connect 2022
      • Community Technology Summit
      • Training
      • Resource Bundles
    • Resources
      • Vendor Resource Center
      • Community FAQs
      • Community Management Podcasts
        • Community Conversations
        • Lessons From The NEW Community Manager Handbook
      • Community Management Jobs
        • Job Board
        • CMGR Profiles
      • Community 101
        • Community Management Glossary
        • Community Management FAQs
      • Case Studies
      • Community Webinars
  • Who we serve
    • Resources for Community Managers
    • Community Program Owners
    • Community Executives
  • TheCR Network
    • Member Login
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  • TheCR Library
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Community Management FAQs

Since we started in 2009, we've answered a lot of community management questions. This list of Community Management FAQs brings the most common questions (and answers) together in one place. Have a question not answered here? Send it to us and we'll add it to the list!

  • What is community?
  • Why do communities matter?
  • What are the basics of community strategy?
  • Do I need a community playbook?
  • Why is a community roadmap important?
  • Do I need a community strategy?
  • How do you build a thriving community?
  • How do I improve online engagement?
  • Why build an editorial calendar for your community?
  • How do I build a community roadmap?
  • How can I get lurkers to participate?
  • Should I train my community members?
  • How do I write to increase community engagement?
  • How do I connect with community members around the globe?
  • How do I find a community manager job?
  • How do I convince our executives to invest in community?
  • How do I get started in community management?
  • Why don’t executives take part in community?
  • Do community manager roles change as communities mature?
  • What do all these weird community acronyms mean? 
  • How do community managers spend their days?
  • Do online communities need dedicated budgets?
  • What is the most important trait when hiring a community manager?
  • What should I look for when hiring a junior community staff member?
  • What are best practices for community moderation?
  • Why is my community failing?
  • What are the skills of a community manager?
  • What's the difference between an internal and external community?
  • What's the difference between an online community manager and a social media manager?
how to improve online engagement

Community Resource Bundles

We've spent a decade working with global community leaders fine-tuning the programs, tactics, and tools that make online communities successful. We've distilled the best of these research-backed resources into individual bundles focused on common community challenges.

Click on a bundle to learn more:

Community Management 101
How to launch a new online community community resource bundle
How to improve online engagement
How to calculate community ROI
Online community policies and governance
Community best practices

Resources for the people who build online communities.

ABOUT US
Our Values
Our Team
Our Clients
Careers

RESOURCES
Vendor Resource Center
Podcasts 
Job Board
Community 101
Case Studies
Webinars
Upcoming Events

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Benchmarking and Audits
Models and Frameworks
Research
Training and Events

RESOURCES BY AUDIENCE
Community Managers
Community Program Owners
Community Executives

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